Friends of Fulham

Middlesbrough dressing room view on the Fulham test and their thoughts on FA Cup approach
Middlesbrough take on Premier League side Fulham in the FA Cup this weekend

Morgan Whittaker says every Middlesbrough player is excited to face off against Fulham this weekend and test themselves against Premier League quality.

Boro travel to Craven Cottage on Saturday to take on Fulham in the third round of the FA Cup. Marco Silva's side are currently ninth in the Premier League.

Kim Hellberg's side, meanwhile, head to West London in high spirits after last weekend's 4-0 victory over Southampton. But sitting second in the Championship and currently negotiating an injury crisis that leaves options depleted, there are question marks over how strong a side Hellberg should field this weekend.

From Whittaker's point of view, he's hoping he gets the opportunity this weekend, and he believes his team-mates agree. They want to test themselves against the Cottagers to see how they stack up.

Speaking after the Southampton win, Whittaker said: "We're definitely looking forward to it. After a really, really busy period, now we've got the FA Cup, which is a really good game to go into, and then back on Friday night against West Brom, which will be a really good game as well.

"It's really, really great. I think especially because of how we're playing, it'll be nice to test ourselves against Premier League opposition and see how it would be like playing against top players. Everyone's looking forward to it."

Asked if all of them were desperate to play, he added: "Yeah, exactly. It's a week away, so we've got a lot of time to recover and hopefully we can have a good go at it."



https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/middlesbrough-dressing-room-view-fulham-33196320

How effective is Fulham in the transfer market?
The data says very - and the reason might be Marco Silva.

It's the January silly season. Marco Silva wants more players, but will he/we get any? And, if we do, will they be any good? Well, I can't assure you (or Marco) that we will land new talent this month (although I hope so), but I can tell you that – based on the numbers – the odds are that if we do land a new player (number nine or number eight please) it's very likely the transfer will be successful - which is not the case for most of the Premier league.

The measure of success
The rule of thumb for the Premier League is that only about half of all transfers - like marriages - are successful. The odds of failure are pretty great. You'd assume that based on our history (Terence Kongolo anyone?) we'd be worse than most. But actually, it's the opposite.

Ian Graham, the former head of analytics and director of research for Liverpool (one of the main purveyors of Moneyball in the Premier League), analyzed all transfers of players to the Premier League from 1992 to January 2021 (greater than £10m) for his book How to Win The Premier League.

He came up with a simple measure of success: what percentage of players started more than half of the games in a two-year period? He found that – on average – new players acquired via transfer only did so 54% of the time, meaning that 46% of players transferred did not start more than half of the games.

Graham's analysis roughly mirrors other analyses including Paul Tomkins's more complex approach (a weighted mixture of transfer fee paid, inflation, transfer fee received, and number of games started). Tomkins found that 60% of transfers failed. Graham references Tomkin's analysis in his book.

High performance
Based on Graham's approach, I analyzed Fulham transfers worth more than £10m from 2022 to 2024 (our most recent period of sustained Premier League football). I considered starts through the Liverpool game this year (2026) for these transfers. I found that 88% of Fulham's transfers during this period started more than half of the games played. The one 'failure'? Issa Diop, who cost £17.8m and has started a little more than 40% of the games played. Even a back-up player like Timothy Castagne has started more than half the time for the team (57%) - though Kenny Tete's injuries have inflated that figure.

(https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!BuSy!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Febdb1d90-03d8-4ff0-b60e-d8dd317b90ff_1944x822.png)

I also looked at the financial value of Fulham's transfers for this period to validate this strong result. Graham also discusses the issue of "impairments" in his book. Impairments refer to the negative value of players on a team's books. One study, cited by Graham, found that Premier League clubs recorded more than a quarter a billion pounds of impairments between 2020 and 2022. In 2021/22, Chelsea had £77 million in impairments.

Impairments happen when a team buys a player and the player's market value drops below what the team paid for that player. It's an accounting term and refers to the amortized value of the transfer fee versus the player's current resale value. For example, Fulham bought Emile Smith-Rowe for £31.8m on a five-year contract in 2024. Given that we are roughly 1.5 years into ESR's contract, this means his current book value for the club (in terms of his transfer fee) is £22.26m.

ESR's value on Transfermarkt is currently £22m, which would mean (assuming Transfermarkt represents the actual market value) that Fulham would have an impairment of £260,000 for Smith Rowe. It turns out that – for the players analyzed above (those with transfer fees above £10m) that this is Fulham's only impairment, and it's small. Fulham appears to be – in terms of transfers – successful on this basis as well. The players the club has bought are largely in the black (according to their book and market value).

Darker days
So, what accounts for Fulham's success in transfers? To answer this question, for a point of comparison, I combined the last two seasons Fulham was in the Premier League (2018/19 and 2020/21) under the Khan's ownership (and Tony Khan's and Alistair Mackintosh's leadership of transfers) and looked at starts for players with transfer fees of more than £10m. The reasoning was that 2018/19 players on the squad were largely still in place for the 2020/21 season and that the 2020 season by itself was a disaster in terms of this analysis – as only Anthony Knockaert qualifies. For these combined seasons, Fulham underperformed the league average for starts for transfers with an average of 40% of transferred players getting starts over these two seasons.

(https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Bgw4!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc9ac2576-9c5e-418d-85af-91d36df96ea0_1974x568.png)

The difference maker
The contrast is significant. On this basis, Fulham went from having only 40% of its transfers start to 88%. While there are many possible reasons for this change, to me the biggest difference between these two sets of data was the arrival of Marco Silva. It is possible that he directly impacted transfers as part of the recruitment team and also as manager of the transferred players. My belief is that the difference is largely due to the latter.

Silva's ability to develop players (old and young) into Premier League quality starters is remarkable. A good example of this is a player who falls just below the £10m transfer line: Sasa Lukic (the transfer fee was £9.8m). Lukic's transition to the Premier League from Serie A began slow and he only started four games in his first season but, as we know, has become a regular starter for us since thanks in part to Silva's help.

Silva has also helped to rehabilitate players like Raul Jimenez and Willian, plus many others. While Marco isn't perfect in this regard, as evidenced by the Kevin Mbabu disaster, his record is truly impressive. We will see if he can also work his magic on younger players like the biggest transfer for the 2025/26 season, Kevin, who has started a little more than 30% of possible games so far. Given ESR's recent progress in becoming a true PL starter, I am optimistic that Marco can do this with Kevin as well.

Of course, if Marco goes this summer, what will become of Fulham's transfer success? It may well disappear – unless the club can replace him with another manager capable of turning transferred players into regular PL starters.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/how-effective-is-fulham-in-the-transfer

Leeds United's faint transfer hopes dashed as manager lays contract cards on table
The latest Leeds United transfer news from LeedsLive as Harry Wilson continues to catch the eye with ten goal involvements in little more than two months

Any lingering hopes Leeds United had in finally landing Harry Wilson look to be over, after Marco Silva expressed his desire to keep the in-form Wales international.

As they looked to bolster Daniel Farke's attacking options in the summer, an issue that remains despite Brenden Aaronson's recent potency, the Whites were keen on taking Wilson to Elland Road.

Indeed a transfer from Fulham looked more likely than not until the whole move broke down late in the window – since when Wilson has gone on to establish himself as one of Silva's most effective attackers.

The 28-year-old, who will be out of contract in five months, has scored seven times this season, added four assists and was instrumental in their 2-1 win over Chelsea in midweek. He has ten goal contributions since November.

Against Chelsea, he forced Marc Cucurella into the foul which saw the defender sent off, had a goal disallowed for Raul Jimenez being offside and eventually struck the winner with nine minutes to go.

All of which left Silva facing questions about why Wilson's contract continues to run down and why he didn't use him more in previous seasons.

The Portuguese said: "No regrets about it. He was involved in almost all the games, sometimes not starting, other times starting. "He was always a very important player for us.

"My first press conference after the summer window, you asked me about the Leeds offer [for Wilson]. I told you straight away that I didn't think one second about that. For me, it was not even a case. He's our player, he's so important for us.

"I know it's the last year of his contract. I don't care if it's his last year, whether we can take some [transfer] value or not from him. We should try to sign more years with him. We should enjoy him for now, but he's a key player like he [always] was."



https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/leeds-uniteds-faint-transfer-hopes-33197674

Everton, Sunderland and Fulham in mix for €20m+ signing
There's a fresh claim in the Turkish media that Everton, Sunderland and Fulham could battle it out to sign Galatasaray midfielder Gabriel Sara.

The former Norwich City player has been linked with a return to England since last summer.

Sabah report on the latest developments regarding Sara's future with the Super Lig leaders. It's been widely reported in the past week they are looking to replace the 25-year-old, with Manchester United's Manuel Ugarte being linked.

Earlier this week we covered reports they'd agreed personal terms with the Uruguay international. However, the 24-year old's situation at Old Trafford may have changed with the departure of Ruben Amorim.

According to Sabah, Galatasaray are still expecting offers for Sara this month. Everton, Sunderland and Fulham are said to be in the mix to sign him.

It's reported Cimbom will evaluate offers over €20m for the Brazilian, but will not be rushed into selling the player due to their remaining two Champions League games. Gala would prefer an exit close to the deadline.

The Turkish club paid Norwich City €18m during the 2024 summer window.

Leeds United, Nottingham Forest Manchester City have also been linked with Sara in the past six months.

Sara has made 25 appearances this season, scoring two goals. He's contracted to Galatasaray until June 2029.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/everton-sunderland-and-fulham-in-mix-for-e20m-signing/

"Potential to become Zidane or Bellingham" – Fulham offer sees director get carried away
Earlier this week, Messaggero Veneto reported Fulham have made a formal offer for Udinese's Arthur Atta.

Marco Silva's side put forward €20m for the midfielder but this was deemed 'too little' by the Italian side.

The newspaper also made a clear attempt to say that the 22-year-old can leave in the summer. That could be a good time for Fulham to return to the fray.

Atta continues to grow and the Italian media is going a little over the top.

The Pozzo family group technical director Gianluca Nani has spoken to DAZN about the Frenchman. He compared the player to Zinedine Zidane and Jude Bellingham, whilst addressing the Fulham offer.

Nani said – relayed by Gonfialaretae: "We don't consider the offer we received for Atta to be a significant one, even though we always have the utmost respect for anyone who offers us money. We have no intention of selling Atta."

Speaking about Atta's abilities, Nani claimed: "He has the potential to become Bellingham or a Zidane. He's a great professional, and he's available again. We're not planning on selling him; we'll see later, but he'll certainly finish the season with us."

This is another sign Udinese could open up to the player's sale in the summer.

In fact, that has always been their stance. Tuttomercatoweb reported similar in November and that was the first real attempt to hype up the player.

Udinese signed Atta for only €8m in 2024, and they're set to make a good profit. The exact asking price is unknown at this stage.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/potential-to-become-zidane-or-bellingham-fulham-offer-sees-director-get-carried-away/

Ipswich Town make move to sign Tom Cairney
Ipswich Town have reportedly knocked on the doors of Fulham as they look to sign their veteran midfielder and captain, Tom Cairney.

EFL Championship outfit Ipswich Town, who are currently pushing for promotion to the Premier League, are already making plans to further bolster their midfield, and they have their eyes set on Tom Cairney.

According to a report from Sky Sports, Ipswich Town have already made moves to sign the Fulham captain. The Tractor Boys have approached the West London club to make their interest known and learn more about a potential transfer.

Cairney joined the West London club back in 2015 from Blackburn Rovers, and he has only gone from strength to strength since. In his 11-year-long spell at Fulham, he has been involved in 370 matches and has contributed towards 86 goals.

While he prefers playing as a central midfielder, the midfield veteran has featured in advanced roles at times. The Englishman might no longer be a regular starter for them, but he is still an important part of their plans. After bagging a goal against Crystal Palace, he has started their last two league outings against Chelsea and Liverpool as their skipper.

Despite his importance in the team, the 34-year-old could actually end up leaving the club in the near future. Cairney's contract runs out at the end of the season, and there is interest in his services from Ipswich Town.

Ipswich Town have enquired about Cairney
The Championship outfit, who are fighting for promotion to the Premier League, want to add more quality to their midfield and they believe a experienced campaigner like Cairney could do wonders for them. The Tractor Boys have already approached Fulham regarding a potential transfer.

Not only have Ipswich Town made their interest known, but they are also hoping to convince him to join them. The ongoing window is Fulham's final opportunity to cash in on the 34-year-old. If the Cottagers decide against it, they will risk losing out on him for free next summer. While there will be more competition for him at the end of the season, Ipswich are hoping the early moves from their end help their cause.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2026/01/09/ipswich-town-make-move-to-sign-tom-cairney/

Pre-Boro Press Conference


Fulham versus Middlesbrough may well be a Premier League fixture next season, and Marco Silva is fully anticipating a proper battle in the Emirates FA Cup on Saturday.

Despite losing their head coach in November, Boro have kept their form going, and currently sit second in the Championship ahead of our meeting at the Cottage.

When asked what he makes of the Teessiders, Silva replied: "Very competitive, first of all. They are not in that position and fighting for the first two sports in the Championship by luck or coincidence.

"They are there because they have been very consistent in terms of performance, even with the change in the manager position, they kept the same type of results and consistency in that league that is so tough.

"Very experienced, good mix of experienced players. You see the backline, they have some Premier League experience there, they have some good midfielders. The player behind the midfielders is a player that can create always, and is going to be always a threat for the opposition.

"They come with full motivation, they had all week to prepare the game and to prepare for ourselves. After they are going to play [next] in one week, too.

"And, of course, it's a chance for them to show against a Premier League side – in a competition that is very important for us, but for sure is important for them – that they are capable.

"They can, for sure, create a lot of problems for us, I don't have doubts about it. We just have to be in our best level to be there and to play the next round of the competition, like we want.

"Massive respect for them, like all teams – the preparation, everything, is the same that we did for Chelsea or for Liverpool, it's not going to be different. It's very short [turnaround], but we are going to be ready."




https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/january/09/pre-boro-press-conference/

Fulham vs Middlesbrough: Preview and Prediction
Championship outfit Middlesbrough will square up against Premier League club Fulham in the third round of the FA Cup.

Fulham will look to build on their recent win over Chelsea when they host Middlesbrough, while in-form second division club Middlesbrough will look to make it beyond the third round after being knocked out at this stage by Blackburn Rovers last season.

The Cottagers made it to the quarter-finals last season, where they lost to eventual champions Crystal Palace. Marco Silva's team will look to go further this time around. Marco Silva's men are in fine form in the Premeir League as they occupy the 9th spot with 31 points in their 21 outings.

Fulham are unbeaten in their last five matches and are heading into this fixture on the back of an impressive 2-1 win over Chelsea. While the Blues going down to ten men helped their cause, the win will give them a lot of confidence heading into this fixture.

Meanwhile, Boro are second in the Championship with 46 points in their 26 outings. They are on course to secure promotion to the top flight. While their priority is to continue their dominance in the league, the away side would also love to go the distance in the FA Cup.

After a four-match winless run (D1 L3), Middlesbrough finally returned to winning ways last time out against Southampton. They secured a massive 4-0 win, which will certainly give them the belief that they can take down Fulham. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.

Team News & Tactics

Fulham
With Nigeria making it to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze remain unavailable because of international duty. Meanwhile, Marco Silva will also be without Rodrigo Muniz (thigh), Josh King (knee) and Kenny Tete (thigh) because of injury.

The home team will line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, where Bernd Leno will take charge in goal. The back three will be made up of Issa Diop, Joachim Anderson, and Jorge Cuenca. They will receive significant support from Timothy Castagne and Antonee Robinson, who will feature as wing-backs.

Meanwhile, Sasa Lukic could pair up with Tom Cairney in the centre of the park. The duo will look to ensure they dictate the pace and dominate proceedings. Emile Smith Rowe and Kevin are expected to feature as the two attacking midfielders behind Raul Jimenez, who will lead the line for Fulham against Middlesbrough.

Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Leno; Diop, Anderson, Cuenca; Castagne, Lukic, Cairney, Robinson; Smith Rowe, Kevin; Jimenez


Middlesbrough
After making a long-awaited return from injury, Alex Bangura has once again picked up a blow which could sideline him for a while. He joins Callum Brittain (ankle), George Edmundson (hip), Riley McGree (hamstring), and Darragh Lenihan (ankle) on the sidelines.

Boro could line up in a 4-3-3 formation, where Sol Brynn will take charge in goal. Luke Ayling and Alan Browne are expected to be the full-backs, while Matt Targett could partner Adilson Malanda in the heart of the defence.

As for the midfield unit, Aidan Morris will start alongside Morgan Whittaker and Hayden Hackney in the centre of the park. The trio will look to ensure Fulham midfielders do not dominate the proceedings.

Sam Silvera and Tommy Conway will feature out wide on the flanks, providing width to their attacks. Finally, Delano Burgzorg will spearhead the Middlesbrough attack against Ipswich Town on Saturday.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Brynn; Ayling, Malanda, Targett, Browne; Hackney, Morris, Whittaker; Silvera, Burgzorg, Conway


Key Stats

    Last season, Fulham lost in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup to eventual champions Crystal Palace, while Middlesbrough lost to Blackburn in the third round.
    Fulham are unbeaten in their last five outings.
    The Cottagers made it to the final of the FA Cup back in 1975. They lost 2-0 to West Ham at Wembley Stadium.
    In the last seven meetings between the two teams, Middlesbrough have failed to win a single game.
    Prior to their 4-0 win over Southampton, Boro were on a four-match winless run.

Player to Watch

Tom Cairney
While the 34-year-old is no longer a regular starter for Fulham, he is still a very important part of their plans. Cairney, who has been linked with a move away from the club in recent weeks, has been in sensational form of late.

The Englishman bagged a goal against Crystal Palace, and he has since started both their Premier League outings against Liverpool and Chelsea, helping the team secure a draw and a win. The veteran midfielder's presence should help Fulham dominate the ball and dictate the tempo.

Prediction

Fulham 2-1 Middlesbrough
Fulham will head into this FA Cup clash full of confidence after their recent upturn in form, and playing at home should only strengthen their belief. Marco Silva's men are expected to control possession, use the width provided by their wing-backs, and look to wear Middlesbrough down over the course of the game.

That said, Middlesbrough will not make things easy. The EFL Championship high-flyers have already shown they can be ruthless when given space, and their emphatic win last time out will give them plenty of belief.

While Boro could trouble Fulham on the counter and make this a competitive contest, the hosts' quality and depth should eventually prove decisive. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for the Premier League outfit.



https://thehardtackle.com/round-up/2026/01/09/fulham-vs-middlesbrough-preview-and-prediction-2/

Matchday Preview: Middlesbrough
🆚 Middlesbrough
🏟 Craven Cottage
🏆 Emirates FA Cup
🗓 Saturday 10th January
⏰ 3pm

The opposition

Despite losing head coach Rob Edwards to Wolves in mid-November, Middlesbrough's promotion push has maintained under new boss Kim Hellberg, the young Swedish coach brought in from Hammarby. They did have a bit of a blip around Christmas when they managed to take only one point from a possible 12, but they go into the weekend on the back of a resounding 4-0 win over Southampton, a result that moved them back into the automatic promotion places.

Team news

🤍 Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze are away at AFCON, and Rodrigo Muniz, Kenny Tete and Josh King are still injured. Marco Silva serves a touchline ban having accumulated three bookings.

🔴 Boro are a bit light at centre-back, with Alfie Jones, Darragh Lenihan and George Edmundson all injured - former Fulham loanee Matt Targett had to slot in centrally for the Southampton win at the weekend. Riley McGree, David Strelec, Kaly Sene, Callum Brittain and Alex Bangura are also all out.

Tickets

Adult tickets for this fixture start from £25, with junior tickets priced at just £10 across the stadium!

Weather

⛅️ Despite some sunny intervals, it will likely be around three degrees at the Cottage on Saturday afternoon.

Lime/Forest bikes

If you use a hire bike to get to the stadium, we kindly request that it is left at a new designated zone which can be found at the junction of Woodlawn Road and Langthorne Street.

Arrive early

Until 2pm, all pints of beer, cider & cans of wine will be priced at just £5, with soft drinks available for just £2, as part of our early bird drinks offers.

Bag drop

Fans are reminded of our bag drop policy that is in place.

Extra-time

If the game is level after 90 minutes, extra-time and potentially penalties will be played.

Coverage

FFCtv subscribers can listen to commentary from Gentleman Jim and Jamie Reid.

Programme

With knockout football back on the calendar and a place in the FA Cup Fourth Round at stake, Timothy Castagne speaks with the calm assurance of a player who understands both the demands of elite competition and the value of patience. Opportunity, after all, rarely arrives on a perfect schedule.

With Kenny Tete sidelined, Castagne has stepped in at right-back and delivered a series of assured performances at a time when Fulham have been gathering momentum. For a player whose career has been built on adaptability and intelligence, it's simply another moment to be ready.

"It's what I get paid for," he tells the official matchday programme for the visit of Middlesbrough. "Sometimes you're frustrated or disappointed when you see the team that's playing, and you don't get the chance to show what you can do. But there's nothing you can do other than show that the manager is wrong in your opinion."

Elsewhere in the 68-page publication, Marco Silva and Tom Cairney pen their regular columns, while John Mitchell recalls his FA Cup exploits in our Cult Heroes series.

The programme will be on sale around the ground on Saturday, priced £3.50, or available to purchase online.





https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/january/09/matchday-preview-middlesbrough/

Ipswich Town: Fulham's Marco Silva on Blues' interest in Tom Cairney
Fulham manager Marco Silva has confirmed Ipswich Town's interest in midfielder Tom Cairney.

 It was revealed yesterday afternoon that the Blues had made an approach for the 34-year-old, who has captained the Cottagers for the best part of a decade.

Cairney is out of contract in the summer and the Blues will look to tempt him to Portman Road this month, although it remains to be seen whether or not Fulham will be receptive to an offer.

"The interest from Ipswich is there," Silva said. "I haven't had a conversation with Tom about it yet.

 "If he's going to have another season at the same level and if he has to sign a contract with our football club, why not again?

"We have time to talk about it, and if this comes to the table, I don't see any reasons why he cannot do it again."

Wrexham have been credited with interest in Cairney after securing promotion to the Championship, but they were unable to secure a move for the two-cap Scotland international.

Kieran McKenna refused to comment on a potential move for him or Chelsea youngster Kendry Paez ahead of tomorrow's FA Cup clash with Blackpool.



https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/sport/25753904.ipswich-town-fulhams-marco-silva-blues-interest-tom-cairney/

Inter Milan emerge as contenders to sign Fulham standout in Serie A transfer scrap
Inter Milan have emerged as admirers of Fulham defender Calvin Bassey, with sources indicating that the Nerazzurri and several other Serie A clubs are keeping a close eye on the Nigeria international during the January transfer window.

The 26-year-old centre-back, who can also operate effectively at left-back, has been a cornerstone of Marco Silva's side since joining from Ajax in the summer of 2023 for a reported £19million.

Bassey's versatility, physical presence, and composure on the ball have made him indispensable at Craven Cottage, particularly as Fulham navigate a demanding Premier League campaign compounded by injuries and international commitments.

Currently away on duty with Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations alongside club teammates Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze, Bassey has missed recent fixtures, highlighting his importance to the team.

Fulham sources emphasise that the club have no desire to sanction a mid-season departure, viewing the former Rangers man as a key component of their defensive setup and long-term plans.

Inter's interest is understood to stem from their ongoing search for defensive reinforcements, with Christian Chivu's side aiming to bolster depth amid a tight Scudetto race and Champions League commitments.

Other unnamed Serie A outfits are also believed to be tracking Bassey's situation, attracted by his Premier League experience and international pedigree.

However, any potential move appears more likely in the summer rather than this month. Fulham, sitting comfortably in mid-table and pushing for European qualification, are reluctant to weaken their squad during a crucial period. Bassey's contract runs until 2027, with the club holding an option for an additional year, giving them strong negotiating power.

The player's impressive form last season, where he was named Fulham's Player of the Year, has only heightened his profile across Europe.

His ability to contribute in build-up play aligns well with the tactical demands of top Italian sides, but Fulham's stance remains firm: Bassey is not for sale in January.

As the transfer window progresses, Inter and their Serie A rivals may test Fulham's resolve, but for now, the London club are focused on retaining their star defender through the second half of the season.

Fulham would consider bringing a former midfielder back to the club, if he fails to make a permanent switch to a Premier League rival this summer.

Elsewhere, Raheem Sterling is in no hurry to finalise a move away from Chelsea, and he will consider his options as January continues, with Fulham one such destination.

Finally, Fulham are the latest club to show interest in a Real Betis defensive midfielder, who continues to attract attention on the transfer market.



https://www.teamtalk.com/fulham/inter-milan-emerge-contenders-sign-fulham-standout-calvin-bassey

Middlesbrough injury update ahead of Fulham as Alex Bangura and Alfie Jones blows confirmed
Kim Hellberg provided a more detailed Middlesbrough injury update, with a number of players currently absent

Kim Hellberg is hoping Middlesbrough's injury picture will look far better within the next week or two, but confirmed Alex Bangura has suffered another longer-term blow.

Bangura was forced off early in last Sunday's 4-0 victory over Southampton. It's only a month since he returned to action after missing almost two years of action due to injury.

The left-back's injury adds to a defensive injury crisis, with Boro without any fit centre-backs in recent weeks. Though Dael Fry has now returned to training, he remains the only recently-injured player in contention for Saturday's trip to Fulham in the FA Cup.

Boro remain without Darragh Lenihan, George Edmundson, Callum Brittain, Riley McGree, David Strelec and Kaly Sene. Alfie Jones is facing more than two months on the sidelines too, after undergoing ankle surgery this week.

Offering a far more detailed injury update this week, Hellberg said: "Bangura will be a while, I think. He will not be able to play in January and then we see from there.

"Alfie Jones had surgery. He will not play in a long while. And then other lads are coming back so it's a matter of time. It might be one or two weeks, but most of them are coming back."

Asked if that latter update included forwards McGree, Sene and Strelec, Hellberg assured: "I would say something similar. Maybe one week, two weeks, around there on all of those you have mentioned. It's getting better, but it's not there yet."

Boro's options were boosted last weekend by Adilson Malanda's superb debut against Southampton. They also have Lukas Engel recently returning from an MLS loan spell.

The Dane hadn't yet trained with the first-team players ahead of Southampton, as he initially resettled with a period of individual training to get back up to speed.

Offering an update on Engel's availability, Hellberg added: "He is starting training with us now, like proper training. He will not be with us this game, but we will see from next week if it continues like this. But it's positive that he has started training with us now."



https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/middlesbrough-injury-update-ahead-fulham-33202566

From the Press Box: Silva highlights importance of the cup
JK gives the latest from Silva's pre-FA Cup press conference.

Ah, the magic of the cup. When I was a kid, the weekend of the third round of the FA Cup was the most highly anticipated in the football season. I loved it. Live football on the TV and lots of big games and big upsets. It was also due to the fact we didn't have Sky, Setanta, or ESPN, so this was the only chance to watch club football LIVE on terrestrial TV.

Fulham's recent FA Cup adventures have been largely successful in that we've been knocking on the door of Wembley, but we've ultimately fallen short at the quarter-final stage twice in the last three seasons. Can we go one better this year?

Silva on the FA Cup: "I love the competition - simple as that. I really believe that every time you put on the shirt, it doesn't matter the competition that we play. You have to go and play the game to win.

"It's the oldest competition in the world, very, very important one, that can give you the chance to do something at the club. You have always a chance to dream for something or to fight for something - more fight than to dream, to be honest."

Silva provided some team news & updates on the potential returns of Kenny Tete & Josh King:

"Muniz, Tete and King are out. Everyone else is in contention."

On King & Tete: "I don't know, really. It could be weeks. It's difficult now. They are running outside already, like Rodrigo, different conditions, it's going to take longer. But nice to see them working outside.

"Some work on the grass too. Let's see how they are going to react next week again and step by step I can give more updates to you and more feedback about it. I cannot say that they are going to be ready for Leeds; probably not."

This is the fifth season that Marco Silva has been in charge, and for the fifth season in a row, Fulham have been drawn against a Championship side.

21/22: Bristol City 0-1 Fulham (AET)

22/23: Hull 0-2 Fulham

23/24 Fulham 1-0 Rotherham (Championship at the time, now in League One)

24/25: Fulham 4-1 Watford

25/26: Fulham v Middlesbrough

Boro are chasing promotion to the Premier League, and have had a decent start to life under Kim Hellberg, after Rob Edwards left for Wolves.

They're coming off the back of an empathic 4-0 win against Southampton, having failed to score in their previous four games before that.

They'll sold out their allocation in the Putney End, and will be aiming to knock out a side in the division above. But, Fulham approach the FA Cup with the ambition of reaching the last stages, so I'm sure tomorrow will be an interesting contest.

Can Fulham extend their unbeaten run to seven games? We will find out tomorrow, with no replays.

After this, the schedule is a little less congested, but a cup run which always brings extra fixtures will be most welcome for Silva and the fans.

See you tomorrow - COYW!



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/from-the-press-box-silva-highlights

Ipswich interest confirmed – but Silva says Cairney could get new Fulham deal
Ipswich interest confirmed – but Silva says Cairney could get new Fulham deal

Cairney, who turns 35 later this month, is in his 11th season at Fulham, having signed a one-year contract during the summer.

Championship promotion chasers Ipswich want to sign him during this month's transfer window.

"The interest from Ipswich is there. I haven't had any conversation with Tom about it yet," said Whites boss Silva.

"If he's going to have another season at the same level and if he has another contract with our football club, why not again?

"We have time to talk about it and, if this comes on the table, I don't see any reasons why he cannot do it again."

Meanwhile, negotiations with Harry Wilson are ongoing.

Wilson is in the final months of his contract and has so far not agreed a new deal.

"Our board has to work with his agent or his representatives for us to do our maximum to do the contract with him. If we come up with good news for us, with a green light, it's going to be a very important one," said Silva.

"I know that the club is going to try to renew the contract like he's trying, and let's hope we can have good news, but I don't know what's going to happen."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/ipswich-interest-confirmed-but-silva-says-cairney-could-get-new-fulham-deal

Middlesbrough predicted team vs Fulham after Kim Hellberg's FA Cup approach promise
How we expect Middlesbrough to line up against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday

Kim Hellberg has suggested he won't be resting players ahead of Middlesbrough's clash with Fulham in the FA Cup - despite Middlesbrough's promotion priority.

Boro take on the Premier League side in the third round of the FA Cup at Craven Cottage on Saturday. Rather than see the game as a distraction, however, the Boro boss sees it as an excellent opportunity to test how his side compare to a top-flight outfit.

They head into the game with a number of injuries, however, and no players who missed out on last weekend's win over Southampton expected to be back in time. However, with six days to recover from their Saints win, and another six after to prepare for West Brom, Hellberg sees no reasons to rest players.

With that in mind, and with a couple of changes nevertheless expected, here is how we predict Boro's starting XI will look at Fulham this weekend.

GK - Sol Brynn - While clubs will often switch their keepers in the cup, Boro's main backup ahead of Seny Dieng's exit is 38-year-old Jon McLaughlin. It feels unlikely he throws the Scot in for this one.

RB - Alan Browne - Thankfully, it doesn't appear that Callum Brittain's injury is a serious one. In the meantime, Browne looks capable of doing a job for Boro at right-back/right-sided centre-back.

CB - Luke Ayling - The type of player who, in ideal circumstances might have been rested tomorrow given the amount of football he's been forced to play. It feels unlikely that Dael Fry is able to start, but hopefully he can play a significant enough chunk to allow Ayling to at least come off earlier than usual.

CB - Adilson Malanda - After his stellar debut last weekend, now comes an acid test for the Frenchman. As someone Boro hope will grow with them in their ambitions to return to the top flight, this will be a big learning opportunity for him.

LB - Matt Targett Another who, like Ayling, would probably ideally be rested this weekend amid recent injury niggles. But in the absence of Alex Bangura, and with Lukas Engel still not ready, it feels likely he plays over a youngster being thrown in.

CM - Hayden Hackney - The star midfielder has played almost every minute of late. But rather than take him out, Hellberg will hope Hackney uses this opportunity to showcase his talent in front of Premier League opposition.

CM - Alex Gilbert - One change we're predicting is in midfield, with Gilbert in for Aidan Morris. The USA international has only recently returned from an injury, so we're questioning if he needs to be risked for this one. Abdoulaye Kante and Law McCabe will hope for an opportunity too, but Gilbert feels like a more senior option.

RW - Morgan Whittaker - Back among the goals last time out, Whittaker is in fine form and was clear after the Southampton win that he was desperate to play and test himself against top-flight opposition.

AM - Sverre Nypan - We're going with one change in attack from Southampton, amid Bristol City's interest in Delano Burgzorg. While the 27-year-old hasn't left yet, it seems unnecessary to risk an injury for a player you hope to offload when a deal appears close.

LW - Sammy Silvera - The Australian could yet end up being one of the players that Boro look to move on this month, as he enters the final six months of his Boro contract. But he returned to the side with a goal last weekend - and a well-taken one at that. He'll give his all regardless.

ST - Tommy Conway - Desperately in need of a goal, of course, but his work rate and general play continues to be important for Boro. Aside from anything else, he's the only fit senior striker right now. Hot prospect Cruz Ibeh could get an opportunity from the bench after being spotted in first-team training ahead of the game.



https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/middlesbrough-predicted-team-vs-fulham-33203701

Fulham v Middlesbrough: Leo Castledine's pledge after completing his move from Chelsea
Fulham v Middlesbrough NEW Middlesbrough signing Leo Castledine has pledged to hit the ground running after completing his permanent move to the Teessiders - becoming the first signing of the Kim Hellberg era in the process.

The attacking midfielder, who had a stellar loan spell in the first half of 2025-26 at Huddersfield Town, has signed a four-and-a-half year deal with Boro, who won the race for the services of the 20-year-old Chelsea star, who had been interesting a number of Championship clubs.

Castledine excelled in his time at Town, scoring 12 times in 27 appearances before being recalled early from his season-long loan in West Yorkshire by the Stamford Bridge club.

The 20-year-old, who spent time on loan at Shrewsbury Town last term, said: "I'm absolutely over the moon to join what is a massive, massive club. It's a really big step for me in my career and I'm very excited to be here.

"There's always been trust in young players at this club if they can perform, and I want to perform at my highest level.

"I'm fit, healthy and I've been playing well, so I feel ready to go. I want to help the team as much as I can from the first day."

Castledine hails from Kingston-upon-Thames and his new club call in not too far away for a third-round cup tie where they will be backed by a sell-out contingent of almost 5,000 fans in the Putney End.

A similarly big following witnessed a thriller which had significant and fateful connotations in Boro's quest to finish in the Championship's top two in 2014-15 when the Teessiders lost 4-3 in April 2015.

On this occasion, the pressure will be off somewhat against their top-flight hosts, whose numbers including ex-Boro loan striker Rodrigo Muniz.

Boro boss Hellberg said: "The players are looking forward to challenging themselves and seeing how good we can play against a very good Premier League team away from home.

"There's such a big interest in English football in Sweden. I always watched these (Cup) games at home because I've been following English football for over 30 years. It will be great to take part in this cup and will be a special moment in a lot of ways."



https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/middlesbrough-fc/fulham-v-middlesbrough-leo-castledines-pledge-after-completing-his-move-from-chelsea-5470181

'Fulham are the one' – Raheem Sterling update as Chelsea exit looms
Raheem Sterling could be forced to stay at Chelsea as fellow Premier League clubs may not be able to afford the forward – but one rival is the most likely possibility.

That is according to football finance expert Dr Dan Plumley, who has exclusively told Football Insider that wages will be the "biggest factor" in any deal.

Sterling has been frozen out at Chelsea and has not made a first team appearance for the club this season.

Fulham chased Sterling in the summer transfer window, but a deal did not materialise, whilst Newcastle and West Ham are among the clubs interested in a January move.

Newcastle 'unlikely' as Raheem Sterling looks for Chelsea exit
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Plumley would back Fulham to sign Sterling if the 31-year-old reduced his wage demands.

"I think wages are likely to be the biggest factor in terms of club to club, what happens with the negotiations," Plumley said.

"It's going to be a club that, if it does happen, are prepared to pay a portion of the fees. I think Chelsea will want that. They won't just let him go and pay all of his wages. They'll want some, coming back the other way.

"We're led to believe from what we've seen that the player would rather stay in London. So Newcastle looks unlikely from the player's side of things in that regard. And then I think it's, you know, kind of all those clubs, if it's Palace, Fulham, West Ham, where perhaps it's, you know, I can see I think Fulham would be the one for me.

"I think, you know, clearly, the manager wanted some new players in the past. We've heard them say that could be an interesting one to look at, but I'm not so sure Fulham would want to stretch to those wage demands.

"So I think it's going to be a case of all those clubs, you know, which one potentially thinks that they can get the best out of it, at this point in time, but also is prepared to cough up the most money. And I think there's also a scenario where none of those happen to be honest.

"You know, West Ham have spent money already. Fulham I'm not sure if they would stretch to those demands. Palace don't get held to ransom on player wages as a rule. You know, they're no clear-cut options at the moment."

Sterling could face transfer blow
Leeds may also make a move for Sterling in January, amid a desire to add to their attacking options.

Daniel Farke's side though have pulled away from the relegation zone in the past month, and striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin has hit form.

Leeds could instead sign Axel Disasi, a team-mate of Sterling's at Chelsea and another player who has yet to make a first team appearance for the Blues this season.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/fulham-are-the-one-raheem-sterling-update-as-chelsea-exit-looms/

Everton, Fulham in transfer tussle to sign Gabriel Sara
Everton and Fulham are reportedly keen on signing 26-year-old Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara from Galatasaray in the winter transfer window.

According to a report by Sabah, as relayed by Sport Witness, Everton and Fulham are interested in Gabriel Sara. The two Premier League clubs are keen on reinforcing their first-team squad by signing a versatile midfielder in the winter transfer window. So, the 26-year-old Galatasaray midfielder has emerged as a target for them.

Apart from Everton and Fulham, Sunderland will also aim to secure Sara's services this month. Meanwhile, Galatasaray will demand around €20 million to part ways with the South American midfielder. The Turkish Super Lig champions are open to a January departure amid their links with Manuel Ugarte.

How has Gabriel Sara fared at Galatasaray?
Gabriel Sara has endured a topsy-turvy ride since joining Galatasaray from Norwich City in a deal worth 18 million in August 2024. The 26-year-old hit the ground running at the Turkish club, and he enjoyed a solid debut season with Cimbom. However, the situation has flipped in the 2025/26 campaign, as Ilkay Gundogan's arrival has changed things for the player.

The Brazilian midfielder has been in and out of the starting lineup this term, managing only 1,526 minutes of game time in 25 appearances across all competitions. However, Sara's stock remains high after a solid 2025/26 season. Everton and Fulham are among the prospective suitors vying for his signature in the winter transfer window.

Will Sara return to England soon?
Everton's interest in Gabriel Sara is understandable. While David Moyes has several top-notch midfielders in his squad, Idrissa Gueye is on the wrong side of 30 and in the twilight of his career. Additionally, Tim Iroegbunam and James Garner face uncertain futures at the Hill Dickinson Stadium due to different reasons. Several candidates, including Imran Louza, have thus emerged on Everton's wishlist, with Sara also a viable target.

As for Fulham, Tom Cairney's long-term future is uncertain amid his emerging links with Ipswich Town. Additionally, the Tottenham captain is on the wrong side of 30 and approaching the twilight of his career. So, Sara is an option worth considering for the West London club.

Apart from Everton and Fulham, Sunderland will also aim to secure Sara's services this month. Meanwhile, Galatasaray will demand around €20 million to part ways with the 26-year-old Brazilian midfielder. The Turkish Super Lig champions are open to a January departure amid their links with Manchester United midfielder Manuel Ugarte.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2026/01/10/everton-fulham-in-transfer-tussle-to-sign-gabriel-sara/

Kim Hellberg sets out his aims for Middlesbrough at Fulham with attacking vow
Middlesbrough are looking to test themselves against the Premier League

Kim Hellberg set out his aims for Middlesbrough's FA Cup clash at Fulham this weekend, explaining how the Championship promotion hopefuls can use it as a marker for their Premier League ambitions.

Boro sit second in the Championship this season, but head to Craven Cottage with a number of important players absent through injury. It means many have questioned if Boro should prioritise the league and rest key players for the cup.

With a week's worth of recovery between games before and after the Fulham clash, however, Hellberg instead sees the game as a great opportunity to themselves, while learning ahead of hopefully challenging teams like the Cottagers more regularly next season.

Hellberg said: "It's a little bit different maybe, because it's more about, for us, to see how good we are in the way we want to play. How can we do against that good of a team, playing the way we want to play?

"I think that's been very, very clear since in the last nine games, as the team that has the ball most in the Championship, the team that's created most xG from open play in the Championship, the team that has been getting to the final third most in the Championship.

"We're a team in the moment that's been playing very good offensive football and that's what we're going there to try to do. Then, if we're good enough to do it, we will see in how many minutes we can handle it.

"We are preparing to be offensive - how we're going to solve them, how we're going to hurt them. And then we'll see. It's also a good game to analyse after and see what we need to do to improve even more.

"It's a feeling where you can just look to keep improving what we're doing, and be brave in that, and also go and try to challenge them."

Having watched English football for years from Sweden and dreaming of one day managing in the FA Cup, the Boro head coach admits it will be a special occasion for him.

"In Sweden there's such a big interest in English football," he said. "It will be special to take part in this cup. Going to play a Premier League team, going into the cup, and then, of course, first experience the FA Cup. Everything about this game... I just want it to be Saturday!

"I've actually been to Craven Cottage with my father, but it was like 25 years ago maybe. I remember being there watching Van der Sar in goal! It will be good to go back there and be on the pitch this time."

Boro head to Craven Cottage with a number of injuries though, and a core group of players who have had to play a lot of football of late, as a result.

Asked if he might have to rotate his starting lineup, he insisted: "I actually don't think so. After the Southampton game we had three days off. It was a good opportunity to give them a break, because over Christmas the players were in here every day.

"So three days was good to go home, take care of your family, enjoy, and then we were back training. Then after this game, it's almost a week to the next game.

"So I think this game comes quite good in a situation. If you don't play and then you wait two weeks, you don't want them to not play. So I think this is a good opportunity to challenge Fulham at the things we're good at.

"Then, of course, you need to be able to rotate in the game a little bit more than maybe we do normally. But I don't think we need to do too much, in terms of how we start the game.

"This is the best chance to measure yourself against a very good team, and when you do that when it's one week between the games, it gives you a chance to actually go at them in an even better way."

Hellberg is under no illusions about the challenge Boro face though. Marco Silva has tended to make changes to his team for FA Cup games against EFL clubs, but they have plenty of quality options and currently sit ninth in the Premier League table.

"I'm looking forward to it," he concluded. "It's a very good team we face. They beat Chelsea two days ago, and a good result before that.

"The squad and the players are looking forward to the challenge and seeing how good we can play against a very good Premier League team away. That's the aim: try to go and make the game our game for as many minutes as possible."




https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kim-hellberg-sets-out-aims-33203151

Kim Hellberg's Middlesbrough selection plan for Fulham FA Cup tie
KIM HELLBERG says he plans to name a strong Middlesbrough side for today's FA Cup third round tie at Fulham - explaining that he doesn't think his stars would benefit from a fortnight off.

 With Boro are so well placed in the Championship and having battled mounting injury problems in recent weeks, it would have been no surprise had Hellberg opted to ring the changes at Craven Cottage.

But in his press conference yesterday, the head coach suggested that won't be the case.

He said: "I actually don't think so. After the Southampton game we had three days off.

 "After the win, I think it was a good opportunity to give them a break, because over Christmas the players were in here every day, so three days was good to go home, take care of your family, enjoy, and then we were back training.

"Then after this game, it's almost a week to the next game. So I think this game comes quite good in a situation. If you don't play and then you wait two weeks, you don't want them to not play.

"I think this is a good opportunity to challenge Fulham at the things we're good at. And then of course you need to be able to rotate in the game a little bit more than maybe we do in normal.

"But I don't think we need to do too much, in terms of how we start the game. This is the best chance to measure yourself against a very good team, and when you do that when it's one week between the games, it gives you a chance to actually go at them in an even better way. It comes at a very good time."

 Today's game is Hellberg's first taste of the FA Cup, but it won't be his first visit to Fulham's ground.

"I've actually been to Craven Cottage with my father, but it was like 25 years ago maybe," he said.

"I remember being there watching Van der Sar in goal. It will be good to go back there and be on the pitch this time.

"I'm looking forward to it. It's a very good team we face. They beat Chelsea two days ago, and a good result before that. I think the squad and the players are looking forward to the challenge and seeing how good we can play against a very good Premier League team away.

"That's the aim: try to go and make the game our game for as many minutes as possible."

Given Boro are the underdogs and the priority this season is clearly winning promotion from the Championship, Hellberg was asked whether his side head to Craven Cottage with nothing to lose.

He said: "I understand the question, but I think there's always things to lose. It's a little bit different maybe, because it's more about, for us, to see how good we are in the way we want to play.

"How can we do against that good of a team playing the way we want to play? I think that's been very, very clear in the last nine games, as the team that has the ball most in the Championship, the team that's created most xG from open play in the Championship, the team that has been getting to the final third most in the Championship.

"We're a team in the moment that's been playing very good offensive football and that's what we're going there to try to do. Then, if we're good enough to do it, we will see in how many minutes we can handle it.

"We are preparing to be offensive - how we're going to solve them, how we're going to hurt them. And then we'll see.

"It's also a good game to analyse after and see what we need to do to improve even more. It's a feeling where you can just look to keep improving what we're doing, and be brave in that, and also go and try to challenge them."



https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/25754975.kim-hellbergs-middlesbrough-selection-plan-fulham-fa-cup-tie/

'Bassey is there' - Ex-Super Eagles defender backs Fulham ace to stop Algeria dangerman Mahrez
Former Super Eagles midfielder Sam Elijah has expressed strong confidence in Nigeria's defensive setup ahead of their quarterfinal clash against Algeria, backing Fulham defender Calvin Bassey to neutralize Algerian dangerman Riyad Mahrez.

Elijah dismissed concerns about Mahrez's threat, insisting the Super Eagles have the quality and structure to keep the former Manchester City winger quiet.

"I tell you to forget it. Bassey is there for him. He has nowhere to go. Bassey is enough for Mahrez and Ajayi is there to complement," Elijah told allnigeriasoccer.com.

"So our defense is solid. There's no room for him at all."

Elijah added that Nigeria's strength across all departments gives him confidence that the team will deliver when it matters most.

"And I tell you at this stage the Super Eagles will not disappoint at every unit."

However, the former international cautioned against complacency, stressing the importance of tactical discipline against a well-organized Algerian side.

"I believe this though but we need to be on our toes, we need to be careful, how we attack and defend," he warned. "We have to be tactical. There is no room for fear. We have a solid defense."

Reflecting on Nigeria's progression in the tournament, Elijah noted a clear improvement in cohesion and mentality, particularly after the match against Mozambique.

"When we started our game, you can see we started shabby, there is no cohesion, unity, buildup and all that."

"But now, you can see with our game against Mozambique, you can see the fire in the boys, the never say die attitude in the Super Eagles players, commitment was there from the goalkeeper, to the defense, midfield, and attack."

He praised the team's collective approach, highlighting improvements in midfield play, especially from Alex Iwobi.

"We attack as a unit, we defend as a unit. Our midfield is trying to improve especially players like Iwobi," he said.

Elijah also pointed out that Nigeria's forwards are beginning to find their rhythm.

"You can see that he improved his game and we can see the passes and what is lacking before," he revealed. "You see in our last game that the strikers are not struggling anymore."

Despite acknowledging Algeria's past success against Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations and their tactical strength, Elijah believes the Super Eagles are ready for revenge.

"Our match against Algeria, yes they eliminated us before in the Nations Cup but now the Super Eagles are very ready."

"We are going to take the day. I believe we are going to win that match. It is not going to be an easy match , it is going to be a very tactical match because the Algeria is highly tactical but with the present spirit and commitment from the boys, I believe we are going to crush Algeria."

On the debate over Nigeria's most important player among Alex Iwobi, Ademola Lookman, and Victor Osimhen, Elijah emphasized teamwork over individual brilliance.

"Football is a team work. Honestly speaking, these players Iwobi, Ademola, and Osimhen are very important players, and they have different roles they are playing," he said. "Each one of them is very important. They are our best players."

He also addressed recent confrontation between Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman , urging the striker to remain humble.

"That's why I said the other time they were telling me about Osimhen misbehaving, Osimhen is not our best player, he is one of our best players," he said.

"So he should not see himself as the team god. He should behave himself. He should calm down. He is not a coach, he is the player, he has no right to challenge any player. He can motivate."

"He is our highest goalscorer but he cannot score alone. The goal that he scored, the pass came from Iwobi to Lookman, to Osimhen, and he scored."

"So the three of them are very important players. For me, all of them are very important. I think they are our best players."

Nigeria will take on Algeria on Saturday at the Marrakesh Stadium, aiming to secure a positive result and book a place in the final four of the AFCON tournament.

Adeyemi Adewale




https://allnigeriasoccer.com/bassey-is-there-ex-super-eagles-defender-backs-fulham-ace-to-stop-algeria-dangerman-mahrez

Inter eye move for Bassey but Fulham make January transfer decision – report
Reports in the UK suggest that Inter are among the Serie A clubs interested in versatile Fulham defender Calvin Bassey, but the Premier League side don't want to sell the Nigerian this month.

TeamTalk reports that Inter are among the Serie A clubs interested in Fulham defender Bassey.

Inter set sights on Bassey
The Nerazzurri are expected to make big changes in central defence over the coming months, given that Francesco Acerbi and Stefan de Vrij are expected to leave at the end of their contracts in June.

According to the report, Inter and other unnamed Serie A clubs are tracking Bassey's situation, but Fulham are unwilling to sell their defender this month.

Fulham unwilling to sell Bassey in January
Bassey has scored one goal in 18 appearances across all competitions this season and is a pivotal member of the team, whom Fulham don't want to sell midway through the season.

Therefore, any potential move might only happen in the summer, when Inter will still be looking for at least one new centre-back.



https://football-italia.net/inter-move-bassey-fulham-january-decision/

Manchester United (A) tickets
Tickets for Fulham's away fixture against Manchester United will begin to go on sale from Monday 12th January.

Follow Fulham away as the team travel to Old Trafford to face The Red Devils in Premier League action on Sunday 1st February, kick-off 2pm.

Tickets for this fixture will go on sale to 2025/26 Season Ticket Holders from 10am on Monday 12th January. 2025/26 Members* will be able to purchase tickets from 10am on Wednesday 14th January.

Supporters with Previous Booking History can purchase tickets from 10am on Thursday 15th January. Any remaining tickets will then go on General Sale** from 10am on Friday 16th January.

Supporters can secure two tickets per person for this fixture. Further matchday information, including ticket prices, can be found here.

Tickets can be purchased online at fulhamfc.com/tickets, by calling the Ticket Office on 0203 871 0810 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) or in person from the Ticket Office (Mon-Fri, 9:30am-4:30pm).

BUY TICKETS FROM MONDAY

*Membership must have been purchased prior to 9th January 2026 in order to be eligible to purchase tickets during the Membership priority window.

**Subject to postcode restrictions - Fulham FC will be monitoring bookings and any tickets purchased by supporters who live in the vicinity of Manchester (and local areas) who do not have a previous booking history with us, will be terminated.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/january/09/manchester-united-away-tickets/

AFCON could be set to hand Leeds United a massive survival opportunity today
Leeds United have the FA Cup trip to Derby County up first, but after that is a crucial home meeting with Marco Silva's Fulham in the Premier League.

This weekend's FA Cup action should see some of the pressure lifted in the midst of a relegation dogfight in the Premier League.

Daniel Farke will be able to call upon the reaches of his squad at Pride Park, in order to leave his key players well rested for the return of Premier League action at Elland Road vs Fulham.

Premier League state of play: How is Leeds United's survival bid looking after Newcastle?
It felt like the end of the world when Harvey Barnes got his inevitable winner on Wednesday night. Losing that late after being in the lead three times at St James' Park was a sickener on the night.

Looking more holistically at the season ahead, though, it's still very healthy for Leeds. We're still on above a point-per-game, as prescribed by Daniel Farke and the board for a successful survival bid.

Meanwhile, the gap to relegation has stayed at eight points, with another tough game for Leeds ticked off and another really winnable match for West Ham passing them by.

AFCON could hand Leeds United crucial boost against Fulham next week
Beyond this Sunday's FA Cup clash with the Rams, most focus this month is on the next Premier League fixture.

United host Marco Silva's Fulham off the back of their home win against 10-man Chelsea on Wednesday night. Leeds should be eager for revenge after being undeservedly dealt a cruel defeat at Craven Cottage back in September, as Gabriel Gudmundsson inexplicably headed into his own goal in stoppage time.

Harry Wilson is the man to watch, of course. But, the Cottagers could travel up to West Yorkshire still without three key players – Nigeria internationals Calvin Bassey, Alex Iwobi and Samu Chukwueze.

All three are still competing in AFCON, progressing to the quarter-finals, where they face Algeria this afternoon. Should they progress to the semi-finals, all three would be guaranteed to miss the Elland Road fixture.

That's because their semi-final progression means they're guaranteed to either play in the AFCON final, or the third-place playoff – both fixtures take place on the weekend of the 17th January when Leeds meet Fulham.

So, let's hope for a Super Eagles win!



https://www.leedsallover.com/leeds-united-could-be-handed-huge-pre-fulham-boost-in-afcon/