da dobrowin： Claudio Ranieri has a mountain to climb if he is to guarantee Fulham’s survival in the Premier League this season.
da doce： The Italian replaced fan favourite Slavisa Jokanovic last week with the Cottagers rooted to the bottom of the Premier League. A 2-0 defeat to Liverpool left Fulham bottom of the standings with the most goals conceded in the league so far. Ranieri, who lifted Premier League titles with both Chelsea and Leicester, knows that sorting out their defence will be his main priority to steer them away from the danger zone.
The January transfer window is less than two months away, and the former Inter Milan boss will have his first opportunity to bolster his ranks. One man who should be on his shortlist is fellow countryman – Matteo Darmian.
Valued at £9m by Transfermarkt, the Italian joined Manchester United back in 2015 and lifted the FA Cup in his first season with the Red Devils. Following the appointment of Jose Mourinho, the 28-year-old quickly slipped down the pecking order at Old Trafford and has been restricted to just one Premier League appearance so far this season. Should Fulham come calling in January, it’s highly unlikely that United would block his departure.
Darmian can play on either side which would make him an extremely useful option for Ranieri to have at his disposal. The defender has been criticised during his spell at United for his attacking qualities, but Fulham need a no-nonsense defender to sort out their defence meaning Darmian would be the ideal signing. His experience of playing in Italy for a number of years could help him adapt quickly to the methods that Ranieri will bring to Craven Cottage.
Potentially available for a great fee, Ranieri should be looking to link up with the Italy international in the New Year.
Fulham fans, thoughts?