Fulham Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Cherki, Broja, Ekitike

We’ve seen a few of these names already this month but as it’s Deadline Day, Cam thought it’d be a good idea to cover the stories you’ll definitely see flag up on your timelines before tonight’s 11pm cut off. The clock’s ticking, let’s get down to business.

Rayan Cherki – Olympique Lyonnais

A report published by the Daily Mail suggests Fulham are prepared to smash their transfer record for Olympique Lyon’s Rayan Cherki. Fulham forked out £25m for Jean Micheal Seri in 2018, then of OGC Nice, and as Lyon supposedly value Cherki at £30m-plus, the Whites will certainly have to break the bank if they’re to secure the 20-year-old attacking midfielder from the Groupama Stadium.

Capable of playing both centrally and out wide, Cherki has been a highly useful component for Lyon since making his senior debut in 2019. However, as multiple managers haven’t been able to get a tune out of the France U21 representative this term, a big-money move away from the struggling the Ligue 1 giants could very well happen before the window slams shut. Cherki’s discipline and attitude has been scrutinised before now, as well as his fitness, but there’s no doubting his underlying talent as he is sill regarded as one of France’s brightest prospects.

Willian Jose – Real Betis

Transfer expert Aaron Domínguez is under the impression that Fulham could turn to Real Betis striker Willian Jose, if their attempts to land other prime targets fall flat, presumably. Having two Willian’s at the club would be surreal, and the Brazilian striker isn’t unfamiliar to the Premier League, as he joined Wolves on loan from Real Sociedad in January 2021.

A powerful option up top, the 32-year-old hasn’t been in searing form this season for Betis (6 goals and an assist in 19 games), but he is a heavily experienced number nine and if push came to shove and we went in for him, I wouldn’t be particularly upset because, as ever, he’ll do a better job than two of the three strikers we already have on our books.

Sebastien Haller – Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund’s Sebastien Haller – via The Athletic – has apparently turned down the opportunity to join Fulham on loan. The article states that the Whites enquired about Haller’s availability on Wednesday, and though Dortmund granted permission for our recruitment team to talk to the player, the 29-year-old Ivory Coast international is not keen on a return to the Premier League.

West Ham United signed Haller from Eintracht Frankfurt for £45m in 2019 but his spell with the Hammers was chequered. He managed to score 10 goals in 48 outings and 18 months later, he jumped to Ajax, where he smashed home a whopping 47 goals in 66 games. However at the Signal Iduna Park, and after beating cancer, Haller hasn’t established himself in Edin Terzic’s blueprints so a departure from the Bundesliga cannot be too far away, anyway.

Chuba Akpom – Ajax

Although Ajax are supposedly reluctant to allow Chuba Akpom to leave in the coming hours, The Telegraph suggests that a number of Premier League teams are lining up for the former Arsenal striker and Fulham are amongst the gathering crowd.

Akpom was lured to the Johan Cruyff Arena from Middlesbrough just six months ago for a £10.5m fee and as he’s performed excellently in an Ajax side that’s underperformed dramatically, the 28-year-old is being watched intently, particularly by the Whites. Akpom has netted 9 goals in 20 appearances for the choking Dutch superpower, and it’s thought the only way his employers would listen to offers is if they were substantial, and understandably so.

Armando Broja – Chelsea

This story seems to be developing at a serious rate of knots and as today’s plot thickens, it’s bound to change even further. Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has told GIVEMESPORT that Wolves are ‘definitely’ looking to acquire Chelsea’s Armando Broja on loan before it gets too late but if they’re to land the Albanian striker, it’s likely they’ll have to stump up £4m in loan fees. That is a weighty figure for three-and-a-half months worth of football, and as Fulham are also said to be tailing the 22-year-old, it all seemingly hinges on who can meet the Blues’ unrealistic demands.

Chelsea had previously slapped an eye-watering £50m price tag on Broja’s bonce, they’ve since reduced it to £40m, which is still £20m too much, but if the Wolves or indeed the Whites can barter successfully with both club and player, he could be a more than worthy addition for either camp. Broja may only have recorded a goal and an assist in 13 games, but he is a proper handful of a striker that’s still getting himself up to speed, following a ruptured ACL. Chelsea will have to get real, though, because their pie in the sky expectations aren’t really feasible. We’ll just have to see who’s desperation cracks first.

Said Benrahma – West Ham United

A private jet was apparently organised to jet West Ham United’s Said Benrahma to the south of France to tie-up a last-minute switch to Lyon, The Sun understood that Fulham were poised to scupper the Ligue 1 side’s attempts to land the Algeria international from the Hammers but Fabrizio Romano has seemingly put that possibility to bed.

The world-renowned transfer expert states that West Ham have rebuffed a straight loan offer from Fulham for Benrahma, and as the 28-year-old is already in Lyon to finalise a temporary move that includes a £15m option to make it permanent in the summer, Fulham tardiness has ruined matters on this front almost indefinitely.

Hugo Ekitike – Paris Saint Germain

As Fulham are unsure on Chelsea’s Armando Broja, the club have allegedly contacted Paris Saint Germain with the view to loaning in Hugo Ekitike, as per the Daily Mail. Ekitike is a France U21 striker and the Parisian juggernauts vale him at £30m, but that figure will not have to be honoured if he’s to depart on a temporary basis, obviously.

The 21-year-old joined PSG from Stade Reims for £24m last summer but he has only featured once for Luis Enrique’s side until now. While he’s definitely out of favour at the Parc des Princes currently, Ekitike is still undoubtedly a youngster to look out for and all he requires is regular game time. The Whites’ strike force could do with an attacker with fresh hunger, but will it be Ekitike, Broja or neither? Nothing is set in stone.

Silas Katompo Mvumpa – VfB Stuttgart

Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg – disclosed via Bundesliga Updates on X – has revealed that Fulham have allegedly lodged a loan offer for Stuttgart winger Silas, with a €15m option to buy also being included. The Whites are said to be in talks with the player’s agent, Mehmet Eser, and it’s thought the DR Congo international is open to the prospect of plying his trade in SW6.

As it is extremely late on in the window, though, Stuttgart are unlikely to accept any offer for the 25-year-old, reasonable or not. Silas plays predominantly on the right, and he has 3 goals and 3 assists for the Bundesliga outfit this season. He is on international duty at AFCON, DR Congo take on Guinea in the quarter finals tomorrow so it could be a game of intrigue for Fulham fans, if we can persuade Die Roten to sell.