Fulham have told Cardiff City to forget about tempting Marcus Bettinelli away from Craven Cottage – unless they are willing to stump up around £2m and wait until the Whites have signed a replacement, according to a report on GetWestLondon this afternoon.
New Bluebirds’ boss Neil Warnock had hoped to bring in Bettinelli to challenge the below-par Ben Amos at the Cardiff City Stadium, but suggestions that the two clubs were close to agreeing a loan deal appear to be wide of the mark. Fulham still rate Bettinelli highly, having handed him a four-year deal last August, and Slavisa Jokanovic is unwilling to let the former England under-21 international leave on the cheap.
The 24 year-old has had to be patient this season, having been pushed out of the first-team reckoning by the summer arrival of David Button from Brentford. But Button’s indifferent winter form might lead to the academy graduate forcing his way back into the side and, in any case, Jokanovic wants to have capable back-up available to call upon as the Whites target a top six finish. The goalkeeper has talked about his desire to get regular game time, but it looks as if Bettinelli will need to bide his time for now.