Fulham have entered the race to sign Nottingham Forest full back Matty Cash alongside several Premier League clubs, according to a Football Insider report this morning.
The Cottagers are desperate to add new faces to their squad ahead of their Premier League return, with defensive additions a particular priority for the Fulham hierarchy. Cash, converted to a right back last summer by Sabri Lamounchi to spectacular success, has already been the subject of an offer from Sheffield United, believed to be worth around £10m, that was rejected. West Ham are also interested in signing the 23 year-old, but will need to generate funds from player sales before submitting a formal bid.
Forest are understood to be holding out for an offer that meets their £15m valuation before agreeing to sell Cash, who is currently on a summer break. There are conflicting reports about whether he has told Forest he wishes to move on or is prepared to try and secure promotion this season. Forest resisted approaches from West Ham during the January transfer window while Lamouchi’s push for promotion was still on track, and it is unknown as to whether they will sanction the sale of one of their prized assets.
Cash, who was voted Forest’s player of the season, came through the club’s academy and originally broke into the first-team as a lively winger. He has made 141 appearances for the City Ground side, scoring thirteen goals, and starred as Forest agonisingly missed out on the play-offs on the final day of the season.
Fulham are eager to add a right back to their squad after winning promotion via the play-offs with both Cyrus Christie and Denis Odoi struggling in the top flight two years ago. Cash’s adventurous approach and searing turn of pace would make him a similar proposition to Ryan Fredericks, so pivotal in Slavisa Jokanovic’s promotion-winning side, although given his eye-catching displays over the last eighteen months, the Whites would have a real fight on their hands to bring the Slough-born full back to London.
