Aston Villa and Fulham are both interested in an electrifying forward who can transfer as soon as January.
According to sources, Aston Villa and Fulham are both considering a January deal for a pacy winger, and Marco Silva’s interest originates from his disappointment with two unsuccessful players.
This season, Aston Villa and Fulham have had very different seasons, with the former flying and the latter wallowing.
Indeed, Unai Emery’s team is presently fifth in the Premier League rankings, with only Newcastle (24 goals) having scored more.
Fulham, on the other hand, have only scored eight league goals this season. The lack of offensive output is costing them dearly, and if it is not rectified soon, chances for a successful season may vanish.
Fulham manager Marco Silva, who signed a new three-year contract on Tuesday, is unhappy with his striker choices, according to the Evening Standard.
Raul Jimenez is yet to make an appearance for the club, and according to the article, Silva is only ‘lukewarm’ about back-up striker Carlos Vinicius. Neither player has been able to step up and replace Aleksandar Mitrovic’s goals.
As a result, Silva is looking for attacking reinforcements in January and is considering a move for Stuttgart sensation Serhou Guirassy.
Guirassy has scored 14 goals in eight Bundesliga games this season. His contract has a release clause of only €17.5 million.
However, while the release clause is triggered in January, Sky Germany claims Guirassy “has no intention of leaving” until the summer at the earliest.
Sporting winger is being watched by Fulham and Villa.
Fulham would also explore signing Gift Orban (Genk), Carlos Alcaraz (Southampton), and Geny Catamo (Sporting Lisbon), according to the Standard.
Alcaraz and Catamo aren’t center-forwards, implying Silva is willing to recruit any forward who can make a difference rather than focusing solely on strikers.
Catamo, however, is also on Aston Villa’s radar, according to BirminghamLive.
The 22-year-old left-footer is primarily a right winger. Catamo plays for Mozambique in international football and is recognized for his quick feet.
Catamo is not a regular starter for Sporting, although he has appeared in all 11 of their games this season across all competitions.
According to BirminghamLive, Villa are ‘following’ Catamo, who ‘may move [Sporting] as early as January’.
Emery is said to be looking to bolster his team in January ahead of a possible push for a place in the Champions League qualification spots. A knockout campaign in the Europa Conference League is also a possibility.
Catamo appears unlikely to be a regular starter at Villa Park, although his speed off the bench could be useful late in games.
