Fulham are looking at signing Gianmarco Ferrari this summer, according to Calciomercato.it, with the likes of Newcastle also interested.

Ferrari was on loan at Sampdoria from Sassuolo last season as he made 30 appearances in a campaign which ended in disappointment because three consecutive losses denied them the chance to finish in a Europa League place. However, Marco Giampaolo has still done well with the Genoa-based outfit.

His passing numbers hint at why Fulham and the Magpies are interested because he averaged 56.6 passes with a success rate of 88.3% in the league last season as a centre-back. However, they will have to contend with Sevilla for his signature and Sampdoria who have an option to buy him for 13 million euros.

The Verdict

Ferrari's statistics suggest that he would be a good fit for the Cottagers because of his ability to retain possession and keep the ball circulating. This is something that a lot of defenders would struggle with due to the high demands at Fulham.

The 26-year-old is unlikely to be a feasible target, though, because the aforementioned suitors are all likely to be higher than them in the pecking order for his signature. Although going after targets such as Ferrari should be seen as a positive for fans because it suggests that they are looking for players who fit the system rather than attempting to force experienced Premier League players in who aren't suited.