Fulham Rumour Round-Up: Iwobi, Andre, Adams

Should he? Could he? Will he? Won’t he? Nobody has a single scooby what the coming days will bring but until the day of reckoning arrives, Cam’s got you up-to-date with the rumours you may have missed.

It’s safe to say that we’re more consumed by revelations concerning Aleksandar Mitrovic et al rather than potential additions but the show must go on! Even at a despondent, plodding pace.

We and West Ham are the only Premier League sides that haven’t announced a summer signing and as much as we tell ourselves this is completely normal, it’s far from welcome and with less than a month to go until the season kicks off, we have to get our arses in gear.

This article isn’t laden with showstoppers or A-listers but it’s a distraction so enjoy it while you can, I guess.

Gustavo Hamer – Coventry City

Disclosed by the Daily Mail, Fulham are apparently watching Coventry City’s Gustavo Hamer closely and could open negotiations for the Dutch central midfielder imminently. Hamer, 26, was widely associated with a potential switch to SW6 last summer and now he only has a year remaining on his Sky Blues contract, the 2022/23 Championship Play-Off finalists could be swayed to sell one of their prized assets.

A roaming provider of opportunity, Hamer netted 11 goals in 44 games for Coventry last season and he’s been a trusted member of Mark Robins’s squad since 2020, when he swapped PEC Zwolle for the West Midlands. Hamer would definitely add depth to Silva’s weekly selection but as he hasn’t sampled top-flight football, at least in England, I’m not quite sure he’s a priority of ours because firstly, we have to acquire ready-made reinforcements that will make the difference in a starting XI week in, week out.

Cristian Medina – Boca Juniors

It may not originate from the most solid of sources but David Ferris, a journalist based in Valencia, Spain, revealed via Twitter that both Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers are tailing Boca Juniors’ 21-year-old midfielder Cristian Medina. Brazilian outfit Santos are also thought to be in the running.

Capable of occupying a box-to-box role, as well as out wide on the right, Medina’s a stable performer for the Argentinian giants and he also represented Argentina’s U17s, too. With a goal and an assist in 20 outings for the Xeneizes this season, Medina’s yield isn’t necessarily ground-breaking but he never backs down when the going gets tough and a move to Europe, particularly to the Premier League, could provide the boost his burgeoning career requires.

Alex Iwobi – Everton

As reported by Football Transfers, Fulham are supposedly willing to hand Alex Iwobi a fresh start in the capital if the Nigeria international bids farewell to Everton in the weeks to come. The former Arsenal winger is entering his final year on the blue half of Merseyside and as Everton are seemingly courting replacements elsewhere, there could be legs to this link specifically.

A winger by trade, Iwobi gradually integrated into a central attacking capacity for the Toffees and in a relegation-threatened campaign, the 27-year-old’s efforts were crucial for Everton, as he bagged 2 and created 9 in all competitions. Inter Milan have also been cited as a potential suitor for the 27-year-old but a move back to familiar territory could be a sweetener.

Andre Trindade – Fluminense

Those at 90min understand that Fulham will go head-to-head with some of Europe’s biggest clubs for Fluminense’s Andre Trindade. The 21-year-old Brazil international was on the Whites’ wish list during the January transfer period but a deal could not be finalised in time. Evidently, our admiration of the £25m-rated midfielder hasn’t cooled but if we’re to land him, we’ll have to swat off some stately competition.

FC Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are also thought to be in hot pursuit of Andre but it’s Fulham that are confident of wrapping things up before their rivals, and as a fair majority of our dressing room’s Portuguese-speaking, he’ll surely feel right at home if he was to jet off to virtually the other side of the planet.

Che Adams – Southampton

Subject to an article published by Daily Mail, Crystal Palace and Fulham have allegedly enquired about Southampton striker Che Adams, who joined the Saints in 2019 from Birmingham City for £15m. Adams, 27, recorded 10 goals alongside 3 assists as the seasiders were relegated to the Championship last season and while I’m not discounting him entirely, I’m not invested in the slightest.

As a secondary striker, the Scotland international would work well rotationally and if we do lose Mitrovic to Saudi riches, we have to be far more ambitious in identifying his successor. He knows the Premier League, that’s an obvious bonus, but he is nowhere near Mitro’s level and he shouldn’t be treated as such.

Paddy McNair – Middlesbrough

It’s believed that Middlesbrough’s Paddy McNair (via TEAMtalk) is being eyed by Leeds United, Sheffield United, Leicester City, AFC Bournemouth and Fulham. Boro will apparently listen to offers for the 28-year-old this summer following their failed attempt to break out of the Championship and while he’s a Northern Ireland international and a highly experienced defensive mind, he just doesn’t fit the bill.

A Manchester United youth graduate, McNair cut his teeth in an elite environment but for the last six seasons, he’s floated around the North East for both Sunderland and Middlesbrough and if we’re being honest, Sky Bet football is his ideal standard and it should really remain that way. Don’t you dare even think about it, Tony.