Fulham are amongst three Football League clubs linked with a move to snap up Sutton United’s FA Cup hero Roarie Deacon this move, according to a report from the Sun this afternoon.
Deacon scored an incredible equaliser as the non-league outfit came from behind to beat League One AFC Wimbledon in their second round replay last night and set up a money-spinning home tie with Leeds United in the next round. The 25 year-old is no stranger to finding the net having scored five in the U’s extraordinary Cup run to go alongside his nine league goals.
The attacking midfielder was a highly-rated youngster in the Arsenal academy and shrugged off the setback of being released by the Gunners to forge a career with Stevenage and Crawley Town. Several Football League sides have been tracking Deacon’s eye-catching displays this season with a view to tying up a deal when his current Sutton contract expires in the summer, but the Sun reports that three teams would be willing to offer money during the January window to secure his services immediately.
Fulham have had Deacon watched on several occasions this term, but will face stiff competition from Championship rivals Rotherham United and League One Peterborough United. Posh have a famed record of taking rough diamonds from non-league football and developing them into genuine prospects destined for the top of the professional game, with their previous stars including Dwight Gayle, Brett Assombalonga and Lee Tomlin. Fulham did successfully nurture Chris Smalling, having spotted him playing non-league football for Maidstone United, and offer him both Premier League and European football before the England international moved to Manchester United in a £12m deal.
