The FFC Rumour Mill: Fulham look at Charlie Cresswell and chase Real Madrid starlets

Jack Stroudley summarises the latest transfer window ongoings

The Premier League kicks off in less than a month and I would be lying if I said I wasn’t thinking about heading for the panic button.

I wrote an article this week talking about my concerns but to summarise: Fulham need to act quickly. Will that happen? I think we all know the answer to that, let’s look at current proceedings.

Incomings

Let’s start with an actual bid being thrown about. MailSport have reported that Fulham have seen a £24m bid rejected for Shea Charles from Southampton. Fulham believed that a deal could be struck for around £25m but the Championship side are demanding more for the midfielder. I like Charles, but I would be worried about going much higher than this. I think this is one we may revisit.

Heading over to Spain and as expected, Fulham are going heavy on Real Madrid players. We’ll start with Gonzalo Garcia and Matteo Moretto who reported that Garcia is Fulham’s main target for a striker. Fabrizio Romano then got involved and said that Madrid will want more than €30m for the 22-year-old while also having some sort of control over Garcia (assuming this would be a buy-back clause).

Jose Mourinho wants to keep hold of Garcia while Fulham have reportedly offered the Spaniard a lucrative offer he is considering according to The Athletic, who then reported on Wednesday morning that Fulham are advancing in talks for both Garcia and Cesar Palacios. Garcia is one you’d imagine we get a definitive answer for over the next week (famous last words). Fulham need a striker and are clearly willing to chuck a fair bit Real Madrid’s way for Garcia, it seems that the buck falls with Mourinho and if he wants him - he probably stays.

Circling back to Palacios, the report from The Athletic was backed up Fabrizio Romano on Wednesday morning. Romano claims that Fulham and Madrid are in club to club talks over the midfielder. This feels like a bit of a goer, he’s a player who Arbeloa admires and is not in Mourinho’s plans. I’ll keep my thoughts on Palacios for an article (if he joins) but you’d imagine if all parties are happy this is one that gets done.

Finally, I think we can put the Franco Mastantuono rumours to bed after reports in Spain suggest he wants to return to River Plate. Madrid want the Argentine to stay in Europe though and are targeting clubs who play in European competitions.

Onto Chibuike Nwaiwu and a rumour that doesn’t seem to be developing any further. David Ornstein reported last Friday that Crystal Palace have the Nigerian as a potential replacement for Maxence Lacroix. From a Fulham point of view, SkySportsGermany claimed on Friday that a verbal agreement had been made between the defender and Fulham but the hold up was on the structure of the deal. Reports in Turkey claim that the deal is still rumbling on with Trabzonspor playing hard ball.

Fulham do appear to be looking elsewhere and Charlie Cresswell is a name that has cropped up.

The Times reported on Wednesday morning that Fulham are interested in the 23 year old who could be available for £25m. The report also suggests that Fulham may have to sell Joachim Andersen to facilitate the deal.

Of the two, I think Cresswell is a much better signing. Has proven himself more in a top five league and would raise the floor of the squad. I don’t necessarily buy into the idea that we have to sell Andersen to make this possible but it’s clear the club are looking at alternatives to Nwaiwu.

Another defender who has been mentioned is Raphael Le Guen with the Daily Mirror reporting we have made contact with Brest. I think this is a non-starter as the 19-year-old appears to have agreed terms with Crystal Palace.

Alan Nixon reported last week that Fulham have an interest in Welsh midfielder Jordan James who spent last season on loan with Leicester City for an alleged £10m. Those rumours appeared to have been debunked by The Telegraph who claims no contact has been made. I like James, I think this is a good depth option and one that I hope we revisit (alongside another midfielder).

A few others that were suggested this week that I think can immediately be disregarded are Watford and Aussie winger Nestroy Irankunda who seems to be joining Sporting CP. As well as Chelsea forwards Marc Guiu and Liam Delap with Fulham seemingly focusing on Garcia and targets in Spain.

Outgoings

Just the one outgoing link this week and Ipswich Town are once again in the market for Fulham players.

Sky reported on Monday that Sasa Lukic is on a long list of targets for Gary O’Neil’s side. While I’m sure there is some truth in this, I really can’t see it. Although Lukic is in the final year of his deal, Fulham aren’t in a position to be gutting the squad anymore and if Lukic were to leave, that would leave a thin squad even thinner.