Fulham are now the “favourites” to sign Nottingham Forest’s Matty Cash, according to the Telegraph, in a £10m-plus-player deal.
Sheffield United have already had a £10m offer for Cash rejected themselves, with Forest holding out for £15m.
Yet the newly promoted Cottagers believed they can tempt the Reds into an agreement by offering them a member of their squad as a makeweight.
The report doesn’t mention which player they are ready to send in the opposite direction to Cash.
West Ham United have also held a long-term interest in the 23-year-old. Meanwhile, Aston Villa have recently joined the chase as well.
For the Blades, who have already lost out on Antonee Robinson to Fulham this summer, this won’t come as good news.
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All is not lost at Bramall Lane just yet, however, as the South Yorkshire side could also use their own player to sweeten the deal. Not only that, but it is someone they know Forest want.
That is because Sun journalist, Alan Nixon, says the Championship club are still keen on signing Luke Freeman. This is a pursuit that dates back to the January transfer window, when the Reds first showed interest in Freeman.
Now Nixon claims the Blades could be prepared for the midfielder to leave on loan. Perhaps Freeman could be used as their own makeweight in the Cash deal, gazumping Fulham in the process?
The only issue for manager Chris Wilder would be losing another member of what is already a depleted squad. Five players have left as free agents this summer. Dean Henderson and Richairo Zivkovic have also returned to their parent sides after loans.
The only new additions so far are both goalkeepers, with Aaron Ramsdale joining from Bournemouth and Wes Foderingham secured on a free transfer.
Yet if it could help land Cash, Wilder might be open to letting Freeman go the other way.