Fulham in talks to sign Arsenal winger and end transfer drought

Fulham are in talks to re-sign Reiss Nelson from Arsenal after the winger spent last season on loan at Craven Cottage.

The 25-year-old made 11 Premier League appearances for the Cottagers over the last campaign, scoring once, as injuries hampered his season.

He made just five starts in the top flight in what was a frustrating season for the England Under-21 international as it ended in December.

Nelson last played for Fulham on December 5, suffering a hamstring injury before then being hit by a separate hamstring problem and undergoing surgery in February.

That saw him miss the rest of the season after featuring regularly in the first half of the campaign.

Fulham clearly liked what they saw from Nelson before the hamstring nightmare and have approached Arsenal over a deal to bring the winger back.

It is likely to be another loan deal for the Arsenal youth academy product, but negotiations continue between the two London clubs.

Fulham are currently the only Premier League club not to make any signings so far in the summer transfer window.

That is certain to change at some point in the coming days and Nelson could be the first arrival to join Marco Silva’s squad.

Speaking in February when Nelson was likely being ruled out for the season, Silva explained what a blow it was to Fulham to lose the loanee.

‘It’s a really tough moment for us,’ Silva said. ‘Of course, first of all, for the player, we feel really sorry for him, because he worked really hard to be back after the first hamstring injury.

‘It was a moment that we all were excited about him coming back, because he was really important for us before the injury last December. He did so, so well, and we know that in his best level he is capable to help us to win football matches and to be stronger.

‘When he was really ready to be in contention again for the game, he felt the other hamstring in the other leg. Not the same injury, completely different injury in the other leg.

‘He got surgery there, and could be out until the end of the season. I don’t want to give a timescale that is 100 per cent sure, but it could be out until the end of the season, unfortunately for him, and for us.’

Silva added: ‘When he was ready and was there, you can feel his quality, and you can see that he’s a player that fits really well, understood well what we need from him.

‘Very good guy, good lad, and another one that makes our dressing room be at the level that I like to see, and the environment and the friendship that’s inside.’

Nelson has made 90 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions and looked to be a growing influence in Mikel Arteta’s squad in the 2023/24 season when he turned out 23 times.

However, he is now deemed surplus to requirements and is one of a number of players available for transfer this summer.