Wednesday Fulham Stuff (21/06/17)...

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Cauley Woodrow makes substitute appearance as England under-21s claim crucial Euros victory

Cauley Woodrow and England's under-21s took a step closer to the European Championships semi-finals

Cauley Woodrow made a late appearance off the bench as England's under-21s came from behind to secure a vital European Under-21 Championships victory over Slovakia.

The former Burton Albion loanee was named among the substitutes for a second straight game following Friday's goalless draw with Sweden.

That result meant a win was imperative for Aidy Boothroyd's side, with only the winner of each group automatically qualifying for the semi-finals of this summer's tournament.

Things did not begin brilliantly for the Young Lions, with Martin Chrien's headed effort putting Slovakia in front in the first half.

But Alfie Mawson levelled things up just after the break, before Nathan Redmond drilled them into the lead with a fine effort.

Woodrow replaced starting striker Tammy Abraham in the 88th minute as Boothroyd's side held on to all three points.

The triumph, coupled with Poland's 2-2 draw against Sweden, courtesy of a 90th-minute equaliser, leaves England on four points with a game to play in Group A.

They are one point ahead of Slovakia, two above the Swedes and three in front of Poland, who are their final group-stage opponents on Thursday.

"If we lost or drew the game we were out. So we had to be bold, keep ourselves in the mix," Boothroyd said after the game.

Cauley Woodrow was an 88th-minute sub for England's under-21s

"We did that. Now we've put this to bed we've got a really tough game coming up against Poland.

"We want to progress, we want to do well.

"Nervy? I think that's fair. The extra player in midfield was to make them less jittery and give them more of an option on the pitch."



Read more at http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/cauley-woodrow-makes-substitute-appearance-as-england-under-21s-claim-crucial-euros-victory/story-30399645-detail/story.html#RLCWi1E8sHrbVfq2.99

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Fulham make two players available for loan to Championship clubs

Both players have been made available for loan next season, with the club preferring a move to a fellow Championship club

Fulham have made Richard Stearman and George Williams available for loan, but only to Championship clubs.

Stearman spent last season on loan at fellow Championship club Wolves, signing for them at the end of August, making 19 appearances in all competitions having only signed from the Midlands club in September the previous year.

Wolves announced they wouldn't be making his loan deal permanent and Fulham have now made him available for loan once again.

Meanwhile, Williams has also been made available for loan having spent half of last season with League One MK Dons.

The 21-year-old had been linked with a permanent move to Scunthorpe, but the club do not wish to sell him permanently and want him to go out on loan to a Championship club to further his development.

Williams scored 15 goals in 17 appearance for Peter Grant's U23 side in the latter half of the season and Fulham hope more first team game time will help aid his transition into their first team.


Wales and Fulham youngster George Williams



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/fulham-make-two-players-available-13209567

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Sheffield United, Bolton and Millwall - what can QPR, Fulham and Brentford expect from the promoted sides?

We take a look at the three sides promoted from League One to analyse what kind of impact they will make on the Championship in the upcoming season.

With the English Football League fixtures set to be unveiled tomorrow morning, we take a look at those sides who have been joined QPR, Fulham and Brentford in the Championship.

Today we look at the three sides who've been promoted from League One, Sheffield United, Bolton and Millwall.

Sheffield United
A team who proved to be one of the most attractive sides in the Football League. Whether Chris Wilder's attacking style pays dividends in the Championship remains to be seen, but the evidence suggests that they'll have enough in their tank to pick up some wins along the way, even if they are caught out against some of the league's higher quality teams.

With the likes of Billy Sharp and Ched Evans within the ranks, there are certainly goals in this Sheffield United team and it'll be interested to see how they cope.

Verdict: I think Sheffield United will have enough about them to pick up enough wins to secure survival next season, however they will need to strengthen with some proven Championship signings.

Bolton Wanderers
In stark contrast to League One champions Sheffield United, Bolton ensured promotion based on the foundations of a solid defence. This could be a huge benefit to the Trotters, but they could struggle at the other end, where after all, you need to be able to get goals to win games.

Verdict: A solid defence could make Bolton a difficult proposition for any team in the league, but unless they are able to strengthen at the other end i could see Bolton struggling to win enough games.

Millwall
The Lions showed their experience by keeping their heads through the play-offs in order to defeat Bradford in the final through a Steve Morrison strike. A side with undoubted ability to find the net through Morrison and Lee Gregory, but a question mark will remain over whether the entire squad has enough about it to stay in the division. As you'd expect, the need to ensure the Den remains the true definition of a fortress is essential in order to put opposition players and fans on edge when they arrive in Bermondsey. If they can do this, and pick up regular points along the way, they may just have enough to compete this year.

Verdict: A huge amount of pressure remains on the shoulders of Steve Morrison and Lee Gregory, it's vital the rest of the team are able to step up, or that they can strengthen the squad to ensure they aren't scrapping at the bottom of the league.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sheffield-united-bolton-millwall-what-13209909

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Fulham legend Brede Hangeland celebrates his birthday - here's his best moments at Craven Cottage

The Norwegian celebrates his 36th birthday today, so to celebrate we look back at his five best moments in a Fulham shirt

Fulham legend Brede Hangeland celebrates his 36th birthday today, and what better way to celebrate than by looking back on his best moments at the Cottage?

Yesterday, fellow ex-Fulham captain Brian McBride celebrated his birthday and today it's the turn of the Norwegian defender, who has some great games to look back on.

A European final, a goal against Arsenal and a man of the match award on his debut - it wasn't a bad six years in west London.

Here's our favourite Hangeland moments:

5. First Man of the Match award
Having arrived from Copenhagen in January 2008, Hangeland made his debut against Bolton on January 29 and what a first game it was.

The centre back was a colossus in defence and demonstrated exactly why Roy Hodgson was so keen to sign his former Viking player.

Fulham won the game 1-0, and Sky Sports award Hangeland the man of the match award - his first in England.

4. Highest scoring centre back in the Premier League in 2011
Hangeland was the Premier League's highest scoring centre back in the 2010/11 season, with two goals against Birmingham City ensuring he took the accolade, while finishing only second in Fulham's charts top Clint Dempsey.

Hangeland got both the goals, one with a volley and one with his head, to ensure the club secured only their third away win of the season, while it put Birmingham further into trouble.

He finished that season with eight goals in all competitions - not a bad haul for a defender.


Bagging a brace: Brede Hangeland scores against Birmingham (Photo: IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)

3. A goal against Shakhtar ensures Fulham progress in Europe
It's a night that will long in the memory of Fulham fans as a backs to the wall display ensured Fulham knocked out the holders Shakhtar Donetsk.

Hangeland gave Fulham the lead when he connected to Damien Duff's free kick, and although Jadson equalised a great defensive performance in Ukrane ensured it was the west London club who qualified.

It set up a last-16 clash with Juventus, and we all remember what happened there...


Into the last 16: Brede Hangeland scores against Shakhtar (Photo: Alexander KHUDOTEPLY/AFP/Getty Images)

2. A memorable first goal against Arsenal
Fulham got their first win of the season while Hangeland scored his first ever goal for the club against Arsenal, contributing to a 1-0 victory over the club.

The side deserved the three points in a physical showing, with Hangeland stabbing in Jimmy Bullard's cross from close range to give them all three points.

A goal against Arsenal is something to be proud of in any case, but scoring your first against them make it even more special.


First goal: Brede Hangeland scores against Arsenal (Photo: Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

1. Playing for Fulham in a major European final

One of the club's biggest games ever, they did themselves proud, taking Atletico Madrid to extra time before Diego Forlan ensured Fulham would go home empty handed.

Hangeland played the entire game and did a good job of shackling Sergio Aguero and Forlan, but could do nothing to stop the former from bagging a brace.

Despite losing, a major European final appearance will forever live in both Fulham fans' memories, and Hangeland's.


Against Sergio: Brede Hangeland tackles Sergio Aguero (Photo: LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty)



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-legend-brede-hangeland-celebrates-13209958

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Fulham submit offer for Huddersfield Town target Steve Mounie - reports

The Cottagers are believed to have bid for the Montpellier forward


Montpellier striker Steve Mounie

Championship side Fulham have submitted a formal bid for Huddersfield Town target Steve Mounie, according to reports.

GetWestLondon claim the London side have "tested Montpellier's resolve" for Mounie who has been strongly linked with a move across the channel.

A £13m fee had been touted for the 22-year-old, but the news outlet understands that Fulham's bid is short of the valuation and that the Whites are using their location to tempt the striker into forcing a move.

Mounie, who scored 15 goals for Montpellier last term, is believed to be on Town's shopping list this summer, with L'Equipe claiming the Terriers have already submitted a preliminary bid for the 6'3" centre-forward.

Watford and West Brom have also been linked with a move for the Benin international who has two years left on his Stade de la Mosson deal.



http://www.examiner.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/fulham-submit-offer-huddersfield-town-13211097

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Ex-Fulham Youngster Headed Back to Premier League

When Moussa Dembele left Craven Cottage to join Glasgow Celtic, it was disappointing that not only that the player had left but that Fulham received around just £500,000 as compensation.

Dembele, as we all knew he would, has been a huge success with the Scottish club, assisting in their haul of the Scottish Premier League, the Scottish League Cup and the Scottish FA Cup.

Today, there are further rumours that the 20-year-olds stay with Celtic could be of just one season in length.

Lurking in the pages of the Daily Post, is the inference that a return to the Premier League beckons.

Our referenced source is of the opinion that Demble is wanted by Everton, with Ronald Koeman having identified the French U21 international as someone who could fill the void of the possible departure of their Belgian international striker, Romelu Lukalu, to our neighbours Chelsea.

If the move does go through, it`d be interesting to see how Dembele shapes up in the Premier League.




Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=495460#ixzz4kc94iJ77

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Fulham submit offer for Montpellier striker with Premier League interest growing

Fulham have submitted a formal offer for Montpellier striker Steve Mounie, amid interest from newly-promoted Huddersfield Town, according to GetWestLondon.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed two successful seasons in France, scoring 11 goals in 32 games for Nimes on loan from Ligue 1 side Montpellier during the 2015/16 season, before breaking into the Montpellier team last season, notching 13 goals in the French top division.

His excellent performances have attracted interest from clubs across the Premier League andChampionship, with the likes of West Brom, Watford and Reading all looking into signing the Benin international, but it has been newly-promoted Huddersfield Town who have shown the strongest interest in the striker.

Armed with pace and aerial ability, standing at 6 feet and 3 inches tall, Mounie is the perfect build for the Premier League, but Championship side Fulham are looking to add to their ranks that include the likes of Neeskens Kebano, Sone Aluko and Tom Cairney by snapping up the 22-year-old.

It's understood that a formal offer has been made by the London club, who are looking to avenge the disappointment of their 2-1 aggregate defeat to Jaap Stam's Reading in the Play-Off Semi-Finals by going all the way this season.

The French club are holding out for £13 million for their prized asset, and whilst it is understood that the offer from Slavisa Jokanovic's side is below that valuation, it most likely won't be long before a club finalises a deal for the former Nimes loanee.

A deliberate bid to unsettle the player, we are still awaiting confirmation as to whether Montpellier have accepted the bid or not.



http://the72.co.uk/84333/fulham-submit-offer-for-montpellier-striker-huddersfield-interested/

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Fulham Championship fixtures: Who fans want to face on the opening day of the season

We took to Twitter to ask Fulham fans who they wanted on the opening day of the season - here's who they said

The fixtures are released tomorrow (finally) after what seems like an eternity with no football whatsoever, but who do you want to face?

At this stage, I think we'd all take anyone, just to be able to start planning our road trips throughout the season and so we can see where Fulham will be promoted (fingers crossed).

We'll have all the fixtures, as well as the reaction, right here, with our live blog running from 6.30am, with the fixtures being announced at 9am on the dot.

In the meantime, we asked on Twitter just who exactly did you fancy facing on the opening day of the season, and we got a range of answers.

Our Fulham reporter, Ryan O'Donovan, wouldn't mind Burton at home in the first game and wants to avoid a promoted side, but how about you?



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-championship-fixtures-who-fans-13212640

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Hull set to beat Fulham to £5m Chelsea defender – report

Hull City are set to beat Fulham to the signing of defender Tomas Kalas and will pay Chelsea £5million, TEAMtalk understands.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a loan spell at Craven Cottage last season, where he made 39 appearances in total, and they thought they had sealed a deal with their King's Road neighbours.

However, Hull have made their move and the deal has been brokered by Leonid Slutsky, who is a close friend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, who played a huge part in him getting the job at The KCOM Stadium.

Kalas has been on Chelsea's books since 2010 and has been on loan to a number of other clubs, including Middlesbrough and Vitesse Arnhem.

Slutsky has the pick of Chelsea's young players; the likes of Bertrand Traore and Tammy Abraham are out of their reach, but almost every other available player is an option for Hull.

Abramovich is happy to send any players to Hull and we also understand that the Chelsea owner has recommended the East Yorkshire club to a number of his Russian contacts as an excellent potential take-over target, given the club is already for sale.




http://www.teamtalk.com/news/hull-set-to-beat-fulham-to-5m-chelsea-defender-report

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Fulham make move for £4.68m-rated Ligue 1 hotshot

Beaten Championship play-off semi-finalists Fulham have firmed up their interest in Montpellier striker Steve Mounie with an official offer, according to GetWestLondon.

The 22-year-old enjoyed a wonderful campaign with the Ligue 1 outfit last time out, bagging 14 goals and laying on three assists in 35 league appearances to help the club to 15th place in the French top-flight, three points clear of the relegation play-off zone.

And with 11 goals in 32 games for Ligue 2 club Nimes the season before, there's little doubt that the Benin international is one of the form strikers in French football, and this excellent goal-scoring form has attracted interest from Slavisa Jokanovic's Fulham.

And that interest has reportedly become concrete as the Cottagers are believed to have made an offer for Mounie, as they look to jump to the front of the queue ahead of Premier League duo Huddersfield and West Brom in pursuit of the 22-year-old.

Jokanovic's men fell short in their quest to return to the top-flight last term, losing 2-1 to Reading in the play-off semi-finals, and the former Watford boss will be looking at how his side can become more consistent over the course of the campaign, with them world beaters one minute and then lethargic the next.

And with his recent exploits in front of goal, there's no doubt that Mounie's striking ability can help with that, but whether the Cottagers, who have reportedly bid lower than Montpellier's asking price, can get a deal done for the £4.68 million-rated hotshot (as per Transfermarkt) very much remains to be seen.




https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-make-move-for-4-68m-rated-ligue-1-hotshot/

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This international defender could be an ideal Kalas replacement for Fulham this summer

For the first time since their relegation from the Premier League in 2014, Fulham showed serious signs of finally competing for a return to the top flight after a series of bottom half finishes.

Losing out to Reading in the Play-Offs would have hurt Slavisa Jokanovic's side, and the Serbian manager will have to rally his squad this summer if the Cottagers are to launch another bid for top flight football.

Fulham look increasingly likely to lose Chelsea loan man Tomas Kalas this summer, with Hull City declaring an interest in the player.

Kalas stated in April that a permanent switch to Craven Cottage would be the 'perfect scenario', but money talks, and Hull will offer the player big wages to entice him to the KCOM Stadium next season.

Hull's new boss Leonid Slutsky has a close relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, and may utilise this relationship to ensure a deal for Kalas is secured.

If this does materialise, Fulham must look elsewhere, and may consider a move for soon to be free agent Vegard Forren.

The Norwegian International has the unique stat of signing for two English teams, yet never having played a competitive game of football in this country.

The player joined Southampton in 2013 but immediately departed back to Molde in Norway, and linked up with Brighton late last season but failed to make an appearance.

Scouts saw enough from the 33 cap international to bring him to England, so the player does have the ability to play in this country.

Fulham should take a punt on the player should they fail to pull off a deal for Czech international Kalas.

On a free transfer, Forren could have the whole of pre-season to integrate with the squad and establish himself within the team over the summer.

Quality centre-halves come at a premium in the Championship these days, so Forren would represent an extremely solid, but affordable option to Jovanovic.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/this-international-defender-could-be-an-ideal-kalas-replacement-for-fulham-this-summer/

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Championship fixtures 2017-18: How the EFL compile QPR, Fulham and Brentford's fixture lists; featuring rules, requests and alterations

We take an in-depth look at long process of compiling the fixture lists of all 92 teams in the English Football League.

Tomorrow morning fans of QPR, Fulham and Brentford will be frantically searching through their phones and laptops to find out the layout of their club's fixtures for the 2017-18 season.

The EFL fixtures are released at 9am, but the process of building the schedules between August and May start long before this.

We take a look at how the fixture lists are compiled, and what factors are considered when deciding each club's fate.

How are the EFL fixtures processed?

The EFL and Premier League have an outside IT contractor that have worked with both organisations for many years.

The process begins as far back as November, when the EFL meets with the Fixtures Working Party to agree a draft schedule for the following season, which is then followed up by another meeting in March.

By the time the meeting takes place in March, all clubs have been sent a questionnaire which is their chance to make any specific requests, so if they'd like a a home or away fixture on a certain date.

Police requests are taken into account as well, with forces obviously keen to ensure they're not short of numbers on days in which race meetings or music festivals are scheduled to take place on the same day as a game.

10 days after the play-off finals, the EFL are presented with a draft fixture list before they sit down, review and refine before meeting with the Chief Police Officers to discuss safety.

When reviewing the fixtures, what problems can arise?

In the days approaching fixture release day, the EFL make hundreds of changes.

They sit down and review the fixtures, look at key dates for each club; opening including the opening home game, Christmas, Easter and final day. This includes checking whether or not any of them will cause problems for the clubs or the police.

The EFL then look at the local derbies and when these occur. Working around midweek travel is also a lengthy process.

It's a priority that most clubs have their local, well-attended games on a Saturday, but this can be a real balancing act across the leagues.

What else has to be taken into account?

The EFL previously revealed that they can have up to 80 date requests to consider as they try to collate the fixture list for every club.

Every club is paired with a close neighbour to ensure, for example, that Manchester City and Manchester United don't play at home on the same day. So requests don't only impact on the club in question but their fixture partner.

Another consideration is the effort made to maximise clubs' revenue. The EFL and the Premier League say they try to ensure that local derbies and other high profile fixtures are played on dates when as many fans as possible can attend.

And then there are other rules to stick to. Clubs won't play more than two home or away games in a row in any five matches. Nor will they start or end the season with two consecutive home or away matches.

What is the process for checking the fixture list?

It's checked manually by the League's competitions department. The EFL also have a number of reporting tools and reports that are produced by the IT contractor.

It is then checked with information provided by the clubs, the train companies and the police forces to ensure their are no clashes with other fixtures in that area.

When will Sky Sports be announcing their live broadcast selections?

The first lot of live TV selections for the opening weekend will be announced tomorrow shortly after the fixtures are released.

The EFL look to give a minimum of five weeks notice ahead of selecting matches for live TV coverage, to ensure that as much notice is given to supporters who are looking to make travel arrangements to attend the games.

How do the fixtures actually get released on Fixture Release Day?

The fixtures are sent to each club in advance of the 9am embargo on the day.

Each club will then load them onto their website and ensure key personnel around the club are aware of the fixtures, namely the manager and first team staff. Then at 9am the fixtures are officially released into the public domain.

How do the EFL consider long-distance away matches and travel issues during the season?

The EFL do consider long distance travelling with supporters in mind.

They have a reporting tool that will list each club's away midweek fixtures and home midweek fixtures, and we compare the mileage over those fixtures against the average mileage for the whole division, so the aim is to make sure that a club isn't doing higher than its average overall mileage midweek.

However the priority is to consider local derbies and to ensure that the more well-attended fixtures are played on a weekend.

What do the EFL consider when local derbies are played?

Local derbies are are the most touched on subject on the club fixture questionnaires.

Clubs are very keen to ensure that their local derbies don't pop up on a key date where there may be policing issues and increased charges, if it's a Bank Holiday for example.

Obviously they don't want their supporters to be unhappy with when the local derby is played, so a lot of it is pre-programmed in around this information.

It's also a priority to ensure local derbies are played on a date where they could be moved to a Sunday if need be.

How do the EFL deal with fixture congestion?

It very much depends on what happens as the season unfolds.

The season will start with midweek matches fairly evenly spread, but when you start factoring in cup games, cup runs, fixtures being postponed etc. then congestion will be created towards the back end of the season.




http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/championship-fixtures-2017-18-how-13213422

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Fulham bid for former Arsenal man after he impresses at Braga - exclusive

The forward has made 30 appearances for the Portuguese club, scoring eleven goals since signing in 2016

Fulham have made a bid for Braga forward Rui Fonte.

The 27-year-old signed for the Portuguese side from Benfica in 2016 and scored eleven goals in 30 appearances for the side last season in the Portuguese Liga.

Fonte previously had spells with Arsenal as a youngster, as well as Crystal Palace, Sporting, and Espanyol, while he has starred in the Portuguese U21 side, scoring eight goals.

Fonte, who can play as a forward or a winger, signed a three-year deal with Braga last year and currently has two remaining on his deal.

He is the younger brother of West Ham and Portugal star Jose, and were team mates together in Sporting's youth side as well as at Palace.

Meanwhile, Fulham have also made a bid for Steve Mounie of Montpellier and have listed two players as available for loan.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/fulham-bid-former-arsenal-man-13212412

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Should Aston Villa make a bid for Richard Stearman?

Fulham are said to be willing to offload Richard Stearman to a Championship side, and he could be a good fit for Aston Villa.

According to Get West London, Fulham are keen to loan out Richard Stearman to Championship sides this season - and he could be a good fit for Aston Villa.

Steve Bruce is known to be looking to add quality to his squad this summer, but he has a limited amount of funds to do so.

Villa are having to cut costs, after spending big on their team over the past two transfer windows.

And the loan of Stearman could offer Villa an experienced defender, of proven Championship quality, without costing them a vast amount.

Stearman is also settled in the Midlands area, having spent last season on loan at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Indeed, Stearman had wanted to complete a permanent move to Wolves - but no deal materialised.

Villa should now capitalise on Wolves' decision not to snap up Stearman, and bring the powerful defender to Villa Park.

Although the 29-year-old's arrival would not create great excitement, he would help Bruce strengthen his options in defence - and that could be crucial for the upcoming campaign.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/06/20/should-aston-villa-make-a-bid-for-richard-stearman/

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Fulham make Steve Mounie bid but Ligue 1's Lois Diony is better value

West Ham, West Brom and Watford are all challenging Fulham for £13m-rated Montpellier forward Steve Mounie after a superb Ligue 1 season.

Second time lucky for Fulham? Almost twelve months after the Daily Mail claimed that Ligue 1 outfit Montpellier rejected a £2.5 million move from The Cottagers, it appears that they have once again made striker Steve Mounie their top summer target.

Yet, it appears that they face a far bigger challenge luring Mounie to Craven Cottage. This time last year, the 22-year-old was a virtual unknown, having just scored 11 goals on loan at Nimes in the French second division.

That is hardly the case this time around, however. Netting 13 times in 34 games to keep Montpellier from the Ligue 1 drop zone, Premier League trio West Ham, West Brom and Watford all joined the race for a striker valued at £13 million, as reported by The Mirror.

Therefore, Fulham are surely employing the 'wishful thinking' tactic with their bid. Get West London claims they have made an offer much lower than Montpellier's asking price in the hope that their location in the most affluent part of the capital will tempt Mounie to the Championship club.

However, with the deal looking unlikely in the extreme, a contingency plan wouldn't go amiss. Like Montpellier, Ligue 1 rivals Dijon were indebted to the form of a talismanic striker for helping them stave off fears of relegation.

24-year-old Lois Diony netted a hugely impressive 11 goals and produced another eight assists as one of the smallest clubs in the league survived by the skin of their teeth.

And the Birmingham Mail report that Diony has earned a place on the radar of Birmingham City and, most recently, newly promoted Brighton and Hove Albion.

A price tag of just £3 million ensures the striker is most certainly affordable.

And, with just two goals less than Mounie in Ligue 1 last season, and valued at a much lower fee, Diony could prove better value for money for Fulham.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/06/20/fulham-make-steve-mounie-bid-but-ligue-1s-lois-diony-is-better-v/

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As Leeds bid for Mateusz Klich, should Fulham revisit their interest as Scott Parker replacement?

Should Fulham battle Leeds to sign Mateusz Klich?

Doing transfer business in secret is the preferred option for all clubs, as once word of interest gets out, rivals could get involved.

That is the predicament potentially facing Leeds United after failing with their bid to sign FC Twente midfielder Mateusz Klich.

Dutch outlet Tubantia report Leeds have had a 'serious offer' for the 27-year-old midfielder rejected by Twente.

One club paying attention should be Championship competitors Fulham, who have a long standing interest in the Poland international.

The Mail reported in 2013 that Fulham were showing interest in Klich, who was playing for Dutch club PEC Zwolle at the time.

Fulham look set to retain veteran midfielder Scott Parker for next season, but at 36-years-old the former West Ham and Tottenham man will need replacing, and a reduced workload.

Klich would be an ideal option for Fulham, and is coming off a respectable season where he helped Twente finish seventh in the league.

Like Parker he is a defensive minded central midfielder, but one who is capable of scoring too. This past season he netted six times, and provided four assists.

As a Poland international Klich has pedigree, and his side are currently on course to qualify for next summer's World Cup.

Twente are reluctant to sell having turned down Leeds approach but it is still early on in the transfer window and they can still be swayed by the right offer.

Fulham pipped Leeds to the last play-off spot at the end of last season, and they would do well to beat Leeds to Klich's signature too.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/06/20/as-leeds-bid-for-mateusz-klich-should-fulham-revisit-their-inter/

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Could Fulham move for Sheffield Wednesday man if Tom Cairney departs?

Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday were both beaten in the Championship semi-finals.

Fulham may have to brace themselves for offers for Tom Cairney this summer, after their failure to gain promotion from the Championship.

The 26-year-old scored 13 goals and created another 12 from midfield this past campaign, and Newcastle United are said to be one of several top flight admirers.

Cairney's boots would be sizeable ones to fill, but could an almost forgotten Sheffield Wednesday player, Almen Abdi, be the man to do it?

So, why him?
Fulham were reportedly keen on the Swiss international a year ago, before his £3 million move to Wednesday, with Cottagers boss Slavisa Jokanovic having managed him at Watford. Abdi may have endured a frustrating debut campaign at Hillsborough, but has played top level football in both England and Italy and is a proven Championship performer, where he has scored 24 goals and creating 14 in 100 appearances.

Would Wednesday sell him?
Another central midfielder is said to be on Carlos Carvalhal's shopping list, and with Barry Bannan and Kieran Lee often preferred in Abdi's attacking role, a summer move for the 30-year-old perhaps cannot be ruled out. Wednesday are desperate to make it third time lucky next season, but with a potential £10 million of this summer's budget already spent on Jordan Rhodes, they may have to wheel and deal with Abdi a possible victim.

Chances of a move?
7/10 - It would need Cairney to depart first, but interest from both Jokanovic and Abdi is probable if/when that happens. Wednesday are said to be after a central midfielder themselves - albeit, perhaps a more defensive-minded one - and may be happy to move the Swiss on if it helps to fund his replacement.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/06/01/could-fulham-move-for-sheffield-wednesday-man-if-tom-cairney-dep/