Fulham manager Mark Hughes is rumoured to have switched his attention to signing Niko Kranjcar from north London rivals Tottenham after attempts to bring in Shaun Wright-Phillips fell through.
Hughes was keen to bring in Wright-Phillips on loan but Manchester City’s refusal to pay a wage-subsidy has led to Hughes backing out of the deal.
‘We’ve enquired, that is well documented, but it seems that it is becoming more and more difficult and more things are being put in our way to stop us being able to conclude that,’ Hughes said.
Kranjcar’s future at White Hart Lane has been left to deteriorate and with Steven Pienaar joining the squad, the 26-year-old is now even further down manager Harry Redknapp’s pecking order.
Bundesliga side Werder Bremen are understood to have expressed interest in the Croatian, but a move across town to Craven Cottage has also been suggested.
Hughes said any new player would have to add a new dimension to the squad and Kranjcar’s ability to fashion something from nothing could be his ticket back to winning Premier League game time.
‘We will look and see what is out there but in fairness we are getting close to the end of the window and anything we get in now we have to be certain it will make a real difference to us,’ he said.
‘We have a good group here but if there are other players who have different skill sets who might enhance it we would look at it.’
Kranjcar joined Spurs from Portsmouth in 2009 and has made 29 appearances netting six goals.
Both Paul Konchesky and Kranjcar will be prime targets for Hughes after he secured Chelsea attacker Gael Kakuta on-loan until the end of the season.