Fulham Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Summer 2022, Edition 3

We’ve trawled the timeline to bring you the latest in Fulham’s transfer developments. Cam, as ever, has you covered.

Sticks are being sharpened. If we have to prod our recruitment team into action, we will. The Premier League schedule’s been revealed; we now know what we have to prepare ourselves for in the coming weeks, but we’re yet to welcome reinforcements into the camp. Marco Silva will have his favoured targets and if we’re to bed them in, we have to get the chequebook out – pronto.

Alex Moreno – Real Betis

Embed from Getty Images

The hunt for an extra left-back rumbles on. According to Spanish publication El Desmarque, Fulham are tracking Real Betis full-back Alex Moreno and after an initial bid of €10m was supposedly rebuffed by La Liga outfit, a second offer of around €15m could persuade Betis to part ways with the 29-year-old.

Moreno made 45 appearances for Los Verdiblancos last term, contributing towards the club’s Copa del Rey success, their first silverware in two decades. Manuel Pellegrini’s side also secured Europa League football with a fifth-placed finish to the campaign, and if they’re to progress in Europe, they’ll need a deep squad, so prising Moreno away could be a tougher ask than first thought.

Phil Jones – Manchester United

Manchester United’s newly-appointed manager Erik Ten Hag is planning a summer clear out at Old Trafford and subject to more reports from Spain (via Fichajes), Fulham and Leeds United are willing to take Phil Jones off the Red Devils’ hands.

Jones has suffered through a series of injury setbacks in recent years and has fallen down the pecking order at United. The 30-year-old utility defender isn’t everyone’s first choice, but if he’s to join the Whites, he would certainly strengthen us, if he remains fit and ready for action. Jones, sometimes known more for his comical grimaces than his ability on the pitch, has 27 England caps, his last coming against Belgium in the 2018 World Cup third-place play-off.

Callum Styles – Barnsley

Barnsley were relegated from the Championship at the close of the 2021/22 season and Callum Styles could be on the move, with The Mirror claiming that Fulham are primed to enter negotiations with the Tykes for their Hungary international.

The 22-year-old is under contract at Oakwell until 2023, and Barnsley also have an option to extend his deal by a further year. Styles made 43 appearances for the South Yorkshire-based side last term, scoring three goals with a solitary assist in the process, and he also featured during Hungary’s Nations League triumphs over England as well.

Takumi Minamino – Liverpool

Embed from Getty Images

Fulham and Liverpool have seemingly forged a bit of a relationship in recent transfer windows, and 90min say the Whites are monitoring the availability of the Reds’ Japan international Takumi Minamino.

A cluster of Premier League clubs including Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leeds United and Southampton are also said to be in the running for the 27-year-old attacking midfielder, who could be lured away from Anfield for proposed figure of £17m. Minamino would intergrate into Silva’s offensive approach perfectly, as he can deputise across the final third in a range of roles. His interchangeability is attractive, and many feel he’d be the ideal replacement for Fabio Carvalho who, of course, is now a squad member of Jurgen Klopp’s Merseysiders.

Emmanuel Dennis – Watford

A report released by The Athletic suggests that Emmanuel Dennis could be on his way out of Vicarage Road this summer and Fulham, alongside Southampton, are thought to be tailing the striker.

Dennis netted 10 goals in 33 league games last term and he also notched up six assists, so the 24-year-old is more than capable of making an impact in the Premier League. It’s unlikely that he’d want to warm the bench in Aleksandar Mitrovic’s shadow, but if Fulham were forced to revamp their matchday approach, the Nigeria international would present an alternative to our physical Serb.

Said Benrahma – West Ham United

Sources close to West Ham United outlet Claret and Hugh assert that Silva is an admirer of Said Benrahma and it’s reported that the Whites could launch a bid worth £12 to £15m for the Algerian winger.

Joining the Irons from Brentford last summer for just shy of £21m, Benrahma, 26, hasn’t endeared himself to the majority of the club’s fan base, and David Moyes was also reluctant to field him regularly. Trigger-happy and often wasteful, Benrahma has been far from productive for the East Londoners, but we witnessed his offensive competency first hand, when he was on the Bees’ books in the Championship. This would be a terrific addition if we can somehow convince West Ham to cash in.

Joao Palhinha – Sporting CP

Embed from Getty Images

This particular rumour appears to be moving at breakneck speed. Fabrizio Romano has broadcast that Fulham have marked Sporting CP’s Joao Palhinha as a prime transfer target and a supposed sum of £17m could be enough to land the central midfielder from the Primeira Liga runners-up.

Wolves are also believed to be after the 26-year-old’s signature, but it’s said that Bruno Lage’s side will wait until Ruben Neves’s future has been finalised. A tug-of-war is anticipated, but if Wolves can’t commit, it could be all too late to hijack negotiations. As I write this, news has surfaced that Sporting have accepted an offer from the Whites, who are hoping to seal the deal for the Portugal international on a five-year contract. Watch this space.

Zaidu Sanusi – FC Porto

Various reports emerging from Portugal have proclaimed that Fulham are lining up a €12m raid for FC Porto’s Zaidu Sanusi. The left-back has three years left on his contract the the Estadio do Dragao and is a trusted element within Sérgio Conceição’s title-winning side.

Porto will not entertain shallow offers so if Fulham are to be taken seriously, they’ll have to cooperate with Dragões and respect their valuation of their dependable 25-year-old Nigerian international.

Bernd Leno – Arsenal

Bernd Leno’s nose has been put out of joint after being overlooked by Mikel Arteta and the Germany international goalkeeper could ditch Arsenal for another London club as he searches for undisputed first-team football. As per Metro, Fulham are pushing to recruit the 30-year-old, as verified by the player’s agent, Joannis Koukoutrigas, and it’s a switch that doesn’t appear to be a million miles away from materialising.

Speaking to German publication Bild, Koukoutrigas admitted: “Yes, Fulham is trying hard to get Bernd. Very professionally. This is also true for some other clubs and shows his status. But, as I said, for me he is the number one at Arsenal and we are therefore also relaxed.”

Exequiel Zeballos – Boca Juniors

Embed from Getty Images

By all accounts, most notably that of