Fulham had to fight off a late bid from Newcastle United to sign FC Twente star Bryan Ruiz.

The Costa Rica international signed for Fulham yesterday, but not before Newcastle attempted to trump the Cottagers, says TC Tubantia.

So serious were Newcastle that they had a helicopter waiting in London to fly Ruiz to Tyneside for a medical and to pen forms.

But back in Holland, Twente chose to sell to Fulham as no formal offer was received from Toon.

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