Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Summer 2021 – Part 2
Written by Cameron Ramsey on 25th July 2021
These articles are bloody time sensitive so we, as writers and editors, have to move fairly briskly in order to get them out, before most of the stories within stagnate or come to fruition in the meantime. On Saturday evening, we were treated to a tasty double signing as Paulo Gazzaniga and Harry Wilson joined the club – Marco Silva’s stamping his mark and we just love to see it. This is our second dip into this summer’s transfer rumour pool and there’s more than enough to get you hot under the collar.
There’s intrigue, excitement, plausibility, all with a slight tinge of contentiousness and that’s why we love this time of year more than any other. We haven’t got a new home kit, yet, a passenger pier’s in the pipeline and Middlesbrough’s just over two weeks away. A sense of urgency’s felt within Fulhamish’s content team and I hope that resonates within Fulham’s recruitment specialists in the coming fortnight. Shake a leg and spin some deals, Tony Khan and co.
Bright Osayi-Samuel – Fenerbahce SK
This is a name that’s flirted with a potential switch to SW6 for a little while and as per various reports published across Nigeria and Turkey, most notably Milliyet, Silva’s thought to have set his sights on Fenerbahce SK’s Bright Osayi-Samuel, a tricky winger, once of Queens Park Rangers, of course.
The 23-year-old joined the Turkish Super Lig side in January but has failed to make a lasting impact, despite only being on their books for 6 months. With one goal and a singular assist in 19 outings for the Yellow Canaries, Osayi-Samuel is in need of a revival, although it is not known whether the Nigeria international would depart temporarily or permanently from the Ülker Stadium.
Will Hughes – Watford
This particular rumour hinges on the prospect of Tom Cairney joining Slavisa Jokanovic’s Sheffield United, however Silva, subject to journalist Darren Witcoop on Twitter, is said to be a great admirer of Watford’s dependable central midfielder Will Hughes and is subsequently on Fulham’s wish list.
The 26-year-old joined the Hornets in 2017 from Derby County and recently helped his side gain automatic promotion to the Premier League, a year after being relegated. It’s unclear whether Hughes will retain a regular spot in Xisco Munoz’s set-up next term and if the Whites are searching for engine room reinforcements, the experienced Championship competitor could be the perfect mould.
Matt Grimes – Swansea City
A more likely acquisition, which has gained serious momentum, is Swansea City’s Matt Grimes and The Athletic’s Stuart James – posting via his Twitter account – believes the 25-year-old is as ‘good as gone’. Muted whispers from incredulous sources on the bird app suggest that Grimes could be prised away from the Swans for as little as £4m, however the Daily Mail also revealed that the Whites are indeed monitoring his availability closely.
Rated closer to £6.5m, which is still a strikingly shallow figure for a midfielder of his ability, the former England U21 international was one of the Championship’s most consistent performers last season in a Swansea side that narrowly missed out on promotion, having fallen short to Brentford in the semi-final. As we all surely know, Stefan Johansen could very well be on his way to QPR this summer, and if the Nordic shithouser does head for the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, Grimes would be, dare I say it, a ridiculous upgrade. This deal has to happen.
Tommy Doyle – Manchester City
Disclosed exclusively by Football League World, Fulham, Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion are allegedly keen to lure Tommy Doyle from Manchester City on loan and I, for one, am not against this particular prospect whatsoever. The 19-year-old is yet to fully test himself in Pep Guardiola’s set-up – he’s only featured 7 times for City’s first-team – but at U23 level, he’s a budding virtuoso that’s held in high regard. Interestingly, Doyle Grandfathers, Mike Doyle and Glyn Pardoe, were both long-standing teammates at City during the mid 60s to late 70s, so the youngster comes from good stock, with pedigree.
The three aforementioned front-runners are not alone, however, as it’s said that several other Championship teams are also circling, so the teenager’s relatively unproven capabilities are evidently desired among the masses. He’s a well-rounded provider of opportunity in City’s development squad, and a step-up into regular senior football could ignite his career indefinitely.
Tom Trybull – Norwich City
Central midfielders with credible Championship backgrounds are obviously top of the agenda in terms of Fulham’s recruitment drive and here we have another in Norwich City’s Tom Trybull who, according The Telegraph, is supposedly being tailed by Silva’s Black and White army.
The 28-year-old German midfielder spent the duration of the 2020/21 campaign on loan at Blackburn Rovers and now Norwich boss Daniel Farke has a decision to make regarding his fellow countryman’s future at Carrow Road. With just one assist in 26 outings for Blackburn, though, Trybull isn’t necessarily a player that sparks that tantalises the senses, although he’s certainly versed to the required standard in England’s second flight and, if anything, he would be a useful squad rotation member, in truth.
Rodrigo Muniz – Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
This story has gotten Fulham Twitter salivating furiously, and with good measure. Brazilian publication O Dia is under the impression that the Whites are interested in snaring Flamengo’s Rodrigo Muniz with a proposed loan-to-buy offer and it’s safe to say the 20-year-old striker’s caught our collective attention. We’ve all seen his audacious bicycle kick nestled within other snippets of his expeditionary movement and it’s a resounding yes from me. Silva loves a fledgling Brazilian talent, after all.
Previously touted with a switch to La Liga champions Atletico Madrid, Muniz is an aspiring game changer that’s causing a stir across the continent and in Fulham’s case, the initial loan fee would supposedly be in the region of €1m, a figure that would then rise to €9m if the associated permanent purchase option was activated. The Whites, since initial rumours surfaced, have been hit with a blow, however, as O Dia have revealed that his current employers have rebuffed the Londoners’ opening offer, as they would only be willing to part ways with Muniz if he were to leave permanently, without a loan clause. Muniz would presumably understudy Aleksandar Mitrovic and he’d offer the Whites an alternative offensive dimension – let the games begin.
