Sources: Real reason for Manor Solomon's Leeds snub shared
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(Credit: Imago/Hasan Karim - Breaking Media)
Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent
Sat 6 September 2025 9:00, UK
Leeds United missed out on signing Manor Solomon thanks to the allure of Champions League football at Villarreal, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed what sources have told him about Leeds’ failed attempt to re-sign their former loanee.
Solomon re-emerged as a target late in the window after Leeds were snubbed by Brighton’s Facundo Buonanotte, but the Whites weren’t the only club keen on signing Solomon after his displays last season.
On deadline day, Solomon decided that he wanted to stay put at Tottenham for the season ahead amid interest from recently-relegated Leicester, but Spurs instead loaned him to Villarreal at the eleventh hour.
Both Tottenham and Villarreal will play Champions League football this season, and sources have told Football Insider that this was the deciding factor for Solomon as he snubbed a return to Elland Road.
UEFA Conference League-bound Crystal Palace also made a late move to sign the winger, and Football Insider sources have said that with a relegation battle on offer at Leeds instead, the opportunity to play in the Champions League was key to Solomon’s decision.
Credit: Imago
Football Insider revealed on Friday that Farke’s frustrations were laid bare at Elland Road after Leeds missed out on re-signing Solomon, having also failed with a last-ditch move for Fulham’s Harry Wilson.
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Speaking on the new Inside Track podcast, O’Rourke stated that the offer of Champions League football was too good to turn down for Solomon and several of Leeds’ other more ambitious targets this summer.
“There’s always competition for these players’ signatures”, he told Football Insider.
“[With] Manor Solomon, Palace tried to sign him but he’s gone to Villarreal, he’s got Champions League football – Leeds can’t offer that right now.
“Obviously, Palace had money in their pockets to spend following the sale of Eberechi Eze, and the chance of European football as well.
“There’s no regrets from Daniel Farke – he will now move on and work with what he’s got, to try and ensure that Leeds are well-placed come the January window.
Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media
Solomon’s 10 league goals and 12 assists played a big part in Leeds’ charge to promotion last season, with his injury-time winner on the final day against Plymouth sealing the Championship title in style.
After scoring 95 goals on their way back to the Premier League, however, Leeds’ attack is arguably weaker on the other side of the summer following Solomon, Largie Ramazani and Mateo Joseph‘s exits.
Aiming high for the likes of Rodrigo Muniz and Igor Paixao has instead resulted in Leeds signing free agents and injury-prone forwards like Noah Okafor, and Solomon’s move to Villarreal compounds a frustrating summer on the transfer front.