Thursday Fulham Stuff (07/06/18)...

[WhiteJC]

Thank you, Ryan Fredericks
by alandrewett on June 6, 2018

It was with some sadness that I learned last night that Ryan Fredericks' three-year stay at Craven Cottage had come to an end as the Fulham full-back had agreed a deal to sign for West Ham when his contract expires at the end of this month. The pacey full-back had proven instrumental in the back four as well as providing an extra outlet for the likes of Tom Cairney and Kevin McDonald to be as effective as possible. His speed and sense of adventure made him a horn for many Championship defences and it will be interesting to see how he fares in the Premier League next season.

Even though he had only spent three years at Craven Cottage, Fredericks saw seen plenty of changes on and off the pitch and quickly became a popular figure with the supporters. He soon established himself as the first choice right back and was a natural fit for Slavisa Jokanovic's style that asked an awful lot of the full-backs. His defensive contributions shouldn't be overlooked either, especially during the 2017/2018 campaign when the Whites became a particularly miserly side. It seems slightly odd to me that Fredericks would want to be the club's highest-paid player, as some reports on his departure have claimed, especially as he seemed fully committed to the cause of winning promotion in the closing weeks of the season.

Fredericks' time at Fulham has ultimately been a huge success for the player and the club. With Jokanovic insisting on playing fast and fluent football, pace on the wings became essential to unlocking some tightly-packed defences. There are very few full-backs – even in the modern game – who can get a fan out of their seat but Fredericks' lung-bursting runs down the right offered a sense of exhilaration and added an extra dimension to Fulham's attacks. His partnership with Sone Aluko during the 2016-2017 season was almost flawless as the pair dovetailed brilliantly, almost from day one.

Upon losing a player, your thoughts always turn to how they might be replaced. There has been a bit of speculation that Fulham might enter the transfer market to supplement their squad, but I feel like we have a like for like replacement in Cyrus Christie. The Irish international was obviously bought in with an eye to succeeding Fredericks when he had refused to agree a new deal around Christmas time and I'm sure he'll relish the prospect of playing Premier League football next season. Christie can provide more security against the aerial threat of attacking teams and he is versatile enough to play in a number of other positions if necessary. Fulham also have two very promising right backs in the shape of Marlon Fossey and Steven Sessegnon and Jokanovic has been more than willing to blood academy prospects during his time at the club.

As we reflect on Fredericks' time with Fulham, the abiding memory will be that magical day at Wembley last month when the Whites regained their Premier League status. He was a pivotal part of a side that went 23 games undefeated – something which Fulham will probably never repeat – and gave 38,144 fans a day that they'll never forget at Wembley. I wish him well for the future and send my sincerest thanks for helping get Fulham back to where we belong.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/06/thank-you-ryan-fredericks/

[WhiteJC]

 
Agent Responds To Reports That Fulham Have Made €4.5m Bid For Turkey International

Fulham were closely linked with a move for Besiktas full-back Gokhan Gonul in the Turkish media yesterday.

Takvim reported that the Cottagers put forward a €4.5 million bid for the Turkey international.

Per the source, Besiktas were considering the offer but had yet to respond to Fulham.

Turkish-Football spoke to Gonul's agent Ahmet Bulut regarding the latest reports.

It turns out that there is no truth to the rumors.

Bulut has not been contacted by Fulham or informed by Besiktas about an approach for his client.

The full-back would have been the second Turkey international to join the Premier League from Besiktas inside a season from Besiktas, joining Cenk Tosun, if he were to make the move.

Gonul has another two-years remaining on his contract and is happy in Istanbul.

The Black Eagles are keen on keeping the 33-year-old right-back on over the summer despite rumors that they are nearing a deal with Porto full-back Daniel Opare.

Besiktas finished the league campaign in fourth-place after lifting the league title for the previous two seasons.

The Eagles cruised through the Champions League group stage as undefeated leaders but were unable to defender the title this season.



https://turkish-football.com/agent-responds-reports-fulham-made-e4-5m-bid-turkey-international-gokhan-gonul/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham looking to take Championship star to the Premier League

Premier League new boys Fulham have joined a lengthy list of clubs looking to sign Norwich City ace James Maddison, according to Sky Sports.

Slavisa Jokanovic is expected to bring in some players ahead of the Cottagers' first campaign back in the top flight, and it would appear he wants a man he saw at close quarters in the same division as the Londoners last term.

Maddison was one of the best players in the Championship in the recently concluded season, and was voted as the Canaries' player of the season.

The highly-rated midfielder bagged 15 goals last term, a campaign which saw his stock rise alarmingly, and he was duly noted by the England set up where he was capped at under-21 level.

Norwich have now lost their parachute payments so in order to stay in a good financial position they are set to cash in on one of their biggest assets in recent times.

It is said that the Canaries want a fee somewhere between £20-25 million for the 21-year-old star, and while that might put off some clubs it is unlikely to sway Fulham, who are armed with plenty of clout under owner Shad Khan.

If the Cottagers are to get their man they are going to need to beat off some significant competition to secure his services as the likes of Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Southampton have all been linked with the under-21 international.

While Maddison had an excellent campaign last season, he finished it on the treatment table having suffered a knee ligament injury on the final day against Sheffield Wednesday.

That might keep him out of the start of the new campaign, although he is believed to be ahead of his schedule, which is likely to see a real battle for his signature over the remainder of the summer.



https://ninetyminutesonline.com/fulham-looking-to-take-championship-star-to-the-premier-league/

[WhiteJC]

 
"You'll be looking at us from the lower ends of the table" – Fulham fans bid farewell to departing star



Fulham defender Ryan Fredericks will leave the club on a free transfer to join West Ham United.

After three years of service and 114 appearances for Fulham, Fredericks is set to depart after helping his side win promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs.

But he has switched Craven Cottage for the London Stadium, joining West Ham on a four-year deal and becoming Manuel Pellegrini's first signing since taking over from David Moyes this summer.

The 25-year-old was named in the EFL Championship Team of the Year and Fulham will either choose to replace him or promote Cyrus Christie and Steven Sessegnon at right-back.

The former Tottenham Hotspur youth player was attracting attention from a number of clubs given his contract situation but he will join the Hammers at the start of next month.

Fulham fans took to Twitter to discuss Fredericks' exit with a mixed bag of responses



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/youll-be-looking-at-us-from-the-lower-ends-of-the-table-fulham-fans-bid-farewell-to-departing-star/

[WhiteJC]

Ryan Fredericks Signs with West Ham United
The star fullback will leave the club on a free transfer

If you have been following social media, the rumors of right-back Ryan Fredericks leaving the club for Premier League ventures has been quite strong for a while. The 25-year old is at the peak of his powers and, regardless of whether Fulham was promoted or not, wanted to be paid his worth by the football club. There was no denying Fredericks was that valuable in Slavisa Jokanovic's system as he was, by far, Fulham's most lethal weapon down the right-hand channel.

That being said, Tom Cairney, Kevin McDonald, Stefan Johansen and Ryan Sessegnon are the bigger stars of the club and Fredericks wanted to be paid like them or better. That just wasn't going to happen, especially if promotion wasn't going to be guaranteed. But now that the club are back in the Premier League, you would have thought that flirtations with going to Swansea City back in January were a thing of the past and that Fulham would not want to let someone go on the last year of his previous contract. Instead, Fredericks signed with a new agency and then became new manager Manuel Pellegrini's first ever signing for his tenure via a four-year contract.

West Ham were infamous for being way too old and thus played a slow and bland style of football under Slaven Bilic and David Moyes last campaign. With Fredericks, there is no denying the Hammers will become a faster unit, especially across the back four. That being said, will Pellegrini only use Fredericks as cover for the aging Pablo Zabaleta or will they deploy him as an out-and-out wingback in some three-center-back formation? While it is not certain how much Fredericks will be paid, he was valued at £3.6 million according to transfermarket.com.

The only thing that is certain is that Ryan Fredericks played such a massive part for Fulham during his three seasons with the club and developed into one of the best attacking fullbacks in the Championship as a result. Whether this was the best decision for the player will be determined in the near future, but we must all respect getting the opportunity to get paid such a massive increase in compensation at a time in his career where it might be his only chance to do so. Any other human being in any other profession would do the same thing.

Instead of never forgiving the man for "turning his back to the club that made him special", let's all celebrate what he accomplished for Fulham and hope the rest of his footballing future stays as bright as it has been...except for when he plays against us.



https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2018/6/6/17432938/ryan-fredericks-signs-with-west-ham-united

[WhiteJC]

 
Mitro warms up for World Cup against Chile

Aleksandar Mitrovic and Serbia warmed up for the World Cup with a friendly against Chile.

But Mladen Krstajic's men were beaten 1-0 in Graz, Austria, on Monday, with Mitrovic playing for 84 minutes.

Guillermo Maripan scored the winner two minutes from time, but earlier Serbia had strong claims for a penalty waved away when Mitrovic went down in the box under Erick Pulgar's challenge.

Serbia continue their tournament preparations with a friendly against Bolivia on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Slovakia took on Morocco in a friendly in Geneva, Switzerland, but Martin Dúbravka - who had impressed against the Netherlands last week - was an unused substitute as Jan Kozak's side lost 2-1.



https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/mitro-warms-up-for-world-cup-against-chile

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: Fulham want Besiktas's Gokhan Gonul as Fredericks replacement

Fulham have lost Ryan Fredericks but will reportedly try to sign Turkish ace Gonul instead.

Fulham would have been very disappointed to lose Ryan Fredericks.

It was expected that the flying right-back would sign a new deal at Craven Cottage after playing a major part in Fulham's promotion to the Premier League. But, less than a fortnight after victory against Aston Villa at Wembley, Fredericks has joined West Ham United for free.

It will not be easy to replace Fredericks, who assisted nine goals last season and was a key part of Slavisa Jokanovic's side due to his pace and aggression on the flanks. So there will be a lot of pressure on Gokhan Gonul if Fulham get their man.

The Mail (live blog, 12.31) reports that Fulham have made an enquiry for the 33-year-old Turkish international right-back in the aftermath of Fredericks' exit to the London Stadium.

Gonul is a defender with huge experience, having accumulated 64 caps for Turkey while winning the Super Lig three times, once with current club Besiktas in 2017 and twice during a nine-year stay at Istanbul rivals Fenerbahce.

And although his best days may be behind him and he would not offer the speed of Fredericks, Gonul retains that attacking instinct that once earned him the nickname 'the Turkish Cafu' during his time with Fenerbahce.

He set up three goals in 24 league starts last season as Besiktas finished fourth.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/06/06/do-report-fulham-want-besiktas-gokhan-gonul-as-ryan-fredericks-r/

[WhiteJC]

 
After securing promotion, in the most wonderful of fashions, via the Play-Off Final, at Wembley against Aston Villa, here at Vital Fulham we're under no illusions as to what our main target is for the 2018 / 2019 season.

It can be summed up in one word – SURVIVAL.

To retain our Premier League status for the 2019 / 2020 season, Fulham will need to reach the 40-points target, a figure mentioned so many times as ensuring safety.

Now, we'd imagine that the majority of those points will need to be won on home soil, at Craven Cottage, possibly as many as three-quarters of them.

But, looking through the list of clubs we'll be competing against, in the Premier League, where will 30 of those 40 points come from?

My belief is that Fulham need to pick up maximum points, at home, against the teams listed below:

• AFC Bournemouth
• Brighton and Hove Albion
• Cardiff City
• Crystal Palace
• Huddersfield Town
• Newcastle United
• Southampton
• Watford
• West Ham United
• Wolverhampton Wanderers

10 games I believe Fulham can win, at Craven Cottage, thereby leaving another 10 points to pick up from the other 9 home games and 19 away games.

On paper it looks achievable, but, in reality, we know we should take nothing for granted and there will be the inevitable series of twists and turns.



https://fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/10-games-fulham-must-win-next-season/

[WhiteJC]

 
Boy Wonder: Sess' Career Landmarks

Fulham's teen sensation, the Championship Player of the Year, has made so many strides in the past two years that it's hard to know where to start. Cameron Ramsey looks at the boy wonder's career so far and the major steps he's made along the way.

It's almost daily that Fulham's show-stopping starlet Ryan Sessegnon emerges as the focal point of a torrent of praise and plaudits, but given the 18-year-old's awe-inspiring ability both on and off the ball, it's hard to imagine a world where the flying left-winger isn't the talk of the town. If there is an alternate reality out there, as ghastly as it sounds, where that is exactly the case, we certainly don't want to discover it any time soon, or ever for that matter.

With a brace of professional senior seasons under his teenage belt, Sess' has smashed feats which many a journeyed athlete could only dream of accomplishing, and whilst there's still decades ahead of him in his budding career, it's safe to assume that the fledgling has achieved far more than you, or indeed I, could ever attain in life at such a tender age.

But, without dwelling on insignificance, the pulsating 'Young Lion' has ultimately gone from strength to strength throughout the past two Championship campaigns, where he has consummately claimed an extensive catalogue of gongs, records and most notably, goals, all famously in the splendour of a Whites jersey. He's one of our own, after all.

Debut
Having penned a professional contract at Fulham on his 16th birthday, Sessegnon didn't have to bide his time for a first senior appearance for his employers. The Whites encountered Leyton Orient in the first round of the 2016-17 EFL Cup campaign at the Matchroom Stadium on August 9th and much was to be anticipated from the fresh faces left-back, who had formally caught Slavisa Jokanovic's admiring eye in Steve Wigley's U18 set-up during the previous 2015-16 season.

A mere schoolboy on paper, Sess' gave the travelling faithful a reason to be optimistic over his future and a first glimpse into what to expect from his vibrant qualities on a regular basis. Against experienced adults on the professional stage, the youngster completed a full 90 minute shift on his inaugural outing, helping his teammates claim a 3-2 victory over the then League 2 stragglers.

Seven days after Orient, Sessegnon was drafted into Slav's Championship fold which drew 1-1 with Leeds United at Elland Road, a first taste of what it takes to perform in the second-tier of English football, and as we all know, since that pivotal week of first-team bows, the rest is glorious history.

First Goal
Prior his actual competitive appearance, Sessegnon actually netted his first goal against Brighton and Hove Albion in a pre-season friendly at Aldershot's Recreation Ground, a second-half strike which helped the Cottagers earn a 3-0 win at the Seagulls' expense.

But, in terms of registering his first strike that counted, against Cardiff City, Sess' latched onto a trickling Sone Aluko cross which ambled in from the right and scrambled the ball home in the 44th minute, a goal which meant that he and his colleagues went into half-time with a 1-0 lead.

The encounter eventually ended 2-2 and the spoils were shared on that particular date against the Bluebirds, however Sessegnon's introductory goal broke a notable record, as it meant that he was the first player born in 2000 to notch in the Championship and yes, that makes a lot of people feel very, very old indeed.

Newcastle Away
Fulham defied the odds on the opening day of the 2016-17 campaign at Craven Cottage by beating newly relegated Newcastle United 1-0 and upon the return fixture at the ever imposing St James' Park, an all-or-nothing showdown was billed. For those who made the weary journey up to the North East from SW6, their efforts certainly weren't wasted.

Thomas Cairney catapulted the Whites into an early lead with an left-foot drive from the edge of the box and whilst it was predicted that the table-topping Magpies would retaliate,  Fulham had a nimble weapon of mass destruction at their disposal and Sessegnon, after the interval, wreaked havoc upon Rafa Benitez's shaken rearguard.

In the 51st minute, following an audacious Aluko back-heel, Sessegnon swept home Fulham's second of the afternoon and silenced a usually raucous 'Toon Army', although the humbling wasn't finished there because just 8 minutes later the starlet found his way onto the end of an intricately weighted Aluko through ball and systematically threaded his effort into the bottom corner in the same vein as his first. Darryl Murphy may have struck back in the 3-1 reverse, but it was Sess' that ultimately attracted all the relevant plaudits, and rightly so, too.

Hat-Trick Hero
Sheffield United's Leon Clark may have dispatched three goals of his own on the night, but once again it was Sessegnon that stole the limelight in a thrilling 5-4 triumph for the south-west Londoners at Bramall Lane, a battle that epitomised the sheer tenacity of Jokanovic's contingent and the raw, unwavering flair within the teen's developing locker.

Skipping inside his marker on the half-hour mark, Sessegnon strode onto the ball with steely conviction and whipped a strike into the corner from the edge of the 18-yard box, whilst surrounded by four ill-prepared opponents. Then, in the 43rd minute, Sheyi Ojo arced a tantalising ball across the Blades' 6-yard area and true to form, Sessegnon's innate ability to effortlessly read the game saw him hammer Ojo's switch into an uninhabited net with a studied volley.

Fulham were in a commanding position in the second 45 and Sessegnon, in the 78th minute, gave his team a 5-2 lead after killing a looping projectile, jinking past his immediate opponent, and piercing the ball into the far corner, through Jamal Blackman's attempt to thwart his destined shot on target. United rallied and pushed Fulham to the referee's closing whistle, and duly left us all white knuckled, but Sess' accomplishment saw the Whites depart Yorkshire with 3 vital points.

Five Award Haul
Now, not being biased, but for Sessegnon to scoop 5 notable awards in one night, rumours did abound that the nominations panel were all Fulham supporters themselves. Then again, nobody can argue or dispute the effort and dedication behind the starlet's secondary campaign, and it was only a matter of time before it was recognised by the wider football community.

Merits such as the Championship Player of the Year, EFL Young Player of the Year, Championship Apprentice of the Year as well as being cited in the EFL Team of the Season and the EFL Club-Developed XI of the Season, that's the glittering extent of Sess's memorable evening, an everlasting indication of his class and proficiency at such a tender, impressionable age.

Smiles abounded for the teenager, a date to savour for him and the club, and with 5 golden, glistening trophies cradled in his arms, we can predict that an ample sized cabinet was purchased swiftly after the ceremony, as there's sure to be more accolades to come in the not so distant future to accompany his deserved, already comprehensive haul.

Play-Off Influence
Having missed out on second place by a whisker, Fulham finished 3rd and had the task of downing Derby County in the Play-Off semi-final, a gruelling double header against a dogged, unified Gary Rowett side which were eager to condemn the Whites to yet more heartache in their search for a return to the Premier League.

The Rams rallied in the first leg at Pride Park and landed the first blow with a 1-0 victory, a defeat for Jokanovic's men which took an undesired record in the Play-Offs to seven on the bounce, although a second stab at the Cottage was yet to come, and with the two contenders locked at 0-0 at half-time by the Thames on the night, a big 45 was needed if Fulham were to make it to Wembley after 43 years of anguish.

Under the lights, Matt Targett arced an inviting effort into the penalty area, and after Stefan Johansen chested the ball into unmarked territory, Sessegnon pounced to emphatically rifle the ball into the roof of the net, a goal that restored parity in the tie.

Denis Odoi, the slightest centre-half on the field, scored the defining goal with a hair-raising dipping header that was provided by Sess' from a calculated corner at the Hammersmith End, 2-0, and Fulham, as per another magnificent display from the boy wonder, were on their way to the home of English football.

Final Contribution
The day of reckoning was upon us, the 'white wall' was gloriously assembled and Fulham, under Wembley's iconic arch, had Aston Villa to jostle with in the 2017-18 Play-Off final, a day in the capital that we'll never forget for various reasons, but especially Tom Cairney's match winner in the 22nd minute of play.

The captain's killer strike warranted a noise that had never been heard before, 38,000 Fulham fans roaring in unison, but the build-up on the edge of the box is what's truly remarkable about that particular phase, a sequence where one incisive split from one courageous player made a mockery of John Terry's resolute Villa rearguard.

With a wall of claret and blue vying to snatch the ball, Sessegnon weaved his way through his hapless markers and dispatched an expertly weighted pass that effortlessly dissected Steve Bruce's back four, a moment of genius and craftsmanship which TC anticipated, and with the goal at his mercy, the Scotsman composedly brushed the ball under a static Sam Johnstone, an execution of supreme quality which will go down in the annals as one of the club's greatest ever goals, all thanks to the vision and bravery of the blooming inspiration that is our treasure, our number 3, our sensational Sess'.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2018-06-06-boy-wonder-sess-career-landmarks/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Joins The Race To Sign 21 Y/O Highly Impressive Norwich City Ace: Can They Lure Him In?

Fulham have entered the fray to sign impressive Norwich City attacking midfielder James Maddison and they will have to fight it out with various other Premier League clubs to bring him at Craven Cottage. The 21-year-old had an impressive season as he helped his club secure 14th place. Without him, the Canaries could have been fighting relegation and after a season like that, he is bound to a move to the Premier League.

He managed 15 goals and 11 assists and was Norwich's go-to man when they needed a moment of inspiration. The Cottagers will be looking to bolster their squad further after they secured a move to the Premier League and the signing of Maddison will certainly boost their creative and attacking options.

Along with the recently promoted Cottagers, some Premier League heavyweights are also after his signature and if clubs like Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur make a concrete offer for the 21-year-old, Fulham will not stand a chance of signing him. They might just have to step up their pursuit of the midfielder as he is currently on the radar of various Premier League clubs including some heavyweights.

It's being reported that the Canaries want £20-25m for their midfielder and Fulham might just have to think twice before they pay the amount to acquire his services. Their only out-and-out attacking midfielder option is Neeskens Kebano who had an average season.

Slavisa Jokanovic will be aware that the bigger challenge will be staying in the Premier League rather than just qualifying for it. The Serbian mastermind will need to bring in depth in his squad and the signing of Maddison will certainly boost his options up front. Maddison is a technically gifted player and has a keen eye for a defence-splitting pass. He has popped up every now and then and managed to score some crucial goals for his side. He boasts a powerful and accurate shot which makes him a dangerous proposition in and around the opposition box. He has represented England at various youth levels and is touted as a future England international.

Fulham will certainly love to have a talent like Maddison at their disposal but with some top clubs vying for him, it can be tough for Slavisa Jokanovic to lure him. However, the youngster might make a move to Craven Cottage as he will be more likely to get regular starts there and that in turn will benefit him in his overall development.



http://the4thofficial.net/2018/06/fulham-joins-race-sign-21-yo-highly-impressive-norwich-city-ace-can-lure/

[WhiteJC]

Brighton preparing £4m bid for Button
by Dan on June 6, 2018

Brighton and Hove Albion are preparing a big-money move for Fulham's number two goalkeeper David Button, according to a Sun report this evening.

Seagulls boss Chris Hughton has identified Button as the goalkeeper he wants to sign this summer to provide serious competition for Albion's first-choice keeper Mat Ryan and is prepared to pay £4m to ensure he gets his name. Brighton are eager to move quickly to strengthen their goalkeeping resources as Christian Walton is set to agree another loan spell with Wigan Athletic having helped Paul Cook's men win promotion to the Championship this season.

Button, who began the season as Fulham's number one before being dropped by Slavisa Jokanovic after a mistake in December's derby defeat by his former club Brentford, may well be attracted by the possibility of a new start after slipping behind Marcus Bettinelli in the Craven Cottage pecking order. The 29 year-old, who began his career with Tottenham, has made 61 appearances since signing for Fulham in July 2016.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/06/brighton-preparing-4m-bid-for-button/

[WhiteJC]

 
Championship clubs are heading down a black hole as report reveals that 99% of revenue is being spent on wages in a desperate gamble to reach the Premier League

    Deloitte's annual review of football finances will be released on Thursday
    It reveals clubs are playing a dangerous game in their bid to reach the top-flight
    13 second-tier teams spent more on wages than they earned in 2016-17
    All but four of 24 sides were in the red during the period investigated for review

Clubs are playing a dangerous game by overspending in a desperate attempt to reach the Premier League, the annual report on the game's finances will reveal on Thursday.

As troubled Aston Villa continue their battle to stave off administration, the report shows teams in the second tier are gambling 99 per cent of their revenue on wages — way beyond the recommended figure of 70 per cent.

All but four clubs in the division were in the red during the period investigated for accountants Deloitte's review of football finances. 'Owners and managers have... taken the decision to stretch themselves financially to gain promotion,' Deloitte said.

Villa's parlous finances have raised concerns this week and on Wednesday they saw off the immediate threat of administration by finding £2million to pay an overdue tax bill owed to HMRC.

The report reveals 13 Championship clubs spent more on wages than they earned in 2016-17.

The finance experts said the temptation to over-stretch was heightened by what they are calling 'the Newcastle effect' — in which the Tyneside club earned promotion after they increased their wage bill by eight per cent despite being relegated from the top flight in May 2016.

Newcastle's ratio of wages to revenue in the Championship was 131 per cent. The club recorded the biggest operating loss in the league — £55m. 'Newcastle was effectively run as a Premier League club... to secure an immediate return,' Deloitte said.


Deloitte claim 'the Newcastle effect' has heightened temptation to overspend in second tier

The club's wages accounted for 16 per cent of the total wage bill of the Championship. They spent 82 per cent more than Villa — the second highest spender in 2016-17. Villa ran up losses of £19.2m and spent £61.4m on wages. That's £40m more than Huddersfield Town, who were promoted that season.

Of Newcastle's high-risk gambit, Deloitte said: 'It remains to be seen whether Newcastle's success emboldens other clubs relegated from the Premier League to follow this strategy.'

Wolves took the same huge gamble last season — laying out £12.8m to Benfica for winger Helder Costa and £15.8m to Porto for Ruben Neves. But by the time they are pursued by the EFL for a breach of Financial Fair Play they will be massive Premier League earners.

Villa, who lost to Fulham in the Championship play-off final last month, need to make £40m in savings to avoid being fined for breaching FFP rules and have dire cash-flow problems.

In the Premier League, only Swansea (77 per cent) spent more than the recommended 70 per cent of revenue on wages.

Tottenham (42 per cent) spent the lowest percentage of revenue on wages in 2016-17. Manchester United, Arsenal and Leicester City spent less than 50 per cent of their revenue on wages. Burnley spent exactly 50 per cent.

Arsenal's commercial might is revealed by the new report. They have become the first club other than Manchester United to turn in a profit of more than £100m.

The overall proportion of revenue spent on wages in the Premier League is 55 per cent — the lowest since 1997-98. For the first time ever, no Premier League club reported an operating loss.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5813989/Championship-clubs-heading-black-hole-report-reveals-99-revenue-spent-wages.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham chasing Turkish defender as replacement for Ryan Fredericks

Fulham are chasing Turkish right back Gokhan Gonul as a replacement for Ryan Fredericks, according to a report from the Daily Mail.

Fredericks was a key part of Slavisa Jokanovic's side last season as the Cottagers gained promotion to the Premier League and he won't be easy to replace.

The former Bristol City man joined West Ham United on a free transfer and will join up with the Hammers when his contract expires at the end of the month.

The 25 year old had featured on 44 occasions for Fulham last season and had nine assists to his name.

However, his impressive form meant that he was a wanted man and Fulham have been unable to hang on to one of their main assets.

Gonul has spent 2 years with Besiktas after joining the former Turkish champions in 2016.

He has made 54 appearances for the club, scoring a single goal.

Prior to this move, Gonul spent nine years with Fenerbahce, where he made 254 appearances for the club finding the back of the net 10 times.

At 33 years old, Gonul is now coming towards the end of his career and a move to London would be the first time that he has played outside of Turkey.

He may not have the pace of Fredericks, but he is renowned for his attacking prowess and has been nicknamed the 'Turkish Cafu' in the past by the Turkish press.

He has been capped 64 times by his National side and his experience would be key in a youthful Cottagers side.

With only one recognised right back in Cyrus Christie, Fulham will be on the search for squad depth this summer and Gonul would be a smart signing for Jokanovic's side.



http://the72.co.uk/104718/fulham-chasing-turkish-defender-replacement-ryan-fredericks/