Jol thrilled after Parker becomes Fulham’s eighth summer signing
FULHAM manager Martin Jol believes signing midfielder Scott Parker from London rivals Tottenham represents a major coup for his club.
The 32-year-old has penned a three-year deal and is in line to make his debut against Arsenal on Saturday.
Parker is the third former Spurs player to have arrived at Craven Cottage this summer, after Adel Taarabt and Darren Bent joined on loan, and Jol believes his latest signing is excellent business.
“It is wonderful to see a player of his stature playing for Fulham Football Club,” said Jol. “He has shown his qualities in the Premier League and for the England team for many years.”
Meanwhile, Spurs boss Andre Villas-Boas has refuted suggestions his club has lodged a formal bid for Anzhi Makhachkala winger Willian.
Willian, 25, only joined Anzhi from Shakhtar Donetsk for £30m in January, but, together with the entire first team squad, has been made available for transfer as the Russian club aims to cut its wage spend.
And while Villas-Boas admits his admiration for the Brazilian, he says he is yet to follow up his interest.
“He is a player who I appreciate,” said Villas-Boas. “He belongs to them and I respect them so I wouldn’t like to extend myself too much.
“We have done most of our activity in the market, but we are looking further on that.”
Villas-Boas’s predecessor, Harry Redknapp, believes QPR would be unable to afford Spurs winger Andros Townsend, who enjoyed a loan spell at Loftus Road earlier this year.
“I think Andros would be too expensive for us,” said Redknapp.
“Andros did great last season, but Tottenham don’t want to sell him as far as I know.”