Fulham Lodge Record Transfer Bid for Shakhtar Donetsk Star Kevin As Reiss Nelson Efforts Collapse

Fulham are ready to eclipse their own transfer fee record with a move for Shakhtar Donetsk star Kevin.

The Cottagers spent a whopping £34million on former Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith-Rowe back in 2024 to make the Englishman their most expensive signing.

However now it is being reported that Marco Silva is looking to bring in winger Kevin, 22, in a deal the Standard claim would exceed the cash spent on Smith-Rowe.

It would certainly be a statement of intent from Fulham who finished 11th in the Premier League table last season and who are looking to push further up the division with Europe potentially on their agenda.

How much Fulham could spend on Shakhtar Donetsk star Kevin

Kevin is a wide player who joined Shakhtar from Brazilian outfit Palmeiras last January and made a fast start to like in the Ukrainian Premier League.

He hit nine goals and provided four assists in 35 appearances from all competitions last term.

In European qualifiers this campaign so far he has already chipped in with four goals and two assists from just three matches.

The fee Donestk are apparently holding out for is around £43.3m and if rumours are to be believed, Fulham are willing to stump up the money.

Silva is in the market for a pacy and creative winger and Kevin fits the bill.

Why Fulham pulled out of Reiss Nelson Arsenal transfer deal

It comes amid a decision from Fulham to pull out of a potential deal for Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson whom they were initially in discussions over earlier this year.

That trail went cold for the club and they have now turned their attentions to their new target.

Fulham have been slow in the transfer market thus far this summer with only one new face arriving in the door at Craven Cottage.

Goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte arrived from Montpellier for a small fee and that has left fans somewhat nervous about their chances this season given the rest of the league’s spending power and readiness to buy.

It leaves Silva slightly short within his squad with the Portuguese manager still hoping to land as many as four new signings before the window slams shut in September.

What Marco Silva said about Fulham transfers

Asked about transfer business and plans for the window, Silva remained hopeful of getting some moves sorted.

“We hope we can strengthen the squad in the three or four positions we need to before the first game (vs Brighton),” Silva said.

“Some positions are really short and we have to add players, yes or yes until the end of the market because it’s not what we expect in this moment of the season to don’t have at least one, two or three players we needed for the beginning of the season.

“We expected much more activity from ourselves in terms of recruitment, players in. Unfortunately, they are not here. The worst thing we can have now is more injuries. Jedi had the small surgery, it will take a little bit more time for him to be ready.”