Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Summer 2020 – Part 1
Written by Cameron Ramsey on 6th August 2020
Party time isn’t over just yet, folks, in fact with all that’s emanated in the press since and even before our unforgettable Tuesday evening at Wembley, this late summer shindig is only just grooving into its sensual swing.
Yes, I’m talking about swooning transfer rumours and we’ve another seductively speculative supplement for you to indulge, no matter if some of the cited links are plain Jane and expected. We all know how Premier League transfer windows pan out, so let’s hope that the players we eventually persuade to SW6 are committed and not fraudulent cheats.
Ryan Sessegnon – Tottenham Hotspur
We’ll begin with a scoop that’s on everyone’s lips. Having made the jump to Tottenham Hotspur from Fulham last summer for a suspected £25m fee, Ryan Sessegnon could be on the verge of a return to the banks of the Thames on loan, as per a report fed by Daily Mail.
The 20-year-old winger has failed to win over Jose Mourinho and in order to revive his stunted career, the Whites are said to be keen on luring the exalted academy graduate back to SW6. This, needless to say, would be a sensational deal for both parties if it were to materialise. Come back home, king!
Branislav Ivanovic – Free Agent
A veteran and familiar to life in the capital’s glamour district, Serbian publication B92 are under the impression that Fulham are interested in snaring free-agent Branislav Ivanovic, although they’ll face stiff competition from Everton for the 36-year-old’s vacant signature.
Ivanovic, before departing the club in July, shepherded Zenit St Petersburg to the Russian Premier League title and whilst many may wonder if he’s well past his best, the powerful centre-half is still hungry to dictate at the highest level possible, and his experience in the English top-flight would greatly benefit Parker’s camp. Ivanovic won three Premier League titles, three FA Cups and one League Cup, as well as the Champions League and Europa League during his time with Chelsea, but I’m not the greedy type, either.
Kyle Walker-Peters – Tottenham Hotspur
Having spent half a season on loan at St. Mary’s, Southampton – according to Evening Standard – are thought to be hot on the heels of Tottenham Hotspur’s Kyle Walker-Peters, however Fulham are also supposedly in the running for the fledgling right-back.
The Whites apparently missed out on the England U21 defender in January and now that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg poised for a £15m switch to North London, the Saints are surely in pole position as it stands. Parker and Matt Wells both worked with the 23-year-old at Spurs’ academy, though, so the coast isn’t necessarily clear for the seasiders.
Harrison Reed – Southampton
If this doesn’t become reality, I’ll start chucking limbs at strangers. An unmovable linchpin in Fulham’s promotion-clinching midfield, The Telegraph suggests that Harrison Reed is considering a permanent contract at Craven Cottage, having plied his trade for the Whites on a temporary basis from Southampton.
Reed, 25, played 27 games for Fulham during the recently completed 2019-20 campaign and if he is to remain in SW6, it could set the club back £8m or so, which is a bloody steal by today’s astronomical standards. Ralph Hasenhuttl, however, is apparently a great admirer of Reed, and with Hojbjerg nearing an exit, he could install the ginger assassin into his own midfield ranks instead.
Harry Arter – AFC Bournemouth
Another loanee of last season, albeit a less impressive one, a piece published by talkSPORT proposes that Harry Arter may very well become a Fulham player indefinitely after a so-so stint under his brother-in-law’s command.
It’s understood that Fulham were obliged to sign the Republic of Ireland midfielder for £4m if he made a certain number of appearances and, whilst he didn’t make the required quota, the Whites are still avowedly eager for the injury-prone 30-year-old to put pen to paper.
Ryan Fraser – Free Agent
If Sky Sports leaked it, it must be true. After turning down a short-term contract extension with Bournemouth, Ryan Fraser is now without an employer and Fulham will rival Crystal Palace for the winger’s explosive services.
Fraser contributed heavily to the Cherries’ initial success in the Premier League but as the managerless outfit were relegated from the top-flight last term, the 26-year-old Scotland international is on the hunt for a reputable destination to further his career. Arsenal are also allegedly tailing the pint-sized attacker, although if the murmurs surrounding his desired pay packet are true (£100k-per-week), he can whistle at the entrance of the Emirates.
Jovane Cabral – Sporting CP
Creeping into basically every rumour article in the past year, Sporting CP’s Jovane Cabral is slowly morphing into Dwight Gayle as it’s emerged – courtesy of A Bola – that the Liga NOS outfit rebuffed a €10m offer from Fulham in July. Since that supposed bid, West Ham United have also surfaced as an admirer of the winger’s capabilities.
It’s not the first time the Cape Verde international’s been on our radar, far from it, but he’s still having an effect at the Estádio José Alvalade. in 16 outings for Leões, the 22-year-old registered 6 goals and 3 assists and with that fairly productive spurt of form, Sporting value him closer to €15m. For argument’s sake, he is basically a younger version of Ivan Cavaleiro, so hot and cold is the best way to describe him.
Oliver Skipp – Tottenham Hotspur
The London Evening Standard have disclosed that Fulham are amongst a host of clubs in pursuit of Spurs’ innovative youngster Oliver Skipp. The 19-year-old is a hot prospect at the North-Londoners and Mourinho is preparing to send the 19-year-old out on loan.
Southampton, Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Reading are thought to be the other respective parties vying for the teenager and as top-flight appearances may be at a premium, a move to the Championship is seeming the more likely outcome, if he is to depart.
Conor Gallagher – Chelsea
Shipped out on loan (suprise, surprise) to Charlton Athletic and Swansea City last season, Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher could be readying himself for another season outside of Stamford Bridge, with Crystal Palace, Southampton, Leeds United and Fulham all tracking the playmaker’s availability, according to Football London’s report.
The England U21 international acclimatised to life in the Championship perfectly at both the Addicks and the Swans, and he’s certainly got the capacity to muscle his way into a Premier League midfield in the coming campaign. Lively, productive, he’d be a worthwhile addition in my opinion, so watch this space.
Christian Koffi – Fiorentina
Subject to a Calciomercato report, Bristol City and Fulham are allegedly eyeing Fiorentina’s 19-year-old winger Christian Koffi, who was supposedly on Liverpool’s wish list, once upon a time.
Bearing comparisons with Sadio Mane, the young French winger is yet to live up to the hype and La Viola are willing to let him leave in the summer transfer window. Not clued up on this guy in particular, but I know Jack Collins follows Fiorentina, so perhaps he has notable pedigree after all.
Mallik Wilks – Hull City
Hull City were relegated to League One and that basically means they may have to flog their best assets – Football Insider believes Stoke City, Fulham and Bournemouth are primed to swoop for Mallik Wilks, who scored 5 Championship goals for the Tigers.
Making his stay in Humberside permanent last summer, the former Barnsley man, 21, could be on the market for a discounted price as Hull may require substantial funds if they’re to build a competitive third-tier squad. They’re in no position to argue, so I expect the flourishing attacker to head for pastures new fairly sharpish.
