January Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Part 4

Still no concrete movement on the transfer front since Ryan Babel’s arrival at Craven Cottage, and with only a matter of days left before the January window slams shut, our recruitment experts have their work cut out if they’re to lure their primary targets to SW6 before it’s all too late. But, as ever, the media never fails to spew up alluring rumours, whispers and murmurs.

Proven against Tottenham Hotspur, our bench is desperately limp and inefficient. Claudio Ranieri’s substitutions were questionable and pernicious – from a relatively commanding position, we allowed Spurs to claw their way back into proceedings. Our plight is self-inflicted, because those featured amongst the matchday compliment are simply not worthy of top-flight football. That is an exceedingly poignant fact and realisation to behold.

Our deflated ranks require depth, grit and experience. Hardened characters that thrive under pressure and take no prisoners when the opportunity to stamp their mark surfaces. We’ve no FA Cup football to endure and the road to safety harbours numerous blockades and hidden dips, but there’s no entailed speed limit to adhere to. We have no remaining time to squander and we’ve no space for passengers. Here’s another extensive shortlist of stars that could possibly come to our rescue, just as the needle flutters precariously above empty.

Antonio Valencia – Manchester United

Newcastle United and Fulham – according to a report published by Daily Mail – are both said to be tailing Manchester United’s veteran winger Antonio Valencia. The two-time Premier League-winning 33-year-old has 6 months remaining on his current contract and is allegedly free to leave Old Trafford before the January transfer period comes to a close.

The Ecuadorian is also capable of deputising at either right-back or right wing-back but has only featured in five Premier League outings this season for the Red Devils. Initially favoured at the club, a supposed bust-up between Valencia and United’s former boss, Jose Mourinho, saw the former Wigan Athletic talisman plummet down the pecking order.

Scott Dann – Crystal Palace

Having courted Gary Cahill earlier this month, The Sun suggests that Fulham have turned their attention to Crystal Palace’s 31-year-old centre-half Scott Dann, with the Eagles eyeing a shock loan move for the Blues’ surplus defender if Dann opts to join Ranieri’s sinking ship.

It’s thought that the Whites, despite allegedly agreeing a deal for Cahill, were priced out of a move for the former England international due to the 33-year-old’s eye-watering financial demands. Frozen out of Roy Hodgson’s plans at Selhurst Park, any proposed swoop for Dann appears to be valid and plausible, especially if the south-Londoners pip Fulham to Cahill’s esteemed, yet discarded signature.

Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui- SK Slavia Prague

Italian outlet Calciomercato understands that Fulham, alongside fellow Premier League adversaries Cardiff City and Newcastle United, are monitoring SK Slavia Prague’s 28-year-old centre-back Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui, an integral member of the table-topping Czech side’s rearguard.

Intense and full-blooded in his defensive responsibilities, Ngadeu-Ngadjui has helped Červenobílí reach the last 32 of the Europa League and is also Cameroon’s international captain. Contracted to his current employers until 2020, it’s thought that a shallow release clause worth £3.9m is also included Ngadeu-Ngadjui’s standing deal at the Eden Arena.

Joseph Attamah – Istanbul Basaksehir

In order to solidify their permeable defence, Fulham – as per an article published by Daily Mail – have supposedly contacted Turkish Super Lig outfit Istanbul Basaksehir regarding the potential availability of Joseph Attamah.

Basaksehir are reportedly reluctant to lose the 24-year-old centre-half, however it’s believed that the Whites are keen to continue negotiations and will do whatever’s necessary to lure the Ghana international to Craven Cottage before the end of the January transfer window.

Andre Almeida – SL Benfica

According to Portuguese publication O Jogo, SL Benfica’s Andre Almeida is allegedly on Fulham radar and it’s also been said that the struggling Premier League side have lodged an €8m bid for the 28-year-old right-back.

Almeida regularly compliments the Águias’ starting XI and is capable of playing in the midfield department. Contracted at the Estadio da Luz until 2021, Almeida has spent his entire career in Portugal but a move to England, even to a faltering Fulham, could be an enormously tempting prospect indeed.

Dawid Kownacki – UC Sampdoria

Subject to a report published by SampNews24, Fulham and relegation rivals Southampton are thought to be contenders in the hunt for UC Sampdoria striker Dawid Kownacki, who’s game time at the Serie A outfit has been vastly limited this season.

The 21-year-old Poland international is supposedly interesting a whole host of European suitors including Fortuna Dusseldorf, VfB Stuttgart and Empoli. Marco Giampaolo has allegedly opened the door for Kownacki to depart, meaning that the Whites and the Saints could be locked in a transfer skirmish for the adjustable attacker very, very soon.

Che Adams – Birmingham City

An extremely promising prospect, Birmingham City’s Che Adams has been in inspired form for the Blues this season. The Sun reports that Southampton have had an £8m offer rebuffed by the Championship side, although it’s not just the seasiders that Garry Monks side have to be wary of from England’s top-flight.

Other than the Saints, Fulham, Leicester City and Burnley are also believed to be tracking the 22-year-old marksman’s progress at St. Andrews. Adams has netted 14 goals for Birmingham to date this term, and his deadly prowess in front of the target could catapult the Whites out of the Premier League drop zone.

Ibrahim Amadou – Sevilla FC

Spanish outlet El Mundo Deportivo suggests that Fulham and Newcastle United are keeping close tabs on Sevilla FC’s Ibrahim Amadou, a 25-year-old midfielder that shone during Los Hispalenses‘ recent 2-0 triumph over Catalan heavyweights FC Barcelona in the Copa Del Ray.

Formally of Ligue 1 side Lille OSC, the Frenchman penned a deal worth £9m with La Liga contenders last summer but his career at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium has subsequently been blighted by injury. With just two domestic appearances to his name, it’s speculated that Amadou would prefer to fight for his place in Pablo Machin’s set-up, rather than switching to Premier League squads that are threatened with relegation.

Rafael Toloi – Atalanta BC

Fulham are thought to be prepared to launch a bid to snag Atalanta BC centre-back Rafael Toloi – according to Tuttomercatoweb – after supposedly contacting the 28-year-old’s representatives.

The Brazilian defender’s out of contract at the Serie A club in 2020 but is a trusted component within Gian Piero Gasperini’s defensive quarters. Linking up with Orobici in 2015 from AS Roma, Toloi has made 122 appearances since his arrival at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, a record that bolsters his stature as an established buttress at the back.

Tiago Casasola – Torino FC

Four years after waving goodbye to the Cottage following an underwhelming spell in SW6, Calciomercato claim that Fulham have had a £1.1m offer rejected by Torino FC for Tiago Casasola. Excelling in Serie B, with 16 appearances and 4 goals under his belt, the versatile 23-year-old is seemingly set in the Whites’ sights.

A beneficial utility option, Casasola is developing into a cultured, refined exponent of the game. Recognised as a defender by trade, the Argentine’s superb with the ball at his boots and is fleet footed in his exploits, vibrant traits that have enabled him to terrorise along the flanks in advanced positions. Physical, agile, aerially imposing, the 6ft 2in authoritarian’s flourished on Italian soil and has turned heads and raised eyebrows, most notably, to our astonishment, the ‘Tinker Man’s’.