Recently relegated from the English Premier League, Fulham have confirmed signing Australia’s 21-year-old striker Adam Taggart.
Taggart is the first member of the Socceroos squad to snag a move since the beginning of the World Cup.
Taggart’s move is more likely based on his domestic form rather than his cameo appearances in Brazil. He came on late against the Dutch and played the first half against the Spanish, struggling to settle and make an impact in either game.
He forced his way into the 2014 World Cup squad with an impressive season last year with the Newcastle Jets where he won the A-League’s Golden Boot award having scored 16 goals for the Jets.
Taggart will fancy his chances of receiving game time at a club still licking their wounds from a disastrous Premier League season, where they finished 19th. Bryan Ruiz is almost certainly too good to play in the Championship, while Hugo Rodagella scored a paltry two goals from 12 appearances last season.
Taggart is unlikely to be the last Socceroo to receive transfer attention. Jason Davidson’s performances have also reportedly interested Fulham, while Mathew Leckie, despite recently signing with 2.Bundesliga side FC Ingolstadt 04, has also been targeted.
There are reports that Utrecht’s pacy winger Tommy Oar is being targeted by Serie A club Udinese. Western Sydney’s Matthew Spiranovic also caught the eye at centre back and is likely to be subject of some overseas interest.
Such attention confirms what Australia’s performances at the World Cup have suggested: the next generation of Socceroos are capable of playing at the highest level and deserve to play in Europe’s best leagues.
Taggart may not have shown much at the World Cup, but given the chance he is more than capable to prove his worth for Fulham.
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