Fulham to compete with Arsenal for Serie A defender?

Fulham have reportedly put their name into the hat to acquire the signature of reported Arsenal target and Juventus defender Mehdi Benatia.

The Gunners have been strongly linked with the Moroccan defender this month but their reluctance to discuss a permanent move has restricted them from making an approach.

Amidst this, The Mirror claims that the Cottagers are looking into an ambitious bid for the central defender as they seek to enhance their chances of Premier League survival this term.

Claudio Ranieri's side have been stranded in the drop zone for the past few months and they are currently seven points adrift of safety with just 15 games remaining in the season.

Meanwhile, Benatia has already gone public to hint that he would prefer a fresh challenge away from Juventus and this may attract further interest before the transfer window closes this month.

Fulham have previously been linked with a short-term loan move for Chelsea captain Gary Cahill but the speculation has ceased in recent weeks with the Blues still alive across all competitions.