January Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Part 2

We haven’t lured anyone yet, but that’s not to say that we’re not painstakingly drawing up contractual offers for various individuals at this very moment. It’s a strange time of year. Everyone on the face of the earth is planning and scheming for the months ahead, be it dietary, financially or even in terms of meeting that special someone.

This article, incidentally, is basically Tinder for Fulham fans. What you’ll do is flick through the potential options, set your sights on the perfect candidate, and long for their alluring presence to grace your life. Yeah, we may have been through a few horrific ventures already, but this particular issue could comprise an absolute rocket, or three.

All the best things occur spontaneously. Planning kills the moment, and we don’t want anyone else to lay their grubby mittens on our eye candy if they get a whiff, do we? We’re on the prowl and the field is there to be played, so let’s ogle at the latest dishes that could be on offer for the Whites in the coming weeks, or indeed, within the next hour.

Gregoire Defrel – AS Roma (On Loan At UC Sampdoria)

Aleksandar Mitrovic is in need of competition in the scoring department, and Sky Sports believes that Fulham, alongside Watford and West Ham United, are tracking AS Roma’s 27-year-old striker Gregoire Defrel, who is currently on loan at fellow Serie A outfit UC Sampdoria.

The Frenchman has registered 7 goals in all competitions for the Blucerchiati and would be a worthy understudy to the strapping Serb. A move to the Premier League would only be plausible, though, if his temporary employers opt to cut his brief stint at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris short.

Marko Pjaca – Juventus (On Loan At Fiorentina)

Another link from Serie A involves Juventus’ Croatian winger Marko Pjaca. According to Italian outlet Calciomercato, the Whites are supposedly monitoring the 23-year-old, although Parma are also said to be tailing his intricate services.

The Bianconeri are thought to be dismayed with the lack of game time that Pjaca’s received at the Stadio Artemio Franchi and are subsequently willing to recall the attacker to Turin. Though Juve are allegedly listening to alternatives, La Viola are reportedly reluctant to part ways with the Old Lady’s developing asset.

Divock Origi – Liverpool

As per a report published by Daily Mail, the Cottagers are supposedly prepared to lodge a £15m bid for Liverpool’s Belgian hit-man Divock Origi, a discarded marksman that’s circumstantially in fine form for Jurgen Klopp’s Reds.

The Merseysiders recently flogged Dominic Solanke to AFC Bournemouth for £19m and are seemingly thin on effective replacements for Roberto Firmino. Wolverhampton Wanderers will allegedly rival the Whites for the 23-year-old’s signature, but it appears terribly unlikely that Klopp will allow Origi a mid-season departure from Anfield.

Youssouf Sabaly – FC Girondins de Bordeaux

In order to solve their defensive woes, L’Équipe (via GFF) understands that Fulham have enquired about FC Girondins de Bordeaux’s 25-year-old right-back Youssouf Sabaly, a buccaneering executioner of his responsibilities.

It’s thought that the Ligue 1 side have rebuffed the Whites’ initial offer, although negotiations are apparently ongoing. A Senegal international, Sabaly was allegedly on SC Napoli’s radar in the summer transfer window.

Michal Travnik – FC Jablonec

Revered by FK Jabonec’s hierarchy, Michal Travnik – according to Daily Mail – has reportedly caught the eye of both Fulham and Newcastle United after setting the Fortuna Liga alight.

The 24-year-old Czech Republic international, valued at £4m, has shone in the Europa League and has also netted 10 goals in 17 appearances for the Czech outfit, a record that highlights his prolific tendencies in the final third. Robust and adaptable, Travnik is also capable of occupying a deeper role in the engine room.

Andreas Samaris – SL Benfica

Newcastle United are said to be interested in SL Benfica’s Andreas Samaris, although Transfermarkt seem to believe that Fulham are also admirers of the 29-year-old anchorman, even if nothing solid has surfaced in the press to give the Whites’ rumoured attraction substance.

Samaris’ deal at the Estadio da Luz is set to expire in the summer, and though the Águias have placed a £10m price tag on his head, the Greece international is said to be hopeful of a move away from Liga NOS, for free or indeed for a fee, in the January transfer period.

Mauricio Isla – Fenerbahce SK

Once of local adversaries Queens Park Rangers, Fenerbahce SK’s Mauricio Isla – subject to a report published by Turkish outlet Tavkim – is allegedly on Fulham’s mid-season wishlist, as they strive to bolster their flailing rearguard for the remainder of the campaign.

The Super Lig giants have toiled through the current season and are propping up the Turkish top-flight’s standings. Sarı Lacivertliler could be swayed to sell the 30-year-old Chilean right-back if the Cottagers table a suitable offer. Cheap in comparison to the likes of Victor Moses and such, a swoop for Isla is viable, and he has previous experience on English soil, albeit in Shepherd’s Bush.