Fulham have identified Nemanja Matic as a potential January signing to bolster Marco Silva’s midfield options, according to reports from the contiennt.

The Serbian international, who still has a home close to Craven Cottage, attended Fulham’s 2-0 defeat by Burnley just before Christmas and featured on Silva’s wishlist after the Whites won promotion back to the top flight. He is set to leave Rennes for family reasons and has emerged as a possible short-term fix for Fulham in midfield, who reportedly face competition from Lille for his services.

Italian transfer expert Gianluca di Marzio has written on his own website that Silva is keen to land the 35 year-old and Rennes ‘will not block’ his immediate departure. Silva views Matic, who won back-to-back Premier League titles at Chelsea, as a battle hardened midfielder who could provide cover for the likes of Joao Palhinha and Harrison Reed in the defensive midfield role for the remainder of this campaign.