Fulham snap up Mitroglou and Holtby

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Fulham have beaten West Ham to the signature of Olympiakos striker
Konstantinos Mitroglou.

The Whites have also signed Tottenham midfielder Lewis Holtby on loan until the end of the season.

Greece international Mitroglou has 17 goals this season including a hat-trick against Anderlecht in the Champions League.

He arrives at Craven Cottage on a four-and-a-half year deal, with Fulham believed to have paid more than £11m for the striker – close to the club record fee of £11.5m spent on Steve Marlet in 2001.

Mitroglou started his career in Germany before moving to Olympiakos in 2007, where he made 148 appearances and scored 62 goals in six seasons. He has won 28 caps for his country.

West Ham had made a late move for the 25-year-old, who has helped Olympiakos into a Champions League last 16 tie with Manchester United, but Rene Meulensteen got his man.

Mitroglou said: “I’m very happy that I’m here in the Premier League, and especially with Fulham which is a major club in the league.

“I’m really happy that I will work with Rene Meulensteen. I know that he has a lot of experience in football. He explained to me how he works and I am really looking forward to working with him.”

Mitroglou replaces Dimitar Berbatov, who completed a loan move to Monaco late on Friday.

Earlier on transfer deadline day, Fulham signed Holtby on loan until the end of the season.

The 23-year-old only signed for Spurs from Schalke in last January’s transfer window but has been frustrated by a lack of first-team opportunities this season.

The German said: “I’m bringing a hunger to play football and win games.

“I want to play week in, week out to try and help the team with my abilities.

“I’ll do what I can to help us beat teams and keep us up and out of the bottom three and ensure that we have a good remainder of the season.”

Holtby’s only Premier League goal in 24 appearances for Tottenham came against Fulham when he scored the winner at Craven Cottage last month.

Fulham are looking likely to lose talisman Dimitar Berbatov, who is interesting AS Monaco.

The Whites, who have loaned defender Aaron Hughes to QPR, are also reported to be interested in Everton defender Johnny Heitinga and Manchester United youngsters Ryan Tunnicliffe and Larnell Cole.

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