Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Summer 2021 – Part 1

Before you all foam from the mouth, we are aware that all four of these slightly outdated, baseless transfer rumours really have no place, at all, as things stand for Fulham but, as off-field matters regarding a new head honcho of the technical area are also masked in speculative mystery, allow us to fan some flames, please? Silly season’s turned brain-dead stupid and we all need something else to distract our attentions with. How are we honestly expected to cope without Euro 2020 games until Friday for the love of all things Federico Chiesa!?

Chris Wilder could possibly be next in line to chance his arm with the Khans, Scott Parker may be contrapuntally seen as a double-crossing club legend, all rolled into one garishly expensive turtle neck, although are we really that arsed? The Whites will have to reinforce, as ever, and that’s the wave we’re riding for now, even only for a short while, until that yellow ‘Breaking News’ banner flashes up on Sky Sports News with details of an anticipated managerial arrival in SW6.

Johnny Russell – Sporting Kansas City

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We begin our summer of impending tribulation with a story pushed by our reliable chums at The Sun, who report that Sporting Kansas City’s Johnny Russell is being watched closely by Newcastle United, Sheffield United and Fulham. The 31-year-old striker moved to the States in 2018 and has since bagged 25 goals in 84 outings for the MLS outfit, and his recent form’s supposedly causing a stir back on the other side of the pond.

Russell’s current contract runs until December, 2021, and could be prised away from Sporting KC for a slashed asking price and as budgets may be slightly strapped at both the Blades and the Whites, following their shared relegations from the Premier League, the Scotsman may very well be a worthy option from the bench, perhaps, for both parties.

Adam Armstrong – Blackburn Rovers

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It’ll never happen, but you just love to see it. Adam Armstrong, of Blackburn Rovers, enjoyed a terrific 2020/21 campaign at Ewood Park and subsequently, Lancashire Telegraph believes that Fulham and West Ham United – among a host of other various suitors – are weighing up potential bids for his prolific services. In all competitions last season, the 24-year-old smashed home 28 goals and dished up 5 assists, too, a record that’s not to be sneezed at.

In light of this, Rovers would be wise to stamp a fairly hefty figure on their star hitman’s head and it’s thought the Championship mainstays will demand a minimum of £20m if they’re to part ways with the former Newcastle man and that, invariably, could dissuade the Whites from following up. If Aleksandar Mitrovic waves goodbye to SW6, however, Armstrong would be top of the replacements list, undoubtedly.

Josh Windass – Sheffield Wednesday

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He checks, avidly, to see if his name’s being mention on the bird app, we know that much, and sources close to the Sheffield Star are also suggesting that Sheffield Wednesday’s Josh Windass is fixed firmly between Fulham’s transfer market crosshairs. The Owls’ financial difficulties, following relegation from the Championship as a result of deducted points, will surely force their hand in selling their top assets this summer.

Windass, 27, is incidentally great pals with the Whites’ beloved sporadic skipper Tom Cairney, with the pair linking up on their summer holidays in some exotic backdrop, presumably Benidorm, so it’s natural to presume that the Cottagers are in pole position for the League One side’s leading goal scorer of last season. 9 goals, 6 assists in 41 appearances isn’t a bad return by any means, although as this particular rumour has developed somewhat, it’s said Wednesday – via respected journalist Alan Nixon’s Twitter – are after £5m, a sum that’s wildly off-putting and unjustifiable.

Harry Wilson – Liverpool

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As per a report published by Goal, fellow relegation sufferers West Bromwich Albion and Fulham are thought to be tracking Liverpool’s £12m-rated winger Harry Wilson, although the aforementioned duo will supposedly face competition from Premier League new-boys Brentford and Portuguese Liga NOS giants SL Benfica. We’ve seen this guy flag up before in previous editions, so is Wilson becoming a Dwight Gayle enigma himself?

Shipped out on a temporary basis last term by the Reds, the 24-year-old returned to his native Wales to ply his trade for Cardiff City and in doing so, the fluid flanker scored 7 goals with 12 assists in 33 appearances. Predominantly favouring the right channel, WIlson is also capable of manning the opposite touchline and, in my humble opinion, he is a much better alternative to Ivan Cavaleiro and/or Anthony Knockaert but conjecturally, differing noises have submitted that a permanent switch to England’s second division is highly unlikely. As you were, then.