Fulham challenge Tottenham for Roma defender Ibanez

Fulham seem determined to get their new defender from Serie A, but after talks with Fiorentina for Igor hit problems, then turned to Roma centre-back and Tottenham Hotspur target Roger Ibanez.

According to Tuttomercatoweb and Firenzeviola.it, the negotiations have been going on between Fulham and Fiorentina for a few weeks, but without a great deal of progress.

The situation has become so frustrating that the Premier League side is prepared to turn to a different target, albeit still on Italian soil with a Brazilian flavour.

Their next option is Ibanez, who Roma are eager to sell before June 30 in order to help balance the books.

The asking price had been €30m, but with time running short and other deals going through, they could be talked into lowering that slightly with the inclusion of bonuses.

The 24-year-old has two senior caps for Brazil and had already been linked with a potential Tottenham Hotspur move this summer.