The FFC Rumour Mill: Fulham looking at several targets as business picks up

Jack Stroudley looks through all the ongoings at Fulham this week.

We’re more than halfway through the January transfer window and we’re yet to see an incoming in SW6. Without trying to be too cliche, January is a notoriously tricky time to get business done and with Fulham being usual late bloomers in transfer windows, you’d imagine that we won’t see any potential business done until late. While this is frustrating, there have been a fair few exciting murmurs this week, let’s take a look.

Incomings

Peter Rutzler has reported that Fulham want two signings this month with a midfielder and a forward being the ideal two positions that Marco Silva will fill ahead of the January deadline on 2 February. The midfielder that looks closest to coming through the door as Arthur Atta, who we’ve already had a €20m bid rejected for this month. Sky Sports claim that Fulham remain in talks with Udinese for the midfielder with the Italian side wanting €40m for the 23 year old, a valuation deemed too high by the Fulham board.

Despite Reed’s heroics against Liverpool and TC still proving to be a decent option off the bench, I think all can see that another body in the middle of the park is needed. I can’t see Fulham paying the €40m reported so you’d imagine that we’ll begin to look elsewhere for a new recruit, that recruit could be winger/midfielder Oscar Bobb.

Fabrizio Romano reported early on Tuesday that Fulham are in talks with Manchester City over the Norwegian with a £35m proposal being discussed between the two sides who also have interest from German side Borussia Dortmund. Personally, I’d be all over this with the 22-year-old struggling for minutes at City this season despite showing bright sparks last year. A young lad who’s shown he can do it in the Premier League and would raise the squad’s ceiling would really show ambition from the club. Get it done.

Despite breaking his arm last week, Fulham still remain interested in forward Ricardo Pepi despite PSV’s reluctance to sell and with Sky Sports reporting that Fulham aren’t giving up on the 23-year-old and Fabrizio Romano claiming that there is still a chance of a deal happening this month.

While I’d be surprised if Fulham paid a large chunk of money for an injured player, it’s evident that interest is high and Pepi is seen as a long-term prospect. Will be an interesting one to follow in the latter stages of this window.

With Pepi’s injury, Fulham have be looking at other forwards with two Irishmen coming to the forefront. Miguel Delaney is reporting that Fulham are leading Wolfsburg and Real Betis in the race to sign AZ Alkmaar forward Troy Parrott who is valued by the Dutch side at €20m. The second of those according to Mike McGrath is Evan Ferguson. The Telegraph journalist is reporting that Fulham hold a long-term interest having being linked last January with a loan move with a permanent option a potential for Fulham.

Another midfielder who’s been mentioned this week is Ruben Loftus-Cheek, with TeamTalk suggesting that Fulham are a number of clubs interested in bringing the former England international back to the Premier League. Personally, I can’t see this one happening. There was a lot of bad blood between Fulham fans and RLC during that disastrous COVID season and bringing him back could be a poor move for all involved.

In the wide department, Fulham and Everton are both interested in Wolfsburg winger Patrick Wimmer, alongside a number of European clubs according to Rudy Galetti. Fulham have been linked with Wimmer in the past with the now 24-year-old being viewed as a long-term target.

Outgoings

The incoming news on Oscar Bobb has raised a few question marks regarding the future of Harry Wilson, with TalkSport claiming that Fulham will now face an “uphill battle” to tie down Wilson to a new deal. I’ll believe this one when I see it with this more than likely being agent talk pushing for a more lucrative offer from the Fulham board.

There have been a few suggestions that the Bobb deal would facilitate a move for Wilson which I personally cannot see. Competition is exactly what you want in order to succeed and bringing in Bobb doesn’t change Wilson’s future at the club, if anything it probably guarantees a way out for Adama Traore, with West Ham said to be interested in the oiled-up juggernaut.

Elsewhere, it’s been a quiet week with a few names being sent out on loan for the remainder of the season from the academy. Aaron Loupalo-Bi has secured a loan move to League Two side Walsall, and Luke Harris has secured a loan move to League One side Wycombe Wanderers.