Why Fulham should sign Branislav Ivanovic on a short-term deal
According to the Daily Mail, Spanish giants Barcelona are eyeing a sensational January swoop for former Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic. However, Premier League duo Fulham and Crystal Palace have also made enquiries to get the services of the Serb.
Ivanovic has a connect to London, a place where he won 3 Premier League titles and the Champions League with Chelsea. The Cottagers boss Slavisa Jokanovic wants a couple of experienced players to help his young squad cope with the demands of the Premier League. (Daily Mail)
Here’s why the west London club should buy the 34-year-old, who could be available for free in January:
Ivanovic’s experience necessary for Fulham
After getting promoted to the Premier League in the summer, Fulham spent a fortune to buy new players and make their squad better. They almost bought a whole new defence to cope with the high-intensity demands of the league. However, it has not gone as per plans.
They have conceded 25 goals in nine games, six more than Cardiff City who are second in the list of most goals shipped in so far. As a result, Jokanovic’s men find themselves in the bottom three of the table, much to the concern of many fans at Craven Cottage.
The manager is saying that he needs a couple of experiences faces in his squad to support young players and is a fair comment. Getting Ivanovic on a short-term deal would be a step in the right direction.
The 34-year-old is a serial winner, with the Premier League, Champions League and various domestic cups in his kitty. He possesses the type of defensive solidity Fulham need in their back-line.
The good thing for the club is that the Serbian could be available for free. It means they won’t have to open their cheque-book again after spending a lot in the summer.
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The Cottagers need a change from somewhere to get their season back on track after a sinking start. They need to start picking up points since playing catch-up in the Premier League is a task close to impossible.
Before any serious trouble occurs, they should shore up their defence by getting Ivanovic in the January transfer window.
The veteran can play as a centre-back or as a right-back, and his versatility could be key to the team.