Fulham have fought off Serie A competition and are now ‘very close’ to luring Roma winger Justin Kluivert to the Premier League in a £9 million deal, as reported by Tuttomercatoweb.
Four years ago, Patrick’s baby-faced son was named Europe’s most exciting young talent in Goal.com’s prestigious Nxt Gen awards, snatching top spot ahead of the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho.
If a now-23-year-old Kluivert can recapture that form in West London… well, let’s just say Fulham’s hopes of shedding that ‘yo-yo club’ moniker will receive a timely leg-up.
Reports emerged earlier this week claiming that Marco Silva’s Championship champions had opened talks with the former Ajax wonderkid. As of Thursday afternoon, Fulham have slammed their foot down onto the accelerator and zipped into pole position, Torino choking on their dust as the chequered flag looms into view.
Fulham ‘very close’ to Justin Kluivert deal
According to Tuttomercatoweb, Fulham are now ‘very close’ to sealing a cut-price £9 million deal with Roma. Kluivert, who joined the Giallorossi for twice that fee back in 2018, is no longer part of Jose Mourinho’s plans. He’s currently training alone in the Italian capital.
Once likened to Neymar during his time back home in Amsterdam, Kluivert’s rather bruised reputation has taken a beating since leaving for Italy, with loan spells at RB Leipzig and Nice hardly going to plan either.
Fulham, then, are taking a risk signing a player who’s development has plateaued so spectacularly. But there is a glittering talent in there somewhere, just waiting to break free. And at £9 million, Kluivert certainly feels like a risk worth taking.
“(Those comparisons are) obviously great to hear, but Neymar is world class,” the twice-capped Dutch international once told Goal.
“It is my goal to become as good as he is. I train hard on a daily basis to get there. Like me, he’s not overly tall or strong, but he’s very fast and agile. I can see some of that in myself, yeah.
“So yeah, I can understand the comparisons.”
Kluivert’s arrival could help offset the absence of Harry Wilson. Fulham’s most potent creator could miss a number of months with an ill-timed injury.
He was linked with West Ham United earlier in the summer, via Gazzetta dello Sport. In addition to Kluivert, Fulham could also bring in Joshua Zirkzee from Bayern Munich (The Standard).
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