Fulham are reportedly ‘preparing an offer’ to bring experienced Porto midfielder Mateus Uribe to the Premier League during the summer transfer window.
While the Cottagers’ hitherto-outstanding season appears to be fizzling out in the absence of the suspended Aleksandr Mitrovic, the avoidance of a relegation battle means Fulham fans find themselves with a unfamiliar feeling. For once, the Craven Cottage faithful can looking forward to the summer knowing which division they will be playing in next term.
And if Fulham are to avoid the second-season syndrome which struck down Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds and Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United, the transfer window could come in very handy.
Marco Silva may opt to add some extra depth to a rather thin squad. Uribe, a 32-year-old midfielder with nearly 50 caps for the Colombian national team, would certainly provide that.
Fulham eye Porto ace Mateus Uribe
Fulham, according to Portuguese reporter Bruno Andrade, are already planning a bid for Uribe. The long-serving Porto veteran is out of contract in July. They want to keep him at the Estadio do Dragao, but there is also interest from Brazilian outfit Flamengo.
The combative Uribe, who missed a penalty as Colombia crashed out of the 2018 World Cup against England, has won two Portuguese Primeira Liga titles in Porto colours. Like Willian, Bernd Leno Cedric Soares and Joao Palhinha, he would add serious top-level experience to the Fulham dressing room.
Uribe, should he arrive, would likely offer back-up for Palhinha in the defensive midfield role. Fulham do not have a natural replacement; January signing Sasa Lukic more of a ball-player than a ball-winner.
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Uribe, with 2.5 successful tackles per game, averages some of the finest defensive numbers in Portugal, according to WhoScored.
Palhinha, meanwhile, is reportedly attracting interest already, less than 12 months after his bargain signing from Porto’s rivals Sporting Lisbon.
“I cannot see him being there next year,” former Chelsea defender Jason Cundy predicts.
“You know when someone says they don’t mean to offend, and then they immediately do! I think a lot of big heads will be looking at him. He is reaching his potential, and he’s a very, very good player.”
“If Fulham get offered £50 million for him, they’re going to take that,” Cundy adds. “He is at the peak of his powers, as good as anyone.
“The only problem is he picks up a lot of bookings. He needs to somehow temper that. But everyone else about his game…
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