Fulham have failed with an approach for ex-Nice defender Malang Sarr, with the free agent set to join London neighbours Chelsea on a five-year contract, according to France Football.
It has been over six weeks since one of the most highly-rated young defenders in European football bid farewell to life on the Riviera.
But it is only now that Sarr is closing in on a new club, having spent much of the last month negotiating with the likes of Arsenal and Barcelona.
It is Chelsea who appear to have won the race, with the Nice-born 21-year-old expected to join Thiago Silva, Ben Chilwell and Kai Havertz at Stamford Bridge sooner rather than later.
According to France Football, Sarr will sign a contract until 2025 with the Blues, after Fulham tried and failed to convince the France U21 international to put pen to paper a few miles down the road at Craven Cottage instead.
Real Betis and Torino also showed an interest, while the now-departed Barcelona director Eric Abidal was keen to lure Sarr to the Camp Nou.
Interestingly, the report adds that Chelsea are expected to loan Sarr out next season, although it remains to be seen whether Fulham have a second chance to sign a man who was tipped for the top by Lucian Favre during their time together at Nice.
According to the now-Borussia Dortmund boss, this is a man with ‘a lot of potential’.
Fulham conceded 48 goals en route to sealing Premier League promotion, 13 more than Leeds United, and defensive improvements are required if the Cottagers are to secure their place in the top flight again.
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