Fulham are working on a deal to sign £6million Bristol City left-back Joe Bryan to play behind Ryan Sessegnon on the wing at Craven Cottage.
Fulham had been keen on a permanent deal for Matt Targett but Southampton wanted £15million for the 22-year-old and the Cottagers refused to meet that valuation.
Bryan had a medical at Aston Villa on Wednesday and was close to a move to Villa Park, but Fulham made a late bid to snare the 24-year-old and he preferred a move to the Premier League.
Bryan impressed for Bristol City in the Championship last season and Fulham head coach Slavisa Jokanovic has made a new left-back a priority in the final stage of the window.
Maxime Le Marchand, who joined as part of the £30m deal that also brought Jean Michael Seri to the club from Nice, can play at left-back but Jokanovic wanted to strengthen in that position.
Bryan played for Bristol City in their 1-1 draw with Nottingham Forest on the opening day of the Championship season on Saturday. He made 48 appearances last season and scored to help Bristol City beat Manchester United 2-1 in the EFL Cup last December.
Rui Fonte, meanwhile, was this morning in talks over a potential move to Olympiacos. Both a loan and a permanent deal have been discussed and his departure in some form was expected before the deadline. His probable exit came as Fulham pressed ahead with a move to sign a back-up striker to act as cover for Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Source Giuseppe Muro and James Olley at Evening Standard