Fulham linked to interest in Matt Ritchie

The latest news from columnist Neil Fissler, at The Football League Paper, suggests that Fulham are ready to make a bid for the right winger in the January window. Ritchie is said to have a current market value of around £4, but AFCB are not exactly hard up for funds these days. Still the hardest part of the season could be just around the corner for Eddie Howe with the January transfer window soon to open. Keeping his squad of dazzling players together is perhaps helped by the fact that the Cherries are a point ahead at the top of the table, and that could be enough to keep key players like Matt Ritchie on the south coast for some time yet.

Matt Ritchie is in demand, but has found
life on the south coast rather to his liking.

While it might be tempting for players at some clubs to be linked with moves come January I don't expect any of the AFCB players to be seeking a move out of this squad which is already creating history and is on the verge of something really special. Eddie Howe has a squad that believe in him and in the direction that the club is going and to attract players away from the Cherries will be hard enough for teams already in the Premier League let alone those in mid-table in the Championship.

Matt Ritchie still has two years left on his contract having signed for three and a half years in January 2013 when he moved from Swindon Town for a bargain £0.5m. Having won the League Two and League One player of the year trophies, Matt has started to impress in the Championship and it is no surprise if he does attract some interest. The value of Matt though has surely gone through the roof since teams have seen what he has been capable of with six goals this season. His link up play with Simon Francis is a shear delight to see and while Fulham might still have money to spend from their Premier League parachute payment it is unlikely that the Cherries would want to cash in on the talent of a man that is already helping them to sweep most sides aside in the Championship.

Fulham might just have to look elsewhere if they want to bolster their squad. On Boxing Day though they will at least get the chance to see the winger in action up close, but Fulham may find that they are undone by the sharp shooting of Ritchie, who has scored four of those goals in his last three games.