Fulham and Forest set to fight for Mavropanos

Fulham are mulling a move for Stuttgart centre back Konstantinos Mavropanos according to reports from Germany – but may have to fight off interest from Nottingham Forest among a number of other suitors.

Bild claims that a deal is on the cards for former Arsenal defender but that ‘it could take some time’ to materialise. The Greek international is a target for his compatriot Evangelos Marinakis, the owner of Nottingham Forest, but Fulham have identified the 25 year-old, who has been one of the Bundesliga’s most consistent performers since signing for Stuttgart, as a potential addition to their own back line ahead of the new season.

Eintracht Frankfurt and Napoli are monitoring the situation, but Mavropanos is thought to relish the opportunity of returning to the Premier League. The German tabloid claims that Stuttgart are willing to sell the defender for between £13m and £18m – which is significantly lower than his release clause. The player believes he will return to Neukirchen for pre-season training and that a move will only be finalised in the closing weeks of the transfer window.

The 6ft 4in central defender, who has won nineteen senior caps for Greece, has made 89 appearances in three seasons with Stuttgart, scoring eight goals. He only played eight games for Arsenal but has matured in Germany and scored after only 44 seconds as his club hammered Hamburg in this season’s Bundesliga relegation play off.

Fulham and Nottingham Forest both very keen on Greece international – Club want €15-20m for transfer

Fulham and Nottingham Forest are among the ‘interested parties’ considering a potential deal for Stuttgart defender Konstantinos Mavropanos this summer.

That’s according to BILD, who say that a transfer is very much on the cards for the Greek defender but it ‘could take some time’ before it happens.

The newspaper explains that there are many interested parties for the 25-year-old centre-back, who has impressed with the German side since signing from Arsenal.

There is also interest in the Bundesliga and Italy, where Eintracht Frankfurt and Napoli have also had their eyes on Mavropanos for weeks.

BILD reports that Stuttgart are yet to receive an offer for the defender but are open to a sale. The player has a release clause worth €25m but they would do a deal for €15-20m.

The expectation is that the ‘poker game’ around the player will drag on for a few more weeks and Mavropanos is personally ‘assuming’ he will start pre-season with Stuttgart once his holidays are over.

He is expected back in Neukirchen on July 17th after international duty with Greece extended his holidays and he has not given notice to leave his flat in Stuttgart, another hint he doesn’t think a deal is on the cards.

Because the international transfer market doesn’t usually pick up pace until August, neither club are expecting movement and will instead wait for options to be presented to them.

Whether there are bids from Fulham or Nottingham Forest remains to be seen but in Germany they believe that both will be in the mix.