Exclusive: Fulham set to sign Algerian World Cup defender
Published 23:00 10/08/10 By Neil McLeman
Mark Hughes is set to make Algeria defender Rafik Halliche his first signing at Fulham.
The 23-year-old centre-back left his country’s training camp last night to fly to London for a trial before completing a £1.8m deal.
Halliche, who helped hold England to a goalless draw at the World Cup, is a Benfica player but has been loaned out to fellow Portuguese club Nacional for the last two seasons. Arsenal were linked with the Algeria international last month.
Halliche, who will miss tonight’s (wed) friendly with Gabon, said: “I am a Benfica player but I am leaving and I haven’t yet signed for another club. I turned down Guimaraes because I think I will have better offers before the end of the transfer window. As for Fulham, Arsenal and all the other clubs mentioned, all I can say for now is that there is nothing finalised.”
