Fulham make £15m offer to Ajax of Amsterdam for Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey

ENGLISH Premier League side Fulham have made a £15m offer for Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey with a view to signing him from Dutch giants Ajax before the close of the summer transfer window.

Bassey joined Ajax at the start of last season after a fantastic year with Glasgow Rangers, which included an inspired run to the final of the Uefa Europa League. However, his first season in Amsterdam did not go as he planned and Ajax are open to selling him, which has attracted several suitors already.

Several English clubs have begun making enquiries about Bassey, with Brighton and Hove Albion putting in a bid worth €23m (£19.6m) last week.  With Fulham now joining the fray, a bidding war could begin as any buyer will want the deal concluded soon so the player can join his team mates for pre-season training.

Football transfer journalist of The Athletic, David Ornstein, revealed, however, that Ajax are yet to respond to Fulham's offer. Fulham want to bolster their defensive options ahead of the new campaign as they conceded 53 goals last season in the Premier League which was the second-highest among teams that finished in the top half of the table.

If it goes through, the addition of Bassey will also make up for the void in Fulham's home-grown slots that might be caused by the potential departure of Tosin Adarabioyo as he qualifies as a Premier League home-grown player having spent his formative years with Leicester City. Bassey, 23, is a left-footed versatile defender, who can play as both centreback and fullback as well as operate as a wingback.