Fulham F.C. have confirmed the signings of Athletic Bilbao centre-back Fernando Amorebieta and Dnipro midfielder Derek Boateng, Sky Sports understands.
Both Amorebieta and Boateng will arrive at Craven Cottage on free transfer, with the former putting pen to paper on a four-year deal and the latter signing a one-year contract with the option of another year.
Since 2005-06, Amorebieta, 28, has scored four goals in 195 league appearances for Athletic. He has also been yellow carded 77 times and sent off on 11 occasions.
“I’m delighted to have signed a four-year deal with Fulham and I’m looking forward to competing in the Premier League next season,” the Venezuela international told Fulham’s official website.
“I’m impressed with the talent already at the club and I look forward to meeting the players for pre-season training in July.”
Boateng, 30, was on the verge of completing a move to Craven Cottage in January, but a contractual issue prevented the deal from materialising.
The Ghana international, who joined Ukrainian Premier League side FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk from Getafe CF in June 2011, had been reportedly close to signing for Greek giants Olympiakos before announcing his agreement with Fulham via Twitter on Tuesday.
“I’m very happy that I have signed and I want to thank the chairman, the manager and the board at Fulham football club. I’ve been working hard to come here and I’ll do my best for the club,” the 30-year-old midfielder told the club’s official website.
“It’s been a long road for me but now I’m here I’m so happy and I can’t wait to start and give everything I have.”
Boateng made a total of 23 league appearances for FC Dnipro, netting two goals.
West Ham interested in Lukaku
West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has revealed that Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku is a summer target for the club, Sky Sports reports.
Liverpool and West Ham have already agreed a £15million transfer fee for England international Andy Carroll, but the striker has not decided whether or not he wants to commit his long-term future to the club.
The Hammers are expected to bid for highly-rated Vitesse Arnhem forward Wilfried Bony if Carroll rebuffs their approach.
However, the latest news is suggesting that West Ham want to create a Carroll-Lukaku striker partnership at Upton Park.
“Lukaku would be a loan again. We’d maybe buy him a year later if Chelsea decide they don’t want him,” Sullivan told the Daily Mirror.
“If we sign Andy, it would be a record signing for the club. He and Romelu would be devastating. The best strike-force outside of the top six or seven.
“Lukaku has been amazing for West Brom this season and I’d hope that he would prefer to live in London.”
Lukaku, 20, bagged 17 goals, including a second-half hat-trick on the final day of the season against Manchester United, and four assists in 35 English Premier League matches while on loan at West Bromwich Albion in 2012-13.
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