Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Part 3

The transfer rumours in SW6 are hotting up with the season now just only over one month away. Looking through the long list of transfer rumours is our man Cameron Ramsey.

We’ve got to be close to finalising a deal for someone now, haven’t we? Frustrating as it may be, Tony Khan and the lads surely have us covered in the transfer market, as though things are, well, desperately slow, he and his recruitment experts, along with Slav, of course, will understand the importance of reinforcing our dwindling squad in readiness for the start of the 2018-19 Premier League campaign.

The previous two transfer round-up articles have comprised some scorchers, but this particular scoop includes an array of sizzling hot talent, and as every single day of the English summer has been virtually smouldering thus far, it’s only befitting that we share them with you, because that’s all we need right about now, more sweaty palms and armpits.

Upon picking up your phone, or tablet etc, do so with utmost caution, as some names will scald you without warning. But then again, we’re all bursting into flames due to the sheer lack of movement anyway, let alone the wretched sun, so if you are to char, make sure you do so with a fresh dose of speculative knowledge in your mildly frazzled brain first.

Marvin Plattenhardt – Hertha Berlin

According to German outlet Bild, Fulham are supposedly among a wide range of Premier League outfits, including Everton, AFC Bournemouth, Watford and Huddersfield, that are weighing-up a swoop for Hertha Berlin’s Marvin Plattenhardt.

The Whites are looking a tad thin in terms of experience at left-back, where the 26-year-old German plays, and after having a £10m bid rebuffed by Southampton for Matt Targett earlier in the transfer period, the club has to be open to unearthing targets from afar if they’re to identify a worthy candidate.

Plattenhardt was drafted into Joachim Low’s painfully underwhelming 2018 World Cup Die Mannschaft fold which remarkably failed to make it out of the group stages in Russia, but as he’s ultimately a recognised international, it’s thought that Die Alte Dame will demand £22m from any active suitor.

Dedryck Boyata – Celtic

Celtic’s Dedryk Boyata – subject to a report published by Scottish Sun – is allegedly on the Whites’ radar having widely impressed on international duty with Belgium, who downed England 1-0 to pip Gareth Southgate’s men to top spot in Group H during the 2018 World Cup.

Boyata, known to many due to his formative Manchester City roots in the top-flight, has become a part of Roberto Martinez’s resolute ‘Red Devils’ rearguard, and only has 1 year left on his current contract at the serial Scottish Premier League champions, although it’s believed that Brendan Rodgers will try to button him down to a new deal at Celtic Park after the World Cup to ward off poachers in the transfer window.

After a scintillating Euro 2016 tournament with Iceland, Ragnar Sigurdsson joined Fulham almost immediately, although his stint at Craven Cottage, which promised solidity, was bitterly stale, so it’s thought that Khan and co. will be reluctant to take a chance on Boyata, as positive national displays evidently don’t always continue at club level.

Mateo Musacchio – AC Milan

Serie A giants AC Milan are supposedly preparing to replenish the dressing room over the summer and that means clearing out clutter, and a report issued by Gianluca Di Marzio states that the Cottagers have allegedly lodged a bid for the club’s Argentinian centre-half, Mateo Musacchio.

Jokanovic will presumably want to bolster his defensive regiment considering that he’s been left only with Tim Ream, Denis Odoi and Marcelo Djalo as options in the heart of the back four, and Musacchio, 27, would certainly reinforce and compliment the remaining corps on the bank of the Thames, if he was to depart the San Siro.

With Fulham back in the Premier League, the prospect of a move to Craven Cottage for the former Villarreal man isn’t an entirely laughable possibility, and in order to further that point, it’s also believed that the Rossoneri are contemplating Fulham’s proposed offer, a development which will undoubtedly fan flames.

Alassane Plea – OGC Nice

Sky Sports understand that West Ham United have tabled a figure of £27m for OGC Nice’s Alassane Plea, however the report also suggests that the Hammers will be rivalled by none other than Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and yes, you’ve sussed it, Fulham.

Plea netted 21 goals for the Ligue 1 outfit last term in all competitions and is fast becoming one of Europe’s most efficient target men, and if there’s one requirement needed in English the top-flight, it’s the ability to bulge the back of the net on a regular basis.

The 25-year-old striker began his career at fellow French club Olympique Lyonnais but moved to Nice in 2014, and if the Irons, as well as the Cottagers, are to lure him away from the Allianz Riviera, they’ll have to meet Les Aiglons’ lofty €30m valuation.

Ozan Tufan – Fenerbahce

Fenerbahce’s Ozan Tufan could be on his way to the Premier League next term as a report published by Turkish Football has revealed that Fulham, accompanied by Crystal Palace, are said to be eyeing a move for the vibrant, adaptable midfielder.

It would appear, however, that the Eagles hold the upper hand in the duel for his services, as a separate article provided by Turkish outlet Fanatik cites that Palace have already placed an initial £2.5m stake for Tufan’s discarded signature.

The 23-year-old was involved in a spat with Sarı Lacivertliler’s ex-manager Aykut Kocaman during the 2017-18 season but did manage to register 3 goals in 9 appearances, although the club’s newly appointed boss, Phillip Cocu, is said to be an admirer of his progression at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium following his staggered campaign, so it’s not yet guaranteed that the Turkish international will be shown the exit door indefinitely.

Peter Zulj – Sturm Graz

As per a recent report published by sportreport.biz, Fulham will allegedly contest rivals Queens Park Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday as well as Bundesliga outfits Hertha Berlin, Bayer Leverkusen and VfL Wolfsburg for Sturm Graz playmaker Peter Zulj, who was crowned the Austrian Football Player of the Year at the end of the 2017-18 season as reward for his inspired exploits.

It’s thought that the Whites are prepared to dispatch a figure of £7m in Graz’s direction in order to prise Zulj from their clutches, but as the 25-year-old was a key component to his employer’s domestic prosperity, the Austrian Bundesliga club will presumably stand tall in the face of any potential offer for the midfield craftsman.

Zulj proved to be an influential catalyst last year in his maiden season for Graz following a move from SV Ried in 2017, with 17 assists and 10 goals to his name throughout on all available platforms, a record which also contributed to Die Schwoazn’s 1-0 Austrian Cup triumph over Red Bull Salzburg, who topped the league table ahead of Graz, who finished second in their shadow.

William Remy – Legia Warsaw 

Ligue 1 side HSC Montepellier let William Remy leave the club for Polish outfit Legia Warsaw in January for free after falling down the club’s pecking order, but having revived his career at Wojskowi, French publication Madein Foot believes that Fulham are ready to chase the centre-half’s signature.

Remy competed in 16 fixtures in the second-half of the 2017-18 season as Legia won the Ekstraklasa title, and it’s thought that now he’s returned to the pinnacle of his own personal game, a jump to SW6 would aid the 27-year-old’s resurrection as a valued enforcer.

As Legia snagged him for, well, zilch, whatever they’re likely to gain from a potential sale will be of profit to them. It’s subsequently been said that the Polish champions would demand at least €2m but entertain nothing less, a surprisingly shallow requirement by today’s grossly inflated market standards. So if Fulham are scouring for squad depth at a reasonable price, they’ll need search no further than Remy.