Fulham have been linked with a move for Hertha Berlin’s German international left-back Marvin Plattenhardt by German tabloid Bild.
The Whites are among six English clubs who are willing to test Hertha’s resolve to keep hold of their highly-rated defender, who was part of Joachim Löw’s squad that crashed out of the World Cup at the group stage last week. Bild names Everton, Huddersfield Town, Watford and Bournemouth as Fulham’s rivals in the chase for the 26 year-old full back, with the Terriers presumed to be leading the race due to their strong links with Germany under head coach David Wagner.
It would take a sizeable offer to convince Hertha to part with Plattenhardt, with Bild suggesting a fee of around £22m, but the Bundesliga side do have a ready-made replacement in youngster Maximilian Mittelstädt. Plattenhardt, who has won six senior caps for his country since making his international debut against Denmark last June, helped a second-string Germany side win the Confederations Cup last summer and was one of the few brights spots during their disastrous World Cup campaign.
He has made 121 senior appearances in four years with Hertha – scoring five goals – and has a reputation as a dead-ball expert. Fulham are searching for a new left-back ahead of the new campaign having seen their £10m bid for Matt Targett, who made such an impression on loan at Craven Cottage during the second half of last season as Slavisa Jokanovic’s side won the Championship play-offs, rejected by Southampton. Jokanovic sees the strengthening of his defence as crucial to preparing Fulham for the Premier League and also allowing young starlet Ryan Sessegnon to fully express himself from the left wing.
