Things are speeding up at Fulham.
After sealing the emotional return to Craven Cottage of Ryan Sessegnon, the race to become the club’s second signing of the summer transfer window has really heated up over the last 24 hours or so.
But with Fulham and Manchester United still poles apart in their valuation of Scott McTominay – HITC understands that Marco Silva’s side have had a new bid worth £23 million rejected – the first new face to arrive in West London should instead be Jorge Cuenca.
24-year-old Cuenca, a left-sided centre-half, enjoyed a breakout campaign for Villarreal last term.
Stepping up following the sale of Pau Torres to Aston Villa, the imposing former Spain Under 21 international played 29 La Liga matches and even scored three goals. Clearly, Cuenca is a big presence in both boxes.
And while he is obviously more comfortable on the left than on the right, the Madrid-born former Barcelona youngster will add some strength in depth at the back for a Fulham side who lost the right-sided Tosin Adarabioyo to neighbours Chelsea.
Fulham set to sign Jorge Cuenca from Villarreal
Calvin Bassey was Fulham’s first-choice left-sided option last term and will take some ousting from Silva’s XI. Fellow southpaw Tim Ream, however, is not getting any younger.
The veteran American will celebrate his 37th birthday in November.
HITC understands that Fulham have agreed a deal with Villarreal. Cuenca, who Fabrizio Romano says will cost just shy than £7 million, is due to sign a five-year contract after he undergoes medical tests.
Miguel Angel Tena, Villarreal’s sporting director, confirmed on Thursday that Cuenca has already packed his bags ahead of Thursday’s trip to the English capital.
“Jorge trained yesterday afternoon and is travelling to the Fulham camp,” Tena says, via Tribal Football. “He has to pass the medical examination.
“And, when the time is right, we will make it official if everything is OK.”
Villarreal have done plenty of business with Premier League clubs in recent windows.
Filip Jorgensen, the highly-rated goalkeeper who caught the eye of Arsenal, Manchester City and more per HITC’s understanding, has joined Adarabioyo at Chelsea.
Ben Brereton Diaz, after a fine loan spell at Sheffield United, returns to Britain from Southampton while Willy Kambwala made the trip to the Castellon Coast from Manchester United.
“(We are) sad because we didn’t want Jorgensen to leave,” Tena added at his press conference. “The idea was to have a goalkeeper for many years because one of the things that was difficult for us to get from the academy was a goalkeeper.
“Filip’s will was to take advantage of the opportunity (at Chelsea). He told us that he wanted to leave. After wanting him to stay, we are also people and in this case we have received a transfer.
“I hope he is very successful.”
Fulham eye Andre after Palhinha’s Bayern Munich move
Fulham are yet to bring in a replacement for talismanic former defensive midfield star Joao Palhinha. McTominay, who Man United value at closer to £30 million, is at his most effective in a box-crashing number eight role.
Long-time target Andre Trindade could still arrive at Craven Cottage from Fluminense, however, with the Brazilian a more natural Palhinha successor.
“There’s an offer that was made (by Fulham). Fluminense made a counter-offer and there has been no response to it yet,” Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt told Radio Itatiaia a fortnight ago.
“Fulham are the club that have been looking for Andre since last year, as well as Liverpool. In January, they made a new bid.
“At the moment, what we have is a piece of paper from Fulham with an offer, and a piece of paper from Fluminense with a counter-offer. We don’t have an answer yet.
“I saw a recent report, published by an English journalist, that the player was already talking to the club. That’s normal. It’s part of the negotiation between player and club; how much salary he would like to earn, etc.
“It’s a negotiation that Fluminense is not part of, between the player and the possible future club. The three parties have to come to an agreement.”
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