Marco Silva drops 'important' hint on £50m transfer amid double injury blow

Fulham manager Marco Silva has confirmed that Raul Jimenez and Issa Diop have both sustained hamstring injuries and are set to miss 'weeks' of action. The news heaps pressure on reports that the club are weighing up a move for £50 million forward Armando Broja.

Mexican talisman Jimenez was substituted at half-time against Everton on Tuesday night with centre-back Diop being taken off in the second half. After the match, Silva confirmed that those changes were enforced but had little more to say about the players' conditions.

In his press conference on Thursday, the Fulham boss confirmed: "Diop will for sure miss the next game. It's the same for Raul Jimenez. It's a hamstring injury. Let's see how long it will be. It's too early to say how many weeks it's going to be but it's not going to be quick."

Silva went on to be quizzed about potential incomings at Fulham on Deadline Day, having lamented a lack of early action in the window ahead of the Carabao Cup semi-final and FA Cup clash with Newcastle United earlier this week. Fulham are said to be negotiating with Chelsea on a deal for forward Broja, with Wolves an alternative destination for the star.

With Jimenez now out of action, the pressure on Fulham to bring in a striker increases. While Silva wouldn't comment directly on Broja, he hinted that the club was already in desperate need of a striker - a situation which is obviously now exacerbated. Silva said: "Am I looking excited? It's Deadline Day, we are preparing for the Burnley game and this is the most important thing of course. The club is trying to do something. Let's see.

"Not just because Raul got injured, from last summer, we sold a striker for a big amount of money and were not able to replace him. We are maybe not able to sign another one. That is the reality. It is not just because Raul got injured - it was important last time and as important from the start of the window.

"I'm not going to make any comments on players [Broja] or rumours. It's not necessary. I'm here to talk about our players and the most important thing is the game against Burnley. I understand the questions. It's a situation I don't want to talk about. I'm not involved in these situations."

The Daily Mail reports that talks are underway between Fulham and Chelsea over Broja, but that the Blues' valuation of £50 million is proving a sticking point. Even a loan deal this month is expected to include an obligation to buy this summer.