Fulham Rumour Round-Up: De Ketelaere, Sanchez, Wahi

Calvin Bassey and Raul Jimenez made instant impacts upon their first outings at Craven Cottage against TSG Hoffenheim, and if we are to make anymore signings before the window’s up (we’re all waiting impatiently), I really, really hope they introduce themselves like Saturday’s goal-scoring duo did.

We’re waiting on any credible word regarding Callum Hudson-Odoi, Demarai Gray only has eyes for us (or so those in the know say) but the countdown to Everton is well and truly on and as we trundle towards deadline day, our squad’s still thin on the ground. We are edging closer to the usual influx of late summer additions, mind, so could any of the inclusions in this week’s round-up be destined for SW6? Let us explore the possibilities with on eye fixed on the timeline.

Charles De Ketelaere – AC Milan

AC Milan’s attacking midfielder Charles De Ketelaere could be headed for a departure from the San Siro this summer and Gazzetta dello Sport believe Fulham will rival Atalanta for the Belgium international. It’s suggested that Atalanta and Milan have already shaken hands on a deal but evidently, Fulham have other plans and they’re poised to muscle in at the final hurdle. Ultimately, negotiations rest on the 22-year-old’s preference and while Bergamo’s an attractive location, pitching up in the Premier League’s surely a temptation. De Ketelaere signed for the Rossoneri from Club Brugge last summer, he featured 40 times in all competitions during last season’s schedule but factually, with just one assist to his benefit, his debut Serie A campaign wasn’t ground breaking in the slightest. Still, this is a player with boundless potential and if Milan are wanting rid, we should take a chance on him because his best years are definitely ahead of him.

AC Milan’s attacking midfielder Charles De Ketelaere could be headed for a departure from the San Siro this summer and Gazzetta dello Sport believe Fulham will rival Atalanta for the Belgium international. It’s suggested that Atalanta and Milan have already shaken hands on a deal but evidently, Fulham have other plans and they’re poised to muscle in at the final hurdle.

Ultimately, negotiations rest on the 22-year-old’s preference and while Bergamo’s an attractive location, pitching up in the Premier League’s surely a temptation. De Ketelaere signed for the Rossoneri from Club Brugge last summer, he featured 40 times in all competitions during last season’s schedule but factually, with just one assist to his benefit, his debut Serie A campaign wasn’t groundbreaking in the slightest. Still, this is a player with boundless potential and if Milan are wanting rid, we should take a chance on him because his best years are definitely ahead of him.

Steven Benda – Swansea City

BBC Sport Wales journalist Ian Mitchelmore revealed that Fulham have allegedly sounded out Swansea’s City’s Steven Benda as a possible recruitment for the club’s goalkeeping department, however as the 24-year-old’s still recovering from a cruciate ligament rupture, we may have to put this one on ice until the January transfer window.

Benda has been on Swansea’s books since 2017 when he moved from 1860 München’s youth set-up to the Swans’ equivalent and having been part of the Championship club’s first-team picture since 2019, he’s racked up 31 appearances in total. His standing at Swansea could be in jeopardy, though, as it’s thought Michael Duff is planning on bringing in Carl Rushworth from Brighton and Hove Albion to contest Andy Fisher in Benda’s absence. Should we be eyeing a ‘keeper with a dodgy knee? Probably not, so if we’re searching for an extra pair of hands to join the ranks, we should definitely do so elsewhere.

Luca Pellegrini – Juventus

Another case of déjà vu with this one as respected Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio confirmed that Fulham have supposedly set their sights on Juventus left-back Luca Pellegrini, whom we were heavily linked to last summer. The 24-year-old decided upon a temporary switch to Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt for the first half of the 2022/23 campaign, before signing with Lazio for the remainder.

At the Biancoceleste, Pellegrini only featured seven times in all competitions so his stock is at its lowest and subsequently, Juve are hoping to move him on. As well as the Whites, Ligue 1’s Nice has also been touted as a potential destination for the surplus full-back. Di Marzio claims that Pellegrini is keen on Silva’s project, although the clubs are yet to agree on terms themselves. He failed to make an impact in Germany, as well as at the Stadio Olimpico last season and with this in mind, I’m certain we can pinpoint an alternative with a greater yield and influence along the left.

Josh Doig – Hellas Verona

“Several English sources” – according to Calciomercato – have identified Hellas Verona’s Josh Doig as a potential target of Fulham and Torino and if this is the case where we’re concerned, it’s a resounding yes from me. The left-back departed Hibernian last summer for a fee of £3m and in his maiden Serie A season, the 21-year-old was a humungous hit for Hellas and his powerful exploits have also drawn attention from AS Roma and Atalanta, as per the Edinburgh Evening News.

It’s mooted that a figure of £6m has been banded for Doig, a bargain for a defender of his potential, and it also bears financial implications for Hibs, too. There’s thought to be a 27.5% sell-on clause included in his contract at The Bentegodi, so if the Scotland international’s to pack his bags a year after bidding farewell to Easter Road, his former employers will benefit significantly.

Davinson Sanchez – Tottenham Hotspur

We could still very well be angling for an extra centre-half to join the ranks and a 90min article proposes that Fulham have enquired about Tottenham Hotspurs’ Davinson Sanchez. Spurs forked out £42m for the Colombian defender in 2017, he’d been an integral member of the club’s first-team compliment but now, seemingly, the 27-year-old’s surplus to requirements and the Whites could be ready to pounce. The North Londoners will (surely) not recoup the money they’d paid for him six years ago and as he’s presumably not part of Ange Postecoglu’s plans, he could be auctioned off for a reasonable price.

As well as us, OGC Nice, Galatasaray and Spartak Moscow have been supposedly been in touch with Tottenham so with differing offers to mull, the former Ajax man will have to choose wisely and I hope our proposals, if they actually materialised, are intriguing enough to sway him from one side of the capital to the other. Come on, Bassey and Sanchez steamrolling attackers into shallow graves, the very thought of it should come with a disclaimer. It’s a tag team plucked Tony Khan’s wrestling fantasy, minus the lycra.

Dan Ndoye – FC Basel

A five-way tug of war’s set to ensue for FC Basel’s Dan Ndoye and Fulham – relayed by Fussball Transfers – is one fifth of the melee. It’s said Italian outfits Bologna, Torino and Fiorentina will contest the Whites, as well as an unnamed Bundesliga club, and if Basel are to part ways with the Switzerland forward, they’ll demand €10m.

This season, with the Swiss Super League kicking off earlier in the summer than the Premier League, Ndoye has a goal and two assists to his credit and at 22, he’s far from the finished article. Comfortable on either flank, as well as through the centre, Ndoye’s versatility’s his USP but capturing his services will not be simple, not with the teams we’ll have to swat off if we were to persist.

Elye Wahi – Montpellier

Various London-based Premier League teams are vying for Montpellier’s highly-rated striker Elye Wahi and TEAMtalk have been informed that Fulham are in the running. The publication states that Arsenal will go head-to-head with Chelsea for Wahi, and that the Blues have already tabled a proposal. However, the 20-year-old was apparently unhappy with Chelsea’s vision of immediately loaning him out to sister club Strasbourg, so the floor is now open for other parties to stake a claim for the prospect’s signature.

Now Gabriel Jesus is to miss the start of the imminent 2023/24 season, the Gunners have turned to Wahi as an idealistic resort and bringing up the rear is none other than West Ham United and indeed, us. German side Eintracht Frankfurt have also been recognised as an outsider for the €40m-rated youngster, a valuation reaffirmed by his impressive return of 19 goals and six assists in Ligue 1 last season. Wahi is obviously hot property that won’t come cheap but I’ll leave you with this: do not read the ‘controversies’ section of his Wikipedia page.