Bayern Munich 'make contact with Manchester City over Kalvin Phillips move'
Bayern Munich have reportedly made contact with Manchester City to discuss the availability of midfielder Kalvin Phillips.
Thomas Tuchel is known to be on the lookout for a new defensive midfielder and the Bundesliga champions came close to signing Fulham's Joao Palhinha in the summer.
However, Palhinha's proposed move to the Allianz Arena collapsed at the eleventh hour, and the Portugal international has since signed a new long-term contract with Fulham.
Bayern are understood to still regard Palhinha as their primary midfield target heading into January, but they are keeping tabs on a number of other alternatives.
According to 90min, the Bavarian giants have identified Phillips as an alternative to Palhinha and have made contact with Man City to gauge his current status at the club.
The report adds that Tuchel is an admirer of Phillips and was left impressed by the midfielder's performances for former club Leeds United.
Phillips left his boyhood club Leeds in the summer of 2022 after seven years in the first team and moved to Man City where he was initially hoping to establish himself as a regular in Pep Guardiola's side.
However, the 27-year-old has started only five of his 26 appearances for the Citizens across all competitions, starting just one of the club's first 13 matches of the new campaign.
While Rodri is considered the undisputed first-choice holding midfielder at Man City, Phillips has already fallen behind summer signing Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes in the pecking order, while 18-year-old full-back Rico Lewis and Bernardo Silva have also been used in deeper midfield roles ahead of the Yorkshireman.
Phillips still has five years remaining on his contract at the Etihad, but the midfielder is allegedly ready to consider an exit from Man City in search of regular first-team football.
However, a recent report claims that the Citizens are only willing to part ways with Phillips if they can recoup as much of the £45m that they spent on the midfielder 15 months ago as possible.
Speaking to Channel 4 after starting in England's 3-1 win over Italy in Euro 2024 qualifying on Tuesday, Phillips said: "As a football player, you always want to be playing, and so that's the case with me.
"I want minutes and obviously I haven't done that over the last year and a half, so that's one thing I want to do. Let's see what happens."
Bayern could face competition from a host of Premier League clubs for Phillips's signature including West Ham United, Newcastle United, Arsenal, Everton and Liverpool.
https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/transfer-talk/news/bayern-make-contact-with-man-city-over-kalvin-phillips-move_526663.html?newsnow
Bowie delivers crucial Scottish U21 win
Fulham forward Kieron Bowie's third goal in four days sealed a crucial win for Scotland's under 21s against Malta at Motherwell last night.
Bowie, currently spending a successive season on loan at Northampton Town, drove home from an acute angle with eight minutes remaining to give Scott Gemmill's side a vital victory that lifted them up to second in Group B. The Scots had seen Alex Lowry's first-half penalty cancelled out by a spot kick from Andrea Zammit and rode their luck shortly afterwards when Nikolai Micallef hit the crossbar.
The hosts pressed for a winner with Liam Morrison seeing a shot cleared off the line before Dundee's Josh Mulligan, who had missed two good chances in the first half, drove into the penalty area and flashed a low cross through the six-yard box that Bowie brilliantly guided into the far right corner from well beyond the far post before spinning away in celebration.
https://twitter.com/ScotlandNT/status/1714344631066914830
Gemmill heaped praise on the matchwinner during his post-match reflections.
"I'm delighted for him. He's become a father in the last few months and you can see him maturing. I speak to Colin Calderwood a lot at Northampton – he's part of the staff there – and Kieron has responded. He's moved up a league after promotion last year and it's fantastic he's playing and pushing again and he's not settling for where he was."
https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/10/bowie-delivers-crucial-scottish-u21-win/
Crawley Town 2-6 Worthing: Player ratings - 3 for 'petulant' defender, West Ham and Fulham loanees score 4s on embarrassing night
Crawley Town had a night to forget in Worthing as they lost 6-2 in the Sussex Senior Cup, lost two players to injury and had a man sent off.
Ade Adeyemo netted a first-half brace for the Reds – his first professional goals in only his second start – but the striker hobbled off with a concerning-looking injury at half-time with Scott Lindsey's side 3-2 down.
Harry Ransom also limped off in a topsy-turvy half which saw the Reds twice take the lead but they couldn't keep things tight at the back.
Little could have been done to stop a screamer from Jesse Starkey but the second and third goals came after some questionable defending from Crawley.
They never really looked like equalising after the break, with Worthing looking the more likely, and things went from bad to worse when Travis Johnson saw red for a petulant off the ball incident. He appeared to hold Bailey Smith by the neck in a moment of madness and the referee gave him his marching orders after liaising with the linesman.
The game looked like it was petering out before Worthing ran riot with three late goals to seal a 6-2 win and progress to the next round of the Sussex Senior Cup.
The outstanding Joan Luque scored a deserved goal before an audacious chip from Ollie Pearce and a fine finish off the post by Bailey Smith sealed a memorable win for non-league Worthing over their League Two opponents.
Luca Ashby-Hammond – 4: Conceded six goals on a less than ideal night for the Fulham loanee. No chance with superb strike from distance. Couldn't have done much about the second one. Beaten at his near post for the third. Important saves in second-half before Worthing ran riot against ten-men. Beaten by Luque's fine finish and will be disappointed to be chipped for the fifth goal. Conceded again with last kick of the game.
Jayden Davis – 4: One of three Crawley changes from the EFL Trophy game at Sutton. First start of the season for Crawley for the midfielder who is on loan at Farnborough. Owing to competition rules, players that are out on loan are eligible to play in Sussex Senior Cup fixtures. Took up an attacking position on the right hand side but didn't make a real impact on the game. Booked for bad foul.
Will Wright – 5: Clear foul on opponent early on. Some nice passes. Will be disappointed to have conceded those three first-half goals. Subbed in the second-half.
Harry Ransom – 6: Captained the side and the night started well with a good assist for opening goal. Looked badly hurt and had to be subbed at 2-2.
Joy Mukena – 5: Suspect defensively, on the right of a back three. A good cross as Crawley threatened. A couple of important interceptions.
Harry Forster – 5: Looked lively early on. Won a corner after good wing play. Flashed a cross across goal. Impact faded as game went on.
Travis Johnson – 3: Started in central midfield before taking up a more defensive position after Ransom was subbed off. No real impact on the game. Sent off for a needless off the ball incident as Crawley's night went from bad to worse.
Rafiq Khaleel – 4: Very quiet in the game. Booked.
Jack Roles – 5: Looked good early on, running the midfield, as Crawley started well. Gave ball away carelessly as Worthing started to take control. Long range strike off the crossbar.
Kamarai Simon-Swyer – 4: Should have scored early on. Not able to get into the game. Got in behind the defence but defenders caught up and he lost the ball. The West Ham loanee hasn't done enough in last two cup games to warrant a league start.
Ade Adeyemo – 7: A rare bright spark for Crawley with two goals in the first half. It could have been a hat-trick after he had a shot saved early on. Took his goals well and great to see him off the mark for the club. Horrible to see him suffer a bad injury. Needed help to walk off the pitch and hobbled slowly into the tunnel, with support, as the half-time whistle went. He had only just come back from an injury set back.
Substitutes:
Aaron Henry – 5: Took up midfield role after replacing Ransom. Guilty of a couple of sloppy passes. Failed to make the impact he would have liked.
Sonny Fish – 5: The youngster, who is on loan at Tonbridge Angels, came on at half-time for Adeyemo. Worked hard but struggled to find an opening.
Florian Kastrati – 5: A midfielder-by-trade, the 21-year-old was defending resolutely as Crawley played for half an hour with ten men before Worthing's two late goals sealed a convincing victory.
https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/football/crawley-town-2-6-worthing-player-ratings-3-for-petulant-defender-west-ham-and-fulham-loanees-score-4s-on-embarrassing-night-4375724
Tottenham star flying back to London to examine injury after another blow ahead of Fulham
Tottenham are sweating over the fitness of Cristian Romero after he picked up an injury on international duty.
Cristian Romero is expected back in north London tomorrow to assess the extent of his ankle injury after withdrawing from Argentina's 2-0 win over Peru this morning.
The World Cup winner picked up the injury earlier in the game but stayed on and played until the first half when he was replaced.
Romero has been one of the outstanding players for the Lilywhites and a long-term layoff will mean be a blow to their strong start to the campaign.
Argentina, meanwhile, ran out 2-0 winners with two goals and another sublime performance from Lionel Messi who continues to be in the discussion for the world's best player despite now playing his football in the United States.
The injury to Romero adds to the concerns over the captain Son Heung-min who was limping during and after the game against Vietnam.
The Spurs captain however finished the game and explained why he's had to be careful during the international break: He told reporters: 'I was worried about whether to play in today's game, but I couldn't accept coming to Korea and not playing in front of the fans.
"I discussed with the coach and told him I would play in the game. I couldn't participate much in training, but I'm grateful to the coach for respecting my decision."
Tottenham will hope both are fine or at least nothing long-term after what has been a great start to the campaign.
https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/spurs/tottenham-flying-back-to-london-to-examine-injury-after-another-blow-ahead-of-fulham-4375984
Who should be our first-choice full-back pairing?
Macsen Morgan looks at the strengths and the weaknesses of the full-backs in our first-team squad.
After a year of almost always having to depend on Jedi and Kenny, the arrival of Timothy Castange and Fode Ballo-Toure means that not only do we have plenty of depth, but questions are being asked about what combinations might work best this term.
Antonee Robinson
Jedi is our longest serving full-back. He's has been at the club since 2020 when he joined for a mere £3m from Wigan Athletic. The American international has been a consistent starter for almost three seasons. His outstanding quality is obviously his pace, but he's a contributor to both the attacking and defending sides of the pitch. His pace allows him to recover the ball quickly and cover from the relative lack of pace that Ream and Diop have.
In terms of his attacking qualities, Robinson links well with Willian or whoever else is playing on that left flank as well as putting in a lot of crosses into the box – he hit 134 of them last season. However, there are some points of improvement when it comes to the quality of his crosses and his general end product from his attacking contributions as he only notched one assist and didn't get a single goal last season.
Kenny Tete
Tete was one of our outstanding performers last season and had one of the best one-on-one records in the league for a large portion of it. The Dutchman might not have the rapid pace of Robinson, but his attacking output is still there as he assisted five goals last season and was one of the clubs best defenders.
Kenny has shown himself to be slightly prone to injury though, missing 20 games in the last two full seasons. His injury this term has allowed Castagne to come in and impress. Tete also lacks in the attacking department, as he does not take on his defender or make penetrating runs that often compared to other full-backs.
Timothy Castagne
The Belgian international defender arrived at Fulham for £20m in the summer from relegated Leicester, and he's found himself a regular starter almost immediately due to Kenny Tete's injury where he has impressed many with his defensive attributes as well as his attacking ones.
Castagne is able to play on both sides but is much more comfortable on his right, meaning that although he could be competing with Jedi, he's more likely going to be battling it out with Kenny Tete. Both players share very similar profiles, with Castagne just edging his teammate physically. The arrival of someone else who can replicate the performances of Kenny Tete when he's injured can only be a good thing.
Fode Ballo-Toure
The competition for Antonee Robinson is Senegalese loanee Fode Ballo-Toure, another pacey wing-back. Ballo-Toure is an attacking focused player who is able to float in accurate crosses using both of his feet as well as beat players and create chances in and around the block. His defending attributes are good as well as he can use his pace to track back and stop counter attacks, he is comfortable making tackles and is not afraid of a physical duel. His one-one-one defending could improve however as he can get beaten in these situations. He's also very aggressive to the point of sometimes giving away pointless fouls. In spite of all of these potential negatives, he's a very capable player with experience in Europe's top five leagues
Conclusion
A theme that I find running through both of our new signings are the striking similarities between the new and the old. Whether it's the pace of Robinson and Ballo-Toure or the defensive playstyle that Castagne and Tete share, they are all designed to fit into a system and to be interchangeable. In spite of this, I think that the full-back partnership should be what Marco Silva has played in the last few games, Castange and Robinson. Castagne just edges out Tete in the defensive area while still maintaining a similar level of attacking contribution.
https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-10-18-who-should-be-our-first-choice-full-back-pairing/
Latest Tottenham news with seven doubts for Fulham amid Son Heung-min and Cristian Romero update
Tottenham injury news as Ange Postecoglou dealt two late blows ahead of Spurs' home clash with Fulham on Monday
Ange Postecoglou will be holding his breath as Tottenham players return from international duty in the coming days. His Spurs side sit top of the Premier League but injuries and suspensions over the coming weeks threaten to make the manager's job much harder in the coming weeks.
The Australian is already working without an integral midfielder and has been for the entire season with Rodrigo Bentancur sidelined for at least another four weeks, it is expected. However things have gone from bad to worse for the former Celtic boss as new summer signing Brennan Johnson struggles to find fitness since arriving from Nottingham Forest.
Unlike some of his teammates, Johnson has had the fortnight off after not being picked by Rob Page for Wales' Euro 2024 qualifiers. Postecoglou may now be wishing that this wasn't true after both Son Heung-min and Cristian Romero suffered blows just days before Tottenham are due to host Fulham on Monday.
Both players already have a long journey back to London, something that is slightly off set by the Monday night kick-off slot, but will now need assessing before they are confirmed as being fit or not. Romero had to be taken off during Argentina's 2-0 win over Peru on Wednesday morning after playing the full game in a win over Paraguay on Friday.
The 25-year-old got through the first half of the game despite picking up a knock in the early stages but was helped off the pitch shortly after the break having also received treatment and ice during half-time. Romero has started every league game so far for Postecoglou, forming an imperious relationship with Micky van de Ven but that may now be a streak that is ended if he isn't able to recover in time.
As for Son, he appeared to once more play through injury as he completed 90 minutes against Vietnam in a 6-0 win for South Korea, also on Wednesday. The Tottenham captain had been rested for the first game of the break for his country by manager and former Spurs striker Jurgen Klinsmann.
Son has been playing with a knock in recent weeks Postecoglou has admitted, so the sight of the 31-year-old limping towards the tunnel is not a good one. "Look, he wasn't 100% but I had a chat with him yesterday and he was desperate to play," Postecoglou said of his attack after the win over Liverpool. "He was going to give what he could and he did.
"He was never going to play the whole 90, we were always going to give him an hour or so but he led from the front again and he was the one doing the pressing. He got his goal as well so great captain's effort."
Son has since revealed that playing on with a niggle was his choice though. "I discussed with the gaffer [Jürgen Klinsmann] and said I will play the game as I cannot forgive myself if I don't play for Korea national team in front of Korean fans when I already return to Korea," he said.
One more it will have to wait to be seen what the severity of the issue for Son is ahead of hosting Fulham. Postecoglou could have the perfect replacement for him already though with Johnson a candidate to return. "The communication between us and Tottenham has been first-class. It's about having mutual respect," Wale coach Page said of his decision not to select the 22-year-old.
"Both managers want a talented player fit so it's about working together. I'm not going to insist that he has to come away and we're going to play him, jeopardise his safety and health.
"I wouldn't do that. But they also understand the importance of our games. We've had great conversations with them, but ultimately his injury will dictate whether he can meet up or not."
Johnson's injury isn't thought to be too serious. Meanwhile Bryan Gil is back in contention after being named on the bench against Luton. Ryan Sessegnon, Ivan Perisic and Manor Solomon are all longer term issues.
https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/news/latest-tottenham-news-seven-doubts-27931220
Bayern's Tactical Shift: Eyeing Premier League Prodigies
Bayern's Pursuit: The Midfield Shuffle
In the bustling world of football, clubs are constantly on the lookout for the next big thing, or the missing piece to their puzzle. And for Bayern Munich, it seems their gaze is fixed upon two prime candidates.
Palhinha: The One That Got Away?
Bayern Munich, the juggernauts of the Bundesliga, reportedly set their sights on Fulham's Joao Palhinha earlier this summer. With his abilities to control the midfield and a prowess that speaks of international experience, it was a chase that had fans on the edge of their seats. Yet despite their efforts, the tale took a twist. Palhinha decided to stay loyal to his Craven Cottage comrades, signing a fresh contract that presumably left Bayern re-evaluating their midfield options. However, as per reports from 90Min, this hasn't deterred the German side, and Palhinha still remains their prime target.
Kalvin Phillips: Bayern's New Interest?
With Palhinha's fresh contract inked, Thomas Tuchel's Bayern are keeping their eyes open, and a new name has emerged on their radar – Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips. The England international, who previously flourished under Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds, has found himself somewhat side-lined at City, with only a couple of Premier League starts to his name since his arrival. Notably, his position at City had seen other players like Rodri and John Stones prioritised in defensive roles.
Phillips, at 27, had the option to depart City in the summer but chose to stay and fight for his place, a testament to his dedication. However, with his contract stretching till 2028 and other Premier League sides such as West Ham, Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Tottenham reportedly showing interest, one can't help but wonder about the next chapter in his career.
Tuchel's Admiration
Bayern's gaffer, Tuchel, is no stranger to Phillips' capabilities. He has often shown his admiration for the midfielder, especially recalling his stellar performances at Leeds. While Liverpool also considered an approach, it was the late arrival of Ryan Gravenberch that possibly shifted their focus.
A Twist: Kimmich on the Radar
In a further twist, Manchester City seem to be showing keen interest in Bayern's own – Joshua Kimmich. As the German international's contract approaches its final leg, Guardiola, a maestro in identifying midfield talent, seems to consider him among the world's elite.
To conclude, the upcoming transfer windows promise to be thrilling. With Bayern actively searching, and multiple Premier League clubs in the fray, football enthusiasts have much to anticipate.
https://eplindex.com/98199/bayerns-tactical-shift-eyeing-premier-league-prodigies.html
'Internal medical doubts' – Club raising questions over Fulham star, 'weak point' identified
Bayern Munich are starting to question whether they should make a renewed effort for Fulham star Joao Palhinha in the January transfer window as they have doubts about his fitness.
That's according to SportBILD, who say there are 'internal medical doubts' about the player, particularly in relation to one of his knees.
As you'll be aware by this point, Palhinha was extremely close to joining Bayern at the end of the transfer window, when the German giants agreed a deal with Fulham.
He travelled to Bavaria, underwent a medical and even did the various media duties for the club before seeing it collapse at the last minute as Fulham hadn't secured a replacement.
The midfielder has since signed a new deal at Fulham, but the belief has been that Bayern would renew their interest in January regardless as the current squad lacks a number six and manager Thomas Tuchel has made it clear he wants one signed.
It seems they may be looking elsewhere, though, with Sport BILD reporting that there are 'internal medical doubts' regarding Palhinha.
They point to his knee specifically and say Bayern see that as a 'weak point', suggesting they've seen something that's now causing doubts about a potential move.
Those doubts have been increased because the new contract he signed at Fulham has made him more expensive for Bayern, thus they're now thinking things over.
It's that which has led to reports of interest in Kalvin Phillips and other players, with the deal for Palhinha now very much being reconsidered.
http://sportwitness.co.uk/internal-medical-doubts-club-raising-questions-fulham-star-weak-point-identified/
Cristian Romero and Son Heung-min injury fears and triple Tottenham boost for Ange Postecoglou
Here we take a look at some of the main Tottenham talking points during October's international break as Ange Postecoglou and his players prepare for Monday's Premier League clash vs Fulham
The countdown is now on for Tottenham's return to Premier League action following the conclusion of the second international break of the campaign. Having seen a number of players head across the globe to represent their respective countries, the international break came to an end on Tuesday evening.
As ever, there were a number of positives and negatives to take from the fixtures for Ange Postecoglou and his Spurs coaching staff. Here we take a look at some of the main Tottenham talking points from the latest round of international matches.
Son issue
It all appeared to be going incredibly well on the international front for Postecoglou until Tuesday. Having seen Son Heung-min get a much-needed breather as he was an unused substitute in South Korea's 4-0 friendly win over Tunisia last Friday, the Tottenham ace returned to Jurgen Klinsmann's XI for their match against Vietnam.
A comfortable win in the end for the Taegeuk Warriors as they recorded a 6-0 triumph, Son registered a goal and an assist in his 90 minutes on the pitch. However, there was a scare for all connected with Tottenham as the 31-year-old could be seen limping down the tunnel at the break and also showing signs of discomfort during the closing stages.
Speaking to the media after the contest, Son was asked about the issue and spoke about his preparation for the game and why he needed to play.
"Injuries are an inevitable part of living as a footballer," he said. "I was worried about whether to play in today's game, but I couldn't accept coming to Korea and not playing in front of the fans.
"I discussed with the coach and told him I would play in the game. I couldn't participate much in training, but I'm grateful to the coach for respecting my decision."
He added (via Sport Witness): "I hope it's not too much. If you are worried about injuries due to the constant collisions and intense competition, you should not play this kind of football.
"Colliding like this is why I love football. I hit my thigh slightly in the first half, but it was not a big deal. I think playing full-time in today's game will help me in terms of physical strength and performance as I return to my club."
Klinsmann also spoke about his player after the win and revealed that they checked everything was still ok with Son on the hour mark.
"The original plan was to play 90 minutes," said the German. "The muscle injury did not recur, and there was no problem when checked at the 60th minute."
Amid question marks over his fitness, Spurs will now need to assess their main man upon his return to Hotspur Way to ensure that he is in a position to take part in Monday's Premier League clash vs Fulham.
Romero injury
As if it wasn't bad enough with concerns about Son's fitness in South Korea's win over Vietnam, Postecoglou and the club were handed another worry following Cristian Romero's early exit in Argentina's 2-0 win in Peru. Starting the game for Albiceleste, the defender was on the end of a challenge from Paolo Guerrero in the opening stages of the contest but managed to play on.
Appearing to be in a bit of discomfort with his right ankle, Romero was replaced shortly after half-time by German Pezzella. Really the last thing Postecoglou needs right now going on Romero's pivotal role in the team and also because of a lack of options at centre-back, all will be hoping for some positive news on his return from international duty.
As is the case with Son, Tottenham will assess Romero's injury and hope he is in a position to play against Fulham on Monday. The Premier League schedule could actually work in the player's favour if it isn't anything too serious as Spurs have two more days' rest compared to the vast majority of Premier League clubs.
Lo Celso boost
One positive Spurs can take from Argentina's two World Cup qualifiers is that Giovani Lo Celso has returned to the pitch following his time on the sidelines. Wowing in pre-season but not getting many minutes at the start of the term, the midfielder was handed his chance in the Carabao Cup against Fulham but didn't appear for the second half due to a quad strain.
Back in the matchday squad for the 1-0 win away at Luton Town prior to the international break but not introduced from the bench, Argentina's return to action came at exactly the right time for the former Villarreal loanee. Introduced in the 89th minute against Paraguay, Lo Celso got a bit longer on Tuesday evening as he got 12 minutes plus stoppage time under his belt in the win over Peru.
It may not have been as much pitch time as he would have liked but it will certainly have given him a lift ahead of his return to Spurs.
Maddison rest
Another boost for Postecoglou ahead of the return of Premier League football is James Maddison playing reduced minutes for England in their two matches. Not at 100% fitness in recent weeks and with Tottenham managing his minutes to ensure that he didn't do any further damage, in an ideal world Spurs really needed Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate not to push the player too much.
Playing 73 minutes in their 1-0 friendly win over Australia last Friday evening, the attacking midfielder was an unused substitute for the 3-1 win against Italy that secured England's place at Euro 2024. That means Maddison should be fit and raring to go on Monday against Fulham.
Udogie and van de Ven debuts
During England's win over Italy, Destiny Udogie made his full debut for the Azzurri. Receiving his first international call-up for this month's fixtures, the Spurs left-back was handed his Italy bow in the final 11 minutes of their 4-0 win against Malta.
Getting the nod to face the Three Lions, Udogie had a role to play in Gianluca Scamacca's opener following a good run from left-back to get the team moving forward. He was also very unlucky not to mark his full debut with a goal after Jordan Pickford denied him following some neat play in the area.
On a booking for an early foul on Phil Foden, Udogie was replaced just past the hour mark by Federico Dimarco. In Football Italia's player ratings, Udogie and Scamacca came out on top with the highest scores for Italy after each receiving 6.5 for their displays.
Udogie wasn't the only player to make his international debut during the latest round of international fixtures as Micky van de Ven was also rewarded for his fine start to life for Tottenham. Named in Netherlands' squad for the first time in September but unfortunately not coming off the bench to make his debut, his first cap arrived on Friday evening as he was brought on for the final ten minutes of their 2-1 defeat vs France.
He was then given 16 minutes in Greece on Monday, with the player helping his country to a vital 1-0 away win that could well see them triumph in terms of Euro 2024 qualification.
More Richarlison woe
Missing two big chances in Tottenham's 1-0 win away at Luton, the international break seemed to arrive at the ideal time for Richarlison in terms of potentially boosting his confidence. Starting against Venezuela in their first 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the Spurs forward would only be on the pitch for 59 minutes as Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus replaced him for the remainder of the contest.
Richarlison did not manage a single shot on goal during his pitch time, with the player not exactly blessed with chances despite making the right runs. Dropping to the bench on Tuesday evening for their qualifier in Uruguay, Richarlison came on at half-time in place of the injured Neymar.
Again, the forward didn't manage a single shot on goal as his country fell to a 2-0 defeat in Montevideo. Not enjoying the best of international breaks back in September after failing to find the target, Richarlison's struggles didn't exactly impact his next Tottenham performance as he helped turn the game around for the Lilywhites against Sheffield United with a goal and assist in stoppage time. Hopefully he can have a similar impact this time around against Fulham.
Hojbjerg minutes
What will comes as good news to Postecoglou ahead of Monday's clash against Fulham is that Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg played the full 90 minutes in Denmark's two games. First of all helping his country to a 3-1 win over Kazakhstan, Hojbjerg then played his part in Tuesday's slender 2-1 victory in San Marino.
Having to contend with a bit-part role at Tottenham this season after dropping down to the substitutes' bench, Hojbjerg's increased minutes will have done him the world of good leading up to the Fulham encounter as there's a very good chance he will be starting due to Yves Bissouma's suspension.
Belgium vs Sweden qualifier abandoned
There was only one talking point on Monday evening following the decision to abandon the Euro 2024 qualifier between Belgium and Sweden, a match Tottenham's Dejan Kulusevski was involved in. Initially playing the first half of the contest, it was decided by the players that they would not return for the second half after they were made aware at the break that two Swedish fans had been shot dead in Brussels before the game.
With the gunman still at large at the time before he was later shot dead, fans and players remained inside the stadium as it was locked down for two-and-a half hours before officials began an evacuation process. The Associated Press reported that Kulusevski and the rest of the Sweden squad went directly to the airport once they were allowed to leave the stadium.
https://www.football.london/tottenham-hotspur-fc/players/cristian-romero-tottenham-injury-son-27931880
Fulham: Whites want to sign "selfless" ace for Silva, he's "ready" to go
He's very versatile...
Fulham are targeting one big name club's "selfless" player for manager Marco Silva, and it is reported that he's "ready" to leave.
Fulham transfer targets - January
The Whites currently sit just below mid-table after a mixed start to the new Premier League season, winning three games out of a possible eight. While they've sealed some impressive results in that time, like a dramatic 2-2 draw away to title-chasing Arsenal, only a handful of teams have scored less goals than them.
Indeed, the likes of Crystal Palace, Luton Town, Burnley, Bournemouth and Sheffield United lie below Fulham in the scoring charts, but Silva will want to put some significant distance between them in the scoring charts - especially considering they could all be battling relegation. As a result, media reports have suggested that Fulham are targeting a striker for 2024. In-form Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy, who's already scored 13 goals in just seven Bundesliga outings so far, is apparently a name on their watch list amid repeated links.
Gent starlet Gift Orban has been mentioned too, and Fulham may also strengthen their central-midfield ranks as well as further forward. Man United ace and Scotland international Scott McTominay is said to be attracting Fulham's interest in this regard, as his future under Erik ten Hag is still very much up in the air. While the aforementioned have already been linked with moves to Craven Cottage at various points, a new update suggests Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah is also on the radar.
Trevoh Chalobah transfer update
The versatile midfielder, who is yet to play a single minute under Mauricio Pochettino due to injury, may find game time difficult to come by upon his return. There is plenty of Chelsea competition for places at centre-back, a long queue which includes some star names like Levi Colwill, Thiago Silva, Benoit Badiashile and Axel Disasi.
Chelsea will add the £75 million Wesley Fofana to this list when he comes back from his own long-term injury, leading to reports that Chalobah is prepared to leave (Fabrizio Romano). 90min have a Chalobah transfer update on his situation, and it concerns Fulham. Silva's side are "keen" to sign the 24-year-old, but face stiff competition from across England and Europe. Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Brentford, Newcastle United and clubs in Italy are also eyeing a move for Chalobah, and 90min add that he is "ready" to go in January.
The player has plenty of admirers from big names in the beautiful game, like former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard.
https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-news-marco-silva-trevoh-chalobah-premier-league-transfer-update-latest/
Manchester United Hospitality(https://images.webapi.fulhamfc.com/fit-in/1600x1600/c346ee20-6cda-11ee-be35-1113cf163748.jpg)
Don't miss out on your chance to be there as Fulham take on Manchester United at Craven Cottage on Saturday 4th November, kick-off 12:30pm.With this fixture now sold out, the only way to secure your seat for this Premier League clash is with Matchday Hospitality.
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https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/october/18/manchester-united-hospitality/
Internationals: Assist For Saša
Saša Lukić assisted Serbia's opener in their 3-1 win over Montenegro on Tuesday night.
With less than nine minutes on the clock, Lukić found his former Fulham teammate Aleksandar Mitrović out to his right, who cut inside and bent home a fine opener.
After Montenegro equalised, two goals in four second half minutes from Mitrović and Dušan Tadić secured victory for Serbia, who moved to within a point of Group G leaders Hungary.
Belgium's meeting with Sweden was abandoned at half-time after the players learnt of the fatal shootings that had occurred in Brussels that evening.
Timothy Castagne's side were drawing 1-1 at the time. Our thoughts go out to the family and friends of the two victims.
In Portugal, Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey came on for the final quarter of an hour of Nigeria's meeting with Mozambique.
The Super Eagles were 3-2 up at that point, and that was the way things stayed.
Bernd Leno, Marek Rodák, Tim Ream, Raúl Jiménez, Fodé Ballo-Touré and João Palhinha were all unused substitutes for their countries.
Kieron Bowie netted for Scotland's Under-21s last night to bring his goal tally across the two international games up to three. The forward used impressive precision to slot home from a very tight angle in the 82nd minute, helping his side to a 2-1 win over Malta in an UEFA Qualfier.
https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/october/18/internationals-assist-for-sasa/
'Came in for me': 'Top class': striker says Tottenham tried to sign him when he was at Fulham
Tottenham have been a real thorn in Fulham's side for a number of years at this point.
Indeed, Spurs have a real knack of pinching the Whites' best players just as they're hitting their stride at Craven Cottage.
The likes of Clint Dempsey, Ryan Sessegnon, Mousa Dembele and Manor Solomon have all swapped Fulham for Tottenham in recent years, and it sounds as though Bobby Zamora could very easily have also been on that list.
Speaking on the Say it and Spray it Podcast, Zamora was recounting his time at Fulham, and he says that at the beginning of the 2010/11 season, Harry Redknapp tried to take him to Tottenham.
Tottenham wanted Zamora
Zamora shared how he almost joined Spurs or Liverpool.
"We had Mark Hughes at Fulham at the time. I enjoyed my time with Mark, he came at the start of the season, I had a good pre-season with him. Roy came in for me at Liverpool and Harry Redknapp came in for me at Spurs, but Mark said he wanted me to stay, and I'd just had my twins in August, the end of the transfer window was coming and they both bid, I ended up signing a new contract and broke my leg the next day," Zamora said.
Deserved it
As much as we hate to talk in these terms about a Fulham player, it has to be said that Zamora did deserve a big move around that time.
He was electric in Fulham's Europa League run the season before, and there's a reason Mark Hughes called him 'top class' at the time.
Of course, Fulham were more than happy to keep hold of their star striker at the time, but we can't help but wonder what Zamora's career would've looked like if he'd joined Spurs or Liverpool at that point.
Within 18 months of this failed move, Zamora was on his way to QPR, eventually being replaced at Craven Cottage by Pavel Pogrebnyak and ultimately Dimitar Berbatov.
https://www.fulham.news/2023/10/18/came-in-for-me-top-class-striker-says-tottenham-tried-to-sign-him-when-he-was-at-fulham/
Fulham 'interested' in January transfer for 13-goal Bundesliga ace who West Ham & Brentford ' have scouted'
Fulham are reportedly monitoring the current top goalscorer in the Bundesliga and could put forth a transfer offer for him in the January window.
Fulham are thought to be exploring the possibility of making a transfer move for VfB Stuttgart centre-forward Serhou Guirassy in the January transfer window, according to a report from Football Fancast.
Guirassy has been on fire in Germany's top division so far this season. He is the leading goalscorer in the division, having scored an eye-watering 13 goals in seven games - putting him above the likes of Harry Kane, Leroy Sane and Marco Reus.
Who else, besides Fulham, are interested in a move for Serhou Guirassy?
Given his status as the leading goalscorer in the Bundesliga, one of Europe's top divisions, it should come as no surprise that Fulham are just one of many clubs who have been linked with a move for Guirassy.
West Ham United and Brentford are believed to be scouting the player - meanwhile, he is also reportedly on the radar of both Crystal Palace and AFC Bournemouth [via 90min]. Chelsea and Arsenal had also been linked with the player, but Fabrizio Romano put these rumours to the sword [via CaughtOffside].
What would Serhou Guirassy bring to the squad?
Ever since the departure of Aleksandar Mitrovic in the summer, when he left Craven Cottage to join Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, Fulham have lacked a natural goalscorer. Carlos Vinicius has scored just two goals in all competitions thus far, while Raul Jiminez has failed to find the back of the net up to this point [via BBC Sport].
As such, bringing a player with a vast goalscoring pedigree to the club makes a lot of sense. In many ways, Guirassy is a similar player to Mitrovic - he possesses excellent movement off the ball, has brilliant physical attributes and is an imposing figure at 6ft 2.
Winning the race to secure Guirassy's signature will be no easy feat, given the number of interested parties. However, Fulham are a club with considerable financial resources - even if they cannot beat out the competition, they should be able to put forth an admirable effort.
https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/fulham/fulham-interested-in-january-transfer-for-13-goal-bundesliga-ace-who-west-ham-brentford-have-scouted-4376545
Former Fulham defender gives verdict on playing as home player at Millwall's Den
Millwall defender Joe Bryan has given his take on his early experience of being a home player at The Den.
The former Fulham full-back signed for the Lions in July after being released by the Premier League club.
Bryan, 30, scored Millwall's equaliser in their 2-2 draw with Hull City in their most recent Championship match before the international break.
Asked what he has made of playing at The Den this season, the ex-Bristol City man told the South London Press: "It's been interesting. The fans are very passionate, in their way, and ,rightly so, a few times they have been pretty upset.
"I've never been a player who, and this needs to be taken in the right way, whether the fans are cheering, jeering or you're the best thing since sliced bread or the worst player in the world. I'm there to play football and I'll try to play my game – whether the fans are cheering or booing. I'll still play the same way, it doesn't affect me.
"The second half against Hull when we really went at them and tweaked a few things on the pitch to be able to get after them, you could see how helpful the fans can be and a driving force for the team.
"Hopefully we can continue that high intensity game and they, in their way, can continue their support because it was really helpful.
Millwall are 15th heading into Saturday's match at Preston North End.
And Bryan, who has twice won promotion out of the league with Fulham, reckons the division has become more demanding since the last time he competed in it.
He said: "Even coming up against Plymouth the other day, the standard of teams coming up from League One is very, very high. You've got the teams coming down from the Premier League which are incredibly well-stacked with talent and quality this season. I do think the speed and just general intensity of the league has gone up.
"You very rarely come up against a very bad team in the Championship any more, whereas five or six years ago there were a few of them.
"It's great for English football and it's great for people watching the league because the better quality players we have the more interest there is going to be in it.
"We've been slightly disappointed with the manner of some of our performances, especially at home, that's the main takeaway from it. Potentially having a big group of newer players it has taken time for us to gel but we're in a very, very good place to kick on and go forward now.
"The Championship is always one of those leagues that it doesn't really look like anything until November or December time. You don't really have a clue who is where and what is what. As long as you are picking up points and gelling then you are in a really good place after the international break, this one and the November one, that's when the real stuff starts and you understand what the league table is going to be like."
https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/former-fulham-defender-gives-verdict-on-playing-as-home-player-at-millwalls-den/
Director admits £13m Fulham target wants to leave and won't sign new contract
Victor Nelsson appears to have his heart set on leaving Turkish champions Galatasaray as Premier League outfit Fulham reportedly line up a potential £13 million January deal.
Speaking to Fanatik about the future of his Denmark international centre-half, Galatasaray's deputy chairman Erden Timur confirms that Victor Nelsson has little interest in extending a contract which now has less than two years left to run.
And this could be music to Fulham's ears.
The Cottagers are keen on the highly-rated Nelsson, per Takvim, and his contract situation could force Galatasaray to consider relatively low-ball bids, perhaps in the region of £13 million.
Fulham target Victor Nelsson wants Galatasaray exit
"We talked to Nelson," Timur clarifies. "His current idea is not to extend the contract. However, he has a contract for two more years."
Nelsson's stance has only been strengthened by the fact he has lost his place in Ismail Kartal's starting XI since the arrival of Davinson Sanchez from Fulham's London neighbours Tottenham Hotspur back in September.
Every football player wants to play. It is a good thing not to accept being a substitute," Timur adds. "His current idea is not to extend the contract."
Nelsson, a talented, right-sided centre-half who recently helped Galatasaray claim a famous Champions League win away at Manchester United, may be viewed at Fulham as a replacement for Tosin Adarabioyo.
Adarabioyo looks destined to depart in 2024, after all, his deal up in just 10 months.
Fulham also want a striker
"There has been interest and offers from clubs that I really want to join. I'd have liked to have moved," Nelsson told Danish publication Tipsbladet recently. "I've had some talks with them.
"I informed (Galatasaray) after the last international break that I don't want to extend my contract. I have three years left on my contract, and I just can't see myself extending another year."
Fulham are also in the market for a striker capable of filling Aleksandr Mitrovic's boat-sized shoes, with Stuttgart's Bundesliga record-breaker Serhou Guirassy and Gent 'phenomenon' Gift Orban among the potential candidates.
https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2023/10/18/director-admits-13m-fulham-target-wants-to-leave-and-wont-sign-new-contract/
Crystal Palace now monitoring £35m player amid doubts over future of Marc Guehi
Crystal Palace are now monitoring Eintracht Frankfurt No.3 Willian Pacho amid doubts over the future of Marc Guehi.
That is according to TEAMtalk.
So, what has been said about Crystal Palace and Willian Pacho? Let's take a look...
What's the story?
Well, it is said that Manchester United are tracking Guehi – with Arsenal and Tottenham also admirers of the England international.
TEAMtalk believe Crystal Palace are in no rush to sell the 23-year-old or Joachim Andersen, but are still exploring potential replacements in case one of the duo departs Selhurst Park.
One name on Dougie Freedman's radar is Pacho.
The Ecuador international only joined Eintracht Frankfurt from Royal Antwerp back in June in a deal worth £8m.
Pacho has performed so well in Germany that TEAMtalk believe the Bundesliga outfit now value him at £35m.
Crystal Palace are said to be exploring the German market in particular for reinforcements, while Everton and West Ham are also monitoring the South American centre-back.
William Pacho rumour should encourage Crystal Palace fans
We know that nobody at Selhurst Park wants to even consider the prospect of losing Guehi or Andersen – they are that good.
However, it should encourage fans to see that replacements are already being lined up.
On many occasions under Steve Parish, we have lost a key man with no immediate replacement waiting to step in.
For example, Aaron Wan-Bissaka was allowed to leave for Manchester United in July 2019, and Roy Hodgson is still using Joel Ward, now 33 years of age, in the right-back department.
Therefore – while losing Guehi or Andersen would hurt the Eagles – it is good to see that some highly talented defenders are being shortlisted in case one of the influential duo departs.
Be sure to keep an eye on this situation, as anything could happen at Selhurst Park.
https://www.wearepalace.uk/news/crystal-palace-now-monitoring-35m-player-amid-doubts-over-future-of-marc-guehi/
Games for the weekend 21/10We travel to North London to take on Spurs for a Monday evening game(http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2324-SpursA.png)
The game against Sheffield Utd, doesn't it seem a long time ago?, was probably the best we've played so far this season.
Willian was back to his last season best. Harry, when he came on, looked really hungry, and Tom, that was his goal not an own goal!, really pulled the strings from midfield.
Diop going off injured was really the only bad news, for us, Chris Basham's was far worse, hopefully both will be back in the not too distant future.
Harry, on his 50th appearance for his country, was the "player" of the Wales v Croatia game, scoring two and being compared, by some, to Gareth Bale!
Saša Lukić also had a "man of the match" performance for Serbia in their 3-1 win over Montenegro.
Timothy Castagne's Belgium v Sweden match was abandoned at half time following the terrible fatal shooting of two Swedish supporters in Brussels, our thoughts are with their friends and families.
Both Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey came on as substitutes in Nigeria's 3-2 win against Mozambique.
Leno, Rodák, Tim Ream, Raúl Jiménez, Ballo-Touré and João Palhinha were all unused substitutes for their respective countries.
Our recent record against Spurs is very one sided with only 3 wins, 15 losses and 3 draws.
Assuming no additional injuries my team would be
(http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/23SpursA.png)
COYW's
Games of Interest...
Saturday 21stBrentford v Burnley
Newcastle v Palace
Chelsea v Arsenal
Sunday 22ndVilla v West Ham
Monday 23rdSpurs v Fulham
come on over to the forum and join in the conversation...
https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=36.0
http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=2925
Tottenham ever presents face fitness tests ahead of Fulham encounter
The last time that Tottenham played Fulham, they were knocked out of the Carabao Cup in what was a big disappointment for Ange Postecoglou.
Fortunately, the north Londoners have continued to set the pace in the Premier League, and they head into Monday's English top-flight London derby knowing that a win at White Hart Lane will keep them at the summit, unless Arsenal were to beat Chelsea by two goals more than Spurs may manage against the Cottagers.
Son Heung-min has been key to Spurs' re-emergence without talisman Harry Kane, though as the Evening Standard report, he picked up a knock in South Korea's friendly against Vietnam and looked in some pain.
Cristian Romero was subbed in Argentina's game against Peru too, also because of a knock, and whilst it's believed that both will be fit for the Fulham game, they will need to undertake fitness tests before Postecoglou decides on his starting XI.
The manager will know that if there's a risk of the pair being out for longer than is necessary by playing them, he will have to take the tough decision to either bench them or leave them out of the squad entirely.
These next couple of months remain crucial for the Lilywhites as, if they can keep pace until January and then strengthen the squad accordingly, they've every chance of reaching the business end of the campaign in a decent position.
However, if injuries start to take hold, it could derail their aspirations.
https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/10/18/tottenham-ever-presents-face-fitness-tests-ahead-of-fulham-encounter/