Transfer news – Fulham complete £5m Dembele capture
Published:Mark Hughes has completed his first signing as Fulham manager having snapped up striker Moussa Dembele from AZ Alkmaar for a fee worth around £5m.
Birmingham were also reportedly interested in the 23-year-old, but Dembele was swayed by the likelihood of more first-team opportunities at Fulham, whose attacking options comprise only Bobby Zamora and the injury-prone Andy Johnson.
The Belgian international has scored 24 league goals in 118 appearances for the 2008/09 Dutch champions, and he has signed a three-year contract at Craven Cottage.
Dembele could feature for Fulham in their next Premier League fixture, which will be against Manchester United on Sunday. A Fulham win at Craven Cottage is priced at 9/2.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Stoke have completed the signing of Ipswich captain Jonathan Walters for an initial fee of £2.75m.
Walters has signed a four-year deal at the Britannia Stadium, and as a player who can operate as a striker or a midfielder, the 26-year-old will bring versatility to the Stoke squad.
Stoke are 13/5 to win their next match against Tottenham, and Walters is expected to be named on the bench for this tie.
Blackpool, meanwhile, have signed Israeli defender Dekel Keinan on a free transfer from Maccabi Haifa.
The 25-year-old has penned a one-year contract and becomes the seventh player to arrive at Bloomfield Road this summer.
Having been granted a work permit, Keinan is expected to be included in Blackpool’s squad to face Arsenal on Saturday – a match the Seasiders are a huge 14/1 to win. Can they pull off a second successive shock? See the full Arsenal vs Blackpool Match Betting Odds market.
