Transfer story
According to Sky Sports, Fulham are plotting a move to sign Wolfsburg’s Josuha Guilavogui. The former Atletico midfielder has been eyed as the perfect candidate by the newly promoted Premier League outfit as they look to add more options to their midfield department before the transfer window slams shut.
Reliable midfielder Kevin McDonald signed a two-year contract extension with the Cottagers earlier last week. Having said that, Slavisa Jokanovic will be keen on bolstering his options knowing that the upcoming season could give them a bumpy ride as they look to make an impression in the English top flight.
Why do Fulham need him?
Guilavogui could be an ideal solution for the Londoners given their lack of options in the holding midfield position. The Frenchman joined Wolfsburg in 2016 on a £2.7 million deal from Atletico Madrid after initially impressing in a two-year loan deal spanning from 2014 to 2016.
He notably played a key role in the 2014/15 season when Wolfsburg gave Bayern Munich a run for their money as they finished second in the final league standings. In a season that included an incredible 4-1 win over the Bavarian giants, Guilavogui made 27 appearances and also played a key role as the Wolves lifted the DFB Pokal by beating Borussia Dortmund in the final.
During his four-year spell with the club, the Frenchman has made 140 appearances in all competitions.
Player stats and how he will fit in
A dominant figure in midfield, Guilavogui is a physically imposing midfielder who is capable of screening the defence as well as dominating the opposition with some tough tackling – traits that are necessary in order to thrive in the Premier League.
The 27-year-old averaged 2.3 interceptions last season as well as 2.9 attempted tackles per game. In addition, he also made 2.1 clearances per game which is excellent for a defensive midfielder.
Jokanovic can utilise the former Atletico star as his main defensive midfielder. It is very likely that the Serbian mastermind will opt for a 4-3-3 formation in the upcoming season, which could see Guilavogui starting as the CDM alongside Jean-Michael Seri and Tom Cairney, both of whom will be deployed in slightly advanced roles.
McDonald also deserves recognition for playing a key role in their successful campaign last season but Guilavogui has experience at the highest level and if Fulham manage to sign him up, he will be expected to start ahead of the Scot.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
