That’s what the Fulham Chronicle are reporting in today’s edition. It certainly sounds like that the sort of thing MAF would do. The chairman apparently says that only a ‘ludicrous’ offer would see Fulham lose Hangeland and that would be in excess of the £15m figure that has been banded around this week.
The Whites chairman stepped in to make it plain that nothing short of a ludicrous fee would tempt them to part with their talismanic centre-half – never mind the £15million already reported that Arsenal have to pay.
There’s more encouraging news from inside the club, too.
An insider said: “The biggest problem at these moments is when the player has indicated he wants to go. That couldn’t be further from the truth in this case.”
These quotes confirm what we reported last night – that Hangeland remains happy to stay at Fulham, that the club haven’t received any offers for him yet and that the Norwegian newspaper reports cited on the BBC last night were simply rehashing the speculation seen in the British papers earlier this week.
The Chronicle also reckons that Fulham are ready to let Diomansy Kamara join Bordeaux for a knockdown price – and Roy Hodgson’s been so impressed with Eddie Johnson in pre-season that he considers the American a potential replacement.
Bordeaux are hovering with a bid only half the price Fulham paid for the Senegalese international in 2007. But Hodgson has been impressed by Eddie Johnson’s form after the American’s season away on loan at Cardiff, and will bite the bullet over Kamara.
Aaron Hughes is also warning his team-mates not to take financially-troubled Portsmouth lightly on Saturday. Pompey might have sold a whole host of key players over the summer and be gripped by boadroom uncertainty but the Northern Irish centre back says they’ll still pose a real threat.
As much as people say Portsmouth are struggling – they’ll still be at home – and we’ve got to just look for a solid season.
