Newly-promoted Fulham want to bring Rabbi Matondo back to the Premier League but Cercle Brugge are determined to hang onto the Welsh international, sporting director Carlos Avina tells Voetbal Krant.
This is not the first time Marco Silva has attempted to get his mitts on Matondo either.
Everton, during Silva’s time in charge at Goodison Park, showed an interest in the then-18-year-old a couple of years ago, before he opted to follow in Jadon Sancho’s footsteps, swapping Manchester City for the banks of the Ruhr, albeit with Schalke rather than Borussia Dortmund.
Matondo’s development has plateaued somewhat since then, joining a mid-table Cercle Brugge side on loan following a disappointing stint at Stoke City.
Silva hasn’t forgotten about the now-21-year-old Welshman, however, with The Telegraph reporting that Fulham are interested as they prepare for life back in the Premier League.
Cercle Brugge have a £3 million option-to-buy clause in Matondo’s contract. That has not quelled fears about the forwards‘ future at the Jan Breydel Stadium however.
Promoted Fulham want Rabbi Matondo?
“We are prepared to raise (the topic of) the purchase option with FC Schalke 04,” explains Avina.
“Meanwhile, Rabbi Matondo is aware of our offer. We are trying to convince him that it is better for his development to stay with us for another season.”
Matondo, who admitted to turning down Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur when still a teenager, is playing the best football of his admittedly young career in Belgium, scoring 10 goals in 26 games from out wide.
“He is a talent,” former Wales boss Ryan Giggs said of Matondo (MEN). “If he is half as successful as Sancho has been, I’ll be happy.
“Just like Dan James he has electrifying pace. And that always keeps you interested.”
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Fulham are closing in on the signing of another winger, Shakhtar Donetsk’s Manor Solomon. The snake-hipped schemer admitted last week that there is a very good chance he’ll be plying his trade at Craven Cottage in 2022/23.
Fulham have agreed to pay a cut-price £7 million for Solomon, while handing him a contract worth £25,000-a-week.
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