Fulham make mortgage method for Roma full-back Mehmet Zeki Celik – as Marco Silva seems to bolster his ranks after Kenny Tete’s harm
- Fulham in talks to sign Turkish full-back Mehmet Zeki Celik on loan from Roma
- 27-year-old was part of Lille’s Ligue 1-winning side in the 2020-21 campaign
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Fulham are in talks with Roma to sign Turkish right back Mehmet Zeki Celik on loan.
Despite a busy summer in the transfer market, the Cottagers are yet to add to their ranks in the January window with the deadline now just days away.
However, a late move for Celik is currently in the works as a loan with obligation to buy as Marco Silva looks to bolster his options in defence.
Kenny Tete started the season as the club’s first choice in the position and started all but one of their first 16 Premier League games before suffering a knee injury in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool in December.
The former Netherlands international is expected to be out until April, with Timothy Castagne deputising in his absence.
Silva revealed earlier this week that the club are on the hunt for a full-back to provide competition on the right side.
Fulham are in talks to sign Turkey international Mehmet Zeki Celik on loan from Roma
Marco Silva’s side are yet to make any additions to their squad in the January transfer window
The Cottagers are currently without Kenny Tete who is ruled out until April with a knee injury
The club had made initial enquiries into former Spurs defender Emerson Royal before the AC Milan star was ruled out through injury earlier this month.
Celik is an experienced international with more than 50 caps to his name, and was also part of the Lille side that secured an unlikely Ligue 1 triumph in the 2020-21 campaign.
In addition to playing right-back, the 27-year-old has also been deployed as a centre-half and in the right side of midfield throughout his career.
However, despite starting the season as first-choice at Roma, Celik has found his playing time increasingly limited in recent weeks.
The Serie A side brought in veteran manager Claudio Ranieri in November after a disastrous start saw them languishing just outside the relegation zone.
Celik has played the full 90 minutes just once in the league since the former Leicester boss took the reins at the Stadio Olimpico, a 2-0 defeat to Como in December.
