Borussia Dortmund striker Sebastien Haller will remain with the Bundesliga club, despite a late enquiry from Fulham to sign him on loan.
The Premier League side contacted their German counterparts on Wednesday evening to express an interest in taking Haller until the summer.
Dortmund made clear they were open to the possibility and gave Fulham permission to discuss a switch with the 29-year-old’s representatives.
Subject to Haller’s approval, further talks would have taken place in an attempt to agree a deal before the transfer window closes at 11pm GMT.
But the Ivorian is competing in the Africa Cup of Nations and given how little time remains before the market shuts, he had no desire to move.
Haller has yet to score in 11 league games for Dortmund this season, with his only two goals coming in a DFB-Pokal match back in August.
The Ivory Coast international previously scored 14 goals in 54 games for West Ham United, before departing for Ajax in January 2021.
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He registered 47 goals in 66 games for the Dutch team ahead of joining Dortmund in July 2022.
Haller has been at AFCON in recent weeks, helping see off defending champions Senegal on penalties in the last-16 on Monday. He converted Ivory Coast’s third spot kick in the shootout.
Fulham are looking to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the trading deadline, but would also like to move a player on if they are to recruit.
They are interested in a late move for Chelsea’s Armando Broja. Fulham striker Carlos Vinicius, meanwhile, is assessing his options following interest from Augsburg and Real Betis.
Vinicius, who was signed from Benfica in 2022 for £4.25million, has fallen down the pecking order of late, with Raul Jimenez first choice.
The 28-year-old’s contract runs until 2025, with Fulham retaining an option to extend by a year.
Fellow forward Rodrigo Muniz, 22, is set to stay.
(Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
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