Fulham are reportedly contemplating a January move for Feyenoord midfielder Mats Wieffer.
The 24-year-old grew up in the Twente youth ranks before leaving for Excelsior, who subsequently sold him to Feyenoord for a paltry £494,000 in the summer of 2022.
Wieffer's stock has risen significantly his arrival in Rotterdam, playing a fundamental role in Feyenoord's Eredivisie triumph during his debut season with one goal and five assists in 25 league matches.
The Dutchman remains an integral cog in Arne Slot's system and has started the 2023-24 season with three goals and two assists from 22 games in all tournaments, starting five of their six Champions League group-stage matches.
The Eredivisie champions pipped Celtic to a spot in the Europa League despite suffering a 2-1 loss to Brendan Rodgers's side on the final matchday, and according to Football Insider, Fulham sent scouts to watch Wieffer in action in that game.
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Marco Silva's side are now believed to be weighing up a January approach for the midfielder, but as he is under contract in Rotterdam until 2027 - having signed an extension in May - his signature will not come cheaply.
Feyenoord will supposedly demand around £20m to £25m to let Wieffer leave midway through the campaign, and the Netherlands international has been earmarked as a potential successor to Joao Palhinha.
The tough-tackling Portuguese lynchpin was on the cusp of joining Bayern Munich over the summer transfer window, allegedly going as far to complete his medical and conduct pre-announcement press duties with the German champions.
However, a deal to bring Palhinha to Bavaria collapsed as Fulham failed to sign a replacement, and the ex-Sporting Lisbon man extended his contract until 2028 in September, with the option of a further year.
Nevertheless, the Cottagers are braced for more bids for Palhinha in January and the summer, with Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool also said to be attentive to the situation.
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Wieffer, who stands at 6ft 2in tall, boasts a total of six goals and nine assists in 59 matches for Feyenoord across all tournaments and has earned seven caps for the Netherlands since making his debut in March.
As well as the Dutchman, Fulham are also said to have been running the rule over Mexican striker Santiago Gimenez, who has burst onto the scene with Feyenoord to become one of Europe's most highly-rated marksmen.
The 22-year-old has netted 20 goals and set up five more in 21 matches across all tournaments this season, including an astounding 18 goals in 16 Eredivisie contests.
Fulham are facing incredibly stiff competition for Gimenez's signature, though, as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur have also taken a liking to the former Cruz Azul man.
Fulham had Raul Jimenez sent off in a crushing 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United at the weekend and now turn their attention to Tuesday's EFL Cup quarter-final clash with Everton at Goodison Park.
Ben Knapton
