Jose Mourinho‘s Fenerbahce have made a move to sign Issa Diop from Fulham, it has been claimed. The former Chelsea and Tottenham boss is planning for next season and hoping to add more defenders to his squad despite signing Diego Carlos and Milan Skriniar in the January transfer window.
Mourinho, who was appointed as Fenerbahce’s new head coach last summer, has made a positive start to life in Turkey. Fenerbahce are going head-to-head with Galatasaray for the Super Lig title and have all but progressed to the Europa League Round of 16 following a 3-0 win over Anderlecht in a first leg play-off on Thursday.
And Fenerbahce want to back Mourinho in order for him to help guide the club back to the top of Turkish football. They signed four players in January – including Carlos and Skriniar – and are keen to do more business when the summer comes around, with another centre-back at the top of their shopping list.
According to A Spor, Fenerbahce have ‘pressed the button’ for next season and made a move for Diop. The former France Under 21s international has fallen down the pecking order at Fulham in recent weeks, having played just three minutes in the Premier League over the last five matches.
He is behind Joachim Andersen and Calvin Bassey and it appears that he might have to leave Fulham in order to get more game time. And Fenerbahce, who are ‘attracted to his strong physique’ are eager to secure the 28-year-old’s services at the end of the season, with a £16.6m move being tabled.
Diop’s contract in west London expires in 2027, so Fulham are in a strong position when it comes to negotiating. However, this may be the final chance the Whites can recoup that sum of money for Diop.
Mourinho’s Fenerbahce are next in action when they travel to Anderlecht in the second leg of their Europa League play-off tie. They boast a three-goal buffer from the first leg last week. Goals from Dusan Tadic, Edin Dzeko and Youssef En-Nesyri helped the Turkish side to beat the Belgian outfit.
After that, Fenerbahce travel across Istanbul to face Galatasaray in a huge top-of-the-table clash. A win for Mourinho’s side would put them to within three points of the league leaders.
