'No stress' - Fulham and Everton dealt blow in pursuit of 'wonderful' Premier League star

Fulham and Everton supposedly have little chance of beating German champions Bayer Leverkusen to land a deal for former Liverpool defender Joel Matip following his release from Anfield this summer.

That's according to German outlet Kicker, which claims that the Cottagers and Toffees have targeted the experienced centre-back but are considered 'not a threat' for Xabi Alonso's side. Matip is available on a free transfer having called time on his eight-year stay on Merseyside.

Fulham have been in the market for a central defender this summer having seen key man Tosin Adarabioyo leave Craven Cottage at the end of his contract, and since since for Premier League rivals Chelsea. Marco Silva added Jorge Cuenca to his options from Villarreal over the weekend but US veteran Tim Ream has now also parted the club since then.

However, if the London outfit are going to add another defender to their ranks, it's looking as if won't be Matip. Bayer Leverkusen risk losing Jonathan Tah to Bayern Munich this summer but are confident that acquiring Matip is an easy deal to complete if that does happen.

The former Schalke man won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup during his time at Liverpool. Matip made 14 appearances in all competitions last term as he struggled with a cruciate ligament tear for a large part of the campaign.

Speaking as he left the club this summer, former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said: "In all the years that I have been involved in football, I am not sure I have come across too many players who are more loved than Joel Matip. I’m not even sure it would be possible to say anything bad about him.

“A wonderful professional, a wonderful footballer and a wonderful human being – we have been blessed to have him with us for as long as we have and now all we can do is wish him well as he heads off in a new direction."