Fulham Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Summer 2022, Edition 6

Cam’s back with yet more transfer whispers to sink your teeth into – who’ll be next to join the Whites?

Have patience, they say. Players are being lined up by Fulham’s recruitment team, and while they’re taking an age to get over the line, our business so far has been carefully considered and those that have been unveiled genuinely amplify our chances of survival. Saying that, we’ve a week until Liverpool come to town and most have already written us off.

Sure, we’ve purchased Champions League-quality reinforcements, players with international pedigree and game-changing ability in abundance but we have to address the elephant in the room. We haven’t landed any central defenders. We need at least two and they have to be up to the required Premier League standard and as we’ve another transfer rumour supplement for you to peruse, could Tony Khan and his band of merrymen persuade any of the following names to pledge themselves to Marco Silva’s regime? Time will tell and Fulham’s transfer trail continues.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Liverpool

Embed from Getty Images

A report published by The Sun suggests that Fulham are one of a number of Premier League clubs that are tracking Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, although West Ham United and Aston Villa are thought to be the frontrunners. The Whites have odds of 14/1 to sign the 28-year-old midfielder, however any potential bid could now ultimately be dead in the water.

This is because Oxlade-Chamberlain, during a pre-season friendly against Crystal Palace in Singapore, suffered a hamstring injury which is suspected to be serious, and the former Arsenal man could subsequently be out of action until October at the very least.

Attila Szalai – Fenerbahce SK

Turkish outlet Tavkim are under the impression that Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United deployed scouts to monitor Fenerbahce defender Attila Szalai as Hungary defeated England 1-0 at the beginning of June in the Nations League.

The 24-year-old centre-half joined the Turkish Super Lig giants from Cypriot side Apollon Limassol around a year-and-a-half ago and a figure of €13m could be enough to lure Szalai away from The Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.

Sergio Rico – Paris Saint-Germain

An all-too familiar face, Paris Saint-Germain’s Sergio Rico could be poised for a return to SW6 as Sky Sports believe that Fulham are willing to acquire the Spanish goalkeeper on loan, again. This, of course, is if the Whites fail to land Bernd Leno from Arsenal, however the German stopper’s anticipated move Craven Cottage appears to be imminent.

Rico spent the 2018/19 campaign at Fulham on a temporary basis from Sevilla but his spell in the English capital was far from convincing. The 28-year-old features within PSG’s infamous “undesirables” shortlist, so whether the surplus ‘keeper returns to Fulham or not, an exit from the Parc des Princes is expected this summer.

Ross Barkley – Chelsea

Embed from Getty Images

Perceived to be a bit-part player, Chelsea’s Ross Barkley could depart Stamford Bridge in the coming weeks and the Liverpudlian – according to @SiandDanTalkCFC via football.london – is apparently being eyed by his boyhood club, Everton, and Marco Silva’s Fulham.

Frank Lampard is said to be keen to recruit the 28-year-old on loan, whereas the Whites’ intentions are undisclosed. Barkley hasn’t been able to perform consistently under Thomas Tuchel, so the versatile midfielder is undeniably at a crossroad where his stuttering career’s concerned.

Jhon Lucimi – Genk

Colombian journalist Pipe Sierra (as per a report produced by Inside Futbol) is adamant that Premier League newboys AFC Bournemouth and Fulham are tailing Genk’s Jhon Lucimi. Lucimi, 24, only has a year left on his current contract at the Belgian outfit and to relieve the risk of losing the centre-back for free, they could be forced to cash-in immediately.

As well as the two aforementioned English clubs, Serie A side Atalanta BC are also thought to be an interested party, however no solid contact has been made by the Bergamo-based club. Lucimi has been on Genk’s books since 2018 and during his time at the Cegeka Arena, the former Deportivo Cali defender has laid claim to a Belgian First Division title, as well as a 2020/21 Belgian Cup triumph.

Aaron Ramsey – Free agent

Following an uninspiring loan move to Rangers at the back end of the previous campaign, Aaron Ramsey is surplus to requirements at Juventus and will be available for free. The Wales international is attracting interest from across the globe and The Sun understands that Fulham are a potential suitor.

Premier League sides Forest and Crystal Palace allegedly join Fulham in the hunt for the 31-year-old and in America, Charlotte FC are also prepared to offer the midfielder a fresh start. Ramsey’s wages are thought to be astronomic and due to his age, the ex-Arsenal playmaker seemingly opposes Fulham’s scrupulous transfer policy.

Justin Kluivert – AS Roma

Embed from Getty Images

Renowned Italian publication Corriere dello Sport has divulged that Fulham and Premier League rivals West Ham will supposedly go toe-to-toe for Roma’s Justin Kluivert, son of Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert. The Serie A side, managed by Jose Mourinho, will only entertain permanent bids for the tricky 23-year-old, who was once regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in world football.

The Giallorossi will apparently demand £15m for Kluivert, the two-time international winger was incidentally left out of the club’s pre-season plans, but as the Whites have more than enough cover out wide, Fulham can surely sit this one out without regret.

Omar Alderete – Hertha BSC

After a loan spell at Valencia CF last season, Hertha BSC defender Omar Alderete is supposedly a €4m target of Fulham’s, as reported by Radio Taronja via Twitter.

Dedicated to sharing Valencia-centric news, Radio Taronja (citing journalist Jose Manuel Segarra) believe that Valencia cannot afford to meet the Bundesliga club’s asking price, which paves the way fro Fulham to step in. Hertha are not in a stable financial condition and have been left with no choice to but to lessen their wage bill. Alderete, 25, is a Paraguay international centre-half and in 29 La Liga outings for Los che last season, the 6’2 defender weighed in with two goals as Gennaro Gattuso’s team finished ninth.

Joshua Zirkzee – FC Bayern Munich

South coast rivals Bournemouth and Southampton are thought to be chasing Bayern Munich’s Joshua Zirkzee and subject to Ekrem Konur’s understanding, Fulham are also touted in the running for the 21-year-old attacker.

Zirkzee has sampled life in Italy and Belgium with Parma and RSC Anderlecht respectively and during his loan stint at the Constant Vanden Stock Stadion, the fledgling Dutch forward struck 16 times in the Belgian top-flight. A cool customer in the danger area, Zirkzee is a young striker with promise and if he eventually swaps the Allianz Arena for Craven Cottage, he would offer an alternative dimension to Fulham’s primary offensive game plan, headed by Aleksandar Mitrovic’s typically robust exploits, despite being 6’4 tall.