Fulham want to make England goalkeeper Nick Pope their number one in the Premier League next season, according to the Sun.
Marco Silva has reportedly identified Burnley custodian his top target as he looks for an upgrade on Marek Rodak in the Fulham goal. The Whites are already planning for another tilt at the top flight – sitting eight points clear at the top of the Championship – this move would follow previous attempts to supplement their keeping options after being promoted. Sergio Rico, Fabri and Alphonse Areola were all brought in with the aim of keeping the Cottagers up without success.
The Sun says that Burnley would likely want at least £20m for Pope, who will likely move on if the Clarets dropped out of the Premier League. The 29 year-old has won seven senior caps for his country but has slipped behind Aaron Ramsdale in Gareth Southgate’s international pecking order. He was on the bench this evening as England came from behind to beat Switzerland in a friendly at Wembley.
Fulham would plausibly be able to offer Pope a sizeable salary and first-team football in the Premier League, although the demotion of Rodak – who was similarly jettisoned after helping the Whites win promotion in 2020 – would appear particularly harsh. The same report suggests that Silva has already considered loaning in Manchester United’s Dean Henderson, but would prefer a permanent option between the sticks.
Rodak if demoted would seek a transfer and quite rightly so
POPE 15/20m + 80/100 per week absolute nonsense
Unfortunately, I can’t be as quick to dismiss this given Fulham’s recent history. Areola was on £150,000-a-week at Paris Saint Germain and I believe we paid the majority if not all of his wage. The club have consistently ignored the goalkeepers who got us promoted in favour of shiny new ones, as Dan’s write up of this report illustrates.
If I were Rodak, I’d be furious. What’s the point of biding your time having come through the club’s academy to be pushed out once you’ve reached the promised land. History repeats itself – and I can’t be the only one who thinks the rumoured £20m can be better spent elsewhere …