The FFC Rumour Mill: Traore to Forest and Sterling on way in?

Jack Stroudley has all the transfer gossip from the past week.

The cogs appear to finally be turning at Fulham! Marco Silva has stated in the week he understands fan frustration so hopefully we can keep moving forward. Nevertheless, here is all the gossip from the past week.

Incomings

Fulham confirmed on Saturday that Benjamin Lecomte has signed for the club on a two-year-deal from Ligue 2 side Montpellier and was in the matchday squad during our 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest in Portugal. You can read all about our new arrival here.

The other piece of confirmed news is that Seth Ridgeon has signed a long-term contract at Fulham amid interest from Manchester United. The 16-year-old is highly rated and has travelled to Portugal to be part of the first-team squad for the pre-season tour.

The Athletic reported on Saturday that Reiss Nelson to Fulham is now close with ourselves and Arsenal in advanced talks. The deal itself will consist of an option that will become an obligation if certain terms are met. You’d imagine this obligation will be based around a number of appearances Nelson makes over the course of the season with Fulham wanting to protect themselves if he were to pick up yet another nasty injury. This one feels like a matter of when rather than if.

Fulham have made a formal approach to sign Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Chelsea, with Ben Jacobs reporting that our SW6 neighbours would want a permanent fee of more than £30m while Sky Sports are reporting that Fulham are looking to a explore a loan with an obligation at the end of this season. Two credible sources have now said we’re in for Dewsbury-Hall so there is truth to it, I think that the £30m price may deter Fulham but it’s one that I’m sure will rumble on.

Staying with Chelsea, Fulham also hold an interest in 30-year-old winger Raheem Sterling who’s looking to reignite his career and knock on the door for a 2026 World Cup place. It’s a deal that Fulham may look to do later in the window due to his high wages with Sterling interested in the move and wants to stay in London. This one feels very dependent on others, if we have a domestic loan spot left on deadline day I’d be willing to bets lots of money we’d throw a deal sheet in. Time will tell.

Outgoings

Fulhamish’s Jack Kelly has been on the button this summer being the first to report that both Luke Harris and Steven Benda have both secured loan moves to the Championship with Harris joining Oxford United for the duration of the upcoming season and Benda signing for Millwall.

Kelly has also reported that Luc De Fougerolles is close to completing a loan move to the Belgian Pro League. The Canadian international has not travelled with the first-team to Portugal for pre-season.

ESPN have reported that Nottingham Forest hold an interest in winger Adama Traore with the club looking to replace Anthony Elanga a rumour that has been backed up by John Percy. Prior to John Percy reporting on this I wasn’t too convinced by the credibility but Percy is a good source in terms of Midlands football sides so there will be some truth to it. Traore came on a free and with the Spaniard entering the final year of his contract, Fulham could look to sell and return a profit.

Graeme Bailey reports that Rodrigo Muniz is happy at Fulham but is aware of the Leeds United interest and could be tempted. This is one that I’m not buying, Drew Heatley put out a good article in the week talking about Muniz and his future at Fulham and personally this one feels like agent talk. Muniz is one of our lowest paid players so you’d imagine a new deal will be penned soon.

Gazzetta dello Sport believes that Sander Berge is one of many players on Juventus’s radar this summer with Douglas Luiz set for a move back to the Premier League. The Italian side has suggested that Berge is “becoming a consideration” but no move has been made yet to the player or Fulham. This one feels like paper talk to me with no real concrete interest, I guess it’s one to watch as Berge’s head could be turned by Juve. But I’m not convinced by it.

The engine finally appears to be motoring for Fulham with one in, one close and some credible sources suggested there is more to come. A few slight whispers around departures but nothing to really write home about, let’s see what happens this week.