West Ham United defender Arthur Masukau wanted by Fulham, Ryan Fredericks won’t join him
West Ham defender Arthur Masuaku is a target for Premier League new boys Fulham, but they are no longer interested in Ryan Fredericks according to ExWHUemployee [June 13].
The Hammers are looking to bolster their squad this summer and are open to exits to generate funds to help with that, with left-back Masuaku being told he can leave while Fredericks will be released at the end of his contract later this month.
While Fredericks had been expected to join former club Fulham on a free transfer [ExWHUemployee, May 24], that deal is now off after they switched targets and he has caught the attention of another Premier League club and a Championship side, but Ex told his Patreon podcast that Fulham are keen on the DR Congo left-back.
“Arthur Masuaku, there is interest from Fulham there,” he said. “The club have said that he can go if he gets the right club. The Fulham manager has worked with him before and they are looking to conclude that deal.
“Ryan Fredericks, I thought he was going to Fulham, but they’re signing [Neco] Williams from Liverpool on loan so he’s going to have to find other options.
“Southampton are one club that are interested and Middlesbrough have submitted an offer as well, so potentially could be dropping down to the Championship to get himself a club.”
Good moves
It makes plenty of sense for the Hammers to part ways with these defenders, as they have better options at the club already and could move to bring others in too.
Ben Johnson has proven to be an excellent understudy in both full-back positions for Vladimir Coufal and Aaron Cresswell, while Harrison Ashby has shown he is ready to step up to the first-team more regularly too.
Fredericks’ wage made it impossible to keep him around and a move down to the Championship for regular football could be perfect for him, while Masuaku previously worked with Marco Silva at Olympiacos and a reunion could suit him too.
His time at the London Stadium has been hot and cold, with some great moments that saw Mark Noble label him “brilliant”in 2019 while more recently Ian Wright called him “poor” earlier in the most recent campaign.
It’s the perfect time to move on from this chapter and get some money for him to put towards making the squad stronger.
In other West Ham news, Hammers ace set to leave club this summer with 3 British clubs battling it out for his signature