Reports in the German press claim that Fulham have a €1.5m option to finalise a permanent transfer for Sascha Riether this summer – and the full-back’s parent club FC Köln would like to complete a deal to boost their own transfer budget.

Riether has been a revelation at right back since joining Fulham in the summer and was outstanding in Saturday’s defeat by Manchester United at Craven Cottage. The former German international’s agent is quoted suggesting that Riether would be keen to return to FC Köln at the end of his loan, although he also stresses that the 29 year-old will make the final decision about his future.

FC Köln’s sporting director Claus Horstmann discloses that he last spoke to Riether in September and confirmed that Fulham do have an option of securing Riether’s signature for what seems a bargain price of €1.5m. Given the praise that Riether has attracted already during his short spell in England and that Fulham let Stephen Kelly join Reading towards the end of the transfer window, you would expect the Whites to be keen to agree a long-term deal with the loanee.

Fulham manager Martin Jol was quoted in January as saying he would be keen to sign Riether, who has played in every game for the club this season, on a permanent basis:

Sascha Riether has done a great job for us. He’s enthusiastic, mobile and aggressive. I only wanted him on loan because you never know how they’ll do. If he carries on like this we will make our mind up and try to extend it or buy him.