Round-up: Morata joining ‘best club’ but Rolan appears to be stalling

Diego Rolan appears to be stalling over a transfer to Fulham.

The Whites have agreed a £5m deal with Bordeaux to sign the 24-year-old, who has since made two visits to Fulham’s training ground but does not appear to be sold on the move.

It is believed he is holding out for a move to the Premier League or Spain’s La Liga and could make Fulham wait until the final days of the transfer window before making a decision.

Rolan is yet to receive a serious offer from a top-flight club, although reports say Newcastle are interested.

Fulham are assessing their other striker options and are interested Norwich’s Cameron Jerome.


Morata joining ‘best club’

Alvaro Morata has told Sky Sports News HQ he is joining “the best club” as he prepares to complete a move to Chelsea.

The Spain striker was speaking at Heathrow airport after flying in to finalise a transfer to Stamford Bridge from Real Madrid.

Asked why he has decided to join the Blues, Morata said: “Because it is the best club. Antonio Conte is one of the best coaches in the world and I’m so happy to work with him.”


Dasilva set for loan move

Charlton are looking to tie up the signing of Chelsea youngster Jay Dasilva on a season-long loan.

Dasilva, 19, ended last season on loan with the League One side and Chelsea are keen for him to pick up more first-team experience.


QPR off to Germany

Luke Freeman is expected to be named in QPR’s squad for a pre-season trip to Germany after missing Saturday’s friendly against Peterborough.

Freeman has been nursing a knock but trained this week and is on course to return to action this weekend.

Grant Hall also missed the Peterborough game, because of tendonitis, and hopes to also join the squad.

Jordan Cousins, who has worked his way back to fitness following a thigh injury, was left out on Saturday along with Sean Goss, but both players are fit enough to be selected.

Manager Ian Holloway is considering leaving Massimo Luongo, Yeni Ngbakoto and Pawel Wszolek in London as they were on international duty last month so have had a shorter summer break.

Rangers will play Union Berlin on Saturday and Lokomotive Leipzig the following day.


‘No qualms’ about Jota’s commitment

Dean Smith says Jota’s commitment to Brentford has not wavered despite uncertainty over the Spaniard’s future.

Jota returned to the side for a 4-3 win at Oxford after sitting out the previous two pre-season friendlies because a bid was expected from a Premier League club

Bees boss Smith said: “I’ve had no qualms about the commitment of Jota and long may that continue.

“He was happy to be out there and looked like he was enjoying his football, as he has done since the start of pre-season.

“It’s no saga. Jota was led to believe there was an imminent bid. I don’t believe it was a tactic.

“It hasn’t materialised as yet and Jota stuck to his word, pulled on a Brentford shirt, and I thought he did really well.

“I’ve said from the start that unless someone comes in with a substantial bid for him he’s staying at Brentford, and he’s happy to do so.”


Smith not expecting more signings

Smith does not expect to add more signings this summer if he can keep his current Brentford squad together.

The long-term futures of Jota, Harlee Dean, Lasse Vibe and Andreas Bjelland are uncertain as they enter the last year of their contracts.

Smith said: “I can only talk about other players leaving if people put bids in, and there’s been no bids for our players.

“I think that’s us done for the moment. We’re very happy with the squad we’ve got. At this moment in time I don’t think we need to strengthen the squad anymore.

“We feel we’ve done really good business. We’re in a good position. We’ve got every position covered twice, which is really good, and I think we’ve brought quality in as well.”


Middlesex win

Brendon McCullum rediscovered his touch with the bat to lead Middlesex to a much-needed victory over Kent Spitfires in the NatWest T20 Blast.

McCullum racked up 88 – his highest T20 score for the club – from just 51 balls, an innings that included six sixes and laid the foundations for their total of 179-8.

Despite half-centuries from Sam Northeast and Jim