Fulham sign Halliche
Fulham have signed Algerian international Rafik Halliche from Benfica for an undisclosed fee.
Halliche has signed a three-year deal for Fulham and will provide cover in the defensive areas of the team. He becomes one of Mark Hughes' first signings for his new club. It could be a while before he is handed his debut as Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes are the first choice central defenders.
Halliche said: "I'm so happy that my transfer to Fulham has been finalised. For me, the Premier League is the best league in the world."
The defender has a number of attributes that should make him a very successful player during his time at the club. However, the club will need him to settle in very quickly as the Premier League season has already started.
Player attributes
Halliche is a very versatile defender who can play in all positions along the back four. His main position is in the centre of the defence but he may be asked to show this versatility over the course of the season if he wants be a regular in Mark Hughes' first team plans.
He looks to be a very quick player, which is important across short distances. It will allow him to match the pace of some very fast strikers in the league and should allow him to compensate for any weaknesses he shows in terms of positioning.
He's got great desire and ambition. He's actively sought a move to the Premier League when he could have gone back to Benfica and sat on the bench just taking his wage packet every week. This shows he wants to learn, gain experience and become one of Fulham's best defenders.
He added: "To be able to play alongside some wonderful players and to be given an opportunity to compete against some fantastic teams for a team like Fulham is something that I've always dreamed of doing."
Fulham should not have to worry about the language barrier or any other problems because Halliche has expressed a desire to learn other cultures and languages during his career.
Betting advice
Fulham already have a very good defence and this signing will only add more quality to this area of the team. Fulham rely on having a very good defence as their basis for success. They won't win the Premier League but are worth a punt in a domestic cup competition.
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