Reports from Italy this evening claim that Fulham could make a formal offer for AS Roma central defender Roger Ibañez in the next few days.

The Whites have been engaged in negotiations with the Giallarossi’s director of football, Tiago Pinto, over the past few weeks as they considered reprising their interest in Justin Kluivert, whose move to Craven Cottage last summer was scuppered by the Home Office’s post-Brexit work permit requirements. The Dutch winger joined Bournemouth last week but Pinto is still discussing potential transfers with a number of English clubs as he tries to hand Jose Mourinho a substantial summer transfer budget.

Roma Giallarossa reports this evening that Pinto is well aware of Fulham’s interest in Ibañez, who has made 149 appearances in four years with Roma. The Brazilian international has two years remaining on his current contract at the Stadio Olimpico and Roma have identified the 24 year-old as a potential source of valuable funds, with Premier League suitors rumoured to include Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United.

Fulham, seeking defensive reinforcements following the exit of Shane Duffy and uncertainty surrounding Tosin Adarabioyo’s future, have expressed a strong interest in the former Fluminense centre half and could follow that up with a concrete offer in the coming days after being informed by Roma that Ibañez is available for transfer. The Canela-born defender, who can also operate at right back or as a holding midfielder, was part of the Roma side that won the Europa Conference League in 2021-22 and reached the Europa League final last summer.