Director of Football Franco Baresi remains in talks with Ahn's representatives in the hope that he can bring the Asian to London before the start of the new Premiership season.
However, Ahn's employers of last season, Italian side Perugia, are locked in a dispute with the player's agents regarding who actually owns his contract. If Ahn's representatives can prove they actually own the player's registration then he will sign for Fulham.
The dispute with Perugia started the moment Ahn scored the Golden Goal which knocked Italy out of the second round of this summer's World Cup finals. The Perugia president announed he'd sacked the South Korean, so incensed were the Italian nation over the poor refereeing decisions which cost the Azzuri their place in the Far East.
A few days later, however, the Perugia president changed his mind and tried to retain Ahn's services but, by that time, the damage was done.
In point of fact, Ahn had featured very rarely for the Italian provincial side before the World Cup and it was ony after the tournament on his homeland, where he featured in all seven of the co-host's matches and also scored against the USA, that Ahn's stock rose so high.
If Fulham were to be successful, Ahn would become the first South Korean player ever to compete in the English top flight.
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Source Willie Eckstein for FTT