If Fulham had decided to sell Ryan Sessegnon, Tottenham fans would have both sympathised and celebrated.
Fulham fans will be hoping the 5pm transfer deadline passes quietly so that a dream summer transfer window does not end with a bitter sting.
Speculation has ramped up over the past 24 hours over Ryan Sessegnon, with The Mirror (live blog 8/8 13:36), Bleacher Report and BBC Sport all reporting renewed or potential interest from Tottenham Hotspur in the young talent.
If Fulham were to cash in and sell to Tottenham, then supporters of the buying side would be able to sympathise with their predicament.
Owner Tony Khan moved to try and stamp out the rumours.
We’re not selling @ryansessegnon. We’ve never considered it! I couldn’t sit back and read these false rumors anymore, had to say something. Ryan’s key to this @fulhamfc squad; he’s one of the top young talents worldwide and in our plans for @premierleague success. Come on Fulham!
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) August 8, 2018
It is five years since Spurs lost Gareth Bale to Real Madrid, selling for a then world record fee of £86 million.
It would have taken a similar fee for Tottenham to be able to land Sessegnon, a player who has been compared to the Welshman.
When Sours sold Bale in 2013, it came at the end of a busy transfer window, in which they signed Christian Eriksen, Erik Lamela, Paulinho, and Roberto Soldado, among seven incoming additions.
Many of the deals did not work out successfully, and Spurs will never know if it could have been different if Bale had stayed.
Realistically, Tottenham's deals were financed knowing a lump sum would be incoming from Bale's departure.
Fulham have been similarly busy this summer, buying Aleksandr Mitrovic, Jean-Michel Seri, Andre Schurrle and Calum Chambers.
Fans are more optimistic than ever before upon their return to the Premier League.
The last thing they would have wanted is for the life to be zapped out of the team and fanbase by Sessegnon being sold at the last minute.
It did not work out for Tottenham, who ended up sacking their manager within months of Bale's departure.
Fulham are not under financial pressure to sell, and it would have been a mistake to let him leave now, even if they have signed enough talent this summer to compensate.
While Spurs supporters were desperately hoping the situation has come full circle and the club could lure the future England star away before the deadline, Fulham owner Khan has sent a strong message - that they will not let history repeat itself.
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