Fulham Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Gimenez, Andre, Werner

Trust us, there’s plenty to dig into. The Khans have sent scouts far and wide in search of recruits, we expect there’s money to burn so without further adieu, here’s all the tabloids have splurged until now, compiled by Cam.

‘Tis the season where everything’s gaining on us. Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, our waistbands, but most importantly, the January transfer window. Silly season with leftover port and cheese, basically. Months have passed us by since the summer, and don’t we know it, and in that period the tabloids haven’t ceased to drum up intrigue where could-be purchases are concerned and that’s where this gargantuan article comes into view. Let the madness begin!

Santiago Gimenez – Feyenoord

On fire for Feyenoord, Santiago Gimenez is one of the continent’s hottest strikers and a report circulated by W Deportes states that Fulham have tabled a massive €50m bid for the Mexico international. This may seem steep, but his form in both the Eredivisie and the Champions League has been exceptional and as we’re short of an out-and-out goal getter, the 22-year-old is worth every penny.

In 16 outings in all competitions, Gimenez has netted eighteen goals, and he’s also provided three assists. He’s an impactful figure in the final third, a shoot-on-sight specialist although it may be difficult to tempt him to the Cottage, seeing as his team are still in the running to progress to the Champions League knock-out stages. His compatriot and not quite namesake, Raul Jimenez, hasn’t found his feet in black and white but he could be a vehicle, if negotiations were activated. Santiago will need a familiar face, and who better than a national treasure such as Raul, who is still idolised by all that support El Tri.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – Leicester City

Leicester City are odds on to win the Championship title come May, they’re top of the tree by three points, extremely tough to break down and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall – who is allegedly being tailed by Fulham, as per port talkSPORT – is a key factor behind the Foxes’ shake-up under Enzo Maresca.

Dewsbury-Hall has been influential for Leicester, with five goals and six assists in seventeen run-outs, the 25-year-old graduate of the club’s youth academy has also garnered interest from Liverpool as well as the Whites and Maresca is smitten with the central midfielder’s game-changing application to date. Speaking to Sky Sports, Maresca purred: “He’s calm, fantastic with the ball, he knows when to attack and what to give the team.

“He is so dangerous near the box, and has the quality to score or assist from anywhere. He could already have had 10 or 12 assists.

“He is probably the most-improved for us and he’s in the perfect position.”

Armando Broja – Chelsea

Having recently returned to action from an ACL rupture, and scoring on his first game back against us at the Cottage in October, Chelsea – via Evening Standard – will allegedly rebuff any outside offers for Armando Broja, amid reports that Fulham are wanting to add him to their misfiring offensive department.

The 22-year-old is more or less a carbon copy of Aleksandar Mitrovic, with extra pace, but it’s become apparent that Mauricio Pochettino will not entertain any talk of the Albania international’s departure from Stamford Bridge and by all accounts, Broja doesn’t want to bid farewell either, even on loan. Well, that’s that settled, then.

Victor Nelsson – Galatasaray

Rated highly by Galatasaray, Victor Nelsson could be on the market for an exceedingly low figure once January rolls around and Turkish outlet Takvim have earmarked Fulham as a prime contender for the Danish centre-half’s signature. A sum of £13m has been endorsed and whispers of a potential exit from the Super Lig champions were amplified by Gala’s deputy chairman Erdem Timur.

“His current idea is not to extend the contract. However, he has a contract for two more years.” Timor told Fanatik. Nelsson safeguarded Galatasaray to a famous victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions League earlier this year, the 25-year-old’s a studied defender and is also a mainstay at the heart of Okan Buruk’s defence but if his sights are set on the Premier League, Fulham have to be in the swim.

Geny Catamo – Sporting CP

Renowned Portuguese publication O Jogo have claimed that Fulham are tracking Sporting CP winger Geny Catamo, who has also been linked with Aston Villa. The 22-year-old Mozambique international is currently injured and his return to the turf is yet to be forecast, however his form before being sidelined is why the Whites are supposedly in the running.

Although Catamo is a Sporting player, his former club Amora FC still hold a 75% share in the player, meaning Leoes will only recoup 25% of any potential sale. For Sporting to own the player outright, thus gaining proceeds in full, it’s thought Amora will accept a figure in the €3m region, however it’s believed they will not dictate the player’s future if he is expected to depart in the coming weeks, fitness permitting.

Chuba Akpom – Ajax

Despite only joining Ajax last summer from Middlesbrough, TEAMtalk revealed that Chuba Akpom could be set for a return to England on loan in January, with Fulham and Crystal Palace being the main potential suitors for the 2022/23 Championship Player of the Year.

The 28-year-old striker is contracted to the struggling Dutch giants until 2028 and across 13 Eredivisie outings so far this term, the Arsenal academy product has struck 5 goals. Other interested Premier League outfits include Everton, Burnley, Luton Town and Sheffield United, so other than the Whites and the Eagles, there’s still plenty of options for Akpom to choose from if he’s granted permission to leave the Johan Cruyff Arena on a short-term basis.

Lewis Ferguson – Bologna

Well-known Italian outlet Tuttosport have broadcast that Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Juventus are all monitoring Bologna’s Scottish midfielder Lewis Ferguson. Ferguson is a trusted member of Thiago Motta’s squad and in 13 Serie A games, he’s registered three goals and three assists, an admirable contribution for a player that’s really come to prominence in the past two years.

Bologna are currently in a decent position domestically, with European football being a primary objective and with that, it may be difficult to prise him away from the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara. Having said that, while Ferguson, 24, is under contract until 2027 however a figure of £13m could be enough to persuade I Rossoblu to part ways with one of their key components mid-season.

Serhou Guirassy – VfB Stuttgart

A prolific hitman with a 16-goal haul in the Bundesliga for Stuttgart, Sehrou Guirassy is a striker that has the footballing world salivating and according to Fabrizio Romano, Fulham are one of a number of clubs that are circling for the deadly Guinea international. Guirassy has a shallow €17.5m release clause within his contract at the German side, only Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane has found the back of the net more times than he but if Fulham are to convince him to join, they will have to fend off some of the wealthiest sides in Europe, including Newcastle United.

It isn’t pretty reading for Fulham fans, though, as the head of football at BILD, Christian Falk, recently revealed in a column for CaughtOffside: “Serhou Guirassy is already aware that he can make a move in January as he has a release clause of €17.5m that can be activated at this time,

“VFB Stuttgart is still fighting for him, but it’s not a lot of money! Not much for the Premier League certainly.

“In the summer, we already mentioned about his opportunity to go to the UK amid interest from Fulham but he didn’t, as he wanted a better opportunity. I’m not sure Fulham is the right club.

“Newcastle United are on the table and might be a more attractive option as a Champions League club.”

Andre – Fluminense

We simply have to get this done. As stated by Brazilian outlet UOL, Fulham are apparently front-runners in the race for Fluminense midfielder Andre who, by all accounts, it’s bloody Bisto. Liverpool and Arsenal have also been mentioned in the chasing pack, however the 22-year-old linchpin is allegedly leaning towards a January move to SW6, amid Joao Palhinha’s ongoing transfer saga concerning Bayern Munich.

Andre’s arrival doesn’t hinge on Palhinha’s departure, though. It’s imagined that both can play alongside one another, I won’t pretend to know much about the Brazil international, because I don’t, but what I’ve heard and read of him is extremely positive to say the least and his performances gather rave reviews.

Alistair Mackintosh and his scouting entourage recently travelled to South America to take in Fluminense’s Copa Libertadores Final triumph over Argentine giants Boca Juniors and Andre was a stand-out participant. His deal runs dry at the end of 2026 and Fluminense want around £30m for the newly-capped Seleção man. Fire up the online banking app, Tony.

Tammy Abraham – AS Roma

Tammy Abraham is expected to be out of action until March 2024 however Calciomercato have suggested that West Ham United, Aston Villa, Brentford and Fulham are keeping close tabs on the AS Roma striker’s rehabilitation. Abraham was purchased by the Rome-based outfit two years ago for an estimated £34m, however he sustained an ACL injury at the back end of the 2022/23 campaign.

The 26-year-old has found the back of the net 36 times in 107 appearances for Jose Mourinho’s Gialorossi, and while he still has unfinished business to attend to upon his return, jumping back to English shores presumably wouldn’t be entirely off the agenda for the England international, capped eleven times by the Three Lions. The former Chelsea striker laid claim to the Champions League trophy at the closing of the 2020/21 season and during a season-long loan spell at Villa, he dispatched 26 goals.

Samuel Illing-Junior – Juventus

This is a youngster you may remember from one of our summer transfer editions. TEAMtalk report that Juventus winger Samuel Illing-Junior is apparently back on Fulham’s winter wish list, although it’s also thought that several English top-flight clubs sides are closing in on the 20-year-old assist king.

As well as the Whites, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Villa have also supposedly expressed interest in the England U21 representative but despite his budding reputation, he has only made four appearances for Juve off the bench this season, which isn’t ideal for his growth. He was an MVP within the Bianconeri’s youth set-up, with 14 goals and 15 assists in 58 games, Illing-Junior’s call-up to the senior fold was warranted but his career in Turin hasn’t ignited as expected.

Jonas Wind – VfL Wolfsburg

An London Evening Standard article has revealed that Fulham are interested in acquiring Wolfsburg attacker Jonas Wind once the winter transfer period arrives. The 24-year-old is a livewire for the Bundesliga club up top and his record in the league is outstanding. He’s bulged the net nine times in twelve outings, and he’s also plated up 2 assists, too.

He’s capable of playing out wide but he’s really come to life as a focal point in the final third. The Denmark international is hitting all the right notes for his nation as well, as he’s registered six goal contributions in his last eight caps. Given his importance to Wolfsburg, though, the Whites will need to cough up a premium if they’re to woo Wind from the Volkswagen Arena but if we’ve money to burn, I say we test Die Wölfe’s resolve. 

Timo Werner – Red Bull Leipzig

We’re likely to target other striking options but a 90min report has implied that Fulham, West Ham and Crystal Palace are eyeing Red Bull Leipzig’s Timo Werner, formerly of Chelsea, of course. The 27-year-old was more of a liability for the Blues, a misfiring hindrance culprit to spurning multiple opportunities but he soon regained his confidence once he re-joined RB Leipzig in the summer of 2022.

He has two goals and an assist in 13 appearances this season, which isn’t exactly a return to write home about, but I am not completely against the prospect of signing him, even on loan, because he’s still arguably better than the fodder we have at our disposal anyway. If I had a choice, though, I’d put Werner on the back burner because we’ve stronger alternatives to explore first.

Alan Virginius – Lille OSC

French outlet Foot Mercato are under the impression that Fulham are lining up a January swoop for Lille attacker Alan Virginus. The 20-year-old joined Les Dogues in 2022 from Sochaux and his contract runs until 2027.

He’s far from being the first name on Paulo Foncesca’s team sheet, though. The France U20 player has only featured six times for he Ligue 1 outfit this season in all competitions, however the report indicates that Marco Silva ‘particularly appreciates’ the winger’s skill set. I don’t call the shots, but it’s a hard nope from me on this one.

Antonio Nusa – Club Brugge KV

It’s common knowledge but Spanish publication Fichajes believe that Fulham are on the hunt for offensive reinforcements in January, and Club Brugge’s €30m-rated starlet Antonio Nusa is on the shortlist. Nusa’s one to watch, he’s a teenager that’s impressed and improved massively since leaving Stabæk for the Belgian club in 2021 but his asking price could be a major put-off for the Whites.

It’s said that Fulham will seek to reduce the fee if they’re to enter talks with Blauw-Zwart, however they’re not the only team in SW6 that are pursuing the Norway international attacker. Yes, it’s said Chelsea are also on the prowl and they’re definitely primed to splash the cash if needs be. Taking a punt on Nusa isn’t too risky, mind. He’s scored two and provided three for his side so far this term, but I’d agree that if we could knock Brugge’s down by five to ten million quid, we’d be pretty silly if we didn’t invest in a future star that could be a serious danger in the Premier League today.

Pedro – Flamengo

Respected journalist Jorge Nicola has disclosed that Fulham are preparing a substantial January bid for Flamengo’s prolific striker Pedro. Nicola says a “very influential” source has informed him that the Whites will seek to capture the 26-year-old in the coming weeks, and that is evidently irrespective of the Brazil international’s £52m release clause.

Pedro is the Brazilian Serie A’s top ranking hitman. In 57 games across all available competitions, he slammed home 33 goals and in 212 appearances overall, he has 100 goals to his credit. Staggering. Pedro signed for Flamengo in January 2021 from Fiorentina, his presence in the final third is spine shuddering and if we’re to prise him from his employers, we’ll have to comply and cooperate. We have to land this guy. I’ve heard people mutter that we cannot sign strikers from Brazil, not decent ones, anyway, but Pedro is honestly the real deal and he is the closest we’ll get to bridging the gap that was left by Aleksandar Mitrovic.