Fulham’s pursuit of Alfie Mawson is the missing piece in the club’s puzzle

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On Friday, Fulham joined the race for Swansea City centre back Alfie Mawson, with the Daily Mail claiming the club have been told they must lodge a £25 million bid for the Englishman.

If the Cottagers can secure the signing of the 24-year-old, then the Cottagers could add vital defensive stability to their already formidable Premier League squad.

The newly-promoted outfit have entered the transfer market with impressive swagger, pulling off the coups of purchasing Jean-Michael Seri, Andre Schurrle, Fabri, and Maxime le Merchand.

All of these signings have bolstered the side, but what has been missing from their existing deals is a solid defender with Premier League experience.

Mawson represents the ideal candidate to bolster Fulham’s back four, as the Englishman has been a shining light for Swansea even as the club struggled the past two seasons.

The centre-back enjoyed a stellar 2017/18 season despite his club’s relegation, registering the seventh-most blocks, tenth-most clearances, and 12th-most headed clearances in all of the top-flight.

In addition, Mawson is a goal threat from set pieces, registering six goals over two Premier League seasons— an impressive tally for a defender.

Mawson’s fine displays earned him an England call-up in March for the Three Lions’ friendlies against the Netherlands and Italy. After his call-up, his former manager Carlos Carvalhal heaped praise on the defender and said he was ready to perform on the international stage. 

“Alfie is a very good centre-back and he is getting better. All credit goes to him – he is a good character, he plays with quality and, as I have said before, he is one of the best centre-backs playing in the Premier League.”

With a reputation for no-nonsense defending and a knack for goal, Alfie Mawson is the ideal player to partner Tim Ream in the heart of Fulham’s defence.

Currently, the Whites’ back four is the weakest link of their squad, Yet the addition of Mawson would provide the missing piece in the club’s Premier League jigsaw, rounding out a starting eleven that would be favoured to beat the drop and perhaps crack the top ten.