Frantically spending transfer deadline day looking for a striker, Fulham were also in the market for a new defensive midfielder during the January transfer window.
The arrival of Thanos Petsos from Werder Bremen on loan certainly filled the void in Slavisa Jokanovic’s squad, yet the Greek midfielder wasn’t the Serbian manager’s first choice.
A week before, news from Belgium emerged that Fulham had made two unsuccessful attempts to sign Standard Liège’s defensive midfielder Ibrahima Cissé.
However, with the transfer window now closed and behind him, Cissé has told DH in Belgium he is only looking to his future at Standard, even if a move to England (and possibly Fulham) is still on his wishlist.
He said: “It’s true that it’s a dream, but all of that is already forgotten in my head. We were close to an agreement, but if I put together some good performances, the opportunity will surely present itself again.
“I’m not in talks with my board, and I don’t think it’s necessary. I don’t want to hear about it anymore. Only football and the pitch interest me now.”
Cissé also saw the arrival of Razvan Marin from FC Viitorul and Danilo from Braga in Portugal, which could also push him towards an exit in the summer, despite him making it clear the competition ‘doesn’t scare him’.
Relegated to the bench last week against Eupen, the Fulham target returned to the first team at the weekend against Waasland-Beveren, helping Standard to a 1-0 away win.
