Fulham Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Summer 2022, Edition 2
Written by Cameron Ramsey on 7th June 2022
With more transfer mutterings and murmurs to explore than you can shake a clapper at, Cam’s back to walk and talk you through them, one by one.
Disclaimer: if we have missed anything in terms of muted or pronounced noises from the media in this here Transfer Rumour Round-Up edition, they will undoubtedly be included in the next. Phew, we’ve a lot to get through. The English summer transfer window officially opens in a matter of days, Friday, June 10th, 2022, to be precise, and while Fulham haven’t seemingly persuaded any of the following faces to join Marco Silva’s revolution as yet, things are surely bound to erupt very shortly indeed.
There’s serious work to be done and painstaking negotiations to be had. While a rather sweary Tony Khan’s preoccupied with his wrestling franchise, we can only presume that those that have been left behind at Motspur Park and beyond are fixated on scouting procedures and if they’re stumped on who to take an informed punt on, this article will hopefully point them in the right direction. We’ll probably end up signing some nomad from the Belgian second division but fear not, there’s no dud rumours to be had here, and we’ll happily prove it.
Almoatasembellah Al-Musrati – SC Braga
Embed from Getty ImagesA name that has been on the lips of many a Fulham supporters over recent weeks, SC Braga’s Almoatasembellah Al-Musrati has been seemingly close to a move to SW6 during the transfer period but now, according to Portuguese publication Record, Wolverhampton Wanderers are also eyeing the Libyan holding midfielder.
Like Marco Silva, Wolves boss Bruno Lage has strong connections in Portugal and while Lage is thought to be keeping tabs on other potential additions, the prospect to snagging Braga’s £13m-rated anchor-man could be all too tantalising to resist. The 26-year-old is a hardened enforcer with the capacity to shore-up the middle third tirelessly – for either the Whites or the Wanderers, Al-Musrati would be a tremendously cost-effective reinforcement.
Miguel Almiron – Newcastle United
This is a sight for sore eyes. Miguel Almiron was a sporadic performer for Newcastle United last term and an exit from St. James’ Park could very well emerge for the Paraguay international however, if his agent’s claims are to be taken seriously, Fulham can steer clear of any credible negotiations because the banded figure is staggeringly laughable.
Speaking to Versus Radio (via Chronicle Live), Almiron’s representative Daniel Campos revealed that his client has a whopping £60m release clause included in his standing contract at the Toon, a ludicrous sum that is a hefty deterrent for any would-be suitor. Everton, Sevilla and Napoli have all been marked down as supposed interested parties for the 28-year-old attacker, who is ultimately worth a tenth of the proposed figure that’s been boldly disclosed.
Matt Targett – Aston Villa
As per a report released by The Northern Echo, Fulham are hot on the heels of Aston Villa’s Matt Targett, with Newcastle mulling over a permanent deal for the left-back, who spent the second-half of the 2021-22 campaign on loan at the Magpies.
The 26-year-old fullback started all of Newcastle’s games after arriving from Villa in January and his reliability proved to be beneficial to Eddie Howe’s squad as they escaped a relegation scrap, although as the Toon will presumably have a vast war chest to invest into the market this summer, Howe could be swayed into exploring other avenues. Targett, of course, is known to the Whites as he manfully contributed towards the club’s 2017-18 Play-Off success on a temporary basis from Southampton at the time, so if Targett indeed became available, passing up the opportunity to land him again would be wildly counterintuitive.
Arthur Masuaku – West Ham United
Subject to a Daily Mail report that was pushed in April, Fulham could be in line to snap-up West Ham United left-sided utility option Arthur Masuaku and Silva, incidentally, is well aware of what the Frenchman can offer.
Masuaku won the 2015-16 Greek title with Olympiakos under the Portuguese manager, and as he’s seen to be a rotational player at the Hammers, with David Moyes favouring Aaron Creswell and Ben Jonhson ahead of the 28-year-old, a switch to SW6 for regular first-team football, whilst working with Silva once more, could be the ideal escape route.
Joe Worrall – Nottingham Forest
Embed from Getty ImagesWith Nottingham Forest gaining promotion to the Premier League, this particular rumour could be dead in the water however, according to The Sun, Fulham sent scouts to watch Joe Worrall in both of Forest’s Play-Off semi-final clashes against Sheffield United.
Worrall, a sturdy centre-half, safeguarded Steve Cooper’s Garibaldi alongside Steve Cook and given the quality of the 25-year-old’s performances, clubs such as West Ham and Leicester City have also been alerted. A summer departure is now increasingly unlikely, though, as Worrall will feature heavily in Forest’s top-flight plans and if his employers are to entertain bids, they’ll have to be substantial to say the very least.
Ayoub Assal – AFC Wimbledon
Having been relegated to League Two, AFC Wimbledon could face the reality of losing their brightest assets and subsequently, the Irish Mirror are under the impression that west London rivals Brentford and Fulham will battle it out for Wimbledon’s 20-year-old ace Ayoub Assal in the coming weeks.
With 8 goals and 6 assists in 42 outings for the doomed Dons, Assal was one of the club’s most promising protagonists and as well as the two aforementioned Premier League outfits, Championship clubs Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers and Queens Park Rangers are also said to be tailing the England U20 starlet, who still has three years left on his current contract at Plough Lane.
Alexander Djiku – Strasbourg
The credibility of the source is questionable however self-proclaimed transfer expert
At 27-years-old, Djiku is regarded as a trustworthy mainstay within Strasbourg’s defensive line and his assured exploits helped guide Les Bleu et Blanc to a 6th-place finish in the Ligue 1 standings. Sevilla, however, are searching for a replacement for Diego Carlos, who recently joined Aston Villa, and with Champions League football in the offing in Spain, the odds of the Whites beating the Rojiblancos to Djiku’s signature are anaemic.
Joe Rothwell – Blackburn Rovers
After rebuffing a contract extension with Blackburn Rovers, Joe Rothwell is now a free agent and a report fed by Lancashire Telegraph suggests that Fulham are poised to secure the wantaway midfielder, however it’s said that AFC Bournemouth are also willing contenders.
Scott Parker’s Cherries apparently attempted to lure the 27-year-old to the south coast in January but had multiple bids snubbed by Blackburn, and now that Rothwell is effectively unemployed, the Championship runners-up are believed to be in pole position. Forest, the Blades and West Bromwich Albion are also allegedly monitoring the unattached player’s self-imposed situation.
William Carvalho – Real Betis
Renowned Italian journalist Rudy Galetti has declared that Fulham are primed and ready to capture Real Betis’ William Carvalho in the summer transfer window, and with Betis being keen to raise funds, the Portugal international could very well be on his way out of the Benito Villamarín Stadium anyway.
The 30-year-old defensive midfielder featured consistently for Manuel Pellegrini’s Los Verdiblancos, making 49 appearances in all competitions, and a cluster of clubs including Arsenal, Newcastle and Fenerbahce are all thought to be alive to the saga surrounding Carvalho’s undecided career prospectus.
Andriy Yarmolenko – West Ham United
Embed from Getty ImagesHe isn’t perceived to be the most reliable source however Ekrem Konur, revealing via his Twitter account, is adamant that Fulham are willing to offer Andriy Yarmolenko a Premier League lifeline, as he is set to leave West Ham later this month.
A powerful attacking presence, Yarmolenko is capable of changing games singlehandedly, although he failed to make a lasting impact under Moyes and thus, the 32-year-old Ukraine international is surplus to requirement at the London Stadium. Is this a rumour that excites me personally? Not really, no, and while he could prove to be a worthy rotational player at some capacity, but I wouldn’t waste a squad place on him.
Tom Lawrence – Derby County
Another that is due to bid farewell to their current employers in June, Tom Lawrence – as per Football Insider – is supposedly on Fulham’s transfer radar, as well as Kansas City’s. The Wales international captained Wayne Rooney’s Derby County last season, who now grace the third tier of English football following their unceremonious relegation from the Championship.
Lawrence, 28, registered 11 goals and 5 assists for the Rams across 38 Championship appearances, although his productive contributions were not enough to enable Rooney’s side to claw back a 21-point deduction. Lawrence and Harry Wilson prospered together at Pride Park a few seasons back, so could their relationship blossom even further at Craven Cottage?
Maxwel Cornet – Burnley
Having suffered relegation from the Premier League with Burnley, Maxwel Cornet is being courted by a host of English top-flight teams and it’s 90min’s understanding that Fulham are among the circling crop. With a release clause of £17.5m penned into his 5-year deal at Turf Moor, club’s including the Whites, Brighton and Hove Albion, Leicester, the Gunners and many, many more are free to spar it out for the Ivorian winger and it’s a tale that will surely grip the tabloids for weeks to come yet.
Cornet, 25, bagged 9 goals for the Clarets last season but their exile from the Premier League was finalised on the closing day of the campaign, as Newcastle downed them 2-1. The electrifying winger is enticing clubs from across the continent, too, so it’s yet to be seen where he will eventually end up next season, although the Whites live in improbable hope, as ever.
Ko Itakura – Manchester City
Embed from Getty ImagesSky Sports’ very own Lyall Thomas has implied that Fulham are poised to enter negotiations with Manchester City for their Japan international defender Ko Itakura. Itakura, 25, tasted success, on loan, with FC Schalke 04 as the German side lifted the 2. Bundesliga title last season, and after numerous loan spells at FC Groningen in years gone by, the Whites could persuade him to venture down south on a perm.
City signed Itakura in January, 2019, from Japanese outfit Kawasaki Frontale, however he has never stamped his claim upon Pep Guardiola’s long-term blueprints. Itakura is an intelligent watchman, one that even chipped in with 4 goals for Schalke, and as Fulham are geared to build from the back, Itakura could compliment Silva’s vision supremely.
Harry Winks – Tottenham Hotspur
A report published by The Sun has described Fulham’s alleged interest in snaring Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Winks, as he is not viewed to be an essential squad member by Antonio Conte. It’s believed that Spurs will look to receive £20m for the 10-time England international, and various clubs from England and afar are thought to be gathering for his redundant services.
Sevilla, Everton and Southampton are assumedly curious of Winks’ availability, and where Fulham are concerned, it’s actually hard to see where and how he would slot into Silva’s midfield department. Winks is a relatively smooth operator, but he is prone to being drowned out by more physical opponents and, as Fulham will surely seek to acquire toughened components of their own, perhaps the 26-year-old isn’t exactly what the Whites need in order to sustain their Premier League status next term.
