The problems in Tottenham Hotspur are not just related to financial budgets, but it is also now on the legal grounds. The ongoing transfer dispute between Shakhtar Donetsk and Tottenham Hotspur over Israeli forward Manor Solomon has taken a serious turn. Shakhtar's president, Serhiy Palkin, is considering legal action against Tottenham after negotiations over Solomon's transfer broke down.

Solomon, like many players, was impacted by the war in Ukraine. FIFA allowed non-Ukrainian players to suspend their contracts, and Solomon moved to Fulham on loan before securing a long-term deal with Tottenham. However, Shakhtar claims he was still under their contract, leading to the current dispute.

Shakhtar's discontent with Tottenham's behavior

Serhiy Palkin has expressed strong dissatisfaction with Tottenham's conduct. He described their actions during the transfer as “not acceptable.” He compared Tottenham's behavior unfavorably to other clubs like Real Madrid and Corinthians, who paid Shakhtar for similar transfers.

Palkin shared his frustration in an interview, saying, “I am feeling very bad towards Tottenham. I cannot believe this kind of club with a huge history can behave like this. From my point of view, it's not acceptable behavior. They have taken advantage of the war.”

He emphasized the financial loss Shakhtar faces due to Tottenham acquiring Solomon without proper compensation. “Maybe if this was a very small club in Europe with not much money, maybe I could understand it. It's very strange everybody says we are one football family, when one of the top clubs receives a player free of charge and the market value of this player is up to €25 million (£21m/$27m). We invested in this player and developed this player for this kind of value.”

Palkin even proposed a future sell-on fee arrangement with Tottenham, but they declined his offer. “I even said to Tottenham: ‘I don't need money for him now. Let's have some kind of sell-on fee in the future: 30 or 40 percent. That would be enough for us.' But they said: ‘No, we'll give you 10 percent.' Giving us 10 percent is not respectful. You behave not like the football family. You behave like a robber on the road.”

Due to these disagreements, Shakhtar has ceased negotiations with Tottenham and is focusing on a court case against Lyon over a similar issue. The result of this case will influence their next steps against Tottenham.

Palkin highlighted the difference between how other major clubs have handled similar situations. “Real Madrid took [Vinicius Tobias] and paid us for two years. Corinthians did the same [with Maycon]. You see the difference between Real Madrid and Tottenham? The management of Real Madrid behaved themselves, and how did Tottenham behave?”

Legal action looming

Shakhtar Donetsk's readiness to pursue legal action reflects their determination to seek fair compensation. They believe Tottenham's handling of Solomon's transfer was unfair and exploitative, especially in the ongoing war in Ukraine. The outcome of the court case against Lyon will be crucial, potentially setting a precedent for future legal battles.

The transfer saga between Tottenham Hotspur and Shakhtar Donetsk over Manor Solomon is far from resolved. As Shakhtar explores legal avenues, the football world watches closely to see how this dispute unfolds. The case underscores the complexities and tensions that can arise in player transfers, particularly in extraordinary circumstances like those faced by Ukrainian clubs amid the ongoing conflict.