The FFC Rumour Mill: Is Tom Cairney set to leave Fulham?
Jack Stroudley looks at the latest rumours circling SW6.
We’re approaching the halfway point of the January transfer window and in true Fulham style, the Khans appear to be sitting there twiddling their thumbs.
Fulham are in the midst of a brilliant spell at the moment all while dealing with injuries and three key players away at AFCON. While Chukwueze, Bassey and Iwobi will be back soon, I think Silva will have an actual breakdown if we don’t sign anyone, especially given we have propelled ourselves back into the European conversation. Here’s what has happened this week in SW6 on the transfer front.
Incomings
Fulham’s interest in PSV forward Ricardo Pepi has seemingly been squashed, with the American international breaking his arm during PSV’s first Eredivisie’s game back from the winter break.
Fulham had a €30m bid rejected for the 23 year old earlier this month, with The Athletic reporting that a new bid was to be expected. However, thanks to this news you’d imagine that Fulham will be looking elsewhere for attacking options and because of the reports of an improved Pepi bid, we know that the money is there to spend. Let’s wait and see.
The only other piece of incoming news came from Ben Jacobs on Tuesday with Fulham alongside Everton holding an interest in Arsenal winger Ethan Nwaneri, whose gametime has been limited this season following the signing of Ebere Eze. This is a signing I would be all over - and given our relationship in the past with Arsenal, it’s one you could see happening on loan until the end of the season.
Outgoings
Sky Sports has reported that Ipswich Town have approached Fulham over the signing of club captain Tom Cairney. TC has six months left on his deal and will once again be starting to think about his own future.
You’d imagine this is one that would go into the summer rather than January given our thin squad as it is, but the fans and Cairney got their last hurrah of a new deal last summer and if this is to be it then hopefully we can give him a proper send-off.
Sky Sports Germany has reported that Jonah Kusi-Asare’s loan from FC Bayern Munich will not be cut short due to the fact that JKA will be unable to be sent to another club having already being registered for two clubs this season (ourselves and Bayern Munich.) Marco Silva has also reportedly promised the 18 year old more game time during the second half of the season.
Finally, youngster Chibby Nwoko has secured a loan move to National League side Forest Green Rovers until the end of the season. Following a good first half of the year in the PL2, Nwoko will be keen to impress for a side pushing for promotion back to League Two.