Fulham Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Bennacer, O’Riley, Braithwaite

We know the Khans and their recruitment team act late on, and as the countdown to Deadline Day is in singular numbers, we’ll just have to wait and see, like the obedient ‘customers’ we are. We doubt much – if anything – will happen at all but here’s Cam’s penultimate January transfer rumour round-up, a month-long period which has been ridiculously boring to say the very least.

Ismael Bennacer – AC Milan

Disclosed by the Daily Mail, Fulham allegedly sent scouts to watch AC Milan’s Ismael Bennacer at the Africa Cup of Nations as his country, Algeria, played out a 1-1 draw with Angola in their opening game. Having recovered from a nasty knee injury, the 26-year-old has five league appearances for Milan this season and there’s signs he’s returning to his best for both club and indeed the Fennec Foxes.

A holding midfielder by trade, Bennacer is a tireless warden both on and off the ball and as he’s chasing a Scudetto with Il Rossonero, as well as competing in the Champions League, the Whites have a seismic challenge on their hands if they’re to lure the former Empoli man to Stevenage Road. He was also voted the Player of the Tournament at the previous AFCON tournament, so he is most definitely a player of esteem and prestige and he will not come cheap.

Aaron Ciammaglichella – Torino

Try saying this kid’s name after a few swifties. Well-known Italian outlet Tuttosport understand that while Fulham are watching Torino starlet Aaron Ciammaglichella closely, the 18-year-old midfielder is going nowhere because the Turin-based side claim he is “untouchable”. Ciammaglichella’s contract expires in 2025, he is yet to make a senior appearance for Torino but he has been called-up to Ivan Juric’s first-team training sessions, so it surely won’t be long until he introduces himself properly to the Serie A stage.

Recognising the Italy U19 international’s burgeoning talent, Il Toro’s youth team manager Ruggero Ludergnani is hoping to renew the youngster’s deal and as the player and his representatives hold a good relationship with the club, it’s expected he’ll remain The Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino to further his development as one of the country’s top prospects.

Matt O’Riley – Celtic

Always with an ear to the ground, HITC Football are under the impression that Crystal Palace, Everton, Brighton and Hove Albion, Brentford, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Fulham will spar it out for Celtic’s Matt O’Riley, who we know all too well in SW6. There evidently isn’t a shortage of Premier League interest in the Denmark international and as he’s tried and tested in Europe, it’s thought there’s plenty of continental suitors, too

OGC Nice, Lille, Napoli, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid and La Liga leaders Girona are also said to be admirers of O’Riley, and the noise surrounding the 23-year-old is fully merited. His goal contributions for Celtic are excellent, he’s netted 10 goals and supplied 12 for Brendan Rogers’ side in all competitions so far and he is primed to broaden those statistics by a distance. Scott Parker has blood on his hands. In today’s market, he’s got to be worth at least £30m and if the funds were readily available, I’d pay way over the odds to bring him back to the Cottage.

Jhon Cordoba – Krasnodar

A report published by the Evening Standard suggests that Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace Everton and Fulham are mulling over the possibility of loaning in Krasnodar striker Jhon Cordoba. It’s expected that if an agreement was to be met, a £7m option to buy clause would also be included in the small print and while the Russian top-flight isn’t the most taxing division in existence, Cordoba’s undeniably been in fine form in front of the target.

The 30-year-old Colombian has bagged 11 goals in 20 outings for Krasnodar this term, it’s thought he is angling for a January switch to the Premier League but dealing with a Russian club, for obvious reasons, could prove to be complicated. I can’t say I’m particularly wooed by this story but it isn’t the worst whisper I’ve ever heard so if something was to come of it, I wouldn’t be disappointed or moved, just neutral.

Charlie Patino – Arsenal

Those at FootballTransfers have been informed that Fulham allegedly made an early-window offer for Arsenal youngster Charlie Patino, who is currently on loan at Championship side Swansea City. The 20-year-old has been a top performer for the Swans this season and despite the prospect of blooding him at a higher level, Arsenal have no intention of ending the player’s stay in south Wales.

So, this is a non-starter, but Patino is undoubtedly a playmaker we should keep in our sights because he is growing into a very handy midfielder. As Arsenal’s middle third is laden with world-class options, a loan move could suit both Patino and the Gunners next term and if he’s available, we should do our best to snap him up, even if it’s only for a season or so.

Petar Musa – SL Benfica

Portuguese publication Record state that Brentford, Wolves and Fulham are set to miss out on Benfica’s Petar Musa, as the striker’s January switch to Ligue 1 side Lille OSC is imminent. The report claims Lille are ‘gaining advantage’ in the race for the 25-year-old’s signature and as Benfica recently landed Marcos Leandro from Brazilian side Santos, Musa is seemingly surplus to requirement at the Estadio da Luz.

The Croatian striker has netted five goals and provided two in 25 Liga NOS appearances for As Águias this season, he’s a physical striker that comes to life in the penalty area but as none of the English sides actually tabled a bid, Les Dogues have a clear pathway to securing their prime attacking target in the next few days.

Ederson – Atalanta BC

Speaking on Last Word on Spurs, football broadcaster Ben Jacobs has revealed that while Tottenham Hotspur should go all-out for Atalanta midfielder Ederson, the north Londoners could face fierce competition from multiple clubs across Europe, including Fulham.

Jacobs said: “Wolves don’t want to lose Gomes, Ederson does have some legs, Atleti have looked historically but are looking at other targets, Juventus are also in the race, and I’m also told that Fulham are looking and they’re still in the market for some sort of central midfielder.”

Previously a Brazil U20 representative, Ederson is seen as one of Atalanta’s brightest assets and from a roaming midfield role, the 24-year-old has registered 5 goals and an assist in 21 Serie A outings. It’s likely La Dea will demand a minimum sum of £30m if they’re to allow Ederson to depart and as our money could be spent better elsewhere, we should let it be and move on. Over to you, Spurs et al.

Martin Braithwaite – RCD Espanyol

As well as Manchester United and Chelsea, HITC have been told that Arsenal, Wolves, West Ham and Fulham are also on the hunt for Espanyol’s heavily experienced striker Martin Braithwaite, who has scored 11 goals in 21 outings in the Segunda Division. His tally makes him the Spanish second tier’s top scorer and they have helped fire Espanyol to fourth in the standings thus far.

The Denmark international is no stranger to English football, having been a Middlesbrough player between 2017 to 2019, and he had also turned out for FC Barcelona from 2020 to 2022. It’s thought Braithwaite could be up for grabs for a paltry £5m due to his release clause, however his deal at the Catalonian club does run until 2025, so it’s not yet known whether he will actually seek an exit for definite, not if promotion to La Liga is still a possibility.

Can Uzun – FC Nurnberg

Subject to a Chronicle Live report, Premier League quartet Newcastle United, Brighton and Hove Albion, Everton and Fulham are eyeing Nurnberg’s €10m-rated striker Can Uzun. As well as the aforementioned English teams, though, German Bundesliga sides Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Eintrach Frankfurt are potential suitors, and La Liga duo Sevilla and Villarreal CF have also been cited.

So, the 18-year-old hotshot is turning heads, a lot of them, and with good reason. The teenager has a very impressive haul in the 2.Bundesliga, 8 goals and an assist in 17 appearances to be exact, and with numbers like that, it surely won’t be long until the Turkey U21 attacker’s purchased by an elite set-up, and if his representatives are smart, they’ll know Motspur Park is the perfect proving ground for fresh, raw talents such as Uzun. Pie in the sky thinking, mind.