Fulham close in on deal for Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha

Fulham are nearing a deal for Lazio goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha, who is out of contract at the Serie A club.

The Cottagers are looking to bring in at least six new signings this summer following their promotion to the Premier League. 

Marco Silva is keen to add experience between the sticks and Albanian international Strakosha fits that bill having played top-flight football in Italy for the last six years. 

Current Fulham shot-stopper Paulo Gazzaniga has played in the Premier League with Southampton and Tottenham previously, but was dropped by Silva just two months into last season after keeping only two clean sheets in 11 games. 

Marek Rodak took over and established himself as the club's number one as they won the Championship title, but the Slovakian only has two top-flight appearances to his name which came in the Cottagers' last spell in the Premier League. 

Athens-born Strakosha, 27, will end his 10-year association with Lazio this summer having joined the Italian side's academy at the age of 17. 

Following a loan spell with Salernitana in Serie B, the goalkeeper made his first team breakthrough in Rome in 2016 and he made a total of 208 appearances for the club. 

Strakosha started last season as number two behind Pepe Reina, but played every Serie A game from December 5 onwards and kept seven clean sheets in 23 matches as Lazio finished fifth. 

At international level, the 6ft 4in stopper has earned 19 caps for Albania and played in the 5-0 defeat to England at Wembley last year.