Fulham have fought off a number of Championship clubs to clinch a deal to sign Everton full-back Luke Garbutt on loan, according to reports this afternoon.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez has identified a loan as being crucial to Garbutt’s development after he played in all three of England’s group matches at this summer’s European Under 21 Championships in the Czech Republic. The 22 year-old, who signed a new long-term deal at Goodison Park this summer after rejecting the chance to discuss a possible transfer with Liverpool, had been interesting three other Championship sides, including Ipswich, Rotherham and QPR.
Fulham manager Kit Symons has been in need of a new left back since Kostas Stafylidis and James Husband returned to their parent clubs at the conclusion of the loan deals last month. Whilst academy graduate Sean Kavanagh enjoyed increased game time under Symons last season and the previously jettisoned Kay Voser has enjoyed a couple of appearances in the early pre-season friendlies, Fulham have made a concerted move to bring in the highly-rated Garbutt, who has made twelve first team appearances since joining Everton from Leeds as a sixteen year-old back in 2009.
