Rodrigo Muniz asked to left out of Fulham’s final pre-season friendly against Eintracht Frankfurt, according to Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport.

That development has increased Atalanta’s optimism that they can conclude a deal to sign the Brazilian striker as a replacement for last season’s Serie A top scorer Mateo Retegui. Gazzetta claims that Muniz, whom Fulham told the Bergamo club was not for sale last week, trained at Motspur Park on Saturday morning before the Whites beat Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 at Craven Cottage in the afternoon.

Gazzetta also suggests that the La Dea still believe they can sign Muniz for £35m plus add-ons – some £15m below Fulham’s valuation. The Whites have rejected bids from Leeds United and Tottenham Hotspur this summer for the striker, who has 26 goals in 97 games since signing from Flamengo for £6.8m in August 2021.