Fulham are reportedly edging closer to the signing of Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, who will be a free agent this summer.
According to 90 Min, Fulham are closing in on the capture of Lazio and Albania goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, with his contract with the Italian giants set to expire on June 30.
Strakosha joined Lazio from Greek outfit Panionios back in 2012 but had to wait for four years to make his Serie A debut for the Biancocelesti. Having broken into the first-team setup in 2016, the 27-year-old has been a permanent fixture since, racking up 208 appearances for the Italians, in which he has kept 62 clean sheets.
Strakosha did not feature for a majority of the first half of the 2021/22 season and finished the campaign with just 23 Serie A appearances. With his contract expiring at the end of this month, the Albanian international is set to move on as a free agent. Lazio have already identified Kepa Arrizabalaga as a potential replacement.
As for Strakosha, the 27-year-old could be on his way to the Premier League, with Fulham emerging as the goalkeeper’s next destination. The Cottagers are preparing for life back in the Premier League after winning promotion in style by lifting the EFL Championship last season.
Manager Marco Silva has identified several positions in the squad that need to be strengthened, with the goalkeeping slot one among them. The west London side alternated between Paulo Gazzaniga and Marek Rodak in the last season but are seeking an upgrade in the position as they get set for a return to the big leagues.
A move for Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno has been mooted, while there have also been links with PSG’s Alphonse Areola. However, the former could be expensive , while the latter is likely to join West Ham United permanently, making Strakosha a much more realistic option for Fulham.
The 27-year-old comes with bags of experience at the highest level and has his best years in front of him. Moreover, he would be joining on a free transfer, allowing Fulham to use their funds to strengthen other areas of the squad in the summer. The Cottagers are understood to be close to finalising a deal to land Strakosha and the move could be completed imminently.