Fulham have now opened talks to sign a "spectacular" U21 European Championships star, having expressed a concrete interest in securing his signature, according to a report from Sky Sports.
Cottagers set sights on U21 Euros star
Several players put themselves in the shop window courtesy of their performances at the recent U21 Euros, with former Fulham man Harvey Elliott playing a vital role in England's triumph, picking up five goals throughout the tournament.
The Cottagers have expressed an interest in signing Elliott in the past, and the midfielder's recent performances are only likely to have driven up his value, with Liverpool now thought to be holding out for a fee of £40m.
However, the Liverpool ace was not the only midfielder who excelled at the tournament, with a report revealing Marco Silva's side have now taken steps towards securing the signature of a different midfielder...
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Leeds leading Fulham in race to sign £8.5m defender alongside Bornauw
Leeds United are now in a race to sign a defender who has been impressing in Germany.
According to Sky Sports (via Sport Witness), Fulham have now expressed a concrete interest in signing Borussia Monchengladbach's Rocco Reitz, submitting an enquiry over a potential summer deal.
Reitz has a £17m release clause which becomes active next summer, and he is attracting widespread interest from within the Premier League, with West Ham United thought to be leading the race for his signature.
Monchengladbach are worried by the interest in one of their key players, with the German club determined to retain his services, but the fact the midfielder is set to be available for £17m next year could lead them to auctioning him off this summer.
"Spectacular" Reitz impressing for Germany U21s
Germany ultimately came up short in the U21 Euros final, with England prevailing 3-2 after Jonathan Rowe's extra-time winner, but Reitz impressed throughout the tournament, being singled out for high praise from football talent scout Jacek Kulig.
Fellow scout Antonio Mango has lauded the maestro as "spectacular" in the past, and he has proven himself to be exceptional at winning back possession, ranking in the top 1% for interceptions per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.
Germany's Rocco Reitz and Germany's Eric Martel look dejected after the match
After losing Joao Palhinha last summer, Fulham brought in Sander Berge, but there are signs the Mönchengladbach midfielder could be more of a like-for-like replacement for the Portugal international, considering his defensive qualities.
As such, Reitz could be a shrewd acquisition for Silva this summer, and the manager will be hoping that Fulham finishing higher than West Ham last season will give them the edge over their Premier League rivals in negotiations.