Fulham are reportedly in talks to sign out-of-favour Dutch defender Rick Karsdorp from AS Roma in January.
According to a report by Il Tempo, as relayed by Sport Witness, Fulham are currently negotiating with Roma chief Tiago Pinto and it will be interesting to see if they can agree on a deal for the Dutchman. The Londoners could certainly use defensive reinforcements in January and the 27-year-old Dutch defender could prove to be a useful addition.
Fulham are thought to be on the lookout for a quality right back and they have been linked with the Arsenal defender Cedric Soares as well.
However, the Gunners are involved in a title race and they are not willing to weaken their squad midway through the campaign.
Meanwhile, Rick Karsdorp has fallen out with Jose Mourinho at the Italian club and Roma are prepared to cash in on him. Apparently, the player is valued at €5-6 million and Fulham certainly have the finances to pay the reported asking price.
The defender recently launched a scathing attack on Mourinho and it seems that the relationship between the player and the manager is beyond repair.
Fulham have done quite well in the Premier League this season following their promotion and they will be hoping to finish in the top half. Bringing in quality additions during the January transfer window will only help them improve further.
The Londoners are currently 10th in the league table with 22 points from 16 league matches.
As for Karsdorp, the opportunity to move to the Premier League could be an exciting one. He will be looking to get his career back on track with regular football at the London club.
Furthermore, given the reported asking price, the Dutchman could prove to be a bargain for Fulham. He is at the peak of his career right now and if he manages to adapt to English football quickly, he could transform them at the back.
It makes no sense to hold on to an unhappy player and therefore Roma should look to get rid of him swiftly. A transfer is best for all parties and it remains to be seen how the situation develops.
