Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Summer 2020 – Part 3

First thing’s first, a big welcome’s in order for our newest American resident, Antonee Robinson! At last, a signing has materialised and one can only hope that there’s more to come from our recruitment team, as our creatively corny social media department also needs some substance to work with, too.

Puns, quips, we’ll suffer them if reinforcements are waiting in the wings and this edition, our third of the summer window, comprises names that are familiar, compelling and sickeningly star-studded. Step inside and lose yourself in the madness, we have rousing revelations and hot scoops aplenty.

Chris Smalling – Manchester United

The one that got away, Chris Smalling, could possibly be on his way back to where it all began as a report published by Chronicle Live proposes that Manchester United could allow the 30-year-old centre-half to leave Old Trafford on a temporary basis for the upcoming season and Newcastle United, alongside Fulham, are said to be monitoring the situation closely.

The England international spent the duration of the 2019-20 campaign on loan at Serie A outfit AS Roma and by all accounts, the Italians were impressed by his application and enthusiasm. United would prefer to cash in on the defender if he was to continue his career elsewhere although the Giallorossi are apparently reluctant to meet the Red Devils’ £20m asking price.

Florentino Luis – SL Benfica

As per a report circulated by the Daily Mail, Fulham will contest Leeds United for SL Benfica academy graduate Florentino Luis, a 20-year-old that’s also drawn attention from the likes of AC Milan, Manchester City and United in the past.

Luis is a stubborn defensive midfielder that relishes the physical side of the game but despite his hard-hitting tendencies, he’s only accrued 18 first-team appearances for Águias. The Whites supposedly believe they can land the youngster for £2.5m loan fee, with the view to make his move to SW6 permanent for a whopping £40m. An expensively talented lad, then.

Macauley Bonne – Charlton Athletic

A riveting story from our mates at The Sun, Derby County, Burnley and Fulham could potentially be joined by Preston North End in the hunt for Charlton Athletic attacker Macauley Bonne.

The 24-year-old Zimbabwe international joined the Addicks from Leyton Orient in 2019 but as Lee Bowyer’s men will play in League One next term, he could be heading for the exit door for a fresh start. Preston will allegedly get the ball rolling with a £500k bid, plus add-ons, and all I can say to that is fill your boots, guys. Think I’ll pass where this link is concerned.

Grady Diangana – West Ham United

Embed from Getty Images

The Daily Mail have supplied another provocative slice of gossip here as it’s emerged that West Ham United’s £15m-rated Grady Diangana is fixed squarely between West Bromwich Albion’s, Southampton’s and Fulham’s cross hairs.

Diangana, 22, helped Slaven Bilic’s West Brom reach the Premier League last season with 8 goals and 6 assists, however the versatile attacking midfielder is dubious to the role he’ll play in the Hammers’ set-up. Diangana, an England U21 representative, wants first-team football but with the offensive options we have, I think he’d struggle to button down an undisputed spot in our starting string.

Abdoulaye Doucouré – Watford

Everton, according to Evening Standard, are thought to be favourites to snag Abdoulaye Doucouré from relegated Watford, although the Toffees will seemingly be pushed all the way by Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Merseysiders are long-term lovers of the 27-year-old’s services and the Hornets will demand at least £25m if they’re to part ways with the vigilant French anchorman. Relating to our alleged interest, though, I’m torn. Would I prefer Doucouré over Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa? The jury’s still out on that one, and the funds could be invested into other needing departments, too. Nice to be involved but again, not essential.

Siriki Dembélé – Peterborough United

A four-way skirmish is imminent as Football Insider are under the impression that Brentford, Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Fulham are tracking Peterborough United’s animated attacker Siriki Dembélé. What, you mean there’s more of them out there!?

Revered by the Posh, Dembélé, 23, is valued at £5m by his employers and Palace, in particular, could make a swoop for the Ivorian if his fellow countryman Wilfried Zaha waves farewell to Selhurst Park in the coming weeks. With 13 goals and 17 assists in 77 outings to his name at Peterborough, he’d prove to be a worthy squad member in the Premier League, but nothing more than that, to be honest.

Rhian Brewster – Liverpool

A host of Premier League clubs, consisting of Aston Villa, Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley, Palace, Newcastle and Fulham, are vying to take Liverpool hotshot Rhian Brewster on loan, BBC Sport understands.

The 20-year-old striker linked up with Swansea City in January and netted 11 goals for the Championship outfit and, being an England U21 international as well as an U17 World Cup winner, he’s a very promising prospect indeed. Brewster is currently in Austria with the Reds at their pre-season training camp, so the newly crowned Premier League champions may wait a little longer before deciding upon his future.

Gerard Piqué – FC Barcelona

Embed from Getty Images

This, this is the kind of nonsense you see during the 2022-23 January transfer window on FIFA but remarkably, and unbelievably, Fulham – subject to a report released by Peruvian outlet Libero – have reputedly tabled an offer for FC Barcelona’s central defensive general Gerard Piqué, who began his career at Manchester United.

The 33-year-old Spain international, with World Cup, European and plethora of domestic medals under his illustrious belt, is prepared to depart the Camp Nou following the club’s humiliating 8-2 drubbing at the hands of FC Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-final but with a whopping weekly wage of £220k, it’s inconceivably difficult to envision the Whites coming anywhere near that banded pay packet. This is ludicrous and whilst I don’t want to get drawn into the hype too much, I’m powerless. It screams Andre Schurrle, but what a sensational acquisition that would be.

Tiémoué Bakayoko – Chelsea

Respected Italian publication Calciomercato have announced that Fulham and Palace are allegedly tailing Chelsea’s Tiémoué Bakayoko, another forgotten, disposable Blues player that spent last term on loan at sleeping Serie A giants AC Milan.

Milan, it seems, have a ‘draft agreement’ with the 26-year-old midfielder for a €2.8m salary over a 4-year period but firstly, they have to negotiate with our lodgers. The Rossoneri intend to take Bakayoko on loan again – forking out an initial €5m loan fee – with an obligation to buy for €25m, but stumbling blocks could lay in their way. Again, we have brighter irons in the fire, so we’ll leave this one to the Eagles and Milan.

Callum Wilson – AFC Bournemouth

AFC Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson, as per a report pushed by The Telegraph, is said to be on the verge of an exit and Fulham, West Ham, Everton and Palace are all said to be pursuing the England international’s £30m signature.

The 28-year-old hitman bagged 9 goals and supplied 3 assists last season but it was not enough to save the Cherries, who were relegated to the Championship. Aleksandar Mitrovic will require capable competition next season if he’s to remain sharp and hungry and Wilson fits the bill perfectly. The figure placed on his head may be steep, but he’s a highly proficient bagsman with a proven scoring record at this level.

DeAndre Yedlin – Newcastle United

This one’s been floating around for a little while now although CBS Sports journalist Roger Gonzales – posting on his Twitter account – covertly indicated that Fulham and Brentford are scouting Newcastle United’s searing American right-back DeAndre Yedlin.

Yedlin, 27, has one year left on his current contract at St. James’ Park, so it’s thought he could be on the move in the not so distant future anyway but, regarding this particular tale, nothing secure or solid has emerged since. Am I waiting with baited breath? In short, no.

Felix Goddard – Free Agent

Having left Manchester City, 16-year-old stopper Felix Goddard is now a free agent and Burnley and Fulham, according to Football Insider, are thought to be tracking the German-born teenager’s lone progress.

British parents, raised in Singapore, Goddard joined City at 13 years of age but, now he’s without a club, the would be/could be suitors are circling. As well as the Whites and the Clarets, Bundesliga monopolisers Bayern Munich are also rumoured to be eyeing the budding ‘keeper and so are Hamburger SV, so where he’ll eventually end up is anyone’s guess, but I’d imagine the Bavarian superpower would have first dibs, naturally.