Birmingham City-linked defender becomes free agent as Aitor Karanka suffers 'unfair' fate

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Fulham have released Alfie Mawson with his Craven Cottage contract due to end next month. The Championship winners have confirmed their released and retained list, with Mawson one of 13 players leaving the club this summer.

Fellow defenders Cyrus Christie, who has been on loan at Swansea – and Michael Hector have also reached the end of their time with Marco Silva’s men. Fabri, Jean Michaël Seri, Timmy Abraham, Jacob Adams, Eric Ameyaw, Xavier Benjamin, Tyler Caton, Jerome Opoku, Jonathon Page, Julian Schwarzer and Jaylan Wildbore are the others to leave.

Birmingham City will be alert to Mawson’s departure in particular, having tried to sign him in the January transfer window – they remain keen this time round. Blues actually played at Fulham when the January transfer speculation was at its height - and at the time the 28-year-old had not even been involved in a match day squad for a couple of months.

Another summer, another move for ex-Birmingham City man Alen Halilovic following the talented midfielder's release by Reading. News of the Croatian's departure from the Royals came last week - when he was one of six members of the first team squad not retained.

Terrell Thomas , Brandon Barker , Orjan Nyland , Felipe Araruna, Marc McNulty and Halilovic are all leaving the Select Car Leasing Stadium - with the latter once again packing his bags and looking for yet another club.

He leaves Berkshire having played just 11 Championship matches - including only nine starts - and scored once. Indeed the perception is that Halilovic - who hurt his hamstring in the FA Cup defeat to Kidderminster Harriers in January, has been injured for a lengthy period. The defeat at