Fulham eyeing a move for Croatian international: Missing piece of the jigsaw

According to Fotomac, Fulham have rekindled their interest in Besiktas defender Domagoj Vida.

The Croatian international has been linked with a move away from Turkey following an excellent World Cup campaign in the summer, and with the January transfer window just around the corner, a transfer to England could be on the horizon.

Fulham are keen to shore up their defensive options, but is Vida the ideal target for the Cottagers?

Domagoj Vida: Player profile

Vida is regarded as one of Croatia’s most experienced defenders, having made over 250 top-flight appearances during his time in Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey. He moved to Besiktas earlier this year and has since become a regular fixture in their starting line-up, making 40 appearances in all competitions.

The 29-year-old is a robust defender can dominate the attackers with his physical prowess. Although he may not be the tallest defenders, Vida’s imposing presence at the back often makes it difficult for the attackers to assert their influence on the game.

The former Dynamo Kiev defender is an excellent reader of the game as well, having averaged over two interceptions per game this season while his tally of 4.2 clearances per game is only bettered by Pepe.

Vida also averages 5 aerial duels per game, winning three of them – thus maintaining a success rate of 60%, which is rather impressive for a player of his stature.

And to top it all off, the Croatian international has greatly improved his passing in recent years and has attained an impressive pass accuracy of 84% this season.

Why Fulham need Vida

Following a woeful start to the campaign that led to the sacking of Slavisa Jokanovic, new coach Claudio Ranieri has already shown his intent to improve the defence and the acquisition of Vida will definitely help in that regard.

The 29-year-old is a dogged defender, who can not only stick to his marker, but is an excellent reader of the game as well, which makes him an ideal fit for Ranieri’s pragmatic style of play. Furthermore, Vida excels in distributing possession from the back, which is more than a bonus for a team like Fulham who mostly play on the counter.

And considering Vida’s vast experience in not just club but also international football, a transfer could prove to be a good move for a Fulham.

Stat courtesy: Whoscored