Fulham hoping to complete deals for Stanislav Manolev and Tom Huddlestone

Martin Jol predicts hectic deadline day as Emanuelson arrives from AC Milan

Simon Peach
Thursday 31 January 2013 11:03 GMT
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Tom Huddlestone
Tom Huddlestone

Fulham manager Martin Jol is expecting a hectic transfer deadline day as he looks to add a number of new faces.

The Cottagers have so far only managed to make one first-team addition, with Emmanuel Frimpong arriving on loan from Arsenal.

However, Jol's squad has already been bolstered today, with AC Milan's Urby Emanuelson arriving on loan for the rest of the season.

Asked why he was signing the Holland international, Jol said: "It is a loan until the end of the season. It is not easy to get players from AC Milan on a permanent basis.

"I coached him at Ajax. He is a skilful player, very agile. He is very mobile, quick.

"He can play left midfield, wide, play number 10 so I feel we need fresh legs."

PSV Eindhoven right-back Stanislav Manolev is another man Jol hopes to lure to Craven Cottage, following Stephen Kelly's move to Reading.

"How many players I want is something I will keep to myself," he said, speaking after last night's 3-1 win against West Ham.

"I could say 12 and then there is only one or two and everyone will be disappointed.

"We would like to strengthen the squad and I still feel we are short at right-back. Stephen Kelly left us and Sascha Riether is probably the only right-back.

"We will do something in every line: midfield, at the back and maybe up front."

It is unclear whether Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone is a potential addition.

Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas said Fulham have been allowed permission to speak to the midfielder, but Jol downplayed talk of a move.

"I think it is awful to get a permanent transfer for someone like Tom Huddlestone on the last day," he said.

"I started five weeks ago and that won't happen on the last day."

West Ham are also hoping to be active before the deadline, with Blackburn goalkeeper Paul Robinson one of those on the east Londoners' radar.

"We've obviously worked with him before and know what he is about," assistant manager Neil McDonald said.

"We will see how it goes. It is just paper talk at the moment but we will see how it develops over the next 24 hours.

"Sam (Allardyce) is working very hard behind the scenes. If we can bring anyone else in, that would be great. It would be more competition for places."

PA

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