Brighton & Hove Albion winger Anthony Knockaert has emerged as a target for Fulham, it has been reported.
Fulham have contacted the Seagulls over a possible £15million move for Knockaert, it has been claimed by The Sun. However, a formal offer is yet to be tabled.
The report further states that the attacking ace will be tempted to drop down to the Championship with a hefty increase in wages, which is believed to be £40,000-a-week.
Fulham struggled to impose themselves in the Premier League during the previous campaign and were eventually relegated from the top flight after a difficult campaign.
However, they will strive to challenge for promotion to right their wrongs of the previous season. But, the Whites will need to tend to a couple of areas in the squad after the expected departure of a couple of star players following the events of last season.
The Cottagers lack quality in the wide areas after Andre Schurrle and Ryan Babel abandoned the ship and considering that Ryan Sessegnon might switch to Tottenham Hotspur, there is a need to buy.
Therefore, their apparent interest to sign Knockaert makes a lot of sense. He has a proven pedigree in the English second tier and will enhance the quality of their arsenal.
Anthony Knockaert: Profile
Knockaert started his senior career at French outfit Guingamp before he made a move to the ranks of Leicester City in the summer of 2012.
After three seasons with the Foxes, he moved to Belgian side Standard Liege and eventually landed at the Amex Stadium in the January transfer window of 2016.
The Frenchman won the Championship Player of the Season award after he played an instrumental role in his side’s promotion-winning season in 2017.
However, he failed to replicate his rich vein of form of the Championship in the Premier League last season as he bagged just 2 goals and 6 assists in 30 league outings.
A good move for all parties involved
Knockaert is a vastly experienced campaigner and if his move to the Cottagers materialises, he could be a useful ally to striker Aleksandar Mitrovic whom Fulham have managed to retain.
He is an astute crosser of the ball and has the ability to link-up with his teammates in a meticulous manner in the final third. Besides, he holds the ball well and makes good use of the space around him.
The 27-year-old is a skilful player who also has an undeniable knack to find the back of the net and Scott Parker could rely on him to head a potent attacking unit for him. His crossing and set-piece ability will also come in handy with Fulham boasting of one of the best headers of the ball in English football.
Brighton have a number of options in the wide areas and there is a good chance they will sell for the aforementioned fee.