Premier League side Fulham are reportedly leading the race to sign AS Roma full-back Rick Karsdorp, who has fallen out with manager José Mourinho and is now looking for a new home.
According to reliable Sky Sports Italia journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Premier League side Fulham are the most interested party in Roma’s Serie A misfit Rick Karsdorp and are gearing up to send in a formal offer in the upcoming January transfer window.
The writing has been on the wall for Karsdorp after he fell foul of the Special One Jose Mourinho’s sharp tongue back in November.
Things have been heated in the Italian capital for the 27-year-old Dutch right-back, whose relationship with coach Mourinho has completely broken down after he was accused of being unprofessional and invited to leave the club in January by the Portuguese coach, albeit without naming him.
To make matters worse, Karsdorp did not join his teammates for their training tour to Japan. There is no going back to level terms for either party after the player refrained from the training camp, and a winter departure is firmly on the cards for him.
As reported by Gianluca Di Marzio, Karsdorp landed at Roma’s training base in Trigoria to join his teammates in their preparations for the second half of the season but did not make eye contact with Mourinho.
The 27-year-old joined the capital side in 2017, but he only managed to become a regular starter in 2020 following a loan spell at Feyenoord. His current contract runs until 2025, and the Italian giants are ready to let Karsdorp leave on the cheap in January despite the bust-up with Mourinho.
Per the above report, it could take around €12 million to prise the 27-year-old from his Stadio Olimpico exile. Despite blowing hot and cold throughout his Roma career, the wingback has no shortage of suitors trying to lure him away from Stadio Olimpico, with Italian rivals Juventus in the running, while Lille and Torino have already enquired about Karsdorp’s availability.
But both sides are hoping to sign him on loan rather than a permanent deal, which Roma would prefer as they themselves are on the lookout for a potential Karsdorp replacement next month.
However, Marco Silva’s Fulham have emerged as the frontrunners in the race for his services and are set to make a concrete offer for the Dutchman after the Qatar World Cup.
The newly-promoted Cottagers, who have surprised many with their free-flowing displays under Silva and currently sit as high as 9th in the table, are in the market for a new right back as a backup and competition for Kenny Tete after Kevin Mbabu’s disappointing displays since arriving from Wolfsburg in July.
The former Newcastle man has started just one Premier League match for Fulham as of yet and was left out of Murat Yakin’s Switzerland squad for the 2022 World Cup due to the lack of gametime at club level.
