Wednesday Fulham Stuff (01/08/18)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Mitrovic and Fulham – a perfect fit

The level of euphoria that greeted the announcement of Aleksandar Mitrovic's return to Craven Cottage on a permanent transfer last night might have been unprecedented. It took a while to get over the line – even the player himself pronounced himself 'relieved' to 'officially become a Fulham player' in his comments to FulhamFCTV – but Tony Khan, who told Mitrovic in the aftermath of the Whites' play-off final win at Wembley, that he wanted to buy him after that stellar loan spell, had finally got his man. The lure of London, a regular spot in a Premier League side and the chance to be coached by his compatriot Slavisa Jokanovic proved irresistible.

Mitrovic's desire to return to the banks of the Thames was so great that he didn't even countenance talking to any of the other clubs who made their interest in signing him known after the World Cup. The fact that a loanee could quickly development such a bond with his club might be surprising, but Mitrovic felt his four month spell with Fulham featured the best football of his career and those twelve goals in twenty games proved pivotal to our promotion charge. It seems odd to describe a Serbian international as a typically English centre forward, but no other description can accurately encapsulate all of Mitrovic's qualities. At a stroke after his arrival on loan from St. James' Park in January, he added a presence in the penalty area that Fulham had lacked all season and you could sense the dread among the Championship's defenders as they faced the prospect of one of the hardest marking jobs in the division.

From the off, Mitrovic and Fulham were the perfect fit. As a strong and determined forward, he was the perfect foil to Fulham's pretty – and sometimes predictable – passing football. There seemed an extra potency to Fulham's attack with him in the side; and he was much more than a mere target man as well. Yes, his occupying of defenders created space for others – chiefly the phenomenon that is Ryan Sessegnon – but there was an intelligence about Mitrovic's play, hinting at finesse rather than mere brute force. His strength, first touch and clever lay-offs reminded me of a combination of Brian McBride and Bobby Zamora – and they can be no higher compliment than that.

Some have baulked at a fee that could head north of £20m for a player who has had to prove himself in the top flight. Mitrovic will be the first to admit that things didn't go his way at St. James' Park, but there are plenty of Newcastle fans who believe the Serbian got a raw deal under Rafa Benitez. He scored ten top flight goals in 40 appearances for the Magpies and a strike rate of one in four doesn't strike you as terrible, especially when you consider that many of those games saw him come on as a substitute. At 23, a hungry Mitrovic has plenty of time to improve and he'll know he has some unfinished business in the top flight. His international goalscoring record of seventeen goals in 40 games for Serbia suggests quality and Mitrovic will want to prove people wrong.

Whereas he definitely didn't feature in Benitez's plans, Mitrovic has always looked the perfect fit in Fulham's fluid system. Jokanovic will design his plans for the Premier League around his talisman and with wide players of the calibre of Sessegnon and a World Cup winner in Andre Schürrle, as well as attacking full backs pushed forward, you'd better believe he will get chances to improve on that Premier League goalscoring ratio. His relationship with the head coach will prove crucial too – Mitrovic has already jettisoned that spiky temperament that saw him get into a good deal of trouble on Tyneside and channelled his aggression into his own performances.

Mitrovic's arrival is the latest development in this summer's transfer business that suggests Fulham will be far from content to just seek survival during their first season in the top flight. A conservative estimate of the club's spending since securing their return to the Premier League totals their incomings at around £82m, with more to come – and potential the signing of Swansea centre back Alfie Mawson today. Mitrovic will certainly beef up a Fulham attack that looked a little anemic for the Premier League. Last night, the beaming smile on the Serbian's face told you all you needed to know: he's very happy to be home.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/07/mitrovic-and-fulham-a-perfect-fit/

[WhiteJC]

 
Alfie Mawson edging closer to completing £15m Fulham move with medical



Alfie Mawson has undergone a medical at Fulham ahead of a proposed transfer from Swansea.

Sky Sports News understands the Whites will pay £15m for the central defender, who played in every Premier League game for the relegated Swans last season.

Fulham swooped ahead of Premier League rivals Burnley and West Ham to agree a deal for the highly-rated English defender.

Having been promoted via the play-offs last season, the West London side have been active in the transfer market this summer and pulled off several coups.

Jean Seri - a target for Barcelona last summer - and Maxime Le Marchand arrived from Nice, Fabri has been signed from Besiktas, and former Chelsea man Andre Schurrle is back in the Premier League on a two-year loan deal from Borussia Dortmund.

And a £22m deal was completed for striker Aleksandar Mitrovic on Tuesday, after he was a big success while on loan from Newcastle last term.



http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/11455072/alfie-mawson-edging-closer-to-completing-fulham-move

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: Alfie Mawson currently undergoing medical at Fulham ahead of proposed £25m switch

Fulham are reportedly on the verge of signing the Swansea City defender.

According to a report from Sky Sports, Swansea centre-back Alfie Mawson is currently undergoing a medical at Fulham, ahead of his proposed move to Craven Cottage.

Fulham have been in talks with Swansea for the £25 million-rated ace over the past few days, according to the Daily Mail, and it seems as though the Cottagers are on the verge of bringing the Hillingdon-born defender to Craven Cottage.

The 24-year-old joined the Swans from Barnsley in the summer of 2016, for a fee believed to be worth in the region of £5 million, and he has gone on to become a real fan favourite at the Liberty Stadium, notching up 71 appearances in the process.

If Swansea manage to sell him for the reported fee of £25 million, it would represent a substantial profit for the Welsh outfit, but that is not to say that Fulham would not be getting a good deal too.

What will Mawson bring to Fulham?
The 24-year-old is a strong and commanding centre-back, and he will undoubtedly bring a certain level of physicality and leadership to the Cottagers' back-line.

In today's day and age, £25 million for someone with Mawson's quality represents excellent value for money, and if he does complete his switch to Craven Cottage, it could turn out to be a real coup for Fulham.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/07/31/report-alfie-mawson-currently-undergoing-medical-at-fulham-ahead/

[WhiteJC]

 
The stage is now set for Aleksandar Mitrovic to make his mark on the Premier League

The former Newcastle United man has all the ingredients at Fulham to finally make his mark on the top flight

Fulham finally got their man when Aleksandar Mitrovic made his move from Newcastle United permanent on July 30, signing a huge five-year contract.

A deal seemed to take forever to happen - first the 23-year-old went to the World Cup and then he went on holiday, while back in the UK the Cottagers and Newcastle continued negotiations over a fee for the striker.

In the end, Tony Khan got the player he'd been after since the final whistle blew in the Championship play-off final at Wembley.

And it has all the ingredients for Mitrovic to continue his stunning form that saw him saw 12 goals in 20 games in his loan spell in the last half of the Championship season.

The Serbian will be Fulham's main man this season as they embark on their first Premier League campaign in four years, and while he didn't have the backing of Rafa Benitez at Newcastle, Slavisa Jokanovic backs his countryman to the hills.

While his spell at Newcastle included a few goals, it was most notable for the unpredictable nature that the striker would display - a lot of the time, fans were left wondering whether Mitrovic would score and get sent off.

That's something that wasn't seen at Fulham - the 23-year-old had faith placed in him by the head coach and he repaid that with goals.


(Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)

In fact, Mitrovic only got a yellow card twice in his first spell at Craven Cottage.

It seems that the fact that Fulham place so much trust in him and made him their main man gave Mitrovic a coming of age that resulted in one of the most ruthless strikers in the Championship last season, helping the Whites get their place back in the top flight.

While at Newcastle, Mitrovic was never given that responsibility, he was seen as the younger striker who couldn't quite hold his own up front by himself, with a tendency to do something reckless that could land the side in trouble.


(Image: Adam Davy/PA Wire)

But at Fulham, he's a different character altogether and seems to have thrived in a young squad that plays attacking football.

What was clear last season is that the side needed someone to provide an outlet up top for their style of football to build up to - Rui Fonte is more a number 10 than a hold-up striker and couldn't quite fit the role that was needed.

Mitrovic slotted into that role and was the man Fulham needed, and he'll be needed even more so this year as the Whites will see less of the ball, meaning that man up top who can hold the ball up and give his team mates time to join in with the attack will be vital.



He's got the number nine shirt too, something he's craved for.

It's not just a shirt number, the number nine holds significance for strikers and always will, and to be given the number nine jersey for a Premier League side shows the faith Fulham have with Mitrovic.

To use the cliche, it's a match made in heaven, and after watching their pre-season, it's clear that Mitrovic was needed back at Craven Cottage.

With Jean-Michael Seri also added to the ranks, while Andre Schurrle has been signed for the wide berth, and not to forget Tom Cairney, the service Mitrovic has this season is quite frankly scary, and the Serbian is sure to thrive off the service he will receive.

Of course, the Premier League is a completely different kettle of fish to the Championship, and Mitrovic hasn't quite yet been able to perform at this level like he did in the second tier, hence Benitez getting rid of him.

But with the service from those previously mentioned players, the number nine jersey and Jokanovic's faith, the 2018/19 season may just be the one where Mitrovic comes of age.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/stage-now-set-aleksandar-mitrovic-14971761

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham finalising £20m Alfie Mawson transfer before permanent move for Matt Targett

Fulham were today finalising the £20million signing of Alfie Mawson and will then turn their attention to securing a permanent deal for Matt Targett.

Mawson was in London to seal a switch from Swansea in a transfer that will take Fulham's summer spending past £75million after the £20m arrival of Aleksandar Mitrovic on Monday.

Fulham's investment in the transfer market will not stop there and their next focus is Southampton left-back Targett.

Southampton want £15m for Targett but Fulham are yet to increase their offer past £10m and the two clubs are still £5m apart in respective valuations.

Targett spent the second half of last season on loan at Craven Cottage and the 22-year-old played a key role in helping Fulham secure promotion.

He allowed Ryan Sessegnon to play further forward on the left wing where the star flourished, and Slavisa Jokanovic sees Targett as a key part of his plans.

Southampton manager Mark Hughes is willing to let Targett leave St Mary's this summer but Fulham have been told they must increase their offer.

Fulham have already splashed out more than £50m on Jean Michael Seri, Maxime Le Marchand, Fabri and Mitrovic, while Andre Schurrle has joined on loan.

And Mawson was set to undergo a medical at the club on Tuesday before joining from Swansea.


Done deal: Mitrovic is back at Craven Cottage after sealing a permanent move (Getty Images)

Mitrovic finally sealed a permanent move from Newcastle on Monday and the striker insists he will be ready for the start of the season.

The 23-year-old only started pre-season training last week following a break after the World Cup and there is under two weeks until Fulham kick-off the season against Crystal Palace on August 11.

But Mitrovic said: "Physically I feel really good. We have two weeks more and I will try to prepare even more. For sure I will be more than ready for the start of the season."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-finalising-20m-alfie-mawson-transfer-before-permanent-move-for-matt-targett-a3900181.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Southampton set price tag on Targett

Southampton have named their price for Fulham target Matt Targett this summer.

According to The Evening Standard, Southampton are looking for a fee of £15m to allow Targett to leave the club.

Fulham are eager to bring Targett in after his impressive loan spell during the second half of last season.

Targett played a pivotal role in Fulham securing promotion to the Premier League, via the play-offs.

Julian Finney/Getty Images Sport

The London club have had an offer of £10m rejected by Southampton and are yet to meet Targett's valuation.

Mark Hughes is said to be willing to let Targett join Fulham during the transfer window, with Ryan Bertrand his first-choice at left-back.

The report claims that Fulham will turn all of their attention to Targett after they seal a deal for Swansea defender Alfie Mawson.

Southampton were previously linked with Mawson, with the defender undergoing a medical at Fulham on Tuesday ahead of a £20m switch.



https://readsouthampton.com/2018/07/31/southampton-set-price-tag-on-targett/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham make approach for €15m Serie A forward, Turkish club also interested

There is a claim in the Italian media, Fulham are showing an interest in Genoa forward Gianluca Lapadula.

The Premier League newcomers have been busy in this transfer window as they look to consolidate their place in the top flight, but it seems they are still looking to add to their squad before next week's deadline.

TMW report Fulham have made an approach for Lapadula and have asked for information on the Genoa player. It's claimed if the Serie A club were to sell the forward in this transfer window he would cost Fulham in the region of €15m.

The Italian football outlet also report Besiktas have made an approach for Lapadula, but it's unlikely they could purchase the Italian forward on a permanent deal given their financial situation.

Besiktas have been linked with a number of players this summer, but they've been mainly looking for loan deals.

Lapadula is contracted to Genoa until June 2021.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-make-approach-e15-serie-forward-turkish-club-also-interested/

[WhiteJC]

 
Lapadula linked with Fulham

Fulham and Besiktas are rumoured to be interested in a €15m move for Genoa forward Gianluca Lapadula.

The 28-year-old scored six goals in 28 appearances on loan for the Rossoblu in Serie A last season.

The Marassi club recently signed Lapadula outright from Milan for a fee of €11m, but TMW Web reports they would be open to selling him on for a slight profit.

According to the Italian sports news website, Genoa President Enrico Preziosi values the forward at €15m and would consider selling him at that price.

And it is believed that newly-promoted English Premier League club Fulham, along with Turkish side Besiktas, are weighing up an offer for the ex-Rossoneri man.



https://www.football-italia.net/125562/lapadula-linked-fulham

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham's offer 'higher', but player reaches 'verbal agreement' with club for new contract

Last week covered several reports from the Catalan media talking about Fulham's interest in Espanyol's David Lopez.

On July 28th, Mundo Deportivo claimed the La Liga side have made a great offer to keep the player at the club. The possibility of a counter offer from the Cottagers was still 'not ruled out'.

Today's edition of Sport claims Fulham's offer for both the club and the player meant there was a possibility that Espanyol could have lost Lopez.

Therefore, they opened the negotiations, which have been intense in the past few days. Slaviša Jokanovic's offer for the Barcelona-born player was 'higher', but he has given the priority to continue at the RCDE Stadium.

The 28-year-old is now close to signing a new deal with his current employer. He has already reached a 'verbal agreement' in principle to extend his contract and now only the paperwork and official communication is pending.

Sport claims Espanyol could make the news of Lopez signing a new contract official 'any moment', which may come as a blow for the newly promoted Premier League club.

Alternatively, as we've suggested previously, Fulham's name may well have been used throughout this process to push for a better renewal deal from Espanyol.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulhams-offer-higher-player-reaches-verbal-agreement-club-new-contract/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham make Lapadula move

Fulham have made an approach to sign Genoa striker Gianluca Lapadula, according to reports from Italy this morning.

Despite yesterday's capture of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Slavisa Jokanovic is still seeking to supplement his attacking resources ahead of the start of the new Premier League season. The 28 year-old striker only signed a permanent deal with Genoa this summer after a successful loan spell with the Rossoblu last term, but the Serie A would reportedly be open to selling him on for a profit.

Fulham will face competition for Lapadula's signature, however, with Turkish side Beskitas having also registered their interest in the forward. Lapadula is known as a physically strong and determined striker – once being given the nickname 'Sir William' after William Wallace in recognition of his strength – who can also play as a second striker or on either wing. His versatility would make him an intriguing option for any position in Jokanovic's preferred 4-3-3 system.

Lapadula, who scored eight goals in 27 appearances in two years at AC Milan and helped the Italian giants win the Italian Super Cup, found the net six times in 28 appearances last year for Genoa. Genoa president Enrico Preziosi reportedly values the forward at around £13m and could countenance a deal at that price.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/07/fulham-make-lapadula-move/

[WhiteJC]

 
Alfie Mawson signing with Fulham for cheaper than expected

Fulham are on the verge of completing a deal to sign Swansea City defender Alfie Mawson with the fee now believed to be around £15m, according to journalist Tom Barclay.

The Cottagers were understood to be in talks over a deal for the defender, with talk of the fee being agreed at around £20m, however, that fee is around £5m less than originally reported.

The Premier League's new club have enjoyed an astute summer of buiness so far having added Maxime le Marchand, Fabri, Aleksandar Mitrovic, but most impressively Andre Schurrle and Jean Michael Seri.

Fulham agree £15m fee
Fulham are set to land themselves one of the best value transfers of the summer with Alfie Mawson set to arrive at Craven Cottage for a fee half of what was been quoted last summer.

The Swans, now in the Championship, were demanding around £30m last summer, with the likes of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United both showing an interest.

The 24-year-old is currently undergoing a medical with Fulham and is expected to finalise his transfer later today for a fee believed to be £15m.

Fulham's astute summer business
Upon their return to the Premier League, Fulham are securing some excellent signings that are making them well equipped for the season ahead.

Keeping hold of their mercurial, young talent Ryan Sessegnon will arguably be their best moment of the summer, but some of their additions come very close.

The addition of Andre Schurrle will add some real experience to the West London club with the German Wolrd Cup winner having played at the very highest level.

Meanwhile, the addition of Jean Michael Seri from OGC Nice is a real coup for the Whites, with the midfielder having been chased by the likes of Barcelona and Chelsea previously.

Re-signing Mitrovic on a permanent deal is another smart piece of business from Fulham, with the striker tried and tested at Craven Cottage following his 12 goals in 17 games last season.



https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/alfie-mawson-signing-with-fulham-for-cheaper-than-expected/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham, Newcastle chasing defender who had impressive World Cup – report

Premier League newcomers Fulham are battling with Newcastle United and clubs in Germany to sign Ajax left-back Nicolas Tagliafico, according to The Sun.

The report adds that the defender, who played all four of Argentina's World Cup matches, is available for a fee of around £8 million.

Both clubs are looking to strengthen their defensive options and see Tagliafico as an ideal signing.

However, The Sun claims that Schalke 04 and VFL Wolfsburg are also interested in the defender.

Fulham are short of specialist fullbacks with new signing Maxime Le Marchand expected to start the season occupying the position.

But with limited cover for the Frenchman, it is imperative that Slavisa Jokanovic recruits in this area.

Meanwhile Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez wants to bring in another left-back to provide competition for Paul Dummett.

Achraf Lazaar recently returned from a loan spell with Benevento Calcio but is not expected to feature in the first team this season.

Newcastle right-back Javier Manquillo also played at left-back last season and is another option Benitez has should he miss out on this signing.

Tagliafico reportedly caught the eye of both clubs as a misfiring Argentina made their way through the group stages before losing to eventual winners France in Russia.

The 25-year-old only headed to Europe from Independiente in January but Ajax are prepared to let him go as the player is keen for a new challenge and wants to play in a bigger league.

His ability to also play at centre-back would also make him an attractive option, particularly for Newcastle who were recently rocked by the news that Florian Lejeune faces a lengthy injury lay-off due to a knee injury.

Tagliafico has made just 16 appearances for Ajax but with eight Argentina caps to his name and as a player who impressed during a poor World Cup campaign, it is easy to see why he is now a man in demand.



https://ninetyminutesonline.com/fulham-newcastle-chasing-defender-who-had-impressive-world-cup-report/

[WhiteJC]

 
Aleks: Only Club For Me

Read the full transcript of our welcome back interview with Aleksandar Mitrović after he returned to Fulham on a permanent deal.

Aleks, it's great to be doing another interview with you – how happy are you to be back?

Yeah it's great to be here, and I'm very glad and happy and proud to finally be here and to officially become a Fulham player. I'm very happy and proud.

The Fulham fans were hoping this was going to happen. They've clearly got a lot of love for you, and you seem to feel the same way about them?

Yeah of course. I have love for them. I expected everything to finish soon and fast but it's been a few weeks. In the end we finished [the deal] and I became a Fulham player officially, and I'm very happy, proud, and I want to continue where we stopped last season.

So was there an element of relief that the deal's done now?

Yeah, yeah, of course. I'm really relieved, happy, a lot of emotions. I'm happy to the moon and back. Very, very, very happy, and proud.

How do you feel when you think back to almost 40,000 Fulham fans singing "Mitro's On Fire" at Wembley?

It's unbelievable. You had to be there to feel that emotion, that passion. They're amazing fans and we have a very good connection. This is a big club, with a big history, and last year we made history, we made big things, and I want to continue this and I think the team is thinking as well that we want to continue where we stopped last season. We want to keep making big things, and with our fans behind us I think we can go far.

Wembley was such a special day for everyone associated with Fulham, and it's something we deserved for the way we played last season...

Yeah of course. Everybody knew that, and I think we finished the season in the best way possible. When you look now, it's maybe better to finish in the Play-Offs like this than get promoted in first or second. If you go back, I wouldn't think like this, but now when you look back, everything was unbelievable, for the team, for the fans, for the Club. It was an amazing day for all Fulham fans for sure.

All the way through your loan spell you said the target was promotion, so on a personal level how nice was it to play such an important part in that?

When I came I said that I'm a team player and I would always give myself for the team. Promotion was the target and I said if the team was playing well then I will have the chance to score goals. The team played fantastic, we had a fantastic unbeaten run, and the goals came. I think I played really good football. Now I'm back I'm very happy and I want to continue where we stopped last season and try to make new big things.

And as soon as we beat Aston Villa did you think, right, I want to play for this club in the Premier League?

Yeah I knew that. I told my agent, my brother and my family, that this is the only club I want to join. We didn't even talk. Especially after the World Cup there were a few clubs interested, but my target was to play here – my heart wanted to come here, to play here, and to continue where we stopped. I didn't talk to other clubs, I know that I want to be here. Thanks to all Fulham fans, the Fulham club, the people who work in Fulham to make this come true. They were really passionate, it was not easy but in the end we did it and I'm here and way more happy now.

You always had a smile on your face when you were here – Aleksandar Mitrović and Fulham seems to be the perfect fit...

Yeah, really. When I came here, I felt like I'd be in this team lots of years. Now I feel that I'm home, I feel settled. I don't need time to settle in or do other things, I just want to play football, to enjoy, and try to make big things with this amazing club.   

Was it good to catch up with the boys again at training?

Yeah it was nice. It was tough, my first session, but it was nice after one month to have my first training with the ball. It was really nice and I really enjoyed seeing the guys, to train with them, and to meet new players. They are all great guys, and I really enjoyed it.

It's less than two weeks until the season starts now – how excited are you to get going with Fulham in the Premier League?

Really excited, very excited. We are all looking forward, I said we want to continue where we stopped last season, and try to do big things for this club. We're all excited and can't wait for the season to start.

You played a lot of football in 2018 – the Play-Offs extended the season and then you had the World Cup – but do you feel rested and ready to go again now?

I feel ready more than ever, for sure. I'm happy, proud, physically I feel really good, and we have two weeks more to try to prepare even more, and by the start of the season we will be more than ready, for sure.

Fulham fans were rooting for Serbia at the World Cup – how do you reflect on the tournament?

We had a good team, we could do better, we had a chance to do better to pass the Group Stage as a minimum, but when we look now at how many big teams didn't play in the World Cup, how many didn't pass the Group Stage, for a country like Serbia it was a big thing to be in the World Cup, in a big competition after eight years, so we have to be happy that we were there. This is now behind us, it was a nice experience, unbelievable for all people in Serbia. We had great memories and we have to look forward to try to go to another big tournament, and then to do big things. When you're looking back now it was a nice experience that we all enjoyed.

And finally, do you have a message for the Fulham fans now you're back?

Nothing special, just to stay behind us like they were last season, like they always were. We need them, we need their support – let's make big things together next season.

Cheers Aleks, welcome home.

Cheers, thank you.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/july/31/aleksandar-mitrovic-only-club-for-me

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: Fulham target Genoa striker Gianluca Lapadula, told to pay £13m

Premier League newcomers Fulham could spend big again with Serie A striker Gianluca Lapadula reported to be on their radar.

It would not be an exaggeration to suggest that Gianluca Lapadula is Italy's answer to Jamie Vardy.

After spending his entire career in the lower leagues, the striker sealed a dream move to AC Milan in 2016 at the age of 26. He had been playing third division football just two years earlier for Teramo – meaning a switch to the San Siro was a dream come true for the late-blooming goalscorer.

But while Vardy added a Hollywood ending to his rags to riches story by lifting the Premier league trophy against all the odds, Lapadula managed just eight goals for Milan and left for Genoa after one season at the San Siro.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, however, there could be another twist in his tale with Fulham keen to offer the 28-year-old the chance to move outside of Italy for the first time in his career.

It is reported that the newly promoted club have made an enquiry about Lapadula, who managed just six goals in 28 Serie A games in 2017/18. And TMW claims that Genoa have told Fulham, as well as Turkish outfit Besiktas, that it would cost £13 million to sign him.

Quick, powerful and blessed with a warrior's mind, Lapadula could prove a good fit for English football.

And considering that Fulham have spent big this summer on the likes of Jean Michel Seri, Maxime Le Marchand and Aleksandar Mitrovic, £13 million is unlikely to break the bank.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/07/31/do-report-fulham-target-genoa-striker-gianluca-lapadula-told-to/

[WhiteJC]

 
Seri's versatility, Sessegnon & Schurrle as inverted wingers - a guide to how Fulham can survive

We've taken a look at some of the tactics used in pre-season to see how Fulham may set up in the top flight

Slavisa Jokanovic is about to embark on one of the biggest challenges of his managerial career to date as he looks to guide Fulham to safety in the Premier League.

Last season's promotion at Wembley in the Championship play-off final saw the Serbian become the first foreign manager to win promotion twice to the top flight with two different clubs, having also got Watford promoted.

He never got the chance to manage them in the Premier League, however, but he will lead Fulham out at Craven Cottage on August 11 against Crystal Palace and will test his talents against the likes of Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho this season.

The way he set Fulham up over the last two and a half seasons is well known, but this season they won't be able to play that style of football in every single game, especially when the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool come to town.

That means we might see a different feather added to the Cottagers' cap when it comes to tactics - and with just a couple of pre-season games left before the big kick off, we've taken a look at the different things we might see Jokanovic employ this season.

Dominating play
This is Fulham's bread and butter and there will be teams in the Premier League that Jokanovic will feel his side will be able to dominate on the ball, especially at Craven Cottage.

We've seen the head coach develop this brand of football over the past two-and-a-half seasons at the club and it worked wonders last year as Fulham starved the opposition of the ball, while at the same time constantly passing the ball and probing them for weaknesses.

Last campaign might not have produced the same attractive football as the campaign before, but Fulham found a grit that was lacking then.


(Image: Paul Burgman)

With the signing of Jean-Michael Seri, Jokanovic now has the option to use him in two roles - either in the anchor role or in a more advanced position alongside Tom Cairney.

We've seen Jokanovic using the Ivory Coast man in both these positions in pre-season and to good effect, it wouldn't surprise me to see Seri used in that more advanced position when Fulham are against opposition where they feel they can dominate and have the majority of possession.

With Palace the first side up, I think this will be the style of play we see Jokanovic employ at the Cottage.

The high press
Another side to Fulham we've seen so far in pre-season is the high press.

With Jokanovic knowing there will be times this season where Fulham will be without the ball and will be hit hard by offensive players, the use of the high press in pre-season could demonstrate how he intends to deal with situations where they haven't got as much of the ball.

Against Athletic Bilbao in Germany, the first 20 minutes of the game saw the side have very little in terms of ball possession, meaning their defensive organisation came into question.


Cyrus Christie challenges for the ball in Duisburg (Image: Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)

It took a while - Bilbao scored after four minutes when a ball from the middle of the park split Tim Ream and Maxime Le Marchand in half, with the ball across the face of goal being tapped home, but after that they dealt reasonably well.

Like we've seen with Liverpool under Klopp, Fulham's defence started from attack and the trio of Neeskens Kebano, Ryan Sessegnon and Aboubakar Kamara were required to press Bilbao high up the pitch and try to force them into mistakes.

It also saw the midfield trio become more compact in the heart of midfield, while the full backs were pushed higher to cut off any avenues of escape down the wings.


Matt O'Riley puts pressure on John O'Shea in Fulham's friendly with Reading (Image: Get Reading)

Now, the high press won't work against the likes of City or Liverpool, who will have players able to exploit the space left by a higher press, but playing this way away from home could work wonders for the side.

Once the ball is won high, Fulham's rapid counter attack, which we saw last season, could be used to pick off teams.

Inverted wingers
We saw Jokanovic use inverted wingers from time to time last season, including in the play-off final, although this wasn't a regular feature of Fulham's style.

But we've seen them used a fair bit in pre-season so far, meaning this could be a route Jokanovic goes down as he looks to get the best from his wide men.

Sessegnon was used more and more as a left forward in the Championship last season and to good effect, but we saw in that final his ability to play on the right, where he slipped in Cairney for that all important goal.


Ryan Sessegnon in action against Athletic Bilbao (Image: Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)

With Andre Schurrle signing, whose favoured style is to cut in from the wing, we could well see Fulham employ inverted wingers a lot more this season.

Doing so would allow Fulham's full backs, who will continue to play high up the pitch, more space out wide in which to attack from.

If it works out, the winger cutting inside from the wing will draw the opposition fullback with him, allowing either Cyrus Christie and whoever plays left back to exploit the gaps in behind to get crosses into the box, or indeed drive further into the 18 yard box.


(Image: Christof Koepsel/Bongarts/Getty Images)

It could also allow Schurrle and Sessegnon more attempts at goal, albeit from further out, against hard to break down defences.

Using Mitrovic
Signing Aleksandar Mitrovic was huge for Fulham as they head into this season, with the Serbian not just bringing a goal threat, but a focal point for the side's play.

We all know how he's utilised when Fulham dominate the play, using him to feed balls into before he tries to turn, bringing more players into the game or playing passes back into the likes of Cairney and Stefan Johansen to continue building the attack.


(Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

But his hold up play will be vital when Fulham don't have as much of the football and when every foray into the opposition's box is critical.

The old smash and grab style might have to be implemented from time to time in games this season, and having Mitrovic who is as good with his back to goal as he is with it at feet will be important when it comes to picking up points from bad games.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/seris-versatility-sessegnon--schurrle-14972557

[WhiteJC]

 
Report: Fulham make offer for West Ham midfielder Pedro Obiang

Pedro Obiang has been tipped to return to Serie A with Sampdoria - but could Fulham raid their Premier League and London rivals instead?

Sampdoria need to fill the void in their midfield left by the departure of influential Uruguayan Lucas Torreira to Arsenal and would love to re-sign Pedro Obiang.

Though, according to Football London, new West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini would rather avoid selling the 26-year-old back to Serie A. And he would surely be even more unwilling to let Obiang join a Premier League and London rival.

But that has not stopped newly promoted Fulham from attempting to sign the energetic Spaniard from the club just a few miles down the road.

According to Tuttomercatoweb, Fulham have made an offer for Obiang. And it is understood that the deal being offered to the midfielder is far more attractive from an economic point of view than the one being put on the table by Sampdoria.

But the chances of the former Atletico Madrid youngster making that short trip to Craven Cottage look slim.

TMW adds that Obiang has his heart set on a return to Sampdoria if he does indeed decide to leave West Ham this summer. He made 139 appearances for the Blucherchiati between 2010 and 2015.

Fortunately for Fulham, they have already reinforced their midfield with the signing of Jean Michel Seri from Nice.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/07/31/do-report-fulham-make-attractive-offer-for-west-ham-midfielder-p/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham set to complete £15m signing of Mawson

Fulham are on the verge of completing the £15m signing of Alfie Mawson from Swansea City.

The Hillingdon-born former Brentford centre-back, 24, was on Tuesday afternoon undergoing a medical ahead of his return to west London.

He left Brentford for Barnsley and in 2016 joined Swansea, where he impressed even as the Welsh club were relegated from the Premier League last season.

Mawson, capped by England at Under-21 level, was included in the senior squad in March for internationals against Italy and the Netherlands but did not feature in either game.

His arrival will continue a summer of significant spending by Fulham, who have boosted their squad since winning promotion to the top flight in May.

The Whites sealed the signing of Aleksandar Mitrovic on Monday and have also signed Jean Michael Seri, Maxime Le Marchand, goalkeeper Fabri and former Chelsea man Andre Schurrle.

Meanwhile, Swansea are interested in Brentford midfielder Ryan Woods.



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-set-to-complete-15m-signing-of-mawson

[WhiteJC]

 
Southampton reject Fulham's second Targett bid

Southampton have turned down a second bid from Fulham for defender Matt Targett, believed to be in excess of £10m.

Fulham are keen to sign the talented young left-back after he impressed on loan at Craven Cottage last season, but Southampton are now rumoured to be holding out for around £15m. Slavisa Jokanovic is eager to recruit another left back to allow teenage sensation Ryan Sessegnon to continue to play in the left-wing role where he flourished during the second half of last season and Fulham have already failed in attempts to sign Manchester City's Oleksandr Zinchenko and Swedish international Ludwig Augustinsson from Werder Bremen.

Targett, who formed an excellent understanding with Sessegnon down the Fulham left flank last term, made 21 appearances as the Whites won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs. Saints boss Mark Hughes was unwilling to allow Targett to leave St. Mary's earlier in the summer, viewing the Southampton academy graduate as indispensable back-up to England international Ryan Bertrand – but Targett has apparently made it clear that he wants to have the opportunity to play more first-team football this year.

Jokanovic has already signed Maxime Le Marchand, who played most of last season at left back for Nice, but the French defender is more naturally a centre half. It remains to seen whether Fulham will return with an improved offer for Targett, having already spent in excess of £60m since securing their return to the top flight in May.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/07/southampton-reject-fulhams-second-targett-bid/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham keen on Wolfsburg midfielder Josuha Guilavogui


Josuha Guilavogui made 35 appearances for Wolfsburg last season

Fulham are interested in signing Wolfsburg midfielder Josuha Guilavogui, according to Sky sources.

The 27-year-old defensive-midfielder has two years left on his contract and the Whites are looking for another player of his profile to compete with Kevin McDonald.

Guilavogui is a France international with seven caps but has not played on the international scene since 2015.

He joined Wolfsburg from Atletico Madrid on an initial two-year loan deal in 2014 before making the move permanent in 2016.

But he suffered a neck injury in a friendly that summer and did not return to action again until the following November.

Born in France but of Guinean descent, Guilavogui began his career as a youth at Toulon and Saint-Etienne, where he broke into the first-team before signing for Atletico in 2013.



http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/11455430/fulham-keen-on-wolfsburg-midfielder-joshua-guilavogui

[WhiteJC]

 
Burnley & Watford Tickets

Tickets for Fulham''s home fixtures against Burnley and Watford are now available for all supporters to purchase on General Sale.

The Whites welcome Burnley to Craven Cottage for Bank Holiday action on Saturday 25th August (3pm).

Four weeks later Slaviša Jokanović's team take on Watford on Saturday 22nd September (12:30pm).

Priced from just £25 adults and £10 juniors, supporters are able to purchase up to 4 tickets for each fixture today online, by telephone on 0203 871 0810 (opt 1) or in person from the Fulham Ticket Office.

Come On You Whites!



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/july/30/burnley-and-watford-tickets