Fulham may have signed Mladen Petric and Hugo Rodallega this transfer window, but reports suggest they are still in the market for another striker.
With last season’s top goalscorer Clint Dempsey constantly being linked with a move away – most recently to Liverpool – you can understand why Martin Jol is leaving nothing to chance.
Last season’s loan star Pavel Pogrebnyak went to Reading, who offered a higher wage than the Cottagers. So who are the players linked with a move into the club?
Romelu Lukaku
Belgian striker Lukaku was touted as one of Europe’s best up and coming strikers this time last season, and despite a thoroughly underwhelming debut season for Chelsea, there is no reason to doubt his potential. The problem is he did not have a consistent run of games on which to be properly judged, and he did not get on with manager Andre Villas-Boas. Reports have suggested he is heading to Fulham on loan for a year, with a deal 70 per cent agreed, whatever that means. The suspicions are that he is holding out for offers from other clubs, and his two goals in Chelsea’s opening pre-season friendly while a reminder of his capability, could just complicate Fulham’s chances of signing him.
Yannick Sagbo
Ivory Coast striker Yannick Sagbo was linked with Fulham by the Daily Mail yesterday, and he could be a bargain buy for the club. Sagbo is 24, and plays for French club Evian, and scored 10 goals in 30 starts for the club last season, and provided four assists. The striker was previously linked with West Ham, but their interest may have waned after snapping up fellow Ligue One forward Modibo Maiga this week. He would cost around £4 million if reports are to be believed.
Vincenzo Iaquinta
Former Italian international striker Vincenzo Iaquinta has been suggested as a Fulham target, but he would have to take a cut in his £60,000 per week wages to make a move happen. His agent has claimed Fulham are interested, along with Gianfranco Zola’s Watford. The 32-year-old was frozen out at Juventus last season, and joined Cesena on loan, where he scored one goal in six appearances. His record at Juventus reads 40 goals in 109 appearances who would be happy to get him off their books, and he is said to be keen on a move to England.
Jordan Rhodes
Freescoring Huddersfield Town forward has been linked with a move to Craven Cottage for several weeks, and the Terriers promotion to the Championship was likely bad news for their chances. Boss Simon Grayson addressed rumours this week, demanding Fulham, or any other interested parties, cough up a big price for his star man or leave well alone. He scored 40 goals last season, and Grayson says only a ‘big offer’ – in the region of the £6.5 million Southampton paid Burnley for Jay Rodriguez – would tempt them to sell.
Which of the four appeals to you the most? Can Fulham hold onto Dempsey?
image: © wshjackson
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