Fulham have now opened talks to sign Atalanta defender Raoul Bellanova as they search for a new right-back, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has revealed.
Bellanova was the subject of an enquiry from Nottingham Forest earlier this summer, at which point he was valued at around £13m – £17m by the Italian side, off the back of a Serie A campaign in which he made 24 appearances.
However, perhaps the 26-year-old’s best season was 2024-25, picking up ten assists in 34 matches for Atalanta, while also registering his first goal in the Champions League.
Clearly, the Italian, who previously made 22 appearances for Inter Milan, is impressive going forward, and journalist Luca Bianchin described him as “one of the best right-backs in Italy” back in 2024.
At the moment, Alvaro Arbeloa is relatively well-stocked at right-back, with Kenny Tete and Timothy Castagne to choose from, but the latter’s contract is set to expire at the end of next season.
As such, the Cottagers have been looking to bring in a new option in that area of the pitch, with FC Barcelona’s Hector Fort also under consideration, but there are plenty of signs the Atalanta star could be a more appropriate addition to the squad.
Why Fulham should sign Raoul Bellanova instead of Hector Fort
More experiencedSimilar asking price
Despite the Atalanta star being much more experienced, a deal could set Fulham back just £17m, which is around the price Barca are demanding for Fort.
Top clubs in for Hector Fort
The Cottagers may also have a clearer path when it comes to signing the Serie A star, as there have been widespread reports that Borussia Dortmund are now leading the race for the Barcelona defender, with Everton and Liverpool also keen.
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