Transfer Talk: Rumours You’ll Hear This January Part IV

Things have got no hotter on the Fulham transfer activity, inbound at least, but rumours are still aplenty. Cameron Ramsey takes you through the latest hot topics buzzing on the Fulham transferweb.

Well, despite Jordan Graham returning to Wolverhampton Wanderers and Michael Madl waving goodbye for Austria Wien, there’s still been little notable activity in the transfer window as of yet, but we remain hopeful that business will commence rapturously in our favour very, very soon.

That doesn’t stop the stories from continuing to pile up though, and after trawling through each and every available outlet once more, signs and inklings of life in the transfer market for Fulham are still apparent, and that’s why we’re here, skimming up and down our flashy tech to gather and digest what’s been spouted in the media since our last chapter of the window’s possible dealings for Slavisa and chums.

Nelson Oliveira

With one floundering Portuguese national on the books in Rui Fonte, Fulham – according to The Sun – are supposedly ready to launch an £8m bid to snare Norwich City’s Nelson Oliveira, who has tallied 7 goals in 23 appearances for the Canaries this season to date.

Oliveira, 26, has been an essential member of Daniel Farke’s squad and even notched the equalising goal against the Whites during the inaugural fixture of the 2017-18 Championship campaign to claw the scoreline back to 1-1, so if his name seemed oddly familiar, you’ll certainly recognise it now.

Ideally, the former SL Benfica man would be a perfect fit in Slavisa Jokanovic’s fold as he certainly knows his way to goal, particularly in his current surroundings at Carrow Road. The south-west Londoners are longing for a hit-man which is fully acclimatised to the division, so perhaps Oliveira is roughly what’s required when bearing down on the net.

Sebastian Leto

A free agent after being released by Emirates Club, who compete in the UAE Arabian Gulf League, Sebastian Leto is available and it’s surfaced that the Whites – according to a report published by Daily Mail – are allegedly in negotiations with the Argentinian striker to carve out a deal which could potentially see him inhabit English shores once more.

Leto, 31, spent 2 seasons at Liverpool from 2007-09 but failed to make a single first team appearance for the Merseysiders, although given his ability to deputise a range of offensive positions, he could become a hugely instrumental member of the squad, if a deal was to be struck between the two parties.

Classed as a winger, Leto is capable of playing up top as a number 9, or behind the leading attacker as an auxiliary number 10 – for his former employers, the marksman only mustered 9 appearances, although he did chip in with 2 goals and an assist, solid indication that he is still a threat with the ball at his feet.

Edwin Gyasi

Wingers, Fulham are never too far away from being linked with one, and it’s risen to our attention – subject to a report published by Daily Mail – that Aalesund FK’s Edwin Gyasi, a Dutch-born Ghanaian international flanker, is a target of Brighton & Hove Albion, Norwich City and yes, you’ve guessed it, the Whites.

It’s believed that the Norwegian club are willing to accept offers starting at £600k including add-ons, which would take the proposed fee to around £1m, although if suitors were aiming to lure the searing attacker on loan, they’d have no chance – Sunderland were allegedly keen to capture the 26-year-old on a temporary basis, but their efforts were rebuffed.

During the current campaign, Gyasi has six goals to his name under Lars Bohinen’s leadership and has also rippled the back of the net once in two caps for his national fold and though he’s accustom to hugging the touchline, it’s not a rarity that he’s deployed as a second striker, an aspect of his game which is compelling and relevant to the club’s search for a goal scorer.

OUT – Tom Cairney

It’s Sky Sports‘ understanding that struggling Premier League outfit West Bromwich Albion – who are currently languishing 19th in the top-flight standings – have approached Fulham with the intention of signing club talisman Tom Cairney.

Cairney, who has suffered through his injury set-backs this term, is still undoubtedly one of the Whites’ brightest creative outlets, and the notion of the Scotsman jumping ship to toil in a wallowing Baggies fold is farcical, deplorable and above all complete and utter nonsense.

The Cottagers are flying high after a string of spirited domestic performances, and if anything’s deadly certain it’s that Jokanovic will be planning to bolster his ranks, rather than deplete them.

It’s believed that the figure submitted is in the £15m ball park, but given ‘TC’s’ presence in the starting XI, he’s simply invaluable. So if those in charge have an ounce of prudent sensibility in them, the 26-year-old metronome will be going absolutely nowhere.

In that regard, a statement from the Whites’ Captain has committed his future to the club, so we’re thankful that this rumour is one which seems exceptionally unlikely to have any real legs in it.

OUT – David Button

The Premier League beckons for yet another Fulham member and it’s one which may raise eyebrows, as it’s emerged that David Button, a keeper who is struggling to find his finest form, is a target of Roy Hodgson’s resurgent Crystal Palace – according to a report published by West London Sport.

Since the Whites were pummelled 3-1 at Griffin Park against Button’s former employers Brentford in December, the 28-year-old has been a regular on the Whites’ bench, with Marcus Bettinelli being preferred by Slav’ as it stands. ‘Betts’ has duly marshalled the sticks valiantly since his reinstated starting privilege, meaning that his wavering teammate has no choice but to play second fiddle.

The Eagles are browsing the market for a new stopper and have supposedly distinguished Getafe’s Vicente Guaita and Ipswich Town’s Bartosz Bialkowski as possible recruits. The Cottagers purchased button from the Bees in 2015 for £2m, and if they are to let him leave for ‘Uncle Woy’ and the, ahem, magnetism of Selhurst Park, it’s presumed that Fulham would wish to recoup the original figure or indeed the majority of which they formally invested in him.