Fulham have made a dramatic late attempt to hijack Bristol City full back Joe Bryan’s impending move to Aston Villa, according to reports this evening.
The 24 year-old left back had undergone a medical with Villa this afternoon and looked set to complete a rumoured £6m move to the Midlands, but the Premier League new boys have placed that transfer in jeopardy by tabling an offer of their own this evening. The Bristol Post says that Fulham’s approach has been rejected by Bristol City, but that the Whites may come in with another offer and that City are willing to wait until the dying embers of the transfer window in order to secure the best deal for their defender.
Slavisa Jokanovic is desperate to bring a left back to Craven Cottage in the closing hours of the summer window to allow Ryan Sessegnon to line up on the left wing when the Londoners kick off their season against Crystal Palace on Saturday. Bryan, who enjoyed an outstanding season with Bristol City in the Championship last term, has been on Fulham’s radar all summer and the Cottagers appear to have returned with interest after their attempts to lure Matt Targett away from Southampton have floundered.
Bryan, an attack-minded full back of the kind that is in vogue in the modern game, scored seven goals in 48 appearances last season as the Reds reached the League Cup semi-finals – famously scoring the first goal as Manchester United were beaten in the last eight tie at Ashton Gate. He has made 229 senior appearances since coming through the City academy and helped the club win both the League One title and the Football League Trophy in 2014/2015.
