It is easy to forget the circumstances which surrounded last summer’s switch to Leeds United for a man starting to creep into conversations for the Championship’s Player of the Year award.
Manor Solomon arrived at Elland Road having been restricted to less than 200 Premier League minutes during an injury-hit spell at Tottenham Hotspur.
There was also the prospect of a complex legal battle between Spurs and Shakhtar Donetsk following the deal that brought the Israel international to North London on a free transfer back in 2023, Solomon’s contract terminated on the back of the Ukrainian conflict with Russia.
All in all, that might have been enough baggage to send many clubs running for the hills. But not Leeds United.
Signing the former Maccabi Petah Tikva and Fulham winger on loan for the 2024/25 season, Leeds’ faith has been rewarded with considerable interest. Manor Solomon was ‘unplayable’ again as Leeds thrashed Watford on Tuesday night, scoring one and assisting another to maintain his scintillating form since the turn of the year.
And Liol Berkovic, the son of former Manchester City, Celtic and Southampton ace Eyal Berkovic, is delighted to see that his continued belief in arguably the most talented Israeli football of his generation was not misplaced.
Leeds United’s Manor Solomon revival goes down very well in Israel
“Manor Solomon went through some tough injuries. He almost retired from football! It’s very sad to hear something like that, I was shocked,” Berkovic tells Podium House.
“At Tottenham, he didn’t connect, got injured and couldn’t find himself. The question came of what to do, and most said about Leeds United; ‘Why is he going there?’.
“When he signed for Leeds, I tweeted that it was the best decision of his career.”
It is telling that, rather than return to his parent club, Manor Solomon seems more than open to joining Leeds United on a permanent basis.
Reportedly valued at around £10 million, that would be relatively small change for a club benefitting from the riches of the Premier League presuming promotion can be secured at the second time of asking under Daniel Farke.
Solomon, meanwhile, has eight goals or assists now in his last seven league outings. Leeds, in their last three, have hit the net a staggering 13 teams.
Player and club, Berkovic feels, are simply a match made in footballing heaven.
Solomon showing why he was seen as a ‘huge talent’
“Leeds is a killer team on the pitch,” Berkovic adds, Solomon finally playing with the sort of consistency to back up his undoubted potential. “They are offensive and score a lot of goals.
“I wrote that Manor would have a great season, stay there, get promoted with them, and score the number of goals expected of him.
“He silenced everyone. He is so humble that, after every goal, he celebrates in the same way. I enjoy seeing him because the only name I’ve heard that is considered a huge talent, from the age of seven, is Manor Solomon.”
Solomon now has 15 goal contributions in a Leeds shirt, his understanding with an in-form Joel Piroe and the rampant Dan James enough to strike fear into the hearts of any Championship defender.
“He’s done well at Leeds with his goals and assists,” former Elland Road and Spurs shot-stopper Paul Robinson told Leeds Live this week. “At the minute, you don’t know what’s going to happen at Tottenham with the manager and who’s recruiting the players.
“So there could be a window of opportunity for Leeds United to sign Manor Solomon. If Leeds do get promoted, then he would be a great buy.”
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