Fulham appears to have identified a potential replacement for midfielder Joao Palhinha, who has expressed his desire to leave the club. According to reports, The Guardian suggests that Fulham is considering a loan deal for Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka, as Palhinha is contemplating a future away from the team.

Despite Palhinha’s strong performances, including a notable display against Liverpool in the recent Carabao Cup clash, the 28-year-old has acknowledged that his long-term commitment lies elsewhere. After a failed £58 million move to Bayern Munich last summer, Fulham is now exploring options to secure a suitable replacement.

It seems that Fulham has identified a fitting replacement for Palhinha in Onyeka, who is currently part of Nigeria’s squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast this month.

Despite signing a new four-year contract with Brentford last August, the 26-year-old has only made six Premier League starts this season and is reportedly seeking more playing time rather than brief appearances as a substitute.

Brentford is said to value the player at £20 million but may be open to the possibility of loaning out the midfielder this month for a ‘try before you buy’ arrangement with interested parties. Everton, Fiorentina, Lens, and Villarreal are also mentioned as potential destinations.

Following Onyeka’s extension of his contract ahead of the ongoing season, Brentford manager Thomas Frank expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I’m delighted that Frank has committed to a new contract. He has significantly contributed to the team during our time in the Premier League.

Unfortunately, he has faced injury setbacks in both seasons, hindering his ability to log more minutes. Nevertheless, I appreciate his dynamic playing style.

Frank excels in pressing, making runs into half-spaces and behind the lines, advancing the team up the pitch. He holds great importance for us, and we eagerly anticipate continuing our journey with him.”