Fulham think Swansea City manager Steve Cooper is the perfect replacement for Scott Parker and are willing to pay £3.5 million to lure him from their Championship rivals, according to The Sun (20 June, page 66).
With just three weeks to go until pre-season training gets under way, two of the three clubs relegated from the Premier League last season have no manager in place.
But at least Fulham, unlike West Bromwich Albion, are willing to put their hands in their pocket and stump up for a manager who has led a youthful yet unfancied Swansea side to top-six finishes in each of the past two campaigns.
The Sun reports Fulham have identified Cooper as the ideal successor for a seemingly Bournemouth-bound Scott Parker.
The Londoners have been won over by Cooper’s reputation for blooding exciting young talent and playing forward-thinking attacking football – although many at the Liberty Stadium would have something to say about that second point.
Will Swansea’s Cooper replace Scott Parker at Fulham?
There is a £3.5 million compensation clause in the 41-year-old’s contract.
Fulham, however, would have few qualms over paying such a fee, one that would see assistant coach Mike Marsh join Cooper at Craven Cottage.
The report adds Eddie Howe had also been considered after the one-time Bournemouth manager turned down a move to Celtic.
But Cooper appears to be the number one choice at this stage.
The former England U17 coach, who led a team including Callum Hudson-Odoi, Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho to U17 World Cup glory four years ago, has also been linked with the vacant Crystal Palace post.
The Eagles appear to be going full-steam ahead for former Borussia Dortmund boss Lucien Favre instead, however.
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