Former Fulham captain is poised to join local rivals Queens Park Rangers after his acrimonious departure from Craven Cottage, according to the Daily Mail.
The Mail reports that Hangeland, who has accused the Cottagers of releasing him via email, refused the opportunity to contribute to a joint statement ending his six-and-a-half year stay in SW6 having agreed to a mutual termination of his contract having expressed a desire to play Premier League football. The Norway skipper is reportedly close to sealing a £50,000-a-week contract with Rangers, which will mean he can avoid moving house.
Hangeland criticised Fulham’s conduct in a series of explosive media interviews that also took aim at manager Felix Magath once his departure from Craven Cottage became known. Fulham refute the suggestion that their club captain was unaware of what was coming – insisting ‘personal protocol was followed’ and that the popular centre back ‘was notified in the right way’.
Hangeland could become the third Fulham player in recent years to make the move to Loftus Road following in the footsteps of forwards Bobby Zamora and Andy Johnson. There is even a chance that midfielder Steve Sidwell could sign for QPR after being released following Fulham’s relegation, with Rangers among a number of top flight clubs keen on signing the 31 year-old.