Wednesday Fulham Stuff (25/07/18)...

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Reported Fulham bid for Willian Jose is potentially bad for Newcastle

Fulham might have gone cold on Newcastle United's Aleksandar Mitrovic, which has negative implications for Rafael Benitez.

Quite a lot of Newcastle United's budget hinges on the sale of Aleksandar Mitrovic to Fulham for £20 million.

But with that move now reportedly in jeopardy, it could have a very negative knock-on effect for Newcastle.

According to The Daily Mail, Fulham have lodged a £26 million bid for Willian Jose.

If they're successful, the Cottagers will clearly not be giving the Magpies their £20 million for Mitrovic.

The report from The Mail adds that Slavisa Jokanovic wanted his fellow Serbian in West London after he played such a big role in helping Fulham to Premier League promotion during his loan from Newcastle last season.

However, a permanent deal is yet to be thrashed out and this isn't great for the Magpies.

Benitez has said on more than one occasion this summer that his budget depends on outgoings, meaning that he has to sell to buy.

But if they can't sell Mitrovic for £20 million then that clearly affects the Spaniard's spending power, and it now gives the Serbian's other suitors the opportunity to offer a lot less for Mitrovic in the knowledge that the St James's Park club need to sell to fund arrivals.

It's a dreadful situation for Benitez to find himself in and maybe, just maybe, Newcastle should try re-open a dialogue with Fulham about Mitrovic and be more flexible.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/07/24/reported-fulham-bid-for-willian-jose-bad-for-newcastle/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham monitoring Turkey Under 19s captain Oguz Kagan Guctekin ahead of potential £3m summer bid

    Fulham are taking a keen interest in midfielder Oguz Kagan Guctekin
    He featured as captain of Turkey at the European Under 19 Championships
    The 19-year-old made his breakthrough playing for Fenerbahce last season
    An offer of around £3million plus a sell-on fee is believed to be enough

Fulham are taking a keen interest in Oguz Kagan Guctekin who was captain of Turkey at the European Under 19 Championships.

Guctekin, 19, is a defensive midfielder who made his breakthrough at Fenerbahce last season.

Fulham, back in the Premier League after a four-year absence, sent scouts to the Under 19 Euros in Finland where they met with his representatives.


Fulham are taking a keen interest in Turkey Under 19 captain Oguz Kagan Guctekin

There has been no formal offer but they were told Guctekin could be prised away from Fenerbahce for £3million plus a sell-on fee.

Fulham have also lodged a £26m bid for Real Sociedad striker Willian Jose, as they look for potential replacement for targetman Aleksandar Mitrovic ahead of the coming Premier League season.

Manager Slavisa Jokanovic wanted Mitrovic - who spent last season on loan with the Cottagers - on a permanent move after helping the club get promoted, but a deal has yet to be thrashed out.



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5987129/Fulham-monitoring-Turkey-19-captain-Oguz-Kagan-Guctekin.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham and Newcastle still £2m apart in potential deal for Aleksandar Mitrovic

Fulham and Newcastle are still £2million apart in their valuation of Aleksandar Mitrovic, according to Sky sources.

Talks are understood to be continuing over a deal to bring the striker back to Craven Cottage on a permanent deal this summer.

But the Whites are so far prepared to pay £16m for the Serbian, while Newcastle want £18m.

Mitrovic returns from his post-World Cup holiday on Tuesday and, as things stand, will report for Newcastle's pre-season training on Wednesday.

Mitrovic scored 12 goals in 20 matches while on loan at Fulham last season, as the club secured promotion to the Premier League via the Sky Bet Championship play-offs.

He made four appearances for Serbia at the World Cup, scoring once in the defeat to Switzerland.

Mitrovic joined Newcastle from Anderlecht in 2015 after scoring 44 goals in 90 appearances for the Belgian side. He has since struggled for the same consistency with the Magpies, netting only 17 times in 72 appearances for the club.



http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/11447492/fulham-and-newcastle-still-2m-apart-in-potential-deal-for-aleksandar-mitrovic

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Complete Signing Of Besiktas Keeper Fabri – Official Financial Details Disclosed

Fulham completed the signing of Fabri from Besiktas on a three-year deal today.

Besiktas disclosed the financial details of the deal, revealing that Fulham have agreed to pay a £5.3m transfer fee.

Fabri, 30, worked with Fulham goalkeeping coach Jose Sambade Carreira at Deportivo La Coruna and at Besiktas.

In fact the coach played an important role in him joining both Besiktas and now Fulham.

Fabri helped Besiktas win the 2017 Turkish Super Lig title, and was part of the side that finished the Champions League group stage as undefeated leaders.

The Spanish keeper conceded just 30 goals in 34 league appearances as the Black Eagles finished fourth.

The Cottagers have an option to extend Fabri's contract by a further 12 months.



https://turkish-football.com/fulham-complete-signing-of-besiktas-keeper-fabri-official-financial-details-disclosed/

[WhiteJC]

 
Newcastle and Fulham 'in stalemate' over Aleksandar Mitrovic fee

Newcastle United and Fulham are £2million apart in their respective valuations of Aleksandar Mitrovic, according to a report.

The two clubs have been in talks over the sale of Mitrovic, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Craven Cottage.

Sky Sports claim that Newcastle are prepared to accept £18million, while the most Fulham are prepared to pay is £16million.

Talks are ongoing ahead of Mitrovic's return from holiday later this week.

The 23-year-old was given an extended break following his involvement at the World Cup with Serbia.

United manager Rafa Benitez wants to sell Mitrovic and reinvest the proceeds on a new striker, with West Bromwich Albion's Salomon Rondon one target.



Read more at: https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/newcastle-and-fulham-in-stalemate-over-aleksandar-mitrovic-fee-1-9267877

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New Fulham keeper Fabri pens classy parting message to Besiktas after leaving the club

The Spaniard signed a three-year deal at Fulham after spending two seasons in Turkey

Fulham have made their third signing of the summer with the addition of Fabri from Besiktas - and the 30-year-old has penned a classy leaving message to the Turkish club.

The Spaniard spent two seasons in Turkey, being voted as the best keeper in the Super Lig in both those campaigns, and seems to have formed a close bond with supporters of the club.

He joins Fulham on a three-year deal, with a club option for a fourth, in a £5million move as the club prepare for life in the Premier League and will provide competition for Marcus Bettinelli.

And after being announced by the Cottagers this afternoon, Fabri penned a classy parting message to Besiktas and their fans.

He joins Fulham on a three-year deal, with a club option for a fourth, in a £5million move as the club prepare for life in the Premier League and will provide competition for Marcus Bettinelli.

And after being announced by the Cottagers this afternoon, Fabri penned a classy parting message to Besiktas and their fans.


Fulham's new goalkeeper Fabricio Agosto Ramirez (Image: VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images)

"Today one stage ends. An unforgettable experience in many ways. The next step in my career leads me to fulfill one of my dreams: playing in the Premier League.

"I want to thank all the components of the BJK: My colleagues, coaches, doctors, physiotherapists and all the people, who, although they are not in the front row, have made possible every day that I felt like home.

"I will always take you with me and will always be a big supporter of BJK.

"With all my affection, Frabicio."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/new-fulham-keeper-fabri-pens-14947497

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Fulham acquire Fabricio from Besiktas: the photo



Fabricio Agosto Ramirez is officially a new player of Fulham, as communicated by the club itself through their social media pages:

"The Club is delighted to confirm the signing of Fabricio Agosto Ramirez from Besiktas for an undisclosed fee.

A 30-year-old goalkeeper, Fabri, as he is better known, has penned a three-year deal, with the Whites holding an option to extend by a further 12 months."



https://gianlucadimarzio.com/en/fulham-acquire-fabricio-from-besiktas-the-photo

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Three reasons Fulham should target World Cup winner Andre Schurrle

The former Chelsea man is attracting interest from Craven Cottage.


Photo: Getty Images

After Borussia Dortmund announced Andre Schurrle would be returning early from the club's pre-season tour of the United States, rumours have been swirling over the German's next destination.

According to the Daily Mail, Schurrle has been linked with Everton, Crystal Palace, Lazio, and Fulham, and the southwest London club should aim to sign the World Cup winner.

Here are three reasons why Fulham should attract the German attacker to Craven Cottage.

Schurrle has valuable experience at the highest levels of football
Fulham's current squad is conspicuously absent of any player that played in the World Cup, as well as sporting just three players (Tom Cairney, Kevin McDonald, and Tim Ream) who have meaningful Premier League experience.

Schurrle possesses a wealth of international experience, and although he wasn't selected in Germany's squad in Russia due to an injury-filled season, he has a stunning 22 international goals in 57 caps.

In addition, the German has scored in the Champions League, Premier League, Bundesliga, and Europa League in his career, an impressive goalscoring pedigree that would be invaluable to Fulham's squad.

He is comfortable playing anywhere in attack
Schurrle's flexibility is an asset, as the attacker can operate in the left wing, centre-forward, attacking midfield, or right-wing positions.

As the Whites currently lack a top-quality right winger that can start week-in, week-out in the Premier League, Schurrle would be the perfect man to fill that void. Fulham fans know his skills all too well, as he bagged a hat-trick in 2014 against the club when playing for Chelsea.

Consistent first-team football could bring Schürrle back to his best form
Schurrle would be granted consistent first-team football, a luxury the 27-year-old has not enjoyed for many a season. The last time he made 30 or more league appearances in a year came in 2013/14 with Chelsea, when he contributed eight goals and two assists in 15 starts.

At the Cottage, he would be a guaranteed starter on the right wing of Slavisa Jokanovic's 4-3-3 system, which would grant Schurrle the confidence and playing time he craves to rediscover his best form.



https://tbrfootball.com/three-reasons-fulham-andre-schurrle/

[WhiteJC]

 
West Ham should hijack Mitro deal

OPINION

West Ham must look to beat Fulham to the signature of Newcastle United attacker Aleksandar Mitrovic as he would be a sensation at the London Stadium.

Throughout the transfer window so far the Cottagers have seemed very likely to get the 23-year-old forward from the Magpies as they have consistently been linked to him since he impressed for them on loan last season.

However given that Sky Sports reported on Tuesday that the two Premier League sides still hadn't reached an agreement over a permanent deal for Mitrovic, then the Hammers should look to welcome Mitrovic to the club.

The broadcaster claimed that Fulham were only willing to pay £16million to get the powerhouse forward whereas the Magpies were looking to receive £18million for his services.

The Hammers have shown their willingness to splash the cash in this window and £18million is a respectable amount to pay for a 23-year-old attacker who was in prolific form by the time the 2017/18 season ended.

Mitrovic was scoring goals for fun once he joined Fulham on loan in January and finished the season having scored 12 goals in 20 appearances for the London club.

While there may be some that point out that he was being a lethal finisher in the Championship, Mitrovic does look capable of being a prolific force in the Premier League if in the hands of the right manager.

Manuel Pellegrini has plenty of experience in football and could unlock the 23-year-old's potential in England's top-flight if given the chance to work with him.

Mitrovic has all the attributes needed to excel in the Premier League as he's physically tough, has an eye for goal and isn't afraid to put his body on the line for the cause.

Following the injury to Andy Carroll earlier this month, as confirmed by the club's  official site, Pellegrini could do with another talented forward to call upon.

This all means that the Hammers should match Mitrovic's reported £18million price tag in order to beat their Premier League rivals Fulham to the player's services.



https://foreverwestham.com/2018/07/premier-league/west-ham-should-hijack-mitro-deal/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham sign Fabri
The former Besiktas number one will compete with Marcus Bettinelli for the top spot

Among the more sustainable transfer rumors this summer for Fulham has been the addition of Spanish goalkeeper Frabri. With David Button leaving for Brighton and Hove Albion, the club was in need of a back up that had top flight European Football experience, at worst. Enter the 30-year old from Besiktas who will be arriving on a £5 million transfer fee and is on a three-year contract with a one-year club option.

Fabri has certainly had an eventful footballing career. With Besiktas being usual contenders for the Turkish Super Lig crown, he has gone on to make 11 appearances over the past two seasons in the Champions League and six appearances in the Europa League. The highlight of such feats includes playing in the Round of 16 last campaign, where the club were just no match to the superpower that is Bayern Munich.

Beforehand, Fabri has also played for Deportivo La Coruña, Recreotivo de Huelva, Real Betis and Real Valladoid during his decade long journey playing professionally in his native country, Spain. That being said, he's only been able to be the true number one keeper for two full seasons before moving to Besiktas and has only made 201 total club appearances as a result. Fabri also dealt with a lingering tibia fracture and a possible career threatening shoulder injury that made him miss the 2015/16 La Liga season.

However, his career has seemed to always be under the watch of Jose Sambade Correira, who has been the goalkeeping coach at both Deportivo and at Besiktas during his tenure. Now Correira is the main man coaching the goalkeepers at Fulham and it is of no surprise if he had an influence suggesting Slavisa Jokanovic to sign Fabri.

So who how do Fabri's stats look? For one, he's a fantastic shot stopper with a save percentage over 71% in his two previous seasons with Besiktas and his 2014/15 season at Deportivo. Along with that, his long ball passing is up there with Marcus Bettinelli's with a 40.8% success rate since 2012/13. However, that category has improved massively since Fabri has been at Besiktas with a two-year success rate of 46.2%. He will have to adjust playing the ball short more often under Jokanovic's system, as he has never been able to pass it to the back four more than half the time in any of his seasons in goal. But with plenty of experience in Turkey and Spain, there's no denying that Fabri will be a welcome addition to the club.

¡Bienvinido Fabri!



https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2018/7/24/17608198/fulham-sign-fabri

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Fulham Joins The Race To Sign This 22 Y/O Midfielder From Aston Villa: Right Fit For Jokanovic?

If current reports are to be believed, then Tottenham Hotspur aren't the only club going after Aston Villa's Jack Grealish.  The latest entrants are Fulham who inflicted that painful defeat on Villa in the playoff final. Businessman Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens have taken over 55% stake of the club. Villa are now financially well placed than a few weeks ago. However, it is still very much expected that their star midfielder Grealish will part ways with the club in the summer.

Spurs have been happy to bide their time as they are aware of the fact that Villa will have to generate some funds by selling some of their players. Manager Steve Bruce has also claimed that one can expect some departures from the club. However, with Fulham entering the race, Spurs will have to step up their pursuit of the star English midfielder.

The Cottagers made a massive acquisition in the form of Jean-Michael Seri, defeating some of the heavyweight clubs in the process, so the North London club cannot underestimate the Lilywhites' credibility in getting their target. However, it is still not clear how far the Cottagers will go to lure in the 22-year-old midfielder.

The Englishman was instrumental in bringing the Clarets and Blue close to Premier League qualification. He made 34 appearances in all competitions and managed a tally of 3 goals and 8 assists. More than the goals and assists, he was always influential in drawing defenders from their position which in turn created space for other players. The Birmingham born midfielder is nimble on his feet and has the ability to wriggle out of tight spaces. He is often one of the most fouled players on the pitch as defenders find it tough to stop him.

Signing Grealish will be a big boost for Slavisa Jokanovic as a partnership of Seri, Tom Cairney and Grealish will be a potent one. However, Tottenham still remains the frontrunners for his signature as they can offer the youngster a chance to play in the Champions League.

The Englishman is touted as a future England international and for that to happen he needs to start playing in the top flight. Fulham will be able to give him much more game time than Spurs but it is expected that Villa will sell the player to the highest bidder which is likely to be Spurs, given the fact that they will be challenging for big trophies and are yet to make a signing in the current transfer market.



https://the4thofficial.net/2018/07/fulham-joins-the-race-to-sign-this-22-y-o-midfielder-from-aston-villa-right-fit-for-jokanovic/

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Why Fulham landing this talented World Cup winner could be the biggest coup of the summer



Fulham landing Andre Schurrle could be the coup of the summer

Fulham have finally made their way back into the Premier League and the club will be hoping to make a strong start under Slavisa Jokanovic. The atmosphere at Craven Cottage will be buzzing and the fans will be waiting for the season to kick off. Fulham made it to the Premier League after beating Aston Villa in the playoff final last season.

The Cottagers have been busy in the market, making high-profile signings to strengthen the squad. Slavisa Jokanovic has already signed the likes of Jean Michael Seri and Maxime Le Marchand from Nice. The club are also on the verge of completing a deal for Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who could join the club on a permanent basis this season.

Fulham have subsequently been linked with Borussia Dortmund winger Andre Schurrle over the last few days. The Cottagers are reportedly interested in prizing away the former Chelsea star who broke onto the Premier League scenes in 2013.

Schurrle scored 11 goals in 44 Premier League appearances for the Blues before making the move to Dortmund in February 2015. He has since gone on to make a total of 33 league appearances for the German outfit, scoring 3 goals.

The midfielder is also attracting heavy interest from Everton and Crystal Palace. Serie A outfit Lazio are also said to be in the race for his signature. Dortmund are interested in signing Eagles attacker Wilfried Zaha and are willing to offer Schurrle in exchange but a deal is yet to materialise. In the meantime, Fulham will be keeping their cards close to the chest.

The midfielder is also attracting heavy interest from Everton and Crystal Palace. Serie A outfit Lazio are also said to be in the race for his signature. Dortmund are interested in signing Eagles attacker Wilfried Zaha and are willing to offer Schurrle in exchange but a deal is yet to materialise. In the meantime, Fulham will be keeping their cards close to the chest.

Andre Schurrle would certainly be a great addition for the Cottagers as they embark on a new journey this season. The club are going to need a lot of attacking talent in their ranks and by completing moves for Aleksandr Mitrovic and Andre Schurrle, Slavisa Jokanovic can conclude a successful transfer window which should see the club be ready to compete in the Premier League.



https://soccersouls.com/2018/07/25/why-fulham-landing-this-talented-world-cup-winner-could-be-the-biggest-coup-of-the-summer/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham agree deal to sign former Chelsea man Schurrle

Andre Schurrle is on his way back to west London to join Fulham.

A deal has been agreed for the former Chelsea midfielder, 27, to move to Craven Cottage from Borussia Dortmund.

Germany international Schurrle spent two years with Chelsea, who signed him from Bayer Leverkusen in 2013 and later sold him to Wolfsburg.

Crystal Palace are also keen to sign him but Schurrle is set to undergo a medical on Wednesday before completing a move to Fulham.

Schurrle made 44 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, 24 of them as a substitute, and scored 11 goals. He joined Dortmund in 2016.

The Bundesliga club have allowed Schurrle to leave their pre-season training camp in the United States in order to fly to London and complete the transfer.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/chelsea/fulham-agree-deal-to-sign-former-chelsea-man-schurrle

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Borussia Dortmund forward Andre Schurrle set for Fulham medical on Wednesday

Borussia Dortmund forward Andre Schurrle is flying to London on Tuesday night ahead of a medical at Fulham on Wednesday, according to Sky sources.

Sky Sports News understands that Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic has secured the signature of Schurrle ahead of a number of interested clubs, including Crystal Palace and AC Milan.

The Germany international was released from Dortmund's tour of the United States to discuss the move.

Sky Sports News have been told that the 27-year-old chose Fulham having been an admirer of the team's passing style during last season's successful Sky Bet Championship campaign.

Schurrle has experience of playing in the Premier League, winning the title with Chelsea in 2015 after joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2013.

He spent a season and a half at Stamford Bridge before a return to the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg in February 2015. He moved to Dortmund the following year.

He was part of the Germany squad that won the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.



http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/11447900/borussia-dortmund-forward-andre-schurrle-set-for-fulham-medical-on-wednesday

[WhiteJC]

 
Andre Schurrle could become Fulham player on Wednesday as newly-promoted Premier League side hold further talks with Borussia Dortmund

    Fulham could complete deal for Dortmund winger Andre Schurrle on Wednesday
    Further talks being held between Bundesliga side and Premier League new boys
    Schurrle previously scored 11 goals in 44 Premier League games for Chelsea

Fulham are holding further talks with Borussia Dortmund over former Chelsea winger Andre Schurrle.

The newly-promoted Premier League side could complete a deal for the Germany international on Wednesday.

It would represent a significant coup for Slavisa Jokanovic's side as they look to build their squad following last season's Championship play-off victory.


Fulham are holding further talks with Borussia Dortmund over winger Andre Schurrle

Schurrle is available for sale and has been offered to Everton and Crystal Palace, while Lazio have also showed an interest.

The 27-year-old was released from Dortmund's tour of the USA to conduct talks over his future.

Dortmund have pushed Schurrle towards English clubs with a deal set to be decided as early as this weekend.

Schurrle scored 11 goals in 44 Premier League appearances for Chelsea before leaving Stamford Bridge in February 2015.

The Craven Cottage club are also still negotiating with Newcastle for Aleksandr Mitrovic, but are understood to be £2m apart on concluding a deal.


Schurrle previously scored 11 goals in 44 Premier League games for Chelsea



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5988411/Dortmund-forward-Andre-Schurrle-sign-Fulham-Wednesday.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Schürrle set for Fulham medical

German winger Andre Schürrle has flown to London tonight for a medical at Fulham tomorrow ahead of a proposed move from Borussia Dortmund, according to a Sky Sports report this evening.

Sky suggested that Fulham have already agreed a transfer fee and personal terms with the former World Cup winger and have beaten off interest from the likes of Crystal Palace and AC Milan. Dortmund confirmed that they had released Schürrle from their American pre-season tour so that he could discuss a possible transfer with an English club – and the 27 year-old has reportedly chosen Fulham having been impressed with the brand of football that Slavisa Jokanovic has brought to Craven Cottage.

The transfer would represent a return to west London for Schürrle, who spent two seasons with Chelsea. He won the Premier League at Stamford Bridge in 2014 but struggled to nail down a regular starting spot, making 44 first-team appearances for the Blues and scoring eleven goals. The forward did score a hat-trick at Craven Cottage against Fulham in the season that the Whites were relegated from the top flight.

He is widely considered to have endured a disappointing time with Borussia Dortmund, having signed from Wolfsburg two years ago. He has scored 23 goals in 85 appearances for Dortmund, but has an impressive international pedigree having set up the winning goal for Mario Götze in the 2014 World Cup final and won 57 caps for his country.

Schürrle could become Fulham's second signing in as many days after the arrival of Spanish goalkeeper Fabri from Besiktas this afternoon.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/07/schurrle-set-for-fulham-medical/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham re-signing this 27-year-old could be a smart move – a perfect partner for Cairney

Why Fulham must sign Oliver Norwood from Brighton

According to reports, Brighton and Hove Albion have rejected a bid from Fulham for midfielder Oliver Norwood.

Norwood, 27, spent last season on loan at Fulham in the Championship and played 41 games for them in all competitions. He played a crucial part in the Cottagers' promotion to the Premier League under Slavisa Jokanovic.

A couple of weeks back, Fulham shattered their transfer record to land Jean Michael Seri from OGC Nice. Seri is a quality player and his signing means the Cottagers are now well stocked in the midfield department. Regardless of that, should Jokanovic make a move for Norwood?

Why not? The Cottagers need quality as well as a big squad to rub shoulders with the Premier League teams. Generally, fatigue and injuries come into play at some point in the season and it is always important to have a beefed-up squad. Considering that aspect, Jokanovic must look to bring Norwood back to Craven Cottage.

He has bags of experience playing in the Championship and has been promoted twice in the past two seasons with Brighton and Fulham respectively. The Northern Irishman started his career at Manchester United and has gained experienced playing on loan at Carlisle United, Scunthorpe United and Coventry City before joining Huddersfield Town in 2012.

After a couple of years with Huddersfield, Norwood signed for Reading before turning up for Brighton in 2016. He helped the Seagulls gain promotion to the top-flight in his first season at the club. But the midfielder was farmed out on loan to Fulham last season where he impressed massively, after a slow start.

The presence of Tom Cairney and Stefan Johansen in midfield meant Norwood had to wait for his chance at Fulham. Norwood got a chance when Cairney struggled with knee problems but he failed to impress and looked short of confidence. However, the return of Cairney to the first-team saw a drastic change in Norwood's form as the latter offered excellent defensive cover.

The Northern Ireland international offered a solid base in midfield as he allowed the attackers to influence the game in the final third. Norwood suddenly became a key player in Fulham's midfield and his contributions started to become visible.



Slowly but steadily, Norwood became a valuable member for Jokanovic and provided a different dimension to the midfield with his energetic and hard-tackling displays. Also, he managed 5 goals and 3 assists, which points to the fact that he wasn't left behind when it came to making a mark in the attack.

Although better suited to a holding position, Norwood can also ply his trade further up the pitch in a more attacking role, a revolving factor which could help Jokanovic freshen up his approach in the upcoming gruelling Premier League season.

Seemingly cast out of Chris Hughton's Brighton squad next term, it would be wise for Fulham to go all out and sign Norwood.



https://soccersouls.com/2018/07/25/fulham-re-signing-this-27-year-old-could-be-a-smart-move-a-perfect-partner-for-cairney/

[WhiteJC]

 
Southampton must hijack Fulham's £26m bid to sign Willian Jose

According to reports in The Sun, Fulham have made a £26m bid for Real Sociedad striker Willian Jose as an alternative to Newcastle United centre-forward Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Southampton should be looking to hijack the deal.

What's the word, then?

According to reports in The Sun, Fulham have made a £26m bid for Real Sociedad striker Willian Jose as an alternative to Newcastle United centre-forward Aleksandar Mitrovic, and Southampton should be looking to hijack the deal.
What's the word, then?

Why should Southampton hijack the move?

Well Saints, who should also go all out to sign a versatile former Liverpool man with 33 goals & assists in 2017/18,  have been crying out for an effective centre-forward ever since Graziano Pelle left St Mary's two years ago, with the likes of Charlie Austin and Manolo Gabbiadini struggling to fill the void.

However, the tall Willian Jose could certainly do it as he is known being strong in the air, is good at holding the ball up and is a good finisher when he needs to be.

While signing him would smash the south coast outfit's transfer record, their 3-0 defeat to Derby County in a pre-season friendly on Saturday coupled with only scoring 37 goals in their 38 Premier League matches last term highlights that they may need to splash the cash on a goalscorer to avoid finding themselves in relegation trouble again in 2018/19.



https://www.footballfancast.com/transfer-opinion/southampton-must-hijack-fulhams-26m-bid-to-sign-willian-jose

[WhiteJC]

 
SMS – Sending a message to the Premier League

With reports last night that Andre Schürrle is due to undergo a medical today with Fulham, it's hard to not get carried away with the prospect of the front three that Slavisa Jokanovic will be able to put out in the Premier League come August. If all goes to plan, that fluid forward line could be teenage sensation Ryan Sessegnon, Serbian hitman Aleksandar Mitrovic and Schurrle, who will have something to prove in English football after being let go by Chelsea.

Despite reports to the contrary lately, I have the upmost confidence that the deal to bring Mitrovic to Craven Cottage will be confirmed by Friday, finally ending two months of fevered speculation regarding the Newcastle United striker's future. The partnership between Sessegnon and Mitrovic proved pivotal in our promotion in our promotion from the Championship last season. The constant threat from the left and through the middle caused havoc in opposition defences and when you add a World Cup winner to the mix, it certainly provides real optimism for the season to come.

So what does Schürrle bring to the table? Well, he brings a wealth of experience at club and international level. His Premier League record scoring record stands at a goal every four games, which is particularly impressive for a winger. He also has an impressive goal to game ratio for his native Germany, scoring 22 goals in 57 appearances; and he also famously provided the assist to give Germany their first World Cup in 24 years. Schürrle also offers versatility in being able to play across the front 3 – which could see he and Sessegnon swap flanks to further bamboozle defenders. He has bundles of experience at the highest level and the work ethic of a proven winner. He has been linked with the likes of Everton, Crystal Palace, AC Milan and Lazio this summer but it looks like Tony Khan may well have got his man. This latest piece of transfer business highlights Fulham's ambition not just to make up the numbers upon their return to the top table of English football – and the new boys are certainly sending out a message to the rest of the Premier League this summer.

Schürrle might be more used to playing on the left wing, but he did contribute nine goals from the right during his last spell in England. Jokanovic tried a whole host of wingers on the right flank including Floyd Ayite, Neeskens Kebano and Lucas Piazon, but none of them claimed the spot for themselves. Fulham ended the season with the unpredictable – but significantly improved – Aboubakar Kamara operating out wide. With Schürrle coming in, we may just have found the missing link in the front three.

This could be a move to reinvigorate the German's impressive career. He has found it tough at Borussia Dortmund, making just 33 appearances in the last two seasons, and will want to show that his best days are not behind him. There may be comparisons with Irish winger Damien Duff, who found a new lease life in a Fulham shirt as the Whites recorded their highest-ever league finish and reached a European final under Roy Hodgson. If Schürrle can have a similar impact, then Fulham could be well on their way to establishing themselves in the top flight again.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/07/sms-sending-a-message-to-the-premier-league/

[Neil D]

I hope the Willian Jose speculation is just a ploy to flush out a deal with Newcastle over Mitro.  Mitro is a proven goalscorer for us and the Club's record with speculative signings of forwards is poor.