‘I see myself there’ – Salzburg’s Oumar Solet predicts a future move to the Premier League

In an interview with Foot Mercato, RB Salzburg centre-back Oumar Solet (23) discussed his future, the reasoning behind leaving Lyon for Salzburg and the interest shown in him in the summer transfer window from Italian clubs. The French centre-back has been playing in the Austrian Bundesliga since he left OL for €8.5m in 2020. 

Solet has been at Salzburg for four seasons, and Foot Mercato asked the former Lyon defender where he saw his future and where he would like to play. The 23-year-old replied, “England and Germany seem to me to be championships that could suit me in terms of my qualities. I like the Premier League. It’s a championship with a lot of intensity and I like that. I find that my physical qualities, my size, my speed and the fact that I am tough in duels mean that I could see myself there. It is one of the best championships in the world.”

Despite ambitions to play in the Premier League or the Bundesliga in the future, it was Serie A clubs who showed a vested interest in the former France U21 international in the summer transfer window. Torino agreed personal terms with the defender but no move materialised. 

Solet was asked about the interest shown in him from Italy in the summer to which he responded, “It’s very flattering to have Italian teams interested in me. But I remain focused on what I do on the pitch. Everything else I let my club and my agent manage. I am more focused on what is happening on the ground. I try to give 100% and do my job well.”

When the Laval youth product left Lyon many were surprised as he took a perceived step back in moving to the Austrian Bundesliga. Solet explained his reasoning for leaving OL to join the Red Bull club, “I transferred to Red Bull Salzburg because I was in a