Jol closes in on midfielder swoop

Fulham are on the verge of sealing a short-term deal for Senegal international Mickael Tavares as they look to bolster their midfield.

The 29-year-old is a free agent and therefore eligible to join the Cottagers outside of the transfer window at a time when manager Martin Jol is down to the bare bones in the middle of the park. Jol has been desperate to draft in additional personnel after seeing fellow midfielder Mahamadou Diarra ruled out for up to five months after damaging cruciate ligaments. Tavares has been looking for a new club for some time after being released by Hamburg, where he will have worked previously with the Fulham boss during the Dutchman's own stint with the German side, and has been handed a contract initially until January. The defensive stopper is no stranger to English football himself either, having enjoyed a lengthy loan spell with Middlesbrough in 2010/2011, where he played 12 times.