Chelsea: Dominic Solanke wants £50,000-a-week to sign new Blues deal

Chelsea are in danger of losing one their best youth prospects after striker Dominic Solanke demanded £50,000-a-week ($72,804) to sign a new contract with the soon-to-be deposed Premier League champions. Apart from a whopping new deal, the striker also wants assurances of regular first-team chances to agree a new deal.

According to The Times, contract talks between the striker's representatives and the club have come to a standstill following the high wage demand despite playing only 17 minutes of first-team football for the Blues during the 2014/15 campaign. Chelsea are keen to hold onto the highly-rated forward but are unlikely to be held ransom by the youngster.

Solanke, who is currently enjoying a loan spell at Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem, had a prolific 2014/15 campaign with the Chelsea youth sides. He scored 31 goals in 34 games in all competitions, helping the Blues win the FA youth Cup and the Uefa Youth League. The striker admitted that he is enjoying his loan spell and believes regular first-team football will help him develop further before returning to Stamford Bridge in the summer.

"It's been really good. It's nice to be getting regular game time. It's a very good league for me to develop in right now. A lot of teams like to get the ball down and play football. It's quite similar to the Premier League in that respect, not many teams play long ball. It's a good place to develop both technically and physically. That's important. I'm enjoying the challenge," Solanke told Chelsea's official site.

The 18-year-old forward will enter the final year of his contract with the Blues and is keen to get assurances over first-team appearances before committing his long term future to Chelsea. The west London club are not known for promoting youth — John Terry was the last youth prospect to prosper with the first team — but are keen to bridge the gap by offering a chance to the talented youngsters at the club. Ruben Loftus-Cheek has agreed a new deal after being inducted into the senior squad by Jose Mourinho and the club are keen to hold on to Solanke, who has been tipped to be a future England international.