Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Oxlade-Chamberlain, Florentino, Kadioglu
Written by Cameron Ramsey on 8th July 2024
Marco Silva’s squad is thinning, we need replacements and reinforcements, so here’s another deep dive into the dizzying world of tabloid drivel and delight, compiled by Cam.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – Besiktas JK
A report circulated by Sabah, quoted by Sport Witness, suggests that Fulham, Southampton and Sheffield United are all vying to capture Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this summer, with a return to the English top flight being an obvious sweetener for two of the aforementioned three clubs.
He may only have been at Besiktas for one season, but Oxlade-Chamberlain has caught the eye of the Whites et al, and as he is only 30-years-of-age, the ex-Arsenal, Liverpool and England star would still be a particularly worthwhile signing. His exploits in Türkiye haven’t been barnstorming, but he has been a solid performer for Kara Kartallar and if Silva’s favouring versatility and Premier League experience in his recruitment programme, “The Ox” has it in spades.
Lamine Camara – FC Metz
Premier League duo Fulham and Everton – as per French publication Jeunes Footeux – are both apparently primed to snap-up Metz’s 20-year-old central midfielder Lamine Camara. Metz were relegated from Ligue 1 last season and a switch across the English Channel could be the next step in the youngster’s career.
Camara has been capped 23 times by Ivory Coast and he has scored 6 goals for his nation. A progressive midfielder, Camara joined Metz in February 2023 and he had become a mainstay within former Metz boss Laszlo Boloni’s squad. With new management at the helm in Stéphane Le Mignan, though, a summer clear-out could be imminent and Camara would certainly help the club raise suitable funds, which will be crucial to their stabilisation in Ligue 2 next term.
Jhon Duran – Aston Villa
Chelsea will apparently be rivalled by Manchester United and Fulham in the pursuit of Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran, according to Antena 2. While Villa qualified for the UEFA Champions League, they face no choice but to flog a host of their existing squad to appease PSR regulations and Duran could subsequently be on his way out of Villa Park for a proposed figure of €40m. Yikes.
The 20-year-old striker joined Villa from Chicago Fire in 2023’s January transfer window and though Chelsea have supposedly enquired about the Colombia international, negotiations have seemingly stalled, and that paves an opening for both United and the Whites. Duran found the target 8 times in 37 overall outings last season but it’s said Unai Emery isn’t particularly convinced, despite the attacker’s decent form at the back end of previous campaign. However at that inflated asking price, they can whistle for it.
Florentino Luis – SL Benfica
Now Joao Palhinha’s protracted move to Bayern Munich has been finalised after much toing and froing, the Whites will be on the look-out for a replacement and GMS are under the impression that Benfica’s Florentino Luis could be that guy.
It’s not yet known what Benfica will want for Florentino but as his profile is similar to that of Palhinha’s, they’ll surely demand a pretty penny, and then some for their homegrown talent. Benfica endured one of their worst seasons in years last term, although the 24-year-old is still undoubtedly one of the club’s brightest assets and his hard-hitting nature is definitely his USP. Silva’s midfield will certainly need bolstering, it’ll pine for ankle-clamping, chart-topping antics and Florentino could be the closest match to Joao, an enforcer that may well prove to be irreplaceable.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles – Olympique Lyonnais
It’s TEAMtalk’s understanding that Fulham are considering a summer swoop for Lyon’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles, a year after the adaptable defender-come-midfielder swapped the Emirates for the Groupama Stadium once his Arsenal contract expired.
Utilised as a right-back and a defensive midfielder by Pierre Sage – roles the 26-year-old readily deputised at the Gunners – he chipped in both offensively and defensively, as any multi-skilled baller would. With 2 goals and 4 assist in 29 outings, Maitland-Niles acclimatised to the challenges of Ligue 1 nicely and he’s also an ice-cold dispatcher from the penalty spot, too. Just ask Brest.
Premier League pedigree, comfortable in a range of positions, if AMN was available for a reasonable price, he’d do bits in Silva’s system but I just don’t see him leaving Les Gones anytime soon. Another year in France and then we’ll see where the land lies.
Jacob Bruun Larsen – TSG Hoffenheim
Despite tasting relegation with Burnley last season whilst on loan from Hoffenheim, Jacob Bruun Larsen could still become a Premier League player once again as Kicker have revealed West ham United, Crystal Palace and Fulham are admirers of the Denmark international.
The renowned German publication also stated, however, that VfL Stuttgart are also in the chasing pack, and as they’ll play Champions League football next term, they could actually be the more compelling suitor of the bunch.
The 25-year-old has also previously turned out for Stuttgart, too. Hoffenheim spent €8.5m on Bruun Larsen in 2020, but his career at the Sinsheim-based club has seemingly at a crossroads. He was one of Vincent Kompany’s better performers last season, having scored 7 goals in 36 outings from the left flank predominantly, and as the Whites required additions out wide, Bruun Larsen could be a prime target of ours at a fairly reasonable sum.
Mustafa Hekimoglu – Besiktas JK
TRT Spor’s News Manager Firat Gunayer has told that Fulham are interested in landing Besiktas JK’s highly-rated 17-year-old striker Mustafa Hekimoglu.
Nothing much has been said about the Whites alleged interest in the Türkiye U18 representative but after breaking through at Besiktas last season, the teenager is gradually making waves in the senior game but truthfully, it is far too early for Silva to come knocking. Hekimoglu will need to earn his stripes for a full campaign first of all, and that’s all that needs to be said on that.
Jack Hendry – Al-Ettifaq
Reported by Graeme Bailey for HITC, Fulham and West Ham are thought to be dicing with the prospect of signing Scotland’s Jack Hendry from Steven Gerrard’s Saudi outfit Al-Ettifaq and I guess the one burning question we should all be asking ourselves with this in mind is why?
At 29, Hendry is not up-and-coming nor is he anywhere near suited to the Premier League. The much-travelled central defender – who has plied his trade at Wigan Athletic, Shrewsbury Town, MK Dons, Dundee FC, Celtic, Melbourne City FC, KV Oostende, Club Brugge, and Cremoneseto to name a few – isn’t going to improve our selection and I don’t think I’m being unfair in that observation. Leave him be and look elsewhere. Simple.
Jota Silva – Vitoria Guimaraes
Renowned Portuguese outlet O Jogo (via Tribal Football) have disclosed that Fulham now stand alone in the pursuit of Vitoria Guimaraes winger Jota Silva. The Whites were initially rivalled by West Ham for Silva’s expertise but as the Hammers recently purchased Brazilian youngster Luis Guilherme, the East Londoners are no longer in for Vitoria’s productive wide man.
In all competitions last season, Silva, 24, bagged 15 goals with 7 assists in 42 runouts and while he’s recognised as a right-sided threat, he’s tried and tested in virtually every position across the final third. An all-out attacker, if you will. We’ll apparently use money raised by Palhinha’s imminent sale and while a figure is yet to be banded, it ain’t likely to be peanuts.
Ferdi Kadioglu – Fenerbahce SK
You may not have recognised the name before Euro 2024 but I bet you know it now. Fenerbahce’s Ferdi Kadioglu, subject to a report published by Milat Gazetesi, is on multiple transfer radars as a direct result of his exploits for Türkiye in Germany and alongside Arsenal and West Ham, Fulham have been referenced.
The Dutch-born left-back featured in every single one of his nation’s European Championship matches and though they were recently beaten by Netherlands at the quarter final stage, Kadioglu can be hugely proud of his marauding input along the left as he was a stand-out participant.
Fenerbahce will accept nothing less than €35m for their brow-raising fullback because at club level, he is just as impressive as he is for Türkiye. He scored 3 goals last season, not too shabby for a “defender”, and he also plated up 5 assists and with his qualities being illuminated even further this summer, another 10-20 million is bound to be added on top of his employers’ estimation.
