Marco Silva wants £13 million Braga midfielder Al-Musrati at Fulham with the Premier League newcomers still in negotiations to sign Shakhtar Donetsk’s Manor Solomon, according to O Jogo and Sport5.
It’s fair to say eyebrows were raised when the news broke over the weekend that Jean-Michel Seri would not be retained by the newly-crowned Championship champions.
Seri, after all, had enjoyed the most unexpected of revivals at Craven Cottage, cruising through the second-tier like a Mensa member through a Maths GCSE.
And the sudden and rather unexpected nature of Seri’s departure will only fuel speculation that Fulham already have a replacement lined up.
Free-agent Nemanja Matic has been linked after bringing an end to his Manchester United career, but Marco Silva’s detailed knowledge of the Portuguese market appears to have put a little-known Libyan in pole position.
According to O Jogo, Silva is a ‘big fan’ of Al-Musrati. Talks are underway, too, with the £13 million-rated enforcer ‘aware of Fulham’s interest’.
Marco Silva’s Fulham want Al-Musrati from Braga
Al-Musrati, like Seri, is equally comfortable as a ‘number six’ or a ‘number eight’, and would add a real mean streak to the heart of Silva’s midfield.
He averages far more tackles (2.1) and interceptions (1.4) per game than the stylish Ivorian. Al-Musrati even accumulated a colossal ten yellow cards in 2021/22 (WhoScored).
“I just hope that, at the end of the season, when it’s the situation of Al-Musrati’s departure, Braga can earn a good financial sum,” says departing head coach Carlos Carvalhal.
In addition to Al-Musrati, Fulham have held talks with Ukraine giants Shakhtar Donetsk regarding tricky winger Solomon.
Fabrizio Romano reported on Friday that the deal was set to fall through, though Israeli publication Sport5 insist that is not the case.
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Negotations are still ongoing, according to the player’s representatives, with Solomon choosing Fulham over rival offers from France and Belgium. The one-time Manchester City target has already agreed a deal until 2017 at Craven Cottage.
What’s more, he will cost a knock-down fee of around £7 million.
“The chances of me playing in England (next season) are very high,” Solomon said a fortnight ago. “It is my childhood dream. It’s the best league in the world. I will be there.”
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