EXCLUSIVE: Fulham weigh up Van Den Berg move as Middlesbrough hold firm

Jacque Talbot

Updated: 29 Aug 2024 14:39 BST
3 min read

Middlesbrough centre-back Rav van den Berg has emerged as a late transfer target for Fulham. However, FootballTransfers has learned that his current club is determined to do everything possible to retain him.

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The Cottagers have made the Dutchman a target with Marco Silva still wanting to fill the gaps in defence. The club brought in Jorge Cuenca from Villarreal and Joachim Andersen from Crystal Palace but still more names are needed for the backline after Tim Ream left to Charlotte FC and Tosin Adarabioyo to Chelsea.

Boro consider Van den Berg to be among their most valuable assets. The club will do everything they can to keep hold of the 20-year-old who joined up at the Riverside Stadium last summer from Dutch side PEC Zwolle.

The youngster is under contract until the summer of 2027 and there is no indication yet that he would be open to a move to west London.

It comes after Fulham missed out on signing Andre from Fluminense, with the midfielder heading to Wolves to undergo his medical as part of a €30 million deal.

Andre is a product of the Fluminense academy and he has already notched up 197 appearances. He helped the team secure prestigious titles like the Copa Libertadores and the Recopa Sudamericana.

© IMAGO - Tosin Adarabioyo joined Chelsea

Fulham had put in a lot of legwork for Andre, who was linked to Liverpool and West Ham last summer. The West London club made an offer for Andre worth less than €25m but Fluminense held out for a higher fee.

Fulham had been monitoring Andre since last year and Marco Silva and club executives held extensive talks with the player. But as revealed by FootballTransfers earlier this window, a deal collapsed.

Andre had interest from clubs in the Serie A too but always wanted a move to England to forge a place in the Premier League. Represtinves of the player have a great relationship with Wolves already.