After suffering defeats in their opening three games and conceding 10 goals, the Fulham hierarchy continues to hunt for defensive reinforcements.
According to Football Insider, Scott Parker’s side have turned their attention to former Blackburn, Coventry and current Crystal Palace defender Scott Dann as they have identified him as an option to provide experience and much-needed depth at the centre of the Cottagers’ defence.
Fulham have already seen several defensive deals fall through including the failure of Sassuolo defender Marlon to pass his medical. As a result of both poor defensive form and the reported collapse of a deal for Marlon, the Cottagers’ Director of Football Tony Khan issued an explanative and apologetic statement via Twitter:
Twitter: I apologize to @FulhamFC supporters for our performance tonight. We’ve looked to add centre-backs since Wembley, I’… https://t.co/47Zfl0ZiNU (@TonyKhan)
Meanwhile, the 33-year-old Palace veteran is entering the final year of his current deal at Crystal Palace, with no indications he could be set to extend his stay in SE25. Fulham are reportedly joined by league rivals Burnley as both sides look to sign Dann in a potential transfer bargain.
Read Crystal Palace Verdict
Tony Khan’s statement expresses an alarmed tone and a sentiment of mild desperation in Fulham’s desire to conclude deals for centre-halves before the October transfer deadline. As a result, a deal for Palace veteran Scott Dann could represent an excellent deal for all parties.
Dann boasts a bountiful wealth of Premier League experience, having notched up over 160 appearances for Palace since his arrival from Blackburn in 2014. The stalwart defender has played a pivotal role in Palace’s continued run of Premier League successes and most recently captained the Eagles in a 1-0 victory over Southampton.
However, given both his age and expiring contract, any deal for Dann could aid the Palace board in shrinking their existing wage bill whilst also commanding a transfer fee for a player they would ordinarily lose for free.
Palace boast formidable depth at centre-back; Gary Cahill, James Tomkins, Mamadou Sakho, and summer signing Nathan Ferguson are just some of the Palace options that possess experience at the heart of defences.
With a move to Fulham, Palace would receive a financial boost whilst sacrificing relatively little defensive depth. Moreover, Palace’s London Premier League rivals would gain a formidable and experienced defensive leader.
As for Dann himself, the Liverpool-born player would receive more minutes on the pitch as he looks to enjoy a late renaissance in his expansive career.
