Slavisa Jokanovic insists that Ross McCormack missed Fulham’s defeat by Hull City yesterday through illness – and not as a result of the frenzied transfer speculation surrounding his future.
Fulham have rejected two bids from Middlesbrough during the January transfer window – and a third is rumoured to be on the way, whilst the Scottish striker has also attracted interest from Derby and several Premier League sides. The Whites badly missed their talimsan, who has scored seventeen goals so far this season, but Jokanovic reiterated after the final whistle that the forward’s absence was down to his inability to train at Motspur Park this week.
“Because Ross was sick yesterday, and last week had physical problems. He had a kick in the last game against Huddersfield. He’s only made one training session. I try and explain he has only made one training and physically I did not believe he was ready for today’s game.”
Jokanovic categorically denied that Fulham would be considering selling either McCormack or young starlet Moussa Dembele in this transfer window.
“Psychologically I understand many rumours and speculation, I understand McCormack too, I understand the club have interests in thinking about him because he is one of the best Championship players, he’s our best player too, so the people need to understand Fulham too.
“If you are serious people, if you start thinking, we don’t need the money, when actually right now we need other things. This is a very clear situation. With the time, It’s only now seven more days, everything will be more clear, but I am not, I can repeat, I don’t want to sell and we are not in a situation to sell our best players.
“Speculation is always about Dembele, about McCormack, for my side. I don’t give any permission to make these kind of steps.”
