Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha is reportedly set for a move to the Premier League in the summer transfer window.
Reports from Calciomercato suggest that the Greek-born Albanian international has agreed a deal to join newly-promoted Fulham, calling time on his ten-year career with the Stadio Olimpico side. The news comes following recent links between Strakosha and a move to Newcastle United, although Fulham have reportedly beaten the Magpies to his signature.
Strakosha first joined Lazio’s academy in 2012 but did not make his debut for the first-team until September 2016 following a loan spell with Salernitana. Since then, Strakosha has made 208 first-team appearances in all competitions.
While with Lazio, the Albanian stopper has made 164 Serie A appearances, keeping clean sheets in 48 of those. He has also kept seven clean sheets in 26 outings in the Europa League, as well as playing once in the Champions League during a win over Borussia Dortmund.
Strakosha’s reported arrival will give Fulham a more experienced first-choice stopper ahead of current goalkeeper Marek Rodak, who kept 14 shutouts in 33 Championship appearances to help Fulham win the second-tier title this season, with Rodak playing just two Premier League games during the Cottagers’ most recent top-flight campaign.
While the reported deal for Strakosha is yet to be officially announced, there has been one major outgoing at Fulham already on Monday.
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Marco Silva’s side have confirmed that winger Fabio Carvalho will officially join Liverpool in the summer after a January move broke down for the 19-year-old. The deal is set to be worth £5million, with Carvalho scoring ten times in 36 appearances in the Championship last season.
Fulham won the Championship title and will be promoted up to the Premier League next season alongside Bournemouth, who finished in second. The third place is yet to be decided, with Nottingham Forest facing Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
For Newcastle, links with Strakosha reportedly joining Fulham will be a blow as they bid to bolster their squad in the summer ahead of next season.
Despite being without a win in the Premier League when Eddie Howe replaced Steve Bruce during the campaign, a brilliant second half of the season, inspired by Howe and the club’s transfer budget, led to the Magpies finishing 11 th and just seven points shy of European football.
In the January transfer window, Newcastle signed Chris Wood, Dan Burn, Bruno Guimaraes, Matt Targett and Kieran Trippier, who all played vital roles in their strong end to the season.
On Sunday, the final day of the 2021/22 Premier League season, they won 2-1 away at Burnley to confirm the Clarets relegation from England’s top-flight.
