Fulham are poised to convert Shane Duffy’s loan from Brighton and Hove Albion into a permanent deal so that they can bring in Cedric Soares on loan, according to the Daily Mail.
Duffy, who has made five first-team appearances since joining Fulham in August, is happy to agree a contract at Craven Cottage to remain as cover for the club’s regular centre backs in Tim Ream, Tosin Adarabioyo and fellow summer signing Issa Diop. The Republic of Ireland international’s loan is cheaper to turn into a permanent transfer than Leeds loanee Dan James, with a fee of £14m believed to be required should the Whites wish to keep the Welsh winger.
Handing Duffy a permanent contract in the coming days and agreeing a fee with Brighton, where Duffy has spent six seasons, will free up a loan spot so that Marco Silva can be reunited with Arsenal full back Cedric, whom he worked with successfully at Sporting. The 31 year-old right back has dropped down Mikel Arteta’s pecking order at the Emirates Stadium and made only four appearances this season. The Euro 2016 winner is keen to move across London, following in the footsteps of former team-mate Bernd Leno, and this is the final stage of a protracted deal.
Silva has been seeking an additional option at right back having been unimpressed with Kevin Mbabu’s start to his Fulham career since the Swiss international signed from Wolfsburg for £5m in the summer. Cedric will compete with regular starter Kenny Tete for the right back role but his versatility means that he can also operate at left back.
it seems crazy to buy Duffy when he well below premiership standard and only getting older. Why are we wasting money on contracts for poor players and bring in another 31 year old who is past his best. We should look to the future and buy the Dutch lad who is young quick talented and will only increase in value and who can play for us for many years to come. He represents building for the future, not getting old past it players. We already are suffering from one of them in Tim Ream, never been premiership standard and has led to giving many goals away this season with his bad positional sense and lack of speed and skill
Good news Duffy is a proven Premiership defender that means we have got four proven Centre Backs good decision by Marco Silva
The two posts above just prove that opinions are like certain parts of the anatomy – everybody has one. The truth probably lies in between. Anyway the story is from the Daily Mail, so must be taken with a fistful of salt.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I’m sorry Antiquestor, Tim Ream has been nothing short of a revelation this season. I too had my doubts at the end of last season about him handling the jump to The Premiership but his performances to date have been more than creditable. The world and his brother also said Mitro would never score in The Premiership… And for the record I think that keeping a centre half (even as cover) makes good sense