Fulham ‘contact’ Man Utd as Liverpool ‘agreement’ leaves Silva searching for Palhinha replacement

Jason Soutar
Fulham are reportedly interested in replacing Joao Palhinha with Scott McTominay.
Fulham are reportedly interested in replacing Joao Palhinha with Scott McTominay.

Fulham have reportedly ‘contacted’ Manchester United over the signing of Scott McTominay with Joao Palhinha attracting interest from Bayern Munich.

McTominay has been linked with a host of clubs this summer, including West Ham, Newcastle United, and even Bayern.

West Ham had been engaged in talks with the Red Devils over a deal to sign Harry Maguire and McTominay, though the recent additions of James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez, and Konstantinos Mavropanos suggests they are no longer interested in signing the United duo.

Bayern’s interest in Palhinha has called Fulham into action with the transfer deadline on the horizon.

The Cottagers are unlikely to let the Portuguese midfielder leave if they cannot bring in a replacement, even if the player has his heart set on a move to Bavaria.

News of Bayern ‘agreeing’ to sell Ryan Gravenberch to Liverpool does hint they are confident they will complete the signing of Palhinha.

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Sky Sports reported on Thursday morning that the German giants are ‘pushing’ to sign Palhinha and the latest from Telegraph Sport journalist says Mike McGrath says a deal is “close to being agreed”.

Palhinha has already agreed personal terms and a five-year contract with Bayern and is now “waiting” for Marco Silva to agree a deal for a replacement, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Romano says one of the players Fulham are looking at to replace Palhinha is Tottenham’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, though a deal will not be easy to agree with their London rivals.

And according to Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth, McTominay is another player being targetted by the Cottagers.

Sheth says there has been “initial contact” made, though Manchester United will only “consider” a sale if they receive a “substantial offer”.

There is no mention of a fee, though judging from previous rumours this summer, you would assume it would be in the region of £50million.

The Red Devils are still looking to sign a defensive midfielder so it is no surprise to see them reluctant to let McTominay leave, even if he is not guaranteed minutes under Erik ten Hag.

Ten Hag sold Fred to Fenerbahce earlier this summer and remains interested in bringing Fiorentina midfielder Sofyan Amrabat to Old Trafford.

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