Fulham's attempts to strengthen their defense have seen them have a £20 million bid for Crystal Palace's Joachim Andersen rejected, as Palace values the defender at £40 million. Additionally, Fulham is in advanced discussions to acquire Aston Villa's Diego Carlos, who has been a key player despite injury setbacks. Aston Villa, having already invested heavily in new signings this summer, is considering a swap deal involving Carlos and Fulham's Andreas Pereira, who impressed last season. Villa is also looking to replace Carlos with targets including Lutsharel Geertruida and Joe Gomez. The club's recent performance against Borussia Dortmund highlights defensive vulnerabilities, which may prompt further transfers before the window closes. With both teams actively engaging in the transfer market, their strategies reflect a commitment to enhancing squad capabilities ahead of the new season.