Fulham are casting a wide net in the search of alternative options at right back this month should a move for their preferred target – Arsenal’s Cedric Soares – fall through, according to the Mail on Sunday.
Marco Silva is keen on a reunion with Cedric, the Euro 2016 winner, who he worked with at Sporting. But reports from earlier this week suggest the 31 year-old’s wage demands are a sticking point holding up the Arsenal defender’s move to Craven Cottage and, with the Whites unwilling to match Roma’s £10m valuation of Rik Kardsdorp, Fulham are looking at a number of consistent performers in the Championship.
Luton full back James Bree, previously on the books of Burnley and Aston Villa, helped the Hatters into the play-offs last season having begun his career at Barnsley. The 25 year-old right back won the Football League Trophy with Reds in 2015 and has made more than a hundred appearances since moving to Kenilworth Road, initially on loan in 2019.
Norwich defender Max Aarons, a former England under-21 international, has been a long-term Fulham transfer target. The Hammersmith-born defender could be keen on a return to west London, but the Whites would need to pay a substantial sum to sign him from Carrow Road, where the 23 year-old has won two Championship titles with the Canaries and is closing in on 200 appearances for his boyhood club.
Millwall right back Danny McNamara is the third name on Fulham’s shortlist. The lifelong Lions fan, who has under-21 honours for the Republic of Ireland, enjoyed an excellent season last term – making 38 appearances and scoring two goals – for Gary Rowett’s side. He has been impressed this season at the New Den too as Millwall look to be putting together a promotion push with an exciting side full of young talent.
Silva looks certain to add to his options at right back before the end of the transfer window, having left summer signing Kevin Mbabu out of the matchday squad entirely for yesterday’s 2-0 win at Hull City in the FA Cup.
