January Transfer Rumour Round-Up: Part 2

Sound the alarm! Aleksandar Mitrovic’s condition is still unknown, Joe Bryan is being linked to a host of tempting destinations and one of our own, Marcus Bettinelli, could be on the brink of an exit after plummeting down Scott Parker’s pecking order.

Reinforcements will be needed, that’s a stone cold fact. As ever, Fulham will most likely bide their sweet ass time before making their move in the January transfer window and we’ll end up signing some nomadic Moroccan from the Hungarian second division. Exciting, I know.

We’ve seen the same old Dwight Gayle balderdash surface once more and Britt Assombalonga’s name also appears to be doing the rounds but forget about ’em. We’ve another helping of questionable transfer rumours for you to paw at, whilst deciphering whether their pretty much dead in the water, or very much alive and kicking.

Terence Kongolo – Huddersfield Town

Strengthening the defensive department may be on Scott Parker’s agenda as it’s emerged that Fulham – subject to a Football Insider report – are plotting to swoop for Huddersfield Town centre-half Terence Kongolo.

No longer considered in Danny Cowley’s plans, it’s thought that the 25-year-old Dutch international could leave the Terriers during the mid-season transfer window, having only made 11 senior appearances for the club this term to date.

Youssouf Sabaly – FC Girondins de Bordeaux

A familiar name in Fulham’s transfer target Rolodex, FC Girondins de Bordeaux’s €15m-rated Youssouf Sabaly could be on his way to English shores for a medical, yet again, with Crystal Palace, Fulham, Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton all tracking the right-back’s availability.

French outlet Foot Mercato suggest that the Ligue 1 outfit are prepared to lose the Senegal international during January, even though his current contract runs until 2021. Sabaly, 26, allegedly had a medical with the Whites last January, somewhere in New Malden, legend has it, although the then struggling Premier League club’s €12m deadline day offer came in too late for Les Girondins to accept it.

Daniel Ayala – Middlesbrough

This proposed link has been bubbling for months on end, but Middlesbrough’s Daniel Ayala – as quoted by Hartlepool Mail – insists that he will remain at the Riverside Stadium “unless something really big happens”.

The Spanish centre-half is entering the closing few months of his standing contract at the club and now, under the Bosman ruling, the 29-year-old’s allowed to talk to English clubs regarding a potential move. Leeds United, Stoke City and Fulham have all been cited as interested parties in the hunt for his services.

Daniel Amartey – Leicester City

Another scoop circulated by Football Insider claims that Fulham are keeping a close eye on Leicester City’s Daniel Amartey, who could be granted the opportunity to depart the King Power Stadium on loan, in order to gather more first-team game time elsewhere.

The versatile Ghana international, capable of deputising in an anchoring capacity as well as within a back four, has not played a competitive senior match since breaking his leg against West Ham United 15 months ago. It’s thought the Whites attempted to sign him in the summer but, ultimately, failed to do so.

Ali Gueddar – En Avante de Guingamp

Reliable French source RMC, courtesy of an article fed by Get French Football News, believes EA Guingamp’s Ali Gueddar is keen to head for pastures new this month. In light of this, Fulham have been credited as a vying suitor for the discarded youngster’s signature.

Signing a professional deal with the Ligue 2 club just 6 months ago, the 21-year-old attacking midfielder has not made a single first-team appearance under Sylvain Didot. With six months left on his contract (which does include an option to extend it by a further two years), the Frenchman could be swayed by the Whites’ supposed interest, as he searches for a fresh challenge to kick-start his dormant, yet budding career.

José Antonio Gómez Márquez – Coria CF

Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo are under the impression that Fulham are contesting the likes of Catalan superpower FC Barcelona for Coria CF’s teenage sensation José Antonio Gómez Márquez, commonly known as Joselito.

The 15-year-old hotshot has taken Tercera División by storm with a string of highly impressive performances and the Whites’, as well as the Blaugrana, supposedly, are seriously considering a ‘firm offer’ for his burgeoning services, and have even invited him to Motspur Park to soak up the club’s state-of-the-art facilities. Trumps Barca’s Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper site, that’s for sure.

Jordan Archer – Free Agent

Yet again (who would’ve thought it), Football Insider have revealed that out-of-contract goalkeeper Jordan Archer has allegedly undergone a medical at Fulham after waving goodbye to Oxford United, whom he’d been contracted to on a short-term basis.

The 26-year-old, formally of Millwall, was nurtured within Tottenham Hotspur’s youth ranks and it’s thought he could be on the cusp of agreeing a deal that will keep him in SW6 for the remainder of the campaign. As far as back-ups go, could be better, could be much, much worse.