West Ham plot intriguing loan raid for £16m PL striker as Liverpool 'make contact' ahead of Fulham swoop

We begin Friday's Premier League transfer rumour round-up with news of a three-way striker tussle. According to Sport1, both Fulham and West Ham are considering bids for out-of-favour Wolves striker Saša Kalajdžić, with the towering striker having been reduced to just 282 minutes of first team action so far this season.

The Austrian signed for Wanderers from Eintracht Frankfurt in a deal worth around £15.6 million last year, but suffered a serious knee injury early into his time in England, and has struggled to make a sustained impact on the first team picture at Molineux since. As such, he could be sent out on loan in January, with Bundesliga and Premier League sides, including Fulham and West Ham, reportedly making contact ahead of potential offers.

The 3AM Verdict: Kalajdžić is a player, but through a combination of bad luck and Wolves' wonderful form, chances to prove himself have been hard to come by. With that in mind, a loan could suit all parties concerned, and it is easy to see how he could do a job for either West Ham or Fulham. This is certainly one to keep an eye on in the coming weeks.

Liverpool make Robinson enquiry

In other Fulham-related news, 90min report that Liverpool have sounded out the Cottagers with regards to a potential January deal for full-back Antonee Robinson. The Reds are without a natural left-sided defender following injuries to both Andy Robertson and understudy Kostas Tsimikas, and have been forced to play Joe Gomez in that position over the festive period.

As such, a January swoop for a left-back could be on the cards, with Robinson emerging as one possible option for Jurgen Klopp's side. It is understood that Liverpool have reached out to Fulham, although it remains to be seen how enthused the Cottagers will be by the prospect of selling a first team stalwart who only penned a fresh deal in West London this summer. That being said, Robinson himself is supposedly keen on the prospective transfer.

The 3AM Verdict: This feels a touch speculative. Yes, Robinson may be keen, and yes, Liverpool should have the financial might to bid Fulham into submission, but whether they would be willing to fork out what would presumably be a considerable amount of money for a player who will likely spend most of his time on the bench once Robertson returns from injury in the new year is less certain.

Forest in for Martins

And finally, Nottingham Forest are said to be in advanced negotiations to sign Gelson Martins from AS Monaco. The 28-year-old is yet to feature in Ligue 1 this season, and with his contract set to expire next year, it is understood that a January exit could be on the cards.

With Nuno Espirito Santo now in charge at the City Ground, there are claims from Maisfutebol and A Bola that suggest the Portuguese manager could look to snap up his compatriot in January. Martins has reportedly had offers from both Russia and the USA, but is understood to prefer the notion of a Premier League transfer.

The 3AM Verdict: Martins is a player of real quality and pedigree, and would surely represent an exciting acquisition for Forest if they can get a deal over the line. To that end, it feels as if a departure is more likely than not, and with the 28-year-old preferring a Premier League swap, this could be a goer.