Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Smith Rowe, Summerville, Phillips

If Cam appears to have missed a few names out of this, our first round-up of the summer, you can bet your bottom dollar they’ll be included in our next loaded edition.

They’ve come in thick and fast, outta nowhere and as we delve deeper into silly season, we’ve a juicy breakdown of who the Whites have been linked with over the last couple of weeks. Don’t let the footie in Germany fool you, transfer madness is here and it is gonna consume us all.

Emile Smith Rowe – Arsenal

With Arsenal’s sporting director, Edu, planning an overhaul in the coming weeks, the Mirror has disclosed that Emile Smith Rowe could be up for grabs and Fulham are allegedly sniffing around the versatile midfielder.

It’s thought the Gunners value Smith Rowe at around £30m but for a player of his quality, despite only racking up 13 outings for Mikel Arteta’s side last season partly due to various injury setbacks, the 23-year-old could be worth splashing out on because he would suit Marco Silva’s system perfectly. It’s believed Smith Rowe is open to leaving the Emirates for regular first-team football and that is something we could certainly offer him, and he wouldn’t have to up sticks to another city, either.

Trevoh Chalobah – Chelsea

Tosin Adarabioyo joined Chelsea for free earlier this month and it’s The Athletic’s understanding – via Give Me Sport – that Fulham have Blues defender Trevoh Chalobah well within their sights. Enzo Maresca is poised to shake up the dressing room at Stamford Bridge and Chalobah will supposedly be available to potential suitors for the ‘right price’, which is likely to be in excess of £20m at the very least.

Chalobah is contracted to Chelsea until 2028 and if he is to be shown the exit door, it’s said the 24-year-old would want to stay put in west London and that really means the Whites would be the only viable destination for the former England U21 representative. He was a shadow member of Mauricio Pochettino’s squad last season as he only featured 17 times in all competitions, however he is a highly capable defender that can even shift into a holding midfield role if required and most importantly, he is indeed a better performer than his older brother.

Lewis Ferguson – Bologna FC 1909

A piece published by Calciomercato has revealed that Fulham are tracking Bologna’s Scottish midfielder Lewis Ferguson, who enjoyed the season of his career to date in Serie A. Recording 6 goals and 5 assists across the board, Ferguson gained constant plaudits for his efforts as I Rossoblù qualified for the Champions League for the first time on their history and naturally, his reputation has soared.

Bologna will be wary of losing one of their prized assets in the summer, so it’s understood they’ve pinned a €20m price tag on the 24-year-old’s head. Ferguson can play in a range of disciplines in the middle of the park but he is best suited to the no.10 position, which is an area the Whites could definitely do with reinforcing, given Andreas Pereira’s peaks and troughs in form.

Teden Mengi – Luton Town

Central defenders will surely be top of Fulham’s transfer wish list this summer and an Evening Standard report suggests that the Whites will seek to acquire two, with Luton Town’s Teden Mengi being one notable target.

A key component of Rob Edwards’ valiant yet doomed Hatters squad, Mengi is also supposedly being monitored by Crystal Palace and even Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen, so if Fulham wish to acquire the 22-year-old Young Lion, they’ll have to propose a project that trumps that of Xabi Alonso’s earth-shattering Leverkusen, which speaks for itself, and Oliver Glasner’s vibrant Eagles vision. Talk about proper competition, eh.

Andre Trindade – Fluminense

A long-standing transfer target of Fulham’s, FootballTransfers confirmed that Fulham are still hot on the heels of Fluminense midfielder Andre Trindade as they search for a potential replacement for Joao Palhinha. That is, of course, if the Portugal international finally bids farewell to SW6 for Bayern Munich.

During 2024’s January transfer window, multiple reports from varying outlets proposed that the Whites considered a mid-season swoop for the 22-year-old Brazil international. Andre’s Big Flu contract expires in 2026 but as previous dialogues between Fulham and the Brazilian giants were well received by all involved parties, a switch to the Premier League if Palhinha packs his bags for Bavaria could very well become a reality after all.

Eddie Nketiah – Arsenal

Subject to a TEAMtalk report, Fulham are allegedly drawing up a bid to land Eddie Nketiah from Arsenal. The 25-year-old has fallen down the pecking order in north London, understandably so with seasoned attackers Arteta has at his disposal, and if he’s to revive his career, a move away from the Emirates seems to be the only logical option.

Nketiah was used sparingly by the Gunners last season and he simply isn’t consistent enough to oust Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus from the tip of Arsenal’s offensive spearhead. The perennial Premier League bridesmaids are also said to be keen on Red Bull Salzburg’s Benjamin Sesko, so it’s obvious that Arteta’s already planning a future without the former record-breaking England U21 striker. Would he do a job for Fulham? Yes. Will we have to pay over the odds for him? Undoubtedly. Is he ultimately worth a punt? I’ll leave that for you to decide upon.

Lucas Ocampos – Sevilla FC

La Liga outfit Sevilla are currently hamstrung by financial issues and in order to raise all-important funds, Lucas Ocampos could be sacrificed and Vamos Sevilla FC are under the impression that Fulham are in for him yet again.

The Whites were supposed admirers of Ocampos last summer but they subsequently couldn’t spark out a deal for the 29-year-old Argentine attacker. It’s though Ocampos is in fact happy to remain at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán but his employers may be left with no choice but to cash-in on the majority of their squad. He can play out wide on the left as well as on the right-hand side but as he isn;t the most prolific of attackers, perhaps our investments should be pledged elsewhere for younger, Premier League-ready alternatives.

Morato – SL Benfica

Another player you may be familiar with already is Benfica’s Morato. Mais Futebol revealed that Fulham are interested in the Brazilian centre-back, a stance which hasn’t changed since last summer, and if Benfica are to part ways with Morato, they’ll seemingly seek a sum of between €20-25 million.

It’s actually believed that the 22-year-old has a €100m release clause but as no would-be suitor would even entertain such a figure, As Águias may be forced to temper their expectations, but that isn’t to say they’re gunning to get rid of the young defender by any means. If anything, they’re merely testing the waters. Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Newcastle United have also been linked to Morato, so he isn’t short of choices if he is given the green light to depart.

Crysencio Summerville – Leeds United

Since Leeds United failed to gain promotion to the Premier League, a cohort of top talent could be on the way out of Elland Road and an article published by TEAMtalk states that Fulham have joined the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool in the hunt for Crysencio Summerville’s signature.

Summerville made 31 goal contributions last season, making him one of the Championship’s hottest attackers however it’s not yet known how much Leeds will want for their prized Dutch winger. The 22-year-old is direct, tough to pin down and as he has a sharpened eye for goal, he would easily slot into Fulham’s starting XI and if we’re genuine contenders, we have to go all out to secure his services. For me, this is a player we should really, really consider if we’re on the lookout for attackers that can play on either flank.

Adrien Truffert – Stade Rennais

Acquiring a sturdy left-back to compete with Antonee Robinson will be a priority for Silva this summer and L’Equipe – via Sport Witness – believe that Fulham and Aston Villa are monitoring Stade Rennais’ €20m-rated fullback Adrien Truffert.

In 43 overall outings, Truffert registered 2 goals and seven assists and as well as being a relatively productive defender, he’s also positionally sound and brave in one-on-one duels. The report says that Villa attempted to sign Truffert 18 months ago, however the aforementioned Premier League duo are not alone in their supposed pursuit of the 22-year-old. Respected sides across the continent including AC Milan, AS Monaco, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, and Lyon have been recognised as could-be suitors for Truffert, so the possibilities are virtually endless for the promising Frenchman.

Edoardo Bove – AS Roma

It’s HITC’s knowledge that a host of Premier League teams are keeping a close eye on AS Roma’s Edoardo Bove, and one of those teams is said to be Fulham. Everton, AFC Bournemouth, Leicester City and Brentford have also been earmarked in the chase for the Roma central midfielder, who is valued at £18m by the Serie A outfit.

At 22-years-of-age, Bove is showing signs of genuine progression at the Stadio Olimpico and his ceiling his growing higher and higher. Stats don’t often speak for themselves, mind. A return of 2 assists in 31 league appearances doesn’t get the blood pumping at first glance but the Italy U21 international is a silky conductor on the ball, and there’s a fire in his belly, too. If you watch Serie A Sundays, you’ll know.

Kalvin Phillips – Manchester City

This is the biggest ‘hear me out’ link of the lot. With their ear to the ground, HITC have again sounded Fulham out as a potential safe haven for Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips and though his loan stint at West Ham United was diabolical, I am all for this to become a reality and I say that with chest. Fight me.

Recently, England boss Gareth Southgate infamously proclaimed that the Three Lions ‘don’t have a natural replacement for Phillips’ and that is an endorsement and a bloody half. Thing is, Phillips just isn’t a terrible midfielder, he’s simply been mistreated and that’s where Marco’s lovely comforting arm round the shoulder comes into full effect.

Since joining City for £45m-or-so two summers ago, the 28-year-old’s form has taken a monumental whooping but dealing with an actual psychopath like Pep Guardiola on a daily basis cannot be pleasant in the slightest and if he’s offered a get out of jail card by the Whites – at a cut price because he’s been wank – we have to snap him up sharpish. If Joao buggers off to Bayern, here’s your man to replace him. Simple as. Nuff said.

Cameron Carter-Vickers – Celtic

For whatever reason, we’ve reverted back to yet another HITC article and now they’re proposing that West Ham and Fulham are keen on Celtic’s defensive stalwart Cameron Carter-Vickers. The Whites will need to recruit a few central defenders in the coming weeks, that’s a given, and Carter-Vickers has gone from strength to strength at the Scottish champions since joining from Tottenham Hotspur for £6m two years ago.

The USMNT defender, 26, has racked up over 100 appearances for Celtic and he is undoubtedly a key member of Brendan Rodgers’ dressing room. If we’re after two or maybe even more central defenders, Carter-Vickers surely has to be up there. The Bhoys will want to make a substantial profit on their man if they’re to enter negotiations but there’s no harm in enquiring in the first place. See what they’re after and go from there, kind of like Vinted, I suppose.

Luka Susic – Red Bull Salzburg

Courtesy of a GMS report, journalist Ben Jacobs revealed that Fulham are mulling over Red Bull Salzburg’s Luka Susic, an suitably gifted midfielder that had previously been dubbed the ‘new Luka Modric’. Susic’s deal at the Austrian Bundesliga side runs dry in 2025 and it’s thought the Croatia international is prepared to step away from his current club surroundings for pastures new and plentiful. Well, SW6 it is then.

Fulham supposedly join Borussia Dortmund and Milan amongst others in the trail for the exciting 21-year-old and with company such as that, we definitely have to pull our big boy boxers up. He’s currently away with his nation at Euro 2024 so rest assured, more elite establishments will come in flocks but he need not look any further than Silva’s project on the banks of the Thames. It ain’t wishful thinking, it’s a fact.