Buoyed by his Fulham side picking up yet another point, at the weekend, Craven Cottage boss Mark Hughes is confidently targeting a top ten place in this season’s EPL.

The Welshman is reportedly lining up audacious transfer market swoops for Shaun Wright-Phillips, who played under Hughes at Manchester City, and young Chelsea starlet Gael Kakuta. Both players would be on-loan until the end of the season.

Wright-Phillips has agreed personal terms with Hughes but City are reportedly keener on a permanent deal for the unsettled 29-year-old.

 

19-year-old Kakuta has made only one EPL start for Chelsea this season. But Fulham still had to beat off competition from French clubs Bordeaux, Lille and Marseille. Hughes is hopeful the deal can be completed before the weekend is out.

The Cottagers are also one of a number of clubs linked with Southampton’s 17-year-old flavour-of-the-month Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The Cottagers’ thumping 6-2 FA Cup third round win over League One Peterborough United set up a mouth-watering home tie with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Meanwhile, Andrew Johnson’s late equaliser in the Cottagers 1-1 draw at fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic was not only a huge boost for the injury-affected striker, but also moved them a point clear of the increasingly-congested relegation zone.

Fulham host Stoke City in the EPL this coming Saturday afternoon. Left-back Steve Sidwell finally looks set to make his home debut after his protracted move from Aston Villa.

Belgian forward Moussa Dembele is also available for selection after an eight-week spell on the sidelines.