Various Scottish newspapers are reporting that Glasgow Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor is effectively a free transfer after refusing to allow his contract to be transferred to the new Rangers.
McGregor wanted to stay but has already lost out on £ 300,000 on past wages and also a potential windfall from a testimonial of £ 1.2 million. His wages were £ 25,000 per week which simply could not be matched by the newco.
A host of clubs have shown their interest in signing McGregor including Sunderland, West Brom and QPR from the Premier League as well as Besitkas and Olmpiakos from Greece. McGregor though would prefer to stay in the UK and Fulham are believed to be the closest to securing his signature on a free transfer.
The 30 year old, 6 ft goalkeeper has played 205 times for Rangers and 21 times for Scotland and has been previously linked with Manchester United. McGregor and Barry Ferguson were famously involved in the "boozegate" scandal when both were suspended after drinking on International duty and each allegedly flicked two fingers to Scottish press during a game against Iceland.
If Mcgregor were to join, where would that leave current no. 2 David Stockdale?
According to Spanish newspaper, Marca, Fulham are leading the chase to acquire the signature of current free agent, Tomas Sivok.
Sivok, a centre back, has attracted a lot of interest over the course of this summer after his contract at Turkish side Beisktas expired. Sevilla was expected to be his preferred destination after the Spanish side kept tabs on the Czech Republic international while at Euro 2012, but Marca now strongly suggests Martin Jol holds the upper hand.
Roughly translated, they said: 'In the last few hours, it has become unlikely that [Sivok] will join [Sevilla], as Fulham are making a strong bid for him.'
The paper goes on to cite financial restrictions for the reasons behind Sivok's eventual decision, stating that Fulham have extra funds that Sevilla cannot offer.
Only a few days ago, though, the outlook was entirely different. The player's agent, Jiri Mueller, claimed that Besiktas were also entering the fray as they sought to retain one of their most influential players, alongside Sevilla and an un-named Premier League club - most probably, Fulham.
"We have opened official talks with Sevilla and would like to have things sorted out as soon as possible," said Mueller
"We also have registered interest from a club in the Premier League and Besiktas have come back into the race as they want to keep Tomas."
With 30 caps to his name and with no fee attached to the deal, this could well prove an astute piece of business.
Fulham are lining up moves for Swansea City winger Scott Sinclair and Heerenveen star Luciano Narsingh.
The two wide players are top of Martin Jol’s shopping list as he aims to beef up the Premier League club’s attacking options.
Goal.com understands that the Fulham manager is targeting a fast, skilful player who can add greater penetration to the team’s left flank.
Jol has been alerted to the possible availability of England Under-21 international Sinclair, who has only a year remaining on his Swansea contract, and Narsingh, whose Heerenveen deal also expires in 12 months' time.
Sinclair blossomed under Brendan Rodgers at the Liberty Stadium but the departure of his mentor to Liverpool has given Fulham hope they can negotiate a deal worth around £5 million.
The 23-year-old, a £1.5m signing from Chelsea, scored seven league goals for the Welsh club last season and was a key figure in their successful debut Premier League campaign.
Sinclair’s career had stalled at Stamford Bridge, spending time on loan at six different clubs, and it was not until his move to the Liberty Stadium in the summer of 2010 that he began to fulfil the promise that persuaded Chelsea to sign him when he was 16.
Fulham are also closely monitoring Narsingh’s situation as they weigh up their options for the wide positions.
Narsingh, who is valued at £6m, visited Fulham’s training ground in May along with his club colleague Oussama Assaidi, who is now on the verge of joining Galatasaray.
The 21-year-old was called up to Holland’s Euro 2012 squad following an outstanding season for Heerenveen in the Eredivisie. Narsingh weighed in with eight goals and a league-leading 20 assists.
Fulham are unlikely to make a formal move until the futures of prize assets Moussa Dembele and Clint Dempsey become clearer.
Dembele is being monitored by Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham, although there has not yet been a bid for the Belgium international.
Martin Jol is keen on a reunion with Tottenham’s Tom Huddlestone as he steps up his search for a replacement for Danny Murphy at Fulham.
Midfielder, Huddlestone, 25, who has a year left on his contract, played just four times last season because of injury.
Reports are circulating that Juventus winger, Eljero Elia, is due to have a medical with Fulham today with a view to signing by the end of the week.
Elia is considered a pacey winger with an abundance of talent but, since his move to Serie A with the current champions, his career has taken somewhat of a downturn. He appeared four times for the Italian side while his team mates conquered their league.
Having paid 9 million Euros for the winger, it was thought Elia would flourish with Juventus but his lack of action has prompted him to hand in a transfer request which, of course, has made a deal with Fulham more appealing.
He impressed in a spell at FC Twente, where Bryan Ruiz also made his name, before moving on to Hamburg and then Juve.
On his Twitter account this morning, in English, Elia wrote: "I hope today is My Day". Read into that what you will.
It's been reported in Spain today that along with 5 La Liga clubs, Fulham and Southampton have made enquiries about Real Madrid's Juanfran Moreno.
The 23 year old Spanish right winger has only made 1 appearance for the Real Madrid 1st team but made 96 appearances for the B team.
He now feels he's 1st team opportunities are very limited so is looking for a move to guarantee an opportunity at regular football. Whether he would looks to move outside of Spain remains to be seen but it's interesting that we're linked with Southampton for another winger. Are we sharing the same scouts?..
Wolves will sell Steven Fletcher if a club offers an acceptable fee but manager Stale Solbakken does not want to see the Scot leave
Wolves boss Stale Solbakken will allow striker Steven Fletcher to leave the club if the price is right.
The Scot has been linked with a move to Sunderland, Stoke and Fulham after suffering relegation with the Black Country club last season but his new manager does not want to lose his frontman.
“Fletcher and Kevin Doyle and the other strikers are experienced players we want to continue having here,” Solbakken said.
“But everyone knows that, in football, money talks.
“They’re players of great value for us and at this moment in time they’re Wolves players. And I hope they will be at the start of the season.’
Solbakken confirmed that no club had made a bid for the striker at the current time.
“It’s one thing what we’ve been told and one thing what’s actually on the table,” he added.
“There are no offers at the moment. If there are key players who we rely on here that, for one reason or another leave the club, we must have very good players coming in to fill their roles.
“This doesn’t just apply to us - this is the same is for any team. There’s always one bigger fish out there that you have to keep up with.”
Ghana winger Albert Adomah is in talks with English second-tier side Bristol City after they refused him the opportunity to talk to Fulham.
The 24-year-old has been linked with a £3.5 million move to the Craven Cottage in the past but Fulham officials have been told they cannot talk to the attacker.
However, the former Barnet man-who has spent two seasons with the Robins-began talks with the club to allow him talk to Fulham.
Adomah has been linked with a move to English Premier League side Wigan Athletic.
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