Fulham are ready to battle it out with Newcastle as they try to sign Argentinian international left back Nicolas Tagliafico from Ajax.

The 25 year-old full back is ready to leave Holland after just six months with Ajax and the Premier League pair are ready to offer £8m for his services. Both will face stiff competition for Tagliafico, who played in all four of Argentina’s World Cup matches this summer in Russia, with the likes of Wolfsburg and Schalke keen on taking him to Germany.

Slavisa Jokanovic has been in the market for a left back since the Whites won promotion back to the Premier League. Fulham failed in a bid to tempt Swedish defender Ludwig Augustinsson from Werder Bremen and been repeatedly rebuffed in their attempts to seal a permanent deal for Southampton’s Matt Targett, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Craven Cottage.

Tagliafico, who has won eight senior caps for his country after being capped at every youth level, began his professional career with Banfield in his native Argentina and won praise for his impressive showings at left back after being promoted from the reserve side. He made 90 appearances in five years with the club before moving on to Independiente, where he captained the team that won the 2017 Copa Sudamericana. He joined Ajax in January for around £4m, but is likely to be second choice this season after the Dutch club brought Daley Blind back from Manchester United as their marquee signing.