Fulham Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Summer 2022, Edition 1

Cam’s back to take you through all the whispers and rumours that matter – strap in.

As a certain world-renowned Italian journalist may say: “here we go”. It’s silly season, the most wonderful time of the year and blimey, do we have a bumper edition to end all bumper editions for you to sink your teeth into today. It’s a long one, you may need two cuppas to get through it all in one sitting, but now we’re more-or-less up to date with what’s been floating around the media forums and there’s nothing like a good engrossing thriller, is there?

You just know that in the weeks and months leading to our first Premier League outing on August 6th, everybody will be linked to a multi-million pound jump to SW6 and everyone on Fulham Twitter and beyond, like it or loathe it, will be gassing about the who, when and why. For now, look no further than this here article. We may have missed a few names but trust us, they’ll be plenty more to get used to before the transfer window closes. Fire up the YouTube montages, master your pronunciations, the fun, the madness, it all starts right here, right now.

Thomas Strakosha – SS Lazio

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Having racked up 207 senior appearances for SS Lazio since joining the Rome-based side in 2012, Thomas Strakosha’s time in the Eternal City is coming to an end and respected source and journalist, Gianluca Di Marzio, has broadcast that Albania international stopper has supposedly settled a 4-year deal with Fulham. After nearly a decade at the Biancocelesti, Strakosha’s contract expires on June 30th and if the Whites can acquire the 27-year-old for free, they would have pulled off an extraordinary piece of business.

With two Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italiana titles, the redundant ‘keeper is versed to success but after losing confidence under his former manager, Simone Inzaghi, he hasn’t returned to his dependable best, per se. This should not be a cause for concern, though, as Strakosha is a superbly attentive warden of the sticks and if he does join Silva’s camp, he will be seen as a huge upgrade on the stoppers we already have at our disposal. A fresh challenge will reinvigorate the distinguished stopper and there’s no greater platform to shine than the Premier League.

Ryan Fredericks – West Ham United

Severely injury-prone or not, who can really say nay to Ryan Fredericks’ reputed return to Craven Cottage, eh? Those at the Evening Standard are convinced that our former flying right-back is primed for a summer switch to Fulham, as his contract at West Ham United is due to cease imminently.

At 29-years-of-age, Fredericks is far from over the hill, although he has struggled with setbacks during his 4-year spell with the Hammers, so many have credible reservations regarding our proposed fixation on his homecoming. Nevertheless, Ryan, when 100% fit, is a nightmare for defenders and indeed opposing attackers to contain, and as he’s somewhat attuned to life in the Premier League, I feel he’s worth taking a punt on because he knows the club and we, ultimately, know how to get the very best out of him. He would slot seamlessly into Silva’s plans, let’s be honest.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – SS Lazio

Spot the odd one out. Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport detailed that alongside French monopolisers Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, Fulham are trained to go toe-to-toe in the impending dust-up for Lazio’s midfield bulldozer Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and you’ve got to ask yourself: what the dickens are United playing at?

Joking aside, the notion of snaring Milinkovic-Savic – who recorded 11 goals and 11 assists in the Serie A – from under the noses of the aforementioned giants is absurd, however it’s thought the Serbian is great friends with Aleksandar Mitrovic so I guess you just never know what could happen, if loyalty is favoured over eye-watering financials. Having said that, Lazio are hoping to retrieve €100m for the 27-year-old, and though the Whites shell out an unholy amount every time they grace the top-flight, I think we can sit this one out without being too disheartened.

Calvin Bassey – Rangers

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A brick wall at the heart of Rangers’ defence in the Europa League Final, and indeed throughout their domestic and European campaigns, Calvin Bassey is drawing the attention of Premier League outfits and Fulham, as per a report published by French outlet Homme du Match, are supposedly monitoring the 22-year-old’s availability.

A bid worth £3m is said to have been tabled by the Whites, although in order to tempt the SPL side to part ways with the Nigeria international, a heftier figure may have to be wagered. Bassey is young, vigorously charged, and his reputation as a future star has been amplified tenfold – he would be a tremendous addition to Silva’s defensive ranks, if surplus faces such as Michael Hector and Alfie Mawson depart.

Juan Castillo – Chelsea

Chelsea’s Juan Castillo is a name few may be familiar with, however Football League World are under the impression that the Blues’ 22-year-old left-back is being tracked by the Whites, as they plan for the rigorous top-flight schedule ahead.

Castillo spent the majority of the 2021/22 season away from Stamford Bridge, with Birmingham City and Charlton Athletic sampling his services on a temporary basis. His stint at the Addicks was far from successful, although as the Dutchman’s employment on the darker side of SW6 may be coming to a close, Fulham are apparently observing his contractual situation closely, as after all, it’s only a short stroll to the Thames from the dog track.

Morgan Gibbs White – Wolverhampton Wanderers

Having been a remarkable component for Sheffield United on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, the likelihood of Morgan Gibbs-White’s permanent exit from Molineux seems to be remote however, according to TEAMtalk, Leeds United and Fulham are willing suitors if the 22-year-old is indeed up for grabs.

The Whites witnessed first-hand what the energetic dynamo is capable of on the final day of the Championship campaign, the adaptable midfielder was a constant threat, and with an overall return of 12 goals and 10 assists in 37 outings for the Blades, Gibbs-White was a consistent game changer. The England U21 representative would be the ideal replacement for Fabio Carvalho, who looks set for a long-awaited switch to Liverpool, however with Bruno Lage plotting a summer shake-up in the Black Country, Morgan could become a mainstay at his parent club once and for all.

Nemanja Matic – Manchester United

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Veteran holding midfielder Nemanja Matic recently declared that he will leave Manchester United as a free agent at the end of the year, and with the intention of maintaining his top-flight status, Fulham are vying to secure his signature, according to The Sun.

Matic, 33, has spent the last 5 seasons with United, half a decade without silverware, incidentally, and though the odds of lifting domestic titles with the Whites are slimmer, regular, undisturbed game time in the Premier League may be enough to sway the Serbia international towards SW6. It appears lucrative but really, this link could have legs to it, given his familiarity with the surrounding areas.

Jonjo Shelvey – Newcastle United

Newcastle United are poised to set siege on the summer transfer window in order to cement themselves as a credible Premier League contender and Jonjo Shelvey, cited within an article issued by HITC, could be destined for the south once more, as Fulham are allegedly circling.

A product of Charlton’s academy, Shelvey, 30, gradually ventured to the North East via Swansea City for £12m in January 2016, and as a former Liverpool employee, the tenacious midfielder has a wealth of top-flight experience which could benefit Fulham’s survival hopes. His temperament is unpredictable but on the surface, this could work very well for all parties, as Shelvey is not unaccustomed to the pressures a potential relegation spat could pose and sporadically, he has an eye for the spectacular.

Ugurcan Cakir – Trabzonspor

Shielding Trabzonspor’s target competently as they lifted the Super Lig title, Ugurcan Cakir – as per Fanatik via Turkish Football – is thought to be a goalkeeper that’s visible on Newcastle’s, Leeds United’s and Fulham’s transfer radars and with shot-stopping reinforcements being required in SW6, the 26-year-old could be a very worthwhile acquisition indeed.

In 34 league appearances, Cakir kept 11 clean sheets and he also has been capped by his country, Turkey, on 18 separate occasions. Evidently, Cakir is a very reliable stopper, and with Trabzonspor readying themselves for a Champions League adventure in the upcoming season, all mentioned in the hunt for his services will need to pledge offers that the club and the ‘keeper simply cannot deny or refuse.

Nick Pope – Burnley

He’s a solid ‘keeper but come on. Apparently, as the Daily Mail will testify, Burnley have slapped a meaty £40m price tag on Nick Pope’s bonce and while he’s an outrageous No.1, he’s still England’s third choice so maybe the Clarets are off their rockers with this valuation.

Burnley were relegated from the Premier League on the final day, which is agonising for them, but they’re in no position to demand such ridiculous sum for a 30-year-old that, purely, is worth half of the proposed number at most. Fulham were inquiring, a sensible figure may have triggered us to break the bank but behave, 40m British sterling pounds? The English inflation tax is alive, kicking and revolting.

Luka Milivojevic – Crystal Palace

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If Fulham are trying to incite a Serbian revolution, they are covering all the necessary bases as it’s been revealed by Greek publication Transfer Geeks that the Whites, alongside proposed frontrunners Olympiacos, and Nottingham Forest, are keen on signing Crystal Palace’s penalty expert Luka Milivojevic.

The 31-year-old midfielder was once a nailed-on starter for the Eagles but in Patrick Vieira’s set-up, the Serbia international only mustered 16 overall outings and an exit appears to be forthcoming. As a rotational player, Milivojevic would be more than suitable for a side which will probably face an uphill battle for the duration of the season, however I’m not sure he will settle for a secondary berth in a team which could be in a similar position to Palace next year anyway.

Viktor Gyorokes – Coventry City

A physical target man that tormented Fulham’s back four on both occasions the clubs met last term, Coventry City’s Viktor Gyorokes (subject to a report pushed by Football Insider) is supposedly being tailed by the Whites and having been victimised by the Sweden international both at home and away, the 23-year-old is a known antagonist.

Netting three against Silva’s men, Gyorokes slammed home an esteemed total of 16 goals for Mark Robins’ Sky Blues as they finished 11th in the Championship standings and in a top-flight set-up, the ruthless dispatcher’s qualities could be supplemented perfectly and he would compliment Fulham’s robust offensive approach, albeit from the bench.

Max Aarons – Norwich City

Nobody truly knows what will become of Neco Williams when he returns to Liverpool. Will he stay, or will he return to Fulham? All is unclear so in the meantime, alternative right-backs have to be pinpointed and Football Insider understands that the Whites are keeping close tabs of Norwich City’s Max Aarons.

Aarons is reportedly desperate to depart the East Anglian outfit and Fulham could throw the 22-year-old fullback a Premier League lifeline, however the nimble England U21 defender is allegedly being surveyed by Arsenal, Man United and Bundesliga titans Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich. Would Aarons strengthen Fulham’s matchday selection? The jury is still out.

Rabbi Matondo – FC Schalke 04

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Disclosed by the Telegraph, Fulham are supposedly chasing FC Schalke 04’s Rabbi Matondo, an electrifying Welsh winger that spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Belgian side Cercle Brugge. Matondo joined Schalke in 2019 from Manchester City and while his spell at the German club has been staggered, he is still regarded as an exciting prospect.

Die Königsblauen bounced back to the Bundesliga as second division champions following relegation in the previous campaign, and with Matondo offering 10 goals and 2 assists in 27 matches for De Vereniging, the 21-year-old could actually feature for his parent club next season after all, as it is an impressive tally that promises further development.

Cameron Carter-Vickers – Tottenham Hotspur

According to 90min, Premier League duo Southampton and Fulham are said to be eyeing Tottenham Hotspur defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, who made 42 appearances for Scottish champions Celtic, on loan, in the recently settled 2021/22 campaign.

As well as the league title, Carter-Vickers also helped The Hoops secure the League Cup, unifying a domestic double, and his sturdy performances have warranted serious interest from both the Saints and the Cottagers. Celtic are keen to sign the USMNT international permanently so, as the transfer period unfurls, expect this particular story to develop drastically as the 24-year-old centre-half is certainly growing in stature.

Hugo Ekitike – Stade de Reims

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Subject to a report channelled by the Express, Stade de Reims’ brow-raising teenager Hugo Ekitike is a proposed transfer target of Fulham’s, although the Londoners are not alone in their supposed pursuit of the prized French starlet.

Wolves, West Ham United and the Toon are all said to be intrigued, in 24 Ligue 1 outings the 19-year-old converted 10 goals and 4 assists, so the frenzy surrounding his promising services is bound to be hotly contested.

Levi Colwill – Chelsea

Chelsea’s existence is still undecided and until the Blues’ fait has been finalised, Levi Colwill will have to hold fire on making his next career move. Colwill is on loan at Huddersfield Town and according to Caio Vidal – Sport Club Internacional

Reports from south America suggests that Fulham have put forward a £5.8m bid for Sport Club Internacional winger Caio Vidal, a 21-year-old that is said to be a valued asset to the Brazilian Serie A side.

Though Vidal only has 6 goals in 68 outings for his current employers, he is revered as a hard-working squad player and one that hasn’t fully reached his underlying potential. Silva has a track record of refining young Brazilian prospects, so while this particular link is underwhelming at a glance, the future results could be rewarding to both club and player.

Manor Solomon – Shakhtar Donetsk

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For weeks, Manor Solomon’s anticipated arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk has been strung out and now, as per Timo Hubers – 1.FC Koln

Divulged by Football Insider, Fulham are supposedly raring themselves up for a three-way tussle with Crystal Palace and Leeds for 1.FC Koln’s Timo Hubers. The 25-year-old defender has made a telling impact at the Bundesliga side and it is also believed that he has a release clause worth £6.7m, which could make him one of the bargains of the summer.

Leeds’ American coach Jesse Marsch is a great admirer of Hubers, having viewed the German centre-back in the flesh during his previous managerial post at Red Bull Leipzig. Hubers has flourished alongside Luca Kilian, his observance and timing is massively desirable so subsequently, the queue of would-be purchasers is growing immeasurably.

Rafael Ramos – Santa Clara

Again, with an ear to the ground, Football Insider revealed back in March that Fulham and Burnley are allegedly eyeing Santa Clara fullback Rafael Ramos. The 27-year-old is one of the stand-out defenders in the Primeira Liga and he is in the final year of his contract at the Portuguese club.

A graduate of Sporting CP’s development system, the former Portugal U20 international’s career sparked into life at Orlando City in MLS, and it’s thought the player is charmed by the chance of plying his trade in the Premier League and who could blame him.

Joe Gomez – Liverpool

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A bit-player for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool this season, Joe Gomez is ostensibly frustrated with the lack of first-team action and in reference to an article released by Football League World, Fulham have placed the 24-year-old at the top of their transfer wish list. Gomez has only made 10 starts in all competitions for the Reds to date during the 2021/22 schedule and he is way down in the pecking order behind the likes of Joel Matip, Ibrahima Konate and even Fabinho.

Gomez is capable of deputising at a right-back capacity, however his abilities are better utilised at the base of a back three or indeed a flat four. As Fulham and Liverpool have forged a gentlemanly relationship over recent years, a deal could be struck although in reality, perhaps it would be a bridge too far for the Whites, as Gomez is still a highly sought-after professional with Three Lions pedigree.

Son Jun-ho – Shandong Taishan

In March, Chinese publication Sina.com (via Football-Asian) sounded Fulham out in an alleged transfer swoop for Shandong Taishan’s 13-time South Korea international Son Jun-ho but unsurprisingly, nothing has materialised since.

It’s though the Whites sent scouts out to China to gauge and determine the 29-year-old central midfielder’s capabilities, and as Jun-ho’s standing deal at Shandong runs until the 2023 CLS campaign’s commencement, the player would be eager to establish the next stage of his career as soon as possible, to rid looming obscurity. This, for me, is a non-starter, though, but there’s no harm in including it, I suppose.

Jordy Caicedo – CSKA Sofia

Ecuadorian outlet Bolavip is adamant that Fulham are on the cusp of snagging Jordy Caicedo from CSKA Sofia, for a supposed fee of £4.65m. The 24-year-old striker has been in blistering form for the Bulgarian top-flight team, and it’s though the Whites have swatted off rivals from across the continent to secure his goal-laden expertise.

In 46 appearances for CSKA, Caicedo rattled 22 goals, enabling his side to finish second behind Ludogorets. Granted the Parva Liga isn’t necessarily the hardiest of divisions to prove oneself, but with the right supervision, shaped by Silva, perhaps, the Ecuador international could evolve into a very powerful final third menace, on a stage where recognition is forefront.

Khaled Narey – Fortuna Dusseldorf

German publication liga2-online.de stated in March that Fulham are supposedly courting Fortuna Dusseldorf’s prolific winger Khaled Narey, however teams from both Italy and indeed Germany are also prepared to challenge the Whites if negotiations are sparked.

Narey, 27, in 32 2.Bundesliga outings, diverted 8 goals and plated up 15 assists for Fortuna, but with his side finishing 10th in the standings, a jump to a higher division definitely appears to be on the cards. Sampdoria and Genoa are thought to be in the mix, as well as Koln and FSV Mainz of the Bundesliga.