Bassey Ajax nightmare ends as he join Fulham for £18.2m

Fulham have agreed a deal with Ajax to sign Calvin Bassey for £18.2m and are in talks to add Mohammed Salisu from Southampton.

Centre-back Bassey was willing to stay and fight for his place but Ajax have told the 23-year-old he does not figure in their plans.

Ajax manager Maurice Steijn said: 'I told Calvin Bassey it would be better to leave Ajax. Also because of the money. When he leaves, we can strengthen the squad properly.

'I have told him this honestly. He had a really tough year last season. Everyone gets a second chance and if he does better than someone else, he will play. But the chances are, especially if we are going to get a new left-back or left-center defender, that he will not play.'

Bassey joined Ajax from Rangers last summer for around £20m but has failed to make an impact.

The Nigeria international also had interest from Brighton but they are now signing Igor Julio from Fiorentina. Fulham made a £15m bid for Bassey last week and have improved their offer to reach an agreement with Ajax.

Fulham have also been talking to Southampton about a deal for Salisu after seemingly parking a move for Benfica's Brazilian center-back Morato.

Fulham are on a pre-season tour of the USA and faces a fight to convince their manager, Marco Silva, not to accept an offer to join Al-Ahli. The Saudi Pro League club have offered Silva nearly £40m for a two-year deal. Striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is unhappy after Fulham turned down an offer from Al Hilal.

They remain interested in Callum Hudson-Odoi despite having an offer for the Chelsea winger rejected last weekend.

The Cottagers have also stepped up talks over a £15m deal for Salisu. Monaco have had two offers turned down for the 24-year-old and have also expressed interest in Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo.