Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Extra

It’s transfer deadline day and we’re shaking like an excited little whippet as we await that freak announcement from the club to inform us that we’ve lured Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba in another audacious double swoop. Well, that may be the Irish coffee talking, but as it’s widely anticipated that at least another two worldies are to put pen to paper in the coming hours, absolutely anything could take shape. Cameron Ramsey has the latest.

Okay, less of the daydreaming, but those pesky tabloids simply can’t stop churning out the gossip to keep us salivating, and if Wolverhampton Wanderers are still able to pull some delights out of the goody bag, why can’t we, a fellow Premier League returner, have one last punt before we roundhouse the Eagles from their perch on Saturday?

You’ve got to hand it to everyone involved in the recruitment program, though, because we’ve genuinely set the summer alight with our ambitious ventures, those record-breaking deals which have made us a true force to be reckoned with, and whilst Kylian Mbappe may be on his way to Motspur Park with Paulo Dybala in his hand luggage at this very instance, here’s what’s been floating in the headlines since our previous lip-smacking edition.

Sergio Rico – Sevilla FC

As per a report published by Spanish outlet El Decano Deportivo, it’s believed that Sevilla FC’s 24-year-old goalkeeper Sergio Rico is poised to make a late summer switch to Fulham on a season-long loan deal, a potential addition which is particularly baffling to say the least.

Fabricio, of course, joined the Whites from Besiktas JK earlier in the transfer period to directly challenge Marcus Bettinelli for supremacy, although it now appears that Rico, a countryman of Fabri’s, is set to perhaps fill the void left by the developing Marek Rodak, who recently rejoined Rotherham United on loan for the duration of the 2018-19 campaign.

A product of Sevilla’s youth system, Rico has spent his entire career at Los Hispalenses and has also earned 1 solitary cap for the Spain national side. With two Europa League medals under his belt, the towering stopper knows what it takes to perform under immense pressure, but as Tomas Vaclik is likely to take favour in the matchday fold following his jump from FC Basel, a brief stint away from the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium could reinvent the seemingly discarded keeper’s stature in Andalusia.

Hugo Mallo – Celta Vigo

Renowned Spanish publication MARCA understands that the Whites have allegedly lodged a £9m bid to prise Celta Vigo’s lauded captain Hugo Mallo away from Balaidos before the English transfer window slams shut later this evening.

Though the set-up is pining for a commanding left-back to prop up Ryan Sessegnon, the right channel has also been a fairly thin department since the departure of Ryan Fredericks and Mallo, 27, is a firm fan favourite at La Liga outfit due to his buccaneering approach to his profession, having showcased his broad skill set in 301 appearances for the Célticos.

Incidentally, Fulham’s faithful caught a telling glimpse of Mallo’s prowess at Craven Cottage last Saturday during a hotly contested 2-2 draw. A hardened, offensive enforcer, the former Spain U21 international would undoubtedly inject Slav’s defensive quarters with steely determination, unwavering energy, and above all, unrivalled leadership.

Joe Bryan – Bristol City

Speaking of full-backs, Aston Villa are supposedly in an advanced stage in their pursuit of Bristol City’s Joe Bryan as it’s thought that the 24-year-old has completed a medical at the club, however it’s since emerged that Fulham – as per Bristol Live – are poised to hijack the Villans’ advancements with a potential late bid of their own.

It’s said that Fulham had an initial bid rebuffed by the Robins on Wednesday and it’s not yet known whether the south-west Londoners will launch a revised last-ditch offer to tempt the promotion hopefuls into reconsidering their decision to sell their leading left-back to a direct domestic rival.

Bryan has been on the Whites’ wishlist for the duration of the summer although as other options were on the cards any emerging noises of a potential surge for his signature fell flat, until now, of course, as a move to the Premier League opposed to Steve Bruce’s Championship dwellers is, well, an opportunity not to be squandered.

Haitam Aleesami – US Citta di Palermo

It appears that Fulham’s focus is locked solely on identifying solid defensive depth, and as full-backs are evidently dominating Tony Khan’s primed crosshairs, Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport – via Sport Witness – claims that US Citta di Palermo’s Haitam Aleesami has been touted for a possible jump to Craven Cottage.

The Cottagers reportedly opened negotiations with a €1.5m proposition, although if the Serie B outfit are to entertain the Premier League club’s somewhat shallow overture, a doubled sum of at least €3m will have to be met.

The Norwegian international, capped 16 times by his country, has been on the Rosanero’s books since 2016, but as the Sicilian-based club failed to gain promotion to the Serie A, the 28-year-old defender could force through a move to London in order to locate first-team football in the testing environment of the English top-flight.