Fulham see €20m Bellanova bid rejected as Atalanta make transfer stance clear

Fulham have reportedly had an offer worth around €20million for Raoul Bellanova rejected, with Atalanta making clear that the Italy international is not for sale.

The Premier League side are searching for a new right-back and have identified Bellanova as a potential addition.

According to reports from Italy, Fulham have moved beyond initial interest and submitted a written proposal for the 26-year-old.

Atalanta have rejected the approach and currently have no intention of allowing Bellanova to leave.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Fulham submitted a written offer for Bellanova, with the package understood to be worth around €20m including bonuses.

However, that has not been enough to convince Atalanta to negotiate.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that the Bergamo club consider Bellanova off the market as they prepare for the new season.

That leaves Fulham facing a difficult decision over whether to substantially increase their proposal or move on to another target.

Maurizio Sarri's plans are a major reason behind Atalanta's position.

Bellanova has featured heavily throughout pre-season and is considered an important part of the manager's team.

With the new campaign approaching, Atalanta have little desire to lose a first-choice player and then be forced into the market for a replacement.

Their position could potentially be tested by an exceptional offer, but there is currently no indication that Fulham's €20m package comes close to changing their minds.

Other clubs in Italy and elsewhere are also monitoring Bellanova's situation.

Fulham must now decide how strongly they want to pursue Bellanova.

Atalanta's position is clear and another offer around the same level is unlikely to change it. Unless Fulham are prepared to make a significantly stronger proposal, their search for a new right-back may have to move elsewhere before the transfer deadline.