Fulham are hopeful of signing Tim Krul from Brighton and Hove Albion on a free transfer, say the Sun on Sunday.

The Londoners have made an audacious bid to sign the Dutch goalkeeper on a Bosman and Krul is ready to reject Brighton’s offer of a new deal to move to Craven Cottage and compete with Marcus Bettinelli to be Slavisa Jokanovic’s number one. The 30 year-old former Newcastle stopper has been frustrated by his lack of playing time and is resigned to sitting on the bench behind Mat Ryan should he stay at the AMEX Stadium.

The Dutch international hasn’t started a league game in two seasons on the south coast and is desperate to prove himself at the highest level again, having made such an impression during his ten years at St. James’ Park, where he made 186 first-team appearances for Newcastle. Fulham switched their attention to signing the 6ft 4in goalkeeper after their hopes of bringing in Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson were dashed after the England under-21 international agreed a new contract to stay at Old Trafford.

In a further twist, Brighton are in talks with Fulham’s current number two David Button about becoming their understudy to Ryan. Bettinelli conclusively won the battle to be the Whites’ first choice goalkeeper after replacing Button in the side last December and helping Jokanovic’s side record a club record 23-match unbeaten run that lasted until the final day of the season at Birmingham City. The Fulham academy graduate’s hopes of nailing down the first team spot in the Premier League would face a stiff test should Krul, who won nine caps for the Netherlands, complete a move to west London.