Jol confirms Fulham loan move for AC Milan's Emmanuelson

31-Jan-2013 5:50:00 AM

The manager revealed the versatile Dutchman is set to spend the rest of the season at Craven Cottage, but admitted attempts to sign Tom Huddlestone from Tottenham were unsuccessful

Fulham manager Martin Jol confirmed Urby Emmanuelson is close to joining the club on loan from AC Milan.

Jol, speaking after the Cottagers’ 3-1 win at home to West Ham, was coy on other potential targets, although he indicated it is very unlikely that Tottenham midfielder Tom Huddlestone would be arriving on Thursday.

On Emmanuelson, Jol told reporters: "It will be a loan until the end of the season. We need fresh legs."

“[Emmanuelson] is a skilful player, he’s very agile, very mobile, quick. He can play left midfield, can play wide, can play No. 10.

“My people work ever so hard, they have kept me informed and hopefully something will happen.

“We’d like to strengthen the squad, especially as Stephen Kelly left us last week, so we will do something in every line: in midfield, at the back and maybe up front.

“It's difficult to get a permanent transfer like that [for Huddlestone]. I started five weeks ago and it won't happen on the last day.”

Goalscorer Dimitar Berbatov picked up a slight hamstring injury and was forced to withdraw with 15 minutes left to play, but Jol allayed fears of an extended period of the sidelines.

“Dimitar has a problem with his hamstring, but he says it wasn’t a tear, so hopefully he won’t be out for long.

“It’s not a tear, but it’s a minor injury. We haven’t scanned it yet, we’ll do that tonight, then see what happens. I think he will miss the Manchester United game.”

Meanwhile, West Ham assistant manager Neil McDonald said the club have a number of potential transfer targets of their own, and refused to rule out deadline-day moves.

He said: “[Sam Allardyce is] working very hard behind the scenes and if we can bring anybody else in that would be great. There’ll be more competition for places.

“We’ve brought Emmanuel Pogatetz in which adds to the strength in the defence and if anybody else becomes available that we can add to the squad that’ll be fantastic. Let’s see what happens over the next 24 hours.”

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