Fulham have now held club-to-club talks with Real Madrid to sign Cesar Palacios, with new manager Alvaro Arbeloa keen on his own.
The Cottagers are looking to improve their attack this summer, with Arbeloa planning a swoop for his former club, with striker Gonzalo Garcia also interested, after scoring six La Liga goals for the Spanish giants last season.
Palacios has little experience in the first team, having played just seven games for Madrid, but has impressed for RM Castilla, scoring 19 goals and providing six assists in 77 games for the Primera Federacion club.
The attacking midfielder has also impressed for Spain U19s in the past, with scout Jacek Kulig praising him for a “very good” performance against Greece U19s.
However, at the age of 21, the Spaniard is at an age where he needs to get game time at the top level, and he only featured for 81 minutes in La Liga last season.
Therefore, a move to the Premier League could be attractive, and Arbeloa is now looking to reunite with his former player.
Alvaro Arbeloa wants a Cesar Palacios reunion
According to Fabrizio Romano, Fulham are now in talks with the club to sign Palacios, while Arbeloa are determined to sign the Madrid youngster.
The La Liga side still need to give the green light, and negotiations are ongoing. Garcia is still interested, but he could stay at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Jose Mourinho yet to make a decision on his future.
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Why Fulham need to sign Cesar Palacios |
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Lack of goals last season |
Fulham often struggled to find the net in the Premier League last season, scoring just 47 goals, while Sunderland were the only top 13 finishers to score fewer. As such, signing a playmaker would allow the Cottagers to fire in front of goal, with Palacios playing the 10 role. |
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Works of RM Castilla |
The star has already proven himself as a creative spark, although RM Castilla, rather than the first team. In last season’s Primera Federacion, he scored four goals and found the net 14 times. |
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Close relationship with Alvaro Arbeloa |
It is vital that Fulham get their new manager back, and Arbeloa is known to have a close relationship with the Madrid youngster. Having spent time managing him at Madrid, the 43-year-old must know how to get the best out of Palacios, which may not be the case if the west Londoners were to sign the player from another club. |
Fulham are also major rivals to sign Lois Openda
Improving the forward line is clearly a priority this summer, with Fulham re-entering the fray to sign Juventus striker Lois Openda, who has emerged as a major contender for his signature.
The Cottagers are able to offer a more attractive financial package than their Lyon rivals, meaning they are well placed to win the race.
