Friends of Fulham

Fulham's Tim Ream sidelined by calf injury
Fulham defender Tim Ream is expected to be out until after Christmas with a calf injury.

The Cottagers will head into Saturday's away clash with Newcastle United in a positive mood after cruising to 5-0 victories over both Nottingham Forest and West Ham United.

If Fulham are to claim a third consecutive victory, they will have to do it without the experience of Ream, who is set to miss out through injury.

After being an unused substitute for the win over Forest, Ream was left out of the squad for last week's success against the Hammers.

Speaking in Thursday's pre-match press conference, Marco Silva revealed that the USA international remains sidelined alongside Adama Traore.

The Fulham boss told reporters: "Tim Ream is going to be out, and Adama [Traore] as well. All the others are going to be available for the match.

"Tim felt something after we played against Nottingham [Forest] at home. He felt something in his calf. Let's see. We have to keep assessing him, keep recovering him. He's doing rehabilitation with the medical department.

When pressed for further details over Ream's fitness status, Silva added: "He's not training. It's probably going to be early for him [to return] before Christmas."

Not only is Ream set to miss Saturday's away trip to Newcastle, but he is also expected to miss games against Everton and Burnley in the EFL Cup and Premier League respectively.

In positive news, Willian is expected to be fit despite being forced off at half time against West Ham with an injury issue.

Defender Issa Diop is set to return from a spell on the sidelines and feature in a matchday squad for the first time since October 7.

Having picked up 21 points from 16 games, Fulham head into the weekend in 10th position and five points adrift of Saturday's opponents, who currently occupy seventh place.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/injury-news/news/fulhams-tim-ream-sidelined-by-calf-injury_531407.html?newsnow

'Huge' - Newcastle United trio at risk of Premier League ban after Spurs incidents - key player out v Fulham
Newcastle United suspensions: Eddie Howe will be without Kieran Trippier against Fulham while three other players face a potential Premier League ban.

Newcastle United have three players walking a disciplinary tightrope with Kieran Trippier already suspended for Saturday's Premier League match against Fulham (3pm kick-off).

Sean Longstaff, Joelinton and Jamaal Lascelles are just one booking away from a one-match suspension in the Premier League. Joelinton and Lascelles both picked up their fourth bookings of the season in the 4-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Each player will have to avoid picking up a yellow card in the three upcoming league matches against Fulham, Luton Town and Nottingham Forest in order to avoid suspension.

Trippier was shown his fifth yellow card of the league season at Spurs and handed a one-match suspension in the Premier League which he will serve against Fulham. Any player shown five bookings in the opening 19 league matches is banned for one match.

Reflecting on Trippier's suspension, Howe told The Gazette: "It's a huge blow for us, Kieran is a standard for us really to get a level of consistent performance. We'll miss his quality.

"When he's part of your biggest attacking threat every week yeah he's a very difficult one to miss out. Even today he had his moments when he put in some really good crosses, particularly in the second half.

"He's just an outstanding technician and we will certainly miss him against Fulham."

The 33-year-old is Newcastle's third player to be suspended in the Premier League this season after Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes each picked up five bookings. Gordon missed the 2-2 draw at West Ham United while Guimaraes sat out the 2-0 defeat at AFC Bournemouth.

The right-back is the third Newcastle player to pick up such a suspension this season after Anthony Gordon and Bruno Guimaraes. The Fulham match will be Trippier's first time out of United's starting line-up in the Premier League since the start of last season.

On the booking front, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn and Sandro Tonali have two bookings. Tonali is currently suspended for betting offences but Burn and Schar could face a suspension if they were to be booked in all three of Newcastle's final league matches before the end of 2023.

Miguel Almiron, Harvey Barnes, Sven Botman, Tino Livramento, Matt Ritchie, Matt Targett and Callum Wilson all have one Premier League booking each.



https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/newcastle-united-player-ruled-out-v-fulham-as-trio-risk-premier-league-ban-after-spurs-incidents-4445651

Newcastle vs Fulham: Prediction and Preview
Can Eddie Howe's men bounce back from their European exit? We look ahead to Saturday's Premier League clash at St James' Park with our Newcastle United vs Fulham prediction and preview.

Newcastle vs Fulham Stats: The Quick Hits

    Newcastle United are predicted to be victorious on their return to Premier League action, beating Fulham in 45.6% of the Opta supercomputer's pre-match simulations.
    Fulham have scored 16 goals in their last four Premier League games, one more than they had in their previous 15 matches combined.
    Raúl Jiménez has scored three goals in his last two Premier League games, as many as in his previous 43 apps. He could score in three straight league games for the first time since November 2019, with the third match in that run coming against Eddie Howe's Bournemouth.

Match Preview
Newcastle United got the favour they needed from elsewhere in midweek, but it wasn't to be for them in the UEFA Champions League. A 2-1 reverse against Milan saw the Magpies dumped out of Europe entirely, and if they wish to rub shoulders with the continent's elite again next term, Eddie Howe's men must rediscover their Premier League form, starting with Saturday's clash with Fulham.

Paris Saint-Germain's 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund gave Newcastle hope of advancing to the last 16, and it looked like they would do exactly that when Joelinton's powerful finish gave them lift-off at a raucous St James' Park. However, goals from Christian Pulisic and Samuel Chukwueze inspired a Rossoneri turnaround as the Italian giants snatched the consolation prize of a UEFA Europa League spot.

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It's just the fifth time a Premier League club has finished bottom of a Champions League group, with two of those coming this season after Manchester United's insipid exit on Tuesday. The Red Devils also propped up their group in 2005-06, while Blackburn Rovers (1995-95) and Manchester City (2012-13) have also previously done so.

Things haven't been much better for Newcastle on the domestic front lately, with injuries continuing to bite at Eddie Howe's squad as they suffered away defeats against Everton (3-0) and Tottenham (4-1) last week. The Magpies have already suffered more Premier League losses in 2023-24 (six) than they did in the entirety of 2022-23 (five), and they enter Matchday 17 seven points off the top four.

Howe has at least been able to welcome a few players back to fitness in recent days, with Callum Wilson, Sean Longstaff and Dan Burn available again. The return of Wilson is a particular boost; of all players to attempt at least 20 shots in the Premier League this season, the striker has the highest shot conversion rate (31.8%, seven goals from 22 shots).

Newcastle still have plenty of absentees, though, with Nick Pope, Jacob Murphy, Sven Botman, Joe Willock, Elliot Anderson and Harvey Barnes all injured, while Kieran Trippier is suspended after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season against Spurs last Sunday.

Tino Livramento will likely switch over to right-back, and he has big shoes to fill. Trippier's tally of seven Premier League assists this season is only matched by Pedro Neto and Mohamed Salah, and is as many as he provided across the whole of 2022-23. Matt Ritchie was the last Newcastle player to provide more in a single campaign, supplying eight in 2018-19.

Newcastle will be coming up against the Premier League's in-form attacking side in Fulham, whose goalscoring woes are a thing of the past. Back-to-back 5-0 thrashings of Nottingham Forest and West Ham have lifted Marco Silva's team into the top half, and they travel to Tyneside full of confidence.

It would certainly be a memorable trip north if Fulham can become just the third Premier League side to score five or more goals in three successive games, after Chelsea (May-August 2010) and Man City (in September 2017). They have scored 16 goals in their last four league games, one more than they had in their previous 15 combined.

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Emblematic of their return to form in front of goal is striker Raúl Jiménez, who has three goals in his last two league games – as many as in his previous 43 – after netting with a towering header last time out. He last scored in three successive league games with Wolves in November 2019, and the third match in that run came against Howe's Bournemouth.

The Mexico international will again be supported by Willian, who has four goal involvements (three goals, one assist) in his last four league outings. No Fulham player has more combined goals and assists than the Brazilian this term (five), while he's also their only player to attempt at least 20 shots (24) and create at least 20 chances (20).

Andreas Pereira, Tom Cairney and Alex Iwobi should also continue in Silva's lineup, with Harry Wilson again looking to play the role of super-sub after scoring off the bench against West Ham. All 11 of his Premier League goals have been scored with his left foot; only Stuart Pearce, Bryan Mbeumo (both 20/20) and Dwight McNeil (16/16) have a better 100% left-foot record in the competition's history.

Newcastle vs Fulham Head-to-Head
Newcastle are unbeaten in their last six Premier League games against Fulham (four wins, two draws), winning the last three in a row.

Alexander Isak hit the only goal when the teams last met on Tyneside in January, with Aleksandar Mitrović seeing a successful penalty disallowed after kicking the ball onto his standing foot and in.

Indeed, Fulham have tended to struggle on trips to the north east, failing to win on their last seven Premier League visits to St James' (three draws, four defeats) since recording a 1-0 win there under Roy Hodgson in May 2009.

Recent Form
The difference between Newcastle's home and away form has been stark this season. The Magpies have earned just five points on the road this term (one win, two draws, five defeats), with only Sheffield United (one) and Luton Town (four) faring worse on their travels.

Newcastle have won their last six league games at St James' Park, though, last enjoying a longer home winning run between September 2002 and January 2003, when they won 11 on the bounce.

They have claimed 80.8% of their Premier League points at home this campaign (21/26), with only Sheffield United (87.5%) picking up a greater share on their own turf.

Fulham, meanwhile, are winless in seven away league games since beating Everton 1-0 on Matchday 1, drawing three and losing four. They last endured a longer winless run on the road at the start of 2018-19, failing to record a victory in their first 17 away games (two draws, 15 defeats).

Newcastle vs Fulham Opta Player Ratings
The Opta Player Ratings are something we introduced ahead of 2023-24. For a quick primer on how they're calculated, you can check our explainer here.


Before kick-off in this match, here are the top five performing players from both teams in the 2023-24 Premier League according to the Opta Player Ratings:

Newcastle
Anthony Gordon: 74.9 (out of 100)
Kieran Trippier: 73.9
Bruno Guimarães: 70.4
Alexander Isak: 69.9
Nick Pope: 67.4

Fulham
Bernd Leno: 73.4 (out of 100)
Willian: 66.6
Harry Wilson: 65.7
Alex Iwobi: 65.3
João Palhinha: 63.6

These Opta Player Ratings also power our set of brand-new, free-to-play gaming experiences, which you can play on Opta Analyst all season long.

Opta Power Rankings
The Opta Power Rankings are a global team ranking system that assigns an ability score to over 13,000 domestic football teams on a scale between zero and 100, where zero is the worst-ranked team in the world and 100 is the best team in the world.

Ahead of Saturday's kick-off, here is the Opta Power Ranking for both sides:

RANK	TEAM	RATING
19	Newcastle United	90.8
RANK	Fulham	87.4

Newcastle vs Fulham Prediction
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Despite Newcastle suffering three defeats in the space of six days recently, the Opta supercomputer makes them favourites to return to form on Saturday.

Of 10,000 match simulations conducted before kick-off, Howe's men won 45.6%. Fulham triumphed in 26.4%, with 28% finishing level.

Newcastle's hopes of a top-four finish have taken a series of blows lately, and according to the supercomputer's season predictions, they now have just a 9.5% chance of achieving that feat. Sixth (27.1%) is their most common finishing position across our season simulations.

Fulham have left any relegation worries behind them by winning three of their last four games, and they now go down in just 0.2% of our simulations. They are given a 15.2% chance of replicating last season's 10th-place finish.



https://theanalyst.com/eu/2023/12/newcastle-vs-fulham-prediction/

'They have to'... Chris Sutton predicts what the score will be between Newcastle and Fulham on Saturday
After being knocked out of the Champions League, Newcastle United can now focus on their domestic duties – starting against Fulham on Saturday.

That is the view of former Premier League striker Chris Sutton, who has been speaking about the Magpies' upcoming game this weekend.

Wednesday night was heartbreaking, as Newcastle's European adventure came to an end. We were unable to get the win that we needed, while defeat means that we do not even drop into the Europa League.

Some may argue that is a blessing, but there is a real sense of disappointment following Wednesday night at St James' Park.

But there is also a lot of pride in the team, and we must show them that when they take on Fulham on Saturday. It is suddenly a huge game for Eddie Howe's side, and it is a tough one too with the Cottagers boasting back-to-back 5-0 wins.

Newcastle will need to dig deep to be victorious, but Chris Sutton still has confidence in the Magpies despite their Champions League exit.

Chris Sutton predicts that Newcastle will beat Fulham on Saturday
As part of his Premier League predictions for BBC Sport, Chris Sutton has backed Newcastle to beat Fulham 3-1 on Saturday.

"Free-scoring Fulham have turned into the Premier League's surprise package, so predicting this game is not as clear-cut as it might have been a couple of weeks ago," he said.

"That's partly because it would be easy to doubt Newcastle at the moment – they were out on their feet against Tottenham last weekend and gave everything in defeat to AC Milan on Wednesday.

"But I am still going with Eddie Howe's side to come out on top. They play Chelsea in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals next week but now they are out of Europe, they can concentrate on the league. They have to, really.

"And, at home, they have still been impressive with seven wins and only one defeat in the league so far this season – that late turnaround against Liverpool in August. This won't be easy, but the crowd will help them here."

Every week, Sutton goes up against a celebrity. This week it is the turn of professional Darts player Chris Dobey, who is set to compete at the PDC World Darts Championship this month. He is also a Toon fan, and has backed the Magpies to win 2-0.

Newcastle's home form is still excellent
While we now boast a disappointing record of three defeats on the spin, the context surrounding them puts things into perspective.

While Alan Shearer might not believe it is an issue, tiredness has played a part. It certainly did in our previous two Premier League games, while it was win or bust on Wednesday.

Sure, we could have played for the draw and settled for the Europa League, but that is not the Newcastle United way. It is not Eddie Howe's way.

The AC Milan game was just our second defeat at St James' Park, with the other being Liverpool – when they snatched all three points late in the day.

While confidence is low and Fulham are in great form, Newcastle can respond. Howe does not want his players to dwell on the AC Milan game, and playing at St James' Park just days later gives them the perfect opportunity to recover and get their season back on track.

Chris Sutton thinks Newcastle will do exactly that, and so does Chris Dobey!



https://www.geordiebootboys.com/news/they-have-to-chris-sutton-predicts-what-the-score-will-be-between-newcastle-and-fulham-on-saturday/

You're Not Welcome Anymore.

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A new report released today from the FST and the Fulham Lillies looks into the accessibility of football for young families and advocates for why and how to make things easier for parents of young children and babies.

We're delighted to announce that today we release our report, published in collaboration with the Fulham Lillies, 'You're Not Welcome Anymore – why it's important to help parents continue to access football with young children'.

The report explores the reasons behind why it is important to consider families and make policies inclusive for them, and help explain any barriers in safety that could be prohibitive to doing so. It talks about the real-world implications this has, including interviews that we've had with fans who have been impacted by the arrival of children into their lives.

This was recently the case for a Fulham fan included in the report, Anna Baddeley, who had taken her firstborn to games no problem, with her child able to snooze during the game and soak up the atmosphere when awake. However, with the arrival of her second and a change in the rules now meaning that a junior-priced ticket is required for access, the cost has become prohibitive for her attending.

We really want to work with Fulham to consider ways that we can make policies for family-friendly, and welcome any conversations around this topic as to how we can build this to help Fulham fans now in their time of need during these formative early-years of childcare, and for those wishing to start a family in the future and bring their infants with them.

You can read the report here, and follow any updates on this campaign on the Fulham Lillies social channels (Instagram | X | LinkedIn), as well as our own.



https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2023/12/youre-not-welcome-anymore/

Barrott to referee Saturday's Fulham visit

Sam Barrott will referee his first Newcastle United fixture on Saturday when the Magpies face Fulham at St. James' Park.

Saturday 16th December
Newcastle United vs Fulham
St. James' Park
Kick-off 3pm GMT

Barrott is new to the Premier League this season, having only stepped up to the top flight earlier in the campaign.

Prior to that, the West Riding-based official had racked up a century of games in the EFL, and took charge of the 2022 FA Vase final between Littlehampton Town and Newport Pagnell Town.

So far this term his appointments have been spread across the Premier League, Championship and Carabao Cup, with his top flight debut coming in Fulham's 3-1 home victory over Sheffield United in October.

2023/24 stats

Games (all competitions): 18
Yellow cards issued: 62
Red cards issued: 2

Assistants

Assistant referees: Marc Perry and Steve Meredith
Fourth official: Oli Langford
VAR: Michael Salisbury
Assistant VAR: James Mainwaring



https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/barrott-to-referee-saturdays-fulham-visit/

Official Newcastle United injury update – Availability for Fulham match on Saturday
An official Newcastle United injury update on Friday morning.

Eddie Howe speaking to journalists.

The NUFC Head Coach talking ahead of Saturday afternoon's game at St James' Park.

Fulham the visitors as Newcastle United look to bounce back with a much needed victory.

The defeat to AC Milan making it three in a row.

The key messages coming out of this morning on specific Newcastle United players from Eddie Howe:
Kieran Trippier is missing through suspension.

Anthony Gordon will be monitored today in training to gauge his involvement against Fulham.

Joe Willock won't be back 'this side of January' having had further injections in his Achilles.

Also, a setback for Harvey Barnes means he won't be available either until January at the earliest

Eddie Howe summing things up ahead of the Fulham match when it comes to availability of players:
"It is mixed.

"We are getting a couple of players back but not in their best physical condition.

"Then you've got players that are having to keep playing that are picking up things. "



https://www.themag.co.uk/2023/12/official-newcastle-united-injury-update-availability-for-fulham-match-on-saturday/

'If everything goes to plan' – EFL boss provides update on Fulham loan man
Wigan Athletic boss Shaun Maloney has said Fulham loanee Martial Godo is four to six weeks away from returning.

Wigan Athletic signed the attacker on loan in the last transfer window.

Godo, 20, has been out of action since earlier this month through injury.

In this latest update regarding his situation, Maloney has said, as per a report by Wigan Today: "We're looking at four-to-six weeks with Martial, if everything goes to plan. Because of the type of ankle injury it is, it's not straightforward, but it's coming along."

Wigan Athletic injury latest
Fulham let Godo head out the exit door on loan in the summer when Wigan came calling to help him get some more experience under his belt.

The youngster has since played 13 league games for the North West outfit so far in this campaign and has chipped in with three goals and three assists.

Godo has been on the books at Craven Cottage since 2022 after the Whites swooped to land him from non-league side Dartford. The England youth international has since made one senior competitive appearance for the Cottagers and is being tipped for a bright future with Marco Silva's men.

His injury is a blow for the Latics and he will be missed over the next four to six weeks as Maloney's men look to rise up the table over the festive period.

However, they won't want to take any risks with him and the most important thing is for him to get back as safely as possible.

Wigan are 14th in the table and are 13 points off the play-offs after 20 games. They drew 0-0 at home to Lincoln City last time out and weren't able to break the Imps down.

The Latics are back in action this weekend with an away trip to Vale Park to face Port Vale as they look to keep their unbeaten five-game run in the league going.



https://the72.co.uk/2023/12/15/if-everything-goes-to-plan-efl-boss-provides-update-on-fulham-loan-man/

Adama Traore will only add to Fulham's goalscoring exploits

In his debut piece, Charlie Shaw says the return of our winger from injury will instantly bolster our goals for column.

After three months of relative toothlessness going forward, Fulham look to have hit their goalscoring stride. Following 16 goals in four, Fulham still might have another weapon waiting in the wings. After joining for free in the summer, the signing of Adama sparked much fanfare. Off the back of four and a half years at Wolves and half a season on loan at Catalan giants, Barcelona, the 27-year old has been subject to a range of interest from top clubs throughout his career, and the banks of the Thames might be on the cusp of seeing just why.

Seamless fit

The new system Fulham have implemented after the international break looks to have three possible number 10s in Tom Cairney, Alex Iwobi and Andreas Pereira, and these options sees to have revitalised Fulham's creative edge. With the trio leaving space for a singular traditional winger in Marco Silva's new-look Fulham.

Traore's directness could give us is something that we may lack, with Willian at points this season being criticised for a lack of directness that he may of possessed last season. Adama would counteract this, with his runs in behind partnered by the creative spark of Fulham's attacking midfield triumvirate, Traore could be a headache for defences across the premier league.

Alongside this, our counter-attacking style is suited to a tee, with a ball carrying ability that could get Fulham up the pitch with speed. We saw glimpses of this in his scintillating run down the wing in the final few minutes away at Arsenal, and in his stint at Wolves and Middlesbrough averaging five dribbles per game. The Spainard's footballing skill set gives another method of attack to Marco Silva's free-scoring Whites.

As the second arrival from Molineux in the summer, Adama's entrance into the Fulham side appears to have coincided with Raul Jiminez's uptake in form. At Wolves, Adama was sometimes used as an inside forward or second striker off the back of Raul, as Wolves, similarly to Fulham, looked to use him in transition to progress with pace up the pitch, while utilising the footballing intelligence and physical statue of Raul to hold the ball up and create chances for the onrushing Traore.

Competition for places

To the delight of Fulham fans, players and staff alike, Fulham have found the solution for their goalscoring drought. But the administration of the new system of three number tens, has increased competition. The singular space on the wing for Fulham's out and out wingers. With Willian and Wilson both in a rich vein of form, Adama will have to impress in the minutes off the bench he is bound to collect, alongside the cup minutes he will receive in the upcoming weeks, to stake a claim in this Fulham side.

Everyone at Fulham will be hoping Adama can recreate the form he showcased for Wolves that caused him to be one of the hottest properties in world football. With Marco's renowned ability to reinvigorate careers, I for one would bet that Adama will develop into an asset for Fulham for years to come. While he might have to wait for his opportunity, Traore will, at least for now, be one of the first names off the bench, so the Marco can exploit his blistering speed as Silva wait to bed him into the Fulham fold.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-12-15-adama-traore-will-only-add-to-fulhams-goalscoring-exploits/

Anthony Gordon, Kieran Trippier, Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes injury latest from Eddie Howe
Manager Eddie Howe could not confirm whether Anthony Gordon will be fit for Newcastle United's game against Fulham on Saturday or not, saying the winger will be assessed on Friday.

The 22-year-old is dealing with a minor hamstring problem which is not expected to keep him out for any great period of time, but he remains a doubt when the Magpies host the Cottagers this weekend.

Kieran Trippier is dealing with a knock but is suspended for the upcoming match anyway so will not feature – while Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes are not set to return until next month.

'We are now getting a couple of players back but not in their best physical condition,' Howe told a press conference on Friday. 'Kieran misses this game through suspension so it is a good time for him to rest and we will see how he is next week.

'We will see how Anthony Gordon is today. Joe Willock in a period where he has had a couple of injections, a difficult injury but he won't be back this side of January.

'It's the same now with Harvey Barnes, he won't need an operation but we are waiting to see if he comes back or not.'

There is better news for Dan Burn and Sean Longstaff, who are both available after they both came off the bench against AC Milan in midweek.

'Dan Burn is closer to be being back, Sean Longstaff closer to being back and we are managing them to stay back,' said the manager.

'Dan is not just the player, but the character and the leadership qualities you get in the dressing room with him. He has allowed us to play in a certain way. He has been an important part of what we have, and we have missed him when he has been away.'

Newcastle remain without long-term absentees Nick Pope, Jacob Murphy, Sven Botman, Elliot Anderson, Matt Targett and Javier Manquillo.



https://metro.co.uk/2023/12/15/anthony-gordon-kieran-trippier-joe-willock-injury-latest-eddie-howe-19979255/?ito=newsnow-feed

Newcastle Matchday Preview
Newcastle United v Fulham | Saturday 16th December | 3pm | St James' Park | #NEWFUL

The opposition

    Newcastle suffered disappointment on Wednesday as they exited European competition altogether. At one point they were progressing to the Champions League knockouts when they led AC Milan and PSG were being held in Dortmund, but two second half goals from the Italians meant they were denied even a Europa League consolation spot.
    In the Premier League, United's recent fortunes have varied drastically between their home and away fixtures. On their travels, they have taken just two points from the last 15 available, but at St James' Park they've won their previous six – the most recent three victories coming against Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United.
    Much has been made of the Magpies' injury problems this season, but they will hope to be turning a corner now, with Callum Wilson, Sean Longstaff and Dan Burn all returning of late.

Newcastle team news

Kieran Trippier is suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season last weekend, while Sandro Tonali is also serving a ban. Nick Pope, Elliot Anderson, Harvey Barnes, Sven Botman, Jacob Murphy, Matt Targett and Joe Willock are all injured. Anthony Gordon picked up a knock in midweek and will be assessed.

Fulham team news

Tim Ream and Adama Traoré are Fulham's only absentees as we head to the North-East.

Tickets

Fans can purchase tickets over the phone (0203 871 0810) or in person up until 4pm on Friday. No tickets will be available to buy on the day.

Weather

A dry afternoon with sunny intervals is forecast in Newcastle, with temperatures around 11 degrees.

Player insight

Bernd Leno knows what atmosphere can be expected at St James' Park, but says Fulham are prepared.

"I think we're used to it," he told FFCtv. "I remember first game at Goodison Park, good atmosphere but we won 1-0, so we know how to deal with that situation.

"Anfield as well, we lost but the way we played we showed everyone we can play away [from home], we can dominate teams."

Coverage

FFCtv subscribers can listen to live commentary of the game from Gentleman Jim and Jamie Reid.

Bag policy

Newcastle do not permit bags any larger in size than A4.

Form

Newcastle: DWLLL

Fulham: LWLWW

Top scorers

Newcastle: Alexander Isak (7)

Fulham: Raúl Jiménez, Willian (4)



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/december/15/newcastle-matchday-preview/

Fulham Lillies launch new report on matchday family inclusion


FSA associate members Fulham Lillies have launched a new report which looks at the barriers facing new parents who want to take babies and infants to football.

The report – titled You're not welcome anymore – explores how and why clubs can make stadiums safe for young children to attend with their parents.

Fulham Lillies have spoken to parents who have been unable to return to football since the arrival of their children. Many say they no longer feel welcome at their "spiritual home" highlighting the need for clubs to "recognise the challenges of post-baby life and support new parents".

Hayley Davinson, Fulham Lillies co-founder and board member of the Fulham Supporters' Trust, said: "Football has always brought my family together, and I was heartbroken when I could not attend a match with my son last season.

"We believe a positive parent-child experience can be nurtured from an early age, creating strong bonds for families to support their team together. Our report advocates for family inclusion and celebrates football's positive impact on parent-child relationships. It's about making football truly accessible for all."

    Download: "You're not welcome anymore: Why it's important to help parents continue to access football with young children"...

By fans, for fans – join the FSA for free today...



https://thefsa.org.uk/news/fulham-lillies-launch-new-report-on-matchday-family-inclusion/

Howe warns 'dangerous' Fulham will test Magpies' resilience
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe feels his side's "resilience" will be tested in the coming weeks after their Champions League exit - starting with the visit of Fulham on Saturday afternoon.

The Magpies were knocked out of Europe following Wednesday's 2-1 defeat to AC Milan, but have a chance to bounce back quickly when Marco Silva's men arrive at St. James' Park this weekend (3pm GMT).

Howe is hoping to see a reaction from his players against an in-form Cottagers side he feels are "dangerous opponents", having hit five in each of their last two league outings against Nottingham Forest and West Ham without conceding.

Here are some of the main talking points covered at the United boss' pre-match media briefing on Friday morning:

On Fulham...

"They are dangerous opponents for us. Marco's got his team playing really good football - very expansive, easy on the eye, technical football.

"They are a team in form, they have dangerous attacking players. We know they have players that can hurt us."

On how Newcastle can move on from their midweek disappointment...

"Well, that started yesterday - we were back in and faced up to what has happened. We have analysed it, but we have to move on very quickly to Fulham.

"The mood is good, there is some pain and anguish, but that can't stay around in professional football. The turnaround is so quick and now focus is on Fulham.

"It is going to be a big test of our resilience. I think there will be a negative narrative externally and we have to override that. Exiting Europe is a disappointment, but it doesn't have to have an effect on us afterwards, that's down to us, we need to respond."

On the significance of former Fulham defender Dan Burn's return from injury...

"Massive - Dan is not just the player, but the character and the leadership qualities you get in the dressing room with him. He has allowed us to play in a certain way.

"He has been an important part of what we have, and we have missed him when he has been away."

On the importance of the home crowd...

"I would encourage the supporters to make the environment as best as they can for the players. We need the players playing with absolute freedom, with excitement, with joy – all that we have seen at St. James' Park over my two years here.

"Their support has been absolutely incredible. I understand how they will be feeling but we need to inspire them tomorrow."

On his side's latest injury and availability news...

"It is mixed - we are getting a couple of players back but not in their best physical condition, then you've got players that are having to keep playing that are picking up things.

"Kieran (Trippier) is missing through suspension. We will see how Anthony (Gordon) is today."



https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/howe-warns-dangerous-fulham-will-test-magpies-resilience/

Chelsea now have a much better chance of signing 'amazing' £60m midfielder
Chelsea reportedly have a much better chance of signing Fulham's Joao Palhinha after new developments.

Joao Palhinha, who's aged 28, is a real talisman for Premier League and London rivals Fulham.

TEAMtalk recently claimed that Palhinha's agents have already spoken with Chelsea as they look to secure their client a big move in the New Year. TEAMtalk noted on a separate occasion that the Fulham midfielder would cost around £60million to sign in January.

The latest update this week indicates that the Blues are better placed to bring the Portugal international to Stamford Bridge.

TEAMtalk reports that Chelsea and Arsenal have a 'far better chance' of signing Palhinha because he's no longer in Liverpool's sights for January.

It is explained that the defensive midfielder's representatives contacted Liverpool, but the Merseyside giants are happy with their own squad.

It means that London heavyweights Chelsea and Arsenal could clash for the 28-year-old's signature.

Described as "amazing" by Stephen Kelly (BBC Sport), Palhinha is one of the Premier League's top midfielders right now operating at such a high level. Our feeling is he's good enough to walk into any of the top clubs in this county and make a positive impact.

Chelsea have a better chance of signing Joao Palhinha
It'll be interesting to see if Chelsea decide to ramp up interest in Fulham's midfield general after the latest developments.

If you've got any doubts about his overall quality, there's an eyeopening individual statistic from this season via the Premier League's official website.

Palhinha has made the most tackles in the league so far this campaign (72). Remarkable, second on the list is Tottenham's Yves Bissouma with 47.

He's an expert in breaking up play and being a Rolls-Royce in the midfield. We feel someone with his experience and ability could have a huge impact on an inexperienced Chelsea squad.



https://www.thechelseachronicle.com/transfer-news/chelsea-now-have-a-much-better-chance-of-signing-amazing-60m-midfielder/

Bayern Munich could cool interest in João Palhinha amid Liverpool intrigue
Bayern Munich could be put off trying to sign Fulham's João Palhinha amid Liverpool's interest in the midfielder, according to Christian Falk.

Bayern attempted to sign the Portuguese international on deadline day in August but ultimately ran out of time. Palhinha was even spotted at Bayern's training ground with a shirt in hand but had to head back to London once the deal feel through.

It's long been reported that Bayern could make another for the Fulham man during the January transfer window. However, that might not be the case any longer.

With reports suggesting that Liverpool could be interested in signing the 28-year-old, Bayern would not want to enter a bidding war with the Premier League outfit.

This is because they're not willing to overspend on a central midfielder as they're prioritising a centre-back.

What's more, Bayern have identified a cheaper alternative in Real Sociedad's Martín Zubimendi.



https://www.getfootballnewsgermany.com/2023/bayern-munich-could-cool-interest-in-joao-palhinha-amid-liverpool-intrigue/?expand_article=1

Before The Whistle: Newcastle United v Fulham

It's a long trip north this weekend as the Whites look for a third win in a row in the Premier League. However, a third 5-0 win in a row might be too much to ask for, despite Newcastle's injury crisis and low morale following their Champions League exit in midweek.

Willian was taken off at half-time against West Ham as a precaution, according to Marco Silva. That could give Harry Wilson the chance to slot in on the right and Alex Iwobi to move to the left wing.

In the middle, it's all about who will partner Palhinha. Despite his impressive performance against the Hammers, and form of late, it feels inevitable that Tom Cairney will make way for Harrison Reed or maybe even Sasa Lukic.

Our defence is looking a lot more settled of late. Bassey and Tosin have the centre-back slots sewn up for now, so the only question is whether Kenny Tete will come in for Timothy Castagne. The Belgian has impressed, and seems more suited to Silva's tactical plans of late, so Kenny will have to work hard to force his way back in.

A win would take us within two points of the Magpies, who have tailed off following a strong start to the campaign. It'd also firmly position us in the top half of the table. But we mustn't get ahead of ourselves – this'll be a tough one. You Whites.

ℹ️ MATCH DETAILS

Kick-Off: Saturday, 3.00PM
Stadium: St. James' Park
Competition: Premier League
TV Channel (UK): None
🚦 LEAGUE FORM

Newcastle: ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅ ❌ ❌
Fulham: ❌ ❌ ✅ ❌ ✅ ✅
⚖️ MATCH PROBABILITY

Newcastle: 45.6%
Draw: 28.%
Fulham: 26.4%
🥊 MOST RECENT MATCHES

Jan 23: Newcastle 1-0 Fulham
Oct 22: Fulham 1-4 Newcastle
May 21: Fulham 0-2 Newcastle
Dec 20: Newcastle 1-1 Fulham



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-12-15-before-the-whistle-newcastle-united-v-fulham/

Eddie Howe suggests 22-year-old Newcastle player could miss Fulham game now after 'mixed' news
Eddie Howe is sweating on the fitness of one of his most important players as Newcastle United prepare to take on Fulham on Saturday.

The Magpies need to bounce back after their emotionally draining Champions League exit on Wednesday, as they lost 2-1 to AC Milan.

Not only did they lose their European status, they may have lost another player to injury as well.

Anthony Gordon was spectacular against AC Milan, but had to come off midway through the second half. It seemed like a strange substitution at the time, but Eddie Howe later confirmed that the 22-year-old had a hamstring problem.

Now the Newcastle United manager has provided an update on Gordon, and it is unclear whether or not he will be available to face Fulham on Saturday.

Eddie Howe unsure if Anthony Gordon will face Fulham
Ahead of Newcastle's Premier League clash with Fulham, Howe spoke to the media and provided a fitness update on his players.

"It is mixed," he said.

"We are getting a couple of players back but not in their best physical condition. Then you've got players that are having to keep playing that are picking up things.

"Kieran [Trippier] is missing through suspension. We will see how Anthony [Gordon] is today."

Newcastle might be wise to rest Gordon regardless
It appears that Newcastle are still waiting to see whether or not Gordon is going to be fit enough to face Fulham.

While every game is important, it might be best for the Magpies to err on the side of caution with this one.

Gordon has been arguably our best player this season, and it would be a disaster if he was to be out of action for an extended period of time.

That is why Howe should consider resting him no matter what this weekend, especially with the Carabao Cup quarter final against Chelsea on Tuesday. We desperately need Gordon for that game at Stamford Bridge.

Even if the former Everton man is good to go on Saturday, it might be wise to start him on the bench.



https://www.geordiebootboys.com/news/eddie-howe-suggests-22-year-old-newcastle-player-could-miss-fulham-game-now-after-mixed-news/

Newcastle's Test Against Fulham's Rising Form

Premier League Showdown: Newcastle United vs Fulham
In a pivotal Premier League clash, Newcastle United braces for a challenging encounter with the surging Fulham at St James' Park. While Newcastle has stumbled recently, losing three consecutive games across various competitions, Fulham approaches the match on a high, boasting consecutive 5-0 victories.

Newcastle's Struggle and Fulham's Rise
The hosts, grappling with injury woes, have seen their performance dip notably. In contrast, Fulham's recent form has been impressive, securing three wins out of their last four matches. This stark divergence in trajectories sets the stage for an intriguing contest.

Match Details: Venue, Time, and Officials

    Location: Newcastle, England
    Stadium: St James' Park
    Date: Saturday, 16 December
    Kick-off Time: 15:00 GMT / 10:00 ET / 07:00 PT
    Referee: Sam Barrott
    VAR: Michael Salisbury

Head-to-Head and Current Form
Analyzing the last five encounters, Newcastle holds the upper hand with four wins, while Fulham is yet to register a victory, settling for a draw once. Their last meeting in January 2023 saw Newcastle edge out Fulham with a slender 1-0 win. Currently, Newcastle's form reads DWLLL, and Fulham's LWLWW.

How To Watch?

Country	TV Channel/Live Stream
United Kingdom	Not available
United States	Peacock
Canada	fuboTV Canada

Newcastle United: Team News and Predicted Lineup Newcastle's injury crisis deepened in their recent Champions League outing, with Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier sustaining injuries. Trippier's suspension necessitates a reshuffle, likely bringing Tino Livramento into the fold. Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson could lead the attack, with Dan Burn poised for a return to the starting lineup.

Predicted Newcastle Lineup (4-3-3): Dubravka; Livramento, Lascelles, Schar, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, Hall.

Fulham FC: Team News and Predicted Lineup Marco Silva's squad breathes a sigh of relief as Willian resumes training after an injury scare. Harry Wilson is expected to maintain his spot following a commendable performance as Willian's substitute. While Issa Diop eyes a return, Adama Traore and Tim Ream remain sidelined.

Predicted Fulham Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Tosin, Bassey, Robinson; Cairney, Palhinha; Iwobi, Pereira, Wilson; Jimenez.

Match Prediction
With Newcastle enjoying the home advantage and Fulham riding a wave of confidence, the stage is set for a compelling match. Despite the absence of a UK broadcast, fans can anticipate a fiercely contested game, with Newcastle likely to leverage their resources and Fulham's newfound form posing a significant challenge.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Fulham



https://eplindex.com/100791/newcastles-test-against-fulhams-rising-form.html

Marco Silva 'not worried' about Tosin Adarabioyo's future at Fulham despite contract stalemate
Monaco were among the clubs pushing to sign the centre-back in the summer

Marco Silva insists he is "not worried" that Tosin Adarabioyo might leave in January, despite Fulham's failure to convince the defender to sign a new contract on three separate occasions.

Adarabioyo is out of contract next summer, and Fulham remain keen to keep the 26-year-old.

AS Monaco had several bids for Adarabioyo worth up to £8.5million rejected on transfer deadline day this summer, while Tottenham were also monitoring his situation.

The defender has missed much of this season due to a groin injury, but has started in Fulham's last two Premier League matches. Those games, 5-0 wins over Nottingham Forest and West Ham, were Adarabioyo's first starts of the campaign.

When the January transfer window opens, Adarabioyo is likely to attract interest once again.

"I tried to sort it [his contract] out two years ago", said Silva, whose side visit Newcastle on Saturday.

"Last season I did the same — and I did the same at the beginning of this season. He's a really good central defender. It's something that the club tried. They are probably still trying now.

"I'm not worried. I'm enjoying working with my players, and if they are available for me, I'm trying to get the best out of them."

Adarabioyo graduated from the Manchester City academy, and represented England at youth level until 2015.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/marco-silva-tosin-adarabioyo-fulham-transfer-news-contract-update-b1127225.html

Newcastle United v Fulham

TEAM NEWS
Newcastle right-back Kieran Trippier is suspended, meaning he will miss a Premier League match for the first time this season.

Anthony Gordon will be assessed after hurting his hamstring in the midweek defeat by Milan.

Fulham winger Willian could play despite coming off in the win over West Ham because of a hamstring problem.

Defender Issa Diop, who has been out with a foot injury for over two months, may feature but won't start.

Adama Traore is still not ready after a hamstring issue, while Tim Ream is likely to be out until after Christmas with a calf injury.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

    Newcastle are aiming for a fourth consecutive win over Fulham.
    Fulham are winless in seven Premier League away games against Newcastle since beating them 1-0 in May 2009 (D3, L4).

Newcastle United

    Newcastle are in danger of losing three league matches in a row for the second time this season.
    However, the Magpies have won their past six home league games, conceding just one goal. It's their longest top-flight winning run at St James' Park since 2002-03.
    Eddie Howe's side have suffered six league defeats this season, already more than in the whole of 2022-23.
    Newcastle's next Premier League defeat will be their 400th.
    Callum Wilson, who has scored 19 Premier League goals in 2023, could become the third player to score at least 20 for Newcastle in a calendar year.
    Wilson has scored 13 goals in his last 13 top-flight starts.

Fulham

    Fulham are aiming to win three consecutive league games for the first time this season.
    Marco Silva's side have scored 10 goals without conceding in their past two fixtures, both at home.
    They could set a club top-flight record of scoring at least three goals in five consecutive matches.
    Fulham are winless in their past seven away league games and are in danger of losing three in a row for the first time since 2019.
    Marco Silva, in his 150th Premier League match as a manager, could earn a top-flight win over Eddie Howe with a fourth different club, having already beaten him while in charge of Hull City, Watford and Everton.
    Raul Jimenez has scored three goals in his last two Premier League games, as many as he had in his previous 43.
    Willian has scored three goals and provided an assist in his last four league appearances.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67667800

Newcastle United predicted line-up vs. Fulham: Three changes made as £58m star returns while key man suspended
The latest team news and injury updates ahead of Newcastle United's Premier League home game against Fulham.

Newcastle United will aim to bounce back from their Champions League heartbreak when they return to Premier League action with a home clash against in-form Fulham on Saturday.

The Magpies looked set to take their place in the last 16 of European football's elite club competition when Joelinton fired them in front in a crucial final group stage fixture with Italian giants AC Milan on Wednesday. However, goals from former Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic and Nigerian star Samuel Chukwueze ensured Eddie Howe's side will have no European action to look forward to in the new year.

Despite that disappointment, the Magpies are fighting for success on a number of fronts as they prepare for an upcoming Carabao Cup quarter-final with Chelsea and an FA Cup third round trip to local rivals Sunderland.

First up is Saturday's St James Park meeting with Fulham as Howe and his players aim to put their Champions League disappointment firmly behind them and put pressure on the top four in the Premier League with a Fulham side that have scored ten goals without reply in their last two games.

Newcastle United Team News
It seems to be one step forwards and two steps back for Eddie Howe after he was dealt further bad news on the injury front. There was some hope summer signing Harvey Barnes could make a comeback from the ankle injury he suffered earlier in the season - but Howe has now revealed for the former Leicester City winger has suffered 'a setback' and could even require further surgery.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Magpies boss said: "It's a setback to a degree. He's felt pain in his foot again. Hopefully, it's not a permanent setback, and he won't need an operation. There's still a chance that might happen."

Howe also revealed midfielder Joe Willock is not expected to return 'this side of January' as he continues his recovery from a calf injury and both Elliot Anderson and Sven Botman are still not ready to return. Goalkeeper Nick Pope (shoulder) and left-back Matt Targett (thigh) are long-term absentees and Javier Manquillo also remains on the sidelines and has no return date from the groin issue that has limited his involvement this season.

There is a slight doubt over in-form winger and Fantasy Premier League favourite Anthony Gordon after he picked up a thigh injury and he will be assessed before a final decision is made over his involvement. Kieran Trippier will sit out the game as he serves a one-match suspension and Sandro Tonali is on the sidelines until next season after receiving a ten-month ban for breaching gambling laws in Italy.

Despite his ongoing woe with injuries, Magpies boss Howe does have some big calls to make. Talented young midfielder Lewis Miley could have given a rest after producing a string of impressive performances upon his introduction to life at a senior level. It seems likely Tino Livramento will switch to right-back in Trippier's absence, meaning Howe must decide whether Dan Burn or Lewis Hall takes his place on the opposite side of the defence. Callum Wilson's return to fitness also means Howe has two striking options available.

Newcastle United Predicted XI
Dubravka, Livramento, Burn, Schar, Lascelles, Longstaff, Joelinton, Guimaraes, Almiron, Isak, Gordon.



https://www.3addedminutes.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/newcastle-united-predicted-line-up-vs-fulham-three-changes-made-ps58m-star-returns-while-key-man-suspended-4447335

Raúl Jiménez is a man transformed as free-scoring Fulham race up the table
Frustration was the overriding emotion at Craven Cottage not so long ago. Although Fulham have always been easy on the eye under Marco Silva, they were throwing away too many games with wasteful finishing and it seemed inevitable that their campaign would be defined by the sale of Aleksandar Mitrovic last summer.

Mitrovic's departure was a heavy blow for Silva. It was difficult to recover from the team's focal point and main source of goals forcing through a move to the Saudi Pro League. There was an apparent void in attack, a weakness never more evident than when Fulham outplayed Manchester United last month but lost after missing several chances in the second half.

Related: Raúl Jiménez kicks off five-star Fulham's goal rush against West Ham

At that stage the discussion inevitably focused on problems with Fulham's recruitment. They had plenty of neat attacking midfielders but what about a finisher? Carlos Vinícius has never been a regular starter and Rodrigo Muniz is a 22-year-old prospect. As for Raúl Jiménez, signed on the cheap from Wolves in the summer, it seemed the Mexican'shis best was behind him after failing to score in his first 12 games.

Against all expectations, though, the mood has transformed since Jiménez grabbed a consolation goal in Fulham's 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa on 12 November. After scoring 10 times in their first 12 league games, Fulham scored 16 in their next four, a run that began with a VAR-inspired 3-2 win over Wolves a fortnight ago and an unfortunate 4-3 defeat at Liverpool before successive 5-0 thrashings of Nottingham Forest and West Ham at Craven Cottage.

It has been a staggering turnaround from a team who were in danger of slipping into relegation trouble before the Wolves game. Fulham were drifting. Silva, having led them to the Championship title in 2022 and kept them up last season, looked glum. He has always been a restless type, a reputation earned during brief spells at Hull and Everton, and a fretful transfer window raised concerns. There were overtures from Saudi Arabia and, after the Mitrovic saga, Silva's mind could have wandered had his influential midfielder João Palhinha not seen a move to Bayern Munich collapse on deadline day.

Yet Silva, whose side visit Newcastle on Saturday, is one of the most underrated managers in the top flight. He has fashioned a diligent, organised, intelligent side without access to large funds and Fulham, who scored 106 goals when they won the Championship, are flying again. They were unlucky against Liverpool, who denied them with four stunners and a late fightback, and made Forest and West Ham look pathetic.

Silva says little has changed in his approach. A tad modest? Well, he has made some interesting tactical tweaks. A notable move was dropping the 36-year-old Tim Ream, who has been vulnerable this season, and starting Tosin Adarabioyo and Calvin Bassey in central defence against Forest and West Ham, and another has been giving Tom Cairney a bigger role.

It cannot be a coincidence that Fulham have been more fluent with them in the team. There is excitement about Adarabioyo, who was missed while out with a groin injury, developing a partnership with Bassey, who has taken a while to settle since joining from Ajax. The duo were physically dominant against Forest and West Ham but are also capable of bringing the ball out. Cairney may not be the quickest central midfielder but is capable of unbalancing any defence with one swish of his cultured left foot.

Behind the Scot stands the commanding Palhinha. Keeping the Portugal midfielder has been crucialas Fulham's win ratio is far higher with him on the pitch. His presence has given Silva confidence to omit the snappy Harrison Reed and use the creativity of Cairney alongside the attacking midfielder Andreas Pereira.

Equally, Silva is entitled to point out that some individuals have simply upped their game. Pereira has stirred after a quiet spell and Harry Wilson, a versatile winger, has been excellent when called upon. They lead the way with four assists, and the outstanding Antonee Robinson has flown forward from left-back to create three goals.

Connections are building. Robinson may have defensive flaws but he has linked well with the evergreen Willian on the left. Alex Iwobi, who joined from Everton in the summer, has been superb on the right and has three goals in four appearances.

But the biggest difference has come from Jiménez. He has not been the same since a horrible head injury in 2020. Yet his natural ability has never been in doubt and his clever link-up play has given Fulham a fresh dimension. While everything centred on playing off Mitrovic's strength and looking for him in the box, there is more variation with Jiménez. That said, it is easier to feel positive now he is scoring. He produced two fine finishes against Forest, including an impudent backheel, and got the ball rolling against West Ham with an emphatic header.

It is too soon to suggest Fulham should not look to sign another striker in January. However, the need is reduced now. Substitutes have made telling contributions and there have been nine different scorers in the past four games. Sharing the load means Fulham are finally ready to move on from Mitrovic.



https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/ra-l-jim-nez-man-122617544.html

Birmingham City XI to face Leicester predicted after Jay Stansfield scare
Latest Birmingham City news from BirminghamLive includes our predicted XI for the Leicester City game

Birmingham City face the Championship's most daunting fixture on Monday - against Enzo Maresca's table-topping Leicester City.

Leicester are the best team in the Championship, both on home turf and away from the King Power, and have accumulated double Blues' points tally of 26 after 21 games. Their record on the road reads eight wins, one draw and one defeat.

Blues' own form of late hasn't been great, but the 1-0 win over Cardiff City on Wednesday provided the high point of Wayne Rooney's short tenure as manager. A back-to-basics approach from Rooney saw Blues collect their first away victory in four months.

Speaking afterwards, Rooney said: "A manager's job is understanding the players' strengths and weaknesses, the more time I spend with them the more I understand that." With that in mind, a similar starting XI and set-up can be expected on Monday (8pm kick-off).

READ: I watched Blues train before Cardiff and Wayne Rooney got a lot right

READ: Blues are aiming high against Leicester to make Knighthead wish reality

The back five, including goalkeeper John Ruddy, picks itself at the moment due to injuries. Emanuel Aiwu, Marc Roberts, Dion Sanderson and Lee Buchanan are expected to line up in front of Ruddy.

Rooney said "the midfielders were excellent" against Cardiff. "Jordan James' running off the ball was very good, Ivan (Sunjic) came back in and made us more solid," he added. Blues are expected to spend most of the match against Leicester without the ball, so Sunjic's combativeness could be key. Krystian Bielik will be deployed behind James and Sunjic in the anchorman role.

If Rooney keeps his 4-3-3 formation, it will be difficult to change the forward line. Siriki Dembele, Juninho Bacuna and Jay Stansfield were all excellent against Cardiff. Exploiting Leicester centre-back Jan Vestergaard's lack of pace is a route to goal and the aforementioned trio have speed in abundance.

Stansfield had to be withdrawn on Wednesday, but Rooney suggested post-match that it was nothing more than a knock. "I'm sure he'll be fine," said Rooney.
Check out our predicted XI below and tell us your preferred team in the comments section...

Goalkeeper: Ruddy
John Ruddy kept his fifth clean sheet of the season against Cardiff.

Right-back: Aiwu
Emanuel Aiwu looked more solid on his switch to right-back after some difficult performances in the centre of Blues' defence.

Centre-back: Roberts
Marc Roberts has suited Blues' back-to-basics approach. He dominated Blues' box in Cardiff and deserves to keep his place.

Centre-back: Sanderson
Skipper Dion Sanderson was back to his best in midweek. He benefitted from playing next to the vastly experienced, no nonsense defender Roberts.

Left-back: Buchanan
Lee Buchanan is one of the few undroppables in Blues' squad. The left-back has been consistent throughout the season.

Midfield: Bielik
While Krystian Bielik's passing wasn't always perfect against Cardiff, his positional play was excellent. He will need to be at his best to stop Leicester's middle men.

Midfield: James
Wales international Jordan James has been a revelation under Rooney. He will play slightly further forward than Bielik and Sunjic in this system.

Midfield: Sunjic
Ivan Sunjic's return was instrumental in Cardiff. He supported Bielik in shielding Blues' defence and will need a repeat performance against Leicester.

Right-wing: Bacuna
Maybe Juninho Bacuna will switch back to the right against Leicester. There is certainly flexibility in Blues' front three.

Left-wing: Dembele
Bacuna moving to the right would allow Siriki Dembele to return to his favoured position on the left. He played excellently on the right against Cardiff though, so who knows what Rooney has up his sleeve.

Striker: Stansfield
Blues' five-goal top scorer should be fit to start. He is due a goal after six games without one.



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gallery/birmingham-city-predicted-lineup-leicester-28296256

How depleted Newcastle could line-up without ten first-team players for Fulham clash
Eddie Howe has revealed his side is without several players for Newcastle's clash with Fulham at St James' Park on Saturday – LIVE on talkSPORT.

The Magpies head into the clash on the back of their 2-1 Champions League defeat to seven-time winners and last season's semi-finalists, AC Milan, on Wednesday.

Such a result meant his side was dumped out of Europe after finishing bottom of Group F with five points, with attention now turns back to the Premier League.

But their quest to keep within touching distance of the top-four will be hampered by a number of missing first-team stars.

Speaking on Newcastle's injury woes, Howe said in his press conference: "We are now getting a couple of players back, but not in their best physical condition.

"Kieran [Trippier] misses this game through suspension so it is a good time for him to rest and we will see how he is next week.

"We will see how Anthony Gordon is today. Joe Willock in a period where he has had a couple of injections, a difficult injury but he won't be back this side of January.

"It's the same now with Harvey Barnes, he won't need an operation but we are waiting to see if he comes back or not.

"Dan Burn is closer to be being back, Sean Longstaff closer to being back and we are managing them to stay back."

Martin Dubravka is expected to retain his place between the sticks as Nick Pope recovers from a shoulder injury, meaning Loris Karius will take his place on the bench.

Full list of Newcastle's injuries

Nick Pope – shoulder	Joe Willock – Achilles
Harvey Barnes – foot	Anthony Gordon – hamstring
Sven Botman – knee	Kieran Trippier – knock/suspension
Jacob Murphy – shoulder	Javier Manquillo – groin
Elliot Anderson – back	Dan Burn – back
Matt Targett – hamstring

In the right full-back position, Tino Livramento, who was deployed at left-back in the defeat to AC Milan, is likely to replace the suspended Kieran Trippier.

It means 20-year-old defender Lewis Hall, on loan from Chelsea, is likely to come in at left-back for Newcastle, with Matt Targett out with a hamstring injury.

The Magpies skipper Jamal Lascelles is expected to come in once again to partner Fabian Schar at the heart of the defence due to Sven Botman's absence.

Bruno Guimaraes will likely form part of a three-man midfield alongside fellow Brazilian Joelinton, with 17-year-old Lewis Miley, who continues to impress, also retaining his place.

In attack, Callum Wilson is expected to lead the line, and Alexander Isak is expected to get the nod on the left, with Anthony Gordon a doubt for the clash.

Fan favourite Miguel Almiron will also form part of the front-three and take up his regular position on the right.

(https://talksport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2023/12/New-vs-Fulham-XI.png?strip=all&w=960&quality=100)

Tune into talkSPORT 2 for LIVE and EXCLUSIVE commentary of Newcastle vs Fulham in the Premier League – Saturday December 16, kick-off 3pm



https://talksport.com/football/1678633/

Club hoping Fulham sell player in January – Getting 50% of transfer fee, quite a few clubs after him
Following reports from Brazil which said Palmeiras are interested in signing Carlos Vinícius from Fulham, there's now a reason for the Portuguese media to talk about that.

A story from newspaper O Jogo says Benfica are watching the situation and hoping that the Whites do accept to sell the centre-forward soon.

The reason for it is that when selling Carlos Vinícius to Fulham back in 2022, the Eagles made sure to keep 50% of a future sale.

Benfica should indeed increase their hopes of making some money soon, because recent reports said that Palmeiras, Fenerbahce, Olympiacos, Sevilla and Valencia all made approaches for the player.

Carlos Vinícius has three goals in 12 appearances for Fulham this season, and is one of the centre-forwards trying to find a place in Marco Silva's attack.

For those wondering why Benfica got 50% of a future sale, that's because they accepted to sell him to the Whites for just €5m.

Now the Portuguese side could benefit from it, as long as the Whites manage to negotiate his sale for a reasonable transfer fee.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/club-hoping-fulham-sell-player-january-getting-50-transfer-fee-quite-clubs/

Newcastle Icon Talks About Champions League Exit – Some Realism Needed
As Eddie Howe said in his press conference this morning, for the tough Fulham Premier League game at home tomorrow, Newcastle did not achieve our goals in the Champions League.

It's just over two years since the new owners and Eddie Howe came into the club and brought some much-needed ambition and money to the club.

In that first season 2022-2023, we finished 11th in the league after being second bottom in November 2022.

And then last season we over-achieved and qualified for the Champions League, in 4th place, for the first time in 20 years.

And in our Group F – the most difficult group – the group of death – we got 4 points from our first two games, but then only one point (at PSG) in our remaining four games and we finished bottom of the group.

We went out fighting on Wednesday night at St. James' Park in the 2-1 defeat to AC Milan, but in the end, it was a difficult and sad night for our fans and the club.

Now – we have to move on from that.

Newcastle icon Alan Shearer is always willing to offer an opinion on his local club, and this is what he has said on the current situation on The Rest Is Football podcast:

    "Ultimately they are going to need better players but it has just happened so quickly for Newcastle,"

    "I mean nobody expected them to get into the top four, and because of that there has to be a bit of realism."

    "I'm not suggesting there isn't from Newcastle fans, because I think there is and there will be and there will be patience because they are way, way ahead of schedule."

    "I just hope they are not victims of their own success because it's happened so quickly."

    "There is no way that two years ago you would have said that Newcastle would be playing PSG, AC Milan, and all these games in the Champions League.

    You would have said no way, it's far too quick."

    "But it's happened and they are way ahead of schedule but to get to that next level you will need better players."

It will be a tough game against Fulham, because they have won their last two Premier League games 5-0.

They have beaten West Ham and Nottingham Forst with that score, both at Craven Cottage, so they are a team in form.



https://www.nufcblog.com/2023/12/15/newcastle-icon-talks-about-champions-league-exit-some-realism-needed/

Fulham have 'picked up the scent' of player after recent performances – Rapid rise has 'caused a stir'
Fulham are keeping a close eye on Le Havre youngster Étienne Youté Kinkoué as his rapid rise in France earns him attention from a number of clubs.

That's according to Foot Mercato, who cover how Fulham could be set to compete with FC Köln and Mainz 05 for the player's signature.

They explain that the German duo are looking for defensive reinforcements for the second half of the season and have identified a 'central defender talent' in France.

They've been keeping a close eye on Kinkoué, who has 'caused a stir' in recent weeks after breaking into the first team and becoming an 'integral part' of the Ligue 1 side's set up.

He hasn't missed a minute since the beginning of November and these 'outstanding achievements' have earned him attention from the German duo.

They're not the only ones who have 'picked up the scent', though, as Fulham have also taken notice of him after his recent performances.

According to FM, Kinkoué is a central defender particularly characterised by his 'strong header game' and is tied to Le Havre until 2025 but has 'flown under the radar' in France so far with just six appearances for the U17s so far.

That appears to have now changed as Fulham, as well as clubs in Germany, have picked up on him and now seem to be keeping a close eye on his development.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-picked-scent-player-recent-performances-rapid-rise-caused-stir/

Fulham boss only one not surprised by back-to-back 5-0 victories
Marco Silva insists he is "not surprised at all" by Fulham's impressive form, despite his side securing remarkable back-to-back 5-0 victories in their last two Premier League contests.

The Cottagers have also scored 17 times in their last five league meetings, and will hope to keep the floodgates open when they travel to Newcastle on Saturday.

Four of those goals are from Raul Jimenez, who has come into his own and inspired what Silva feels is a boost in collective freedom of expression in recent weeks.

Asked if Fulham were exceeding his expectations, Silva said: "No. If you ask me if it's normal to win two games 5-0 like we did, I have to say that no, sometimes in this league to win 1-0 or 2-1 is so difficult, imagine to win two games in a row.

"This is, of course I'm going to be honest with you, something that is really, really tough because I don't know how many years since [it has been done], that shows how difficult it is to do it.

"But the way we played, you're talking about performance, you're talking about expressing ourselves. I'm not at all surprised because it is the way we prepare ourselves, our players, it's the way we want to play.

"Of course we are adjusting things, we are trying to add some things for our game, but I know if you can start the game confident, if you can focus, [you see] the two games, after our team scored the first goal in both games we started to express ourselves much better.

"It's part of the process, when things come in the right direction things can happen in the way we did it, but about the performance I'm not surprised at all."

Silva believes Newcastle's midweek Champions League exit will only serve as fuel for the hosts to prove a point in their return to domestic action, predicting it will be a "harder than easier" encounter with Eddie Howe's seventh-placed side, who he characterised as "one of the most intense teams" in the division.

Nevertheless, the Portuguese boss is confident 10th-placed Fulham, whose last three victories – against Wolves, Nottingham Forest and West Ham – have all come at Craven Cottage, have what it takes to walk away with at least a point at St James' Park.

He added: "We are going to win more games away from home. I have no doubts about it. We have to keep performing in the way we have been doing, keep believing and the good things will come."



https://www.football365.com/news/fulham-boss-marco-silva-not-surprised-5-0-victories

Jesse Lingard: Shock Newcastle, Fulham contract offers revealed, as ideal next destination emerges
Jesse Lingard was offered the chance to join either Newcastle United or Fulham when leaving Manchester United in the summer of 2022 but rejected them in favour of a switch to Nottingham Forest, it has been revealed.

After falling down the pecking order at Man Utd in the first half of the 2020-21 season, Lingard pushed for a loan move away from Old Trafford in January 2021. He wanted to start playing regularly again and also regain his confidence in front of goal.

The attacking midfielder went on to sign for David Moyes' West Ham. He enjoyed a great spell at the London Stadium, notching nine goals and five assists in 16 appearances to help West Ham finish sixth in the Premier League and qualify for the next season's Europa League.

Lingard was expected to join West Ham on a permanent basis that summer, as Moyes had become infatuated with him.

However, he was promised an opportunity to impress at Man Utd if he returned there, and that is exactly what the Englishman did.

But Lingard once again struggled at Man Utd in the 2021-22 campaign. While he made 22 appearances in all competitions, he only picked up 354 minutes of playing time in the league, which works out at less than four full games.

As such, it came as no surprise when Lingard and Man Utd parted ways in summer 2022, as his contract expired.

The Man Utd academy graduate rejected West Ham once again by penning a one-year contract with newly-promoted Forest. The deal raised eyebrows as Lingard reportedly earned an initial £115,000 a week at Forest, and it had the potential to rise to a whopping £200k per week through bonuses.

Jesse Lingard struggles at Forest after Newcastle, Fulham bids
But Forest did not have to pay Lingard many bonuses as he flopped at the City Ground, registering only two goals and two assists in 20 games. All of those goal contributions came in the League Cup too, as Lingard failed to muster a goal or assist in his 17 league outings.

The 31-year-old is once again a free agent and on the lookout for his next club. But things could have been far different.

The Athletic have provided a report looking at Lingard's situation and it includes some interesting information on the offers he received in summer 2022.

They state that prior to his move to Forest, Lingard was given the opportunity to join either Newcastle or Fulham. Both top-flight clubs were ready to hand him a four-year contract, which would have made his long-term future more certain.

But the Warrington-born ace instead decided to accept Forest's more lucrative, short-term proposal. And that decision has proven to be a big mistake.

While Newcastle finished fourth last season and Fulham managed 10th, Forest ended up four points off the relegation zone and in 16th spot.

It is unclear whether Lingard would have become a big hit at either Newcastle or Fulham, though what is certain is that he wasn't helped by the host of new arrivals at Forest, of which he was part of.

It is unlikely the 32-time England international will get another opportunity at a Prem club. Instead, he looks set to leave Europe altogether and play at an easier level.

Goal report that Lingard is eager to try out Major League Soccer in the US, in a move which would see him follow Barcelona and Argentina legend Lionel Messi.



https://www.teamtalk.com/news/jesse-lingard-shock-newcastle-fulham-contract-offers-revealed-ideal-next-destination

Arsenal, Chelsea front-runners to sign Joao Palhinha, Liverpool bow out of chase

Arsenal and Chelsea are leading the race to sign 28-year-old Fulham defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha, with Liverpool dropping their interest.
According to a report by TEAMtalk, Arsenal and Chelsea are keen on having Joao Palhinha in their ranks. The 28-year-old midfielder is looking to join a bigger club in the upcoming transfer window. And with Liverpool withdrawing from the race, the Gunners and the Blues are two potential destinations for the Portuguese international.

Joao Palhinha: The Story So Far At Fulham
Palhinha arrived in England in the summer of 2022 as Fulham paid £20 million to acquire his services from Sporting CP. Since joining the West London club, he has gone from strength to strength. On the back of an impressive debut season, Bayern Munich were keen on signing him in the summer.

The German giants came very close, but the deal fell off. Post that, Palhinha has penned down a new deal. But a move in the winter still can't be ruled out, given the amount of interest in his services and the player's desire to join a bigger club.

Palhinha's representatives have approached multiple top clubs as they seek a new destination for their clients. They offered the Portuguese international to Liverpool. But it seems the Reds have withdrawn from the race.

Liverpool Out of the Race: Where Will Palhinha Land?
Jurgen Klopp is quite happy with Wataru Endo's performances, and he does not feel the need of signing another defensive midfielder. Moreover, the price tag of the 28-year-old is beyond their spending limit for the winter, and they have no intention of entering a bidding war. With Liverpool out, Chelsea and Arsenal are now leading the race for his signatures.

The Blues were approached by his representatives, and they are keen on having Palhinha in their ranks. Mauricio Pochettino has made it clear that he wants reinforcement in the winter, and the Portuguese midfielder is one of his targets.

Chelsea are willing to offload players to make room for new ones, and they can surely go big again in the winter. Meanwhile, Arsenal have recently entered the race for the 28-year-old's signatures. The Gunners want another defensive midfielder despite having signed Declan Rice in the summer.

Arsenal want someone who can form a double pivot in the centre of the park alongside Rice, and Mikel Arteta feels Palhinha could be an ideal choice. With Thomas Partey's future uncertain, signing the Fulham midfielder could surely do wonders for them.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/12/15/arsenal-chelsea-front-runners-to-sign-joao-palhinha-liverpool-bow-out-of-chase/

Rebecca Welch: Managers back appointment of first woman to referee in Premier League
Premier League managers have backed the decision to appoint Rebecca Welch as the first woman to referee a top-flight game in England.

Welch will officiate Fulham's match against Burnley on 23 December.

The 40-year-old began refereeing in 2010, and in January she became the first woman to referee a men's Championship game.

"I'm so happy to see it in football," Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino said.

"When we were in France [with PSG], Stephanie [Frappart] is a female referee and she was really, really good. And why not? I think the capacity is there. I think [we should] open our minds and everyone has the quality, we have to make sure the people are about the quality."

Stephanie Frappart has been a trailblazer for female referees, taking charge of men's Ligue 2 and Ligue 1 fixtures in France, as well as being the first woman to officiate in the Champions League and Uefa Super Cup.

Frappart became the first woman to referee a men's World Cup fixture during Qatar 2022 when she took charge of Germany's 4-2 victory over Costa Rica.

Welch served as a fourth official in the Premier League in November as Manchester United beat Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage.

She was the first woman to take charge of an FA Cup third-round tie in 2022 after being added to the EFL's national list for men's football, which oversees League One and League Two fixtures.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking about Welch, said: "It is great news. I wish her all the best, it will be really positive. The diversity we have is incredibly positive for the league. It is something that was needed."

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was also supportive of the decision, saying: "Excellent news. Hopefully in the future there can be more. Everybody is more involved. It is good."

Welch, from Washington in Tyne and Wear, refereed at the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in the summer.

"I think it's a great moment," Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said.

"For me, it's got to be based on ability, not gender, ability to referee and I fully support it."

Welch oversaw her first Women's Super League game in 2014 when Chelsea beat Everton 2-1.

Brian Sorensen, manager of the Everton women's team, told BBC Radio Merseyside: "We've seen it around Europe that some of the really top referees are getting a chance in the highest men's game level.

"Now females are getting an opportunity on the bigger stage and I only applaud that. I'm very grateful and happy for that."

'Visibility matters'

(https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/976/cpsprodpb/8FE4/production/_132063863_bbc-sport-index-imagery-2-split-images-gradient-bc2299b1-dbd1-4c91-b194-576c74785d9f.png)
Welch and Allison will take charge of Premier League matches over the Christmas period

The Premier League also announced that Sam Allison will take charge of the game between Sheffield United and Luton at Bramall Lane on Boxing Day, making him the first black referee in the top-flight for 15 years.

Uriah Rennie, the league's last black referee, retired from officiating in English football's top four divisions in 2009. The EFL's last non-white referee - Jarnail Singh - retired in 2010.

The Football Association laid out plans in July to recruit 50% more referees from "historically under-represented" backgrounds by 2026, aiming to add 1,000 women referees and 1,000 black or Asian referees at all levels of football in three years.

Currently, 8% of officials are of black or Asian ethnicity, but only 3% in professional football.

"Referees up and down the land are waking up this morning and thinking there are no barriers to get to the top," anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out posted on X, formerly Twitter.

"Visibility matters. Well done to FA-PGMOL and organisations like BAMRef for helping to create those journeys. There are many more inspirational stories to be told."

BAMRef, a group offering guidance, support, mentoring and counselling to black, Asian and mixed heritage referees, also welcomed the news regarding Allison.

"Sam's appointment is another significant step in the right direction towards refereeing reflecting society and the playing contingent within football," a group statement read.

"It is a culmination of years of hard work by BAMRef members and we hope to continue our work further with both the FA and PGMOL leadership to identify and progress more officials from black, Asian and mixed heritage communities."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67730371

Wolves, Fulham monitoring explosive Marseille winger with view to January transfer window raid
Premier League duo Wolves and Fulham are reportedly keeping tabs on the situation of a former Premier League winger ahead of the opening of the January transfer window.

Gary O'Neil and Marco Silva are both expected to be handed funds to improve their squads in the new year, and the latest reports suggest that former Watford attacker Ismaila Sarr is on the radar of both clubs.

The 25-year-old moved to Marseille over the summer after spending four years at Vicarage Road, during which time he scored 34 goals in 131 games for the Hornets.

The French side paid an undisclosed fee for Sarr but he has struggled to show any sort of consistency in Ligue 1 so far, scoring three times in 13 league outings.

The Senegal international started the last two league games on the bench and there are suggestions that Marseille could consider offers for him in January.

Sarr remains a highly-rated player in England, having been a target for the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton in the past, but now it's Wolves and Fulham who are being linked with a new year swoop for the player.

Reports suggest that both clubs monitoring Sarr's situation at Marseille closely and are waiting to see whether he becomes available in January.

However, at this stage, it remains to be seen whether Marseille are prepared to give up on the winger and try and cash in during the winter window.

But if he does move, there is every likelihood that Sarr will end up back in England, having enjoyed success with Watford in the Premier League in the past.

The former Rennes star would likely represent good value for money, given his English top-flight experience, while he has also scored 11 goals in 56 games for Senegal.

Wolves and Fulham are both back in Premier League action over the weekend, with O'Neill's men heading to West on Sunday while the Cottagers travel to Newcastle on Saturday.



https://www.teamtalk.com/news/wolves-fulham-monitoring-explosive-marseille-winger-with-view-january-transfer-window-raid

Sources: Fulham head to Celtic clash to scout Gimenez
Fulham scouts watched Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez in action against Celtic at Parkhead on Wednesday (13 December), sources have told Football Insider.

It is believed the Cottagers have an interest in the 22-year-old forward and he is a player on their shortlist as the January transfer window approaches.

Gimenez has been in red-hot form in the 2023-24 campaign so far and grabbed an assist on the night as Feyenoord were beaten 2-1 by Celtic in the Champions League.

Football Insider revealed on Monday (11 December) that the Mexico international is one of three strikers Chelsea are monitoring ahead of the January window.

The Argentina-born ace has notched 20 goals and four assists in 20 appearances across all competitions so far in the 2023-24 campaign.

He also hit 28 goals last term to help Feyenoord win the Eredivisie title.

Gimenez signed a fresh contract in August, keeping him at De Kuip until June 2027.

Fulham are on the hunt for striking reinforcements despite their recent rich vein of goalscoring form.

The Cottagers have hit five goals in each of their last two Premier League games having struggled at the sharp end of the pitch earlier this season.

Football Insider revealed on 11 November that Marco Silva's side are ready to smash their transfer record to bring a new striker to the club in January.

It is believed the Cottagers could spend £40million-plus on a forward if the right option becomes available in the mid-season window.

Fulham sit 10th in the top flight despite allowing former talisman Aleksandar Mitrović to leave for Al-Hilal in the most recent summer window.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-fulham-head-to-celtic-clash-to-scout-gimenez/

Marco Silva predicts 'harder than easier' Newcastle challenge amid Champions League 'fuel'
Silva's in form Fulham make the trip up to the North East on Saturday

Marco Silva insists he is "not surprised at all" by Fulham's impressive form, despite his side securing remarkable back-to-back 5-0 victories in their last two Premier League contests.

The Cottagers have also scored 17 times in their last five league meetings, and will hope to keep the floodgates open when they travel to Newcastle on Saturday.

Four of those goals are from Raul Jimenez, who has come into his own and inspired what Silva feels is a boost in collective freedom of expression in recent weeks.

Asked if Fulham were exceeding his expectations, Silva said: "No. If you ask me if it's normal to win two games 5-0 like we did, I have to say that no, sometimes in this league to win 1-0 or 2-1 is so difficult, imagine to win two games in a row.

"This is, of course I'm going to be honest with you, something that is really, really tough because I don't know how many years since [it has been done], that shows how difficult it is to do it.

"But the way we played, you're talking about performance, you're talking about expressing ourselves. I'm not at all surprised because it is the way we prepare ourselves, our players, it's the way we want to play.

"Of course we are adjusting things, we are trying to add some things for our game, but I know if you can start the game confident, if you can focus, [you see] the two games, after our team scored the first goal in both games we started to express ourselves much better.

"It's part of the process, when things come in the right direction things can happen in the way we did it, but about the performance I'm not surprised at all."

Silva believes Newcastle's midweek Champions League exit will only serve as fuel for the hosts to prove a point in their return to domestic action, predicting it will be a "harder than easier" encounter with Eddie Howe's seventh-placed side, who he characterised as "one of the most intense teams" in the division.

Nevertheless, the Portuguese boss is confident 10th-placed Fulham, whose last three victories - against Wolves, Nottingham Forest and West Ham - have all come at Craven Cottage, have what it takes to walk away with at least a point at St James' Park.

He added: "We are going to win more games away from home. I have no doubts about it. We have to keep performing in the way we have been doing, keep believing and the good things will come."



https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/marco-silva-predicts-harder-easier-28297913

Sunderland player told to snub Premier League move amid Nottingham Forest and Fulham interest
Pierre Ekwah is attracting admirers from the Premier League, but Carlton Palmer thinks that he is best staying where he is for now

    Pierre Ekwah's impressive form at Sunderland has attracted interest from Premier League clubs Crystal Palace, Fulham, and Nottingham Forest.
    Former England player Carlton Palmer believes Ekwah should prioritize regular game-time over a move to a top flight club to continue his development.
    Sunderland could demand a significant fee for Ekwah, potentially in excess of £10 million, given his contract length and potential for improvement.

Sunderland's model of signing young players on the cheap to develop into Championship stars has certainly brought through a few gems so far, with one of those being Pierre Ekwah.

In the first half of last season, Ekwah was playing under-21's football for West Ham United before the Wearsiders took a punt on him, and it wouldn't be long before he was making an impact in men's football for the very first time.

Ekwah's form since joining Sunderland in early 2023 has not gone unnoticed, and now a trio of Premier League clubs are monitoring him ahead of the January transfer window opening.

TEAMtalk revealed this week that Crystal Palace, Fulham and Nottingham Forest are all interested in the 21-year-old, and now it remains to be seen if any offers come in for the defensive midfielder next month - although they'd certainly have to be significant for the Black Cats to consider selling mid-season.

Palmer: Ekwah should favour regular game-time over Premier League move
Former England international footballer Carlton Palmer thinks that although it would be a blow to Sunderland if they did end up selling Ekwah, the Frenchman should snub a transfer to a top flight club as it is unlikely that he would receive any immediate game-time - and that could stall his development.

Pierre Ekwah, Sunderland's powerful young midfielder, is making quite a name for himself this season, which has seen the likes of Crystal Palace, Fulham and Nottingham Forest all register an interest in acquiring his services," Palmer said when speaking to Football League World.

"Pierre joined Sunderland for no up-front fee when he left West Ham, and West Ham retain 25 per cent of any sale and payment was agreed for the player when he signed for Sunderland when he reaches a certain amount of appearances.

"Pierre left West Ham in search of first-team football to play under Mowbray at Sunderland, so I'm not sure he wants to go back to a Premier League club where he faces a lack of game-time again.

The figure being banded around at present is £3.5 million, but Sunderland could demand even more given the length of his contract, which still has three-and-a-half years left to run.

"This would be a huge blow to Sunderland to lose such a player, but this is the model they're looking to adopt - buy young players for low fees, develop them and sell them on for big profit."

Sunderland could demand eight-figure fee for Ekwah
Sitting at the base of Sunderland's midfield usually, Ekwah is quick, strong and also technically proficient, and he will often have shots from long range - they aren't always successful but his brace against Southampton in September showed that he is capable.

It's a surprise that it took the Frenchman until the age of 21 to play men's football for the very first time, but he is truly thriving at the Stadium of Light in a young, energetic engine room.

And there's every reason to believe that Sunderland can demand in excess of £10 million for Ekwah - he's contracted to the club until the summer of 2027 and he is only going to improve and become more polished with the more game-time he receives.

There are still things that Ekwah can learn and develop on, but if Sunderland sold him for anything less than £5 million then it would be a bit of a poor deal on their end - especially with West Ham owning a sell-on clause.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/carlton-palmer-sunderland-midfielder-pierre-ekwah-should-snub-transfer-amid-nottingham-forest-and-fulham-interest/

 Marco Silva insists he's 'not surprised' at Fulham's back-to-back 5-0 victories as his side attempt to take their impressive home form on the road ahead of Saturday's trip to Newcastle

    Marco Silva revealed Fulham's recent dominance has not come as a surprise
    But 46-year-old insisted his side will have to be at their best to defeat Newcastle

Marco Silva insists he is 'not surprised at all' by Fulham's impressive form, despite his side securing remarkable back-to-back 5-0 victories in their last two Premier League contests.

The Cottagers have also scored 17 times in their last five league meetings, and will hope to keep the floodgates open when they travel to Newcastle on Saturday.

Four of those goals are from Raul Jimenez, who has come into his own and inspired what Silva feels is a boost in collective freedom of expression in recent weeks.

Asked if Fulham were exceeding his expectations, Silva said: 'No. If you ask me if it's normal to win two games 5-0 like we did, I have to say that no, sometimes in this league to win 1-0 or 2-1 is so difficult, imagine to win two games in a row.

'This is, of course I'm going to be honest with you, something that is really, really tough because I don't know how many years since [it has been done], that shows how difficult it is to do it.

(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/15/19/79016825-0-image-a-11_1702668516209.jpg)
Marco Silva insisted Fulham's remarkable recent form is a reflection of their preparation
 
(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/15/20/79016827-12869807-The_Cottagers_boss_heaped_praise_for_Raul_Jimenez_on_his_recent_-a-13_1702673489631.jpg)
The Cottagers boss heaped praise on Raul Jimenez after his recent performances for the club
 
(https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/15/20/79016835-12869807-But_he_insisted_his_side_have_to_maintain_their_home_form_while_-a-14_1702673489631.jpg)
But he insisted his side have to maintain their home form while impressing on the road

'But the way we played, you're talking about performance, you're talking about expressing ourselves. I'm not at all surprised because it is the way we prepare ourselves, our players, it's the way we want to play.

'Of course we are adjusting things, we are trying to add some things for our game, but I know if you can start the game confident, if you can focus, [you see] the two games, after our team scored the first goal in both games we started to express ourselves much better.

'It's part of the process, when things come in the right direction things can happen in the way we did it, but about the performance I'm not surprised at all.'

Silva believes Newcastle's midweek Champions League exit will only serve as fuel for the hosts to prove a point in their return to domestic action, predicting it will be a 'harder than easier' encounter with Eddie Howe's seventh-placed side, who he characterised as 'one of the most intense teams' in the division.

Nevertheless, the Portuguese boss is confident 10th-placed Fulham, whose last three victories - against Wolves, Nottingham Forest and West Ham - have all come at Craven Cottage, have what it takes to walk away with at least a point at St James' Park.

He added: 'We are going to win more games away from home. I have no doubts about it. We have to keep performing in the way we have been doing, keep believing and the good things will come.'



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12869807/Marco-Silva-insists-hes-not-surprised-Fulhams-5-0-victories.html

Ream set to miss several Fulham matches with calf injury
Tim Ream will be out until at least Christmas with a calf injury, Fulham head coach Marco Silva has said.

After starting all but one of Fulham's matches this season, Ream has missed the club's past two games. The 36-year-old was an unused substitute against Nottingham Forest before missing the squad entirely against West Ham. Fulham won both games 5-0.

In his press conference ahead of Saturday's game against Newcastle, Silva said Ream was set to miss several more games.

"Tim Ream is going to be out, and Adama [Traore] as well. All the others are going to be available for the match," Silva said.

"Tim felt something after we played against Nottingham at home. He felt something in his calf. Let's see. We have to keep assessing him, keep recovering him. He's doing rehabilitation with the medical department."

Asked for more details on Ream's status, Silva responded: "He's not training. It's probably going to be early for him [to return] before Christmas."

After Saturday's game against Newcastle, Ream will miss Tuesday's Carabao Cup quarterfinal against Everton, as well as the following weekend's league match against Burnley.

Ream could potentially return when Fulham faces Bournemouth on Boxing Day, or in a New Year's Eve matchup with Arsenal.



https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/2023/12/15/tim-ream-injury-news-fulham-defender-calf/

Swansea City U18s to host Fulham in fourth round of FA Youth Cup
Swansea City Under-18s will face their Fulham at home in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.

The young Swans advanced to this stage of the prestigious competition thanks to a 2-1 victory over Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Tuesday night.

They will face the winner of the still-to-be-played third round tie between Cardiff and the Cottagers.

Fourth-round fixtures must be played by Saturday, January 20 2024.

Fixture details will be confirmed in due course.



https://www.swanseacity.com/news/swansea-city-u18s-host-fulham-fourth-round-fa-youth-cup

Fulham send scouts to watch Santiago Gimenez

Fulham are still interested in Santiago Gimenez after scouting the Mexican striker in Feyenoord's latest Champions League clash.
According to Football Insider, Fulham recently scouted Santiago Gimenez during Feyenoord's Champions League clash. The Mexican forward has remained a target for the Cottagers, with Marco Silva reportedly open to spending big on a centre-forward in January.

Santiago Gimenez has made a solid mark on suitors following a goal-laden campaign. The Mexican's 18 Eredivisie strikes have not taken them above PSV Eindhoven in the standings but have kept Feyenoord in the hunt for another title.

He has 20 goals in all competitions, with two coming in the Champions League. At the same time, Feyenoord crashed out of the match well before their last group-stage game against Celtic, where Gimenez grabbed an assist.

Watching the game were Fulham observers, with the Cottagers seemingly interested in the striker for a few months now. The London outfit were told to pay a record fee to sign the Mexican striker, as Marco Silva remains open to spending big in January on a forward.

Fulham have not entirely replaced Aleksandar Mitrovic since his move to Saudi Arabia. Another Mexican, Raul Jimenez, has recently found his rhythm in the side, as he helped the Cottagers up front, as Silva's side scored five goals in each of their last two Premier League games.

With the recent scouting mission on Gimenez, it's clear Fulham have maintained their interest in the 20-goal star, despite a host of other clubs also keen. Tottenham have also scouted the Mexican, and Chelsea are among the sides keeping close tabs on his situation at Feyenoord.

Other clubs, including Real Madrid, have also shown an interest, but whether they will come in to sign him next month remains the question. Earlier, Gimenez reiterated his desire to stay at Feyenoord beyond January, but things could change following their Champions League exit.

Like most Premier League sides, Fulham has the financial means to broker a big deal for the Mexican striker. Gimenez might also open his doors to a move to England but might wait to see which other club comes into the equation.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/12/16/fulham-send-scouts-to-watch-santiago-gimenez/

Fulham (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction
It's been a tough old week for Newcastle United, who followed heavy back-to-back defeats to Everton and Spurs  with a devastating 2-1 loss to AC Milan on Wednesday, where we went from closing in on the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League to crashing out of Europe altogether.

We're left licking our wounds and in desperate need of a win to lift the low mood across Tyneside, yet face a Fulham side who have enjoyed a sudden upturn in form just as we've struggled.

While we've shipped nine goals in our last three, losing all of them, Marco Silva's side have delivered back-to-back 5-0 wins at home against Nottingham Forest and Fulham, with their last away day an unfortunate 4-3 defeat at Anfield.

Speaking ahead of the game, Eddie Howe delivered this message, urging his players to override the 'negative narrative', show resilience and respond:

"The mood is good, there is some pain and anguish, but that can't stay around in professional football.

"The turnaround is so quick and now focus is on Fulham. It is going to be a big test of our resilience.

"I think there will be a negative narrative externally and we have to override that. Exiting Europe is a disappointment, but it doesn't have to have an effect on us afterwards. That's down to us, we need to respond."

Team news

Trippier is suspended, Gordon faces a late fitness test, Botman could make the bench, Barnes and Willock won't be back until January and Burn could return to league action after his cameo in midweek.

For Fulham, Willian will be checked after a hamstring issue, but Adama Traore and Tim Ream have both been ruled out.

Predicted XI: Dubravka – Livramento, Lascelles, Schar, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Joelinton – Almiron, Isak, Gordon.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Fulham

This one won't be easy against a Fulham side who've scored 13 goals in their last three league games, but I back us to bounce back with a hard-fought win. HWTL!



https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2023/12/16/fulham-h-pre-match-thoughts-team-news-possible-line-ups-prediction-2/

Liverpool 'complicating things' in transfer market and Arsenal could pay the price
Liverpool could delve into the transfer market during the January window.

Liverpool are said to be complicating Bayern Munich's pursuit of Joao Palhinha due to the Reds' interest in the Fulham midfielder. And Arsenal could pay the price as the German club may now turn their attention to Real Sociedad ace Martin Zubimendi, who has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp oversaw a summer of midfield evolution as he cashed in on Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, while signing Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo. But it appears the 56-year-old is still hungry for more reinforcements.

According to BILD Sport head of football Christian Falk, Bayern have heard that Liverpool have a concrete interest in Palhinha. The Bundesliga champions don't have the money to commit to many big transfers and are prioritising signing a new centre-back. So they may turn their back on Palhinha and move on to their next choice Zubimendi.

Zubimendi is said to have a £51.5million release clause in his Real Sociedad contract and has plenty of admirers in La Liga and the Premier League. Arsenal reportedly failed in an attempt to take the Spain international to the Emirates Stadium at the start of the year but reignited their interest in him in October, according to The Mirror.



https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1846093/Liverpool-Arsenal-Joao-Palhinha-Martin-Zubimendi

'I would love to stay' – former Fulham and Chelsea defender happy to extend terms at Charlton Athletic
Michael Hector would "love" to stay at Charlton Athletic beyond this season.

The former Fulham, Chelsea and Reading centre-back's current terms run until the end of June.

"I am enjoying my football here and I'd love to stay – my family are very local," said Hector. "It is the right place for me and I'm helping the younger boys as well, which is a key role for me.

"But it (his contract situation) is exactly the same as last season – I'm really, really relaxed with it. The club are relaxed as well.

"At the end of last season the negotiations took longer then I expected or wanted them to but I've been in football long enough to know that it is not always straightforward – even when both parties want it to happen, especially when there is new ownership.

"I can't look too far ahead. We all know that in football things can change overnight."

The 31-year-old has made 37 appearances for the Addicks

He said: "It's going well here. I would like better results on the pitch but I think that will come and that performances are coming.

"I feel I'm playing good football myself personally. Where I have had a consistent run of games it means I get into a rhythm, that's when I play my best football."



https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/i-would-love-to-stay-former-fulham-and-chelsea-defender-happy-to-extend-terms-at-charlton-athletic/#google_vignette

Class of Cairney has helped Fulham power clear of Premier League danger zone as goals have flowed for Whites
Heading into the final international break of 2023, Marco Silva cut a glum figure on the Villa Park touchline as he watched an insipid display from his Fulham side in a comprehensive 3-1 defeat.

Silva had signed a two-year contract extension just over a week beforehand, and he was now staring through the incessant rain at the very real possibility of an unwanted relegation battle on the back of a wildly successful return to the Premier League last term.

The Whites were averaging less than a goal per game following Aleksandar Mitrovic's summer move to Saudi Arabia, and four matches without a win meant they were just six points above the drop zone with a hectic festive period fixture list ahead of them.

Silva has insisted since the early weeks of the season that Fulham's issues finding the net ran deeper than losing Mitrovic alone, and he cannot be accused of not trying to find ways to address the problem.

Raul Jimenez never seemed a natural replacement for the Serbian given his struggles in front of goal since fracturing his skull three years ago, and the Whites boss has placed more emphasis on his midfield players providing better service for the Mexican rather than fixating on signings in the January transfer window.

This led to a series of experiments that included Alex Iwobi playing a central midfield role and the regular rotation of wide players like Harry Wilson and Bobby De Cordova-Reid. Choosing between Jimenez, Carlos Vinicius and Rodrigo Muniz to lead the line was an added headache, with all three proving frustrating in their own way.

The break in November offered Silva another chance to consider his options, yet it turned out the answer had been right in front of him all along. For Wolves' visit to Craven Cottage, Tom Cairney was selected for what was only his ninth Premier League start since the beginning of last season.

It proved to be a masterstroke, with Cairney winning a second-half penalty in a 3-2 win but also helping Fulham look far more dangerous in attack thanks to his ability to make telling passes in the middle of the park. Silva suggested his captain had been the best player on the pitch as his side's winless run came to an end, and he has only continued to be decisive since.

Cairney started on the bench for the daunting trip to Anfield that followed, yet when his pinpoint cross found the head of De Cordova-Reid to put Fulham into a shock 80th-minute lead, the Whites looked set for a victory to remember.

The concession of two late goals in the space of a minute meant they went home empty-handed on an afternoon when Jurgen Klopp's side exclusively scored screamers in a 4-3 thriller, yet the results that have followed clearly showed that Fulham took confidence from another strong display.

With Iwobi now back on the wing to allow Cairney his rightful place in midfield, Fulham tore both Nottingham Forest and West Ham apart last week, showcasing some delightful interplay and scoring some brilliant goals in consecutive 5-0 wins at the Cottage.

Silva has not always been convinced by Cairney's ability without the ball, but that has hardly mattered in this run of four games in which Fulham have found the net an astonishing 16 times.

The Scottish international rounded off the dismantling of Forest with the final goal of the night, and last Sunday, in what was his 300th Fulham appearance, he once again pulled the strings against a West Ham side that are now European regulars.

Back-to-back clean sheets may help persuade Silva that Cairney can do his bit defensively, although his quality in possession was surely never doubted.

Perhaps a more surprising return to prominence has been that of Jimenez.

He was the fall guy during Fulham's sluggish start, compared unfairly and unfavourably to Mitrovic as he began life in west London by extending his goalless run in the Premier League to 33 games.

That streak was ended with a consolation strike on that miserable afternoon at Villa Park, and he has since benefitted from having Iwobi, Andreas Pereira and Willian playing closer to him since Silva altered his approach.

A stylish back-heel secured him a brace against Forest, and he powered home a header from a Joao Palhinha cross against West Ham with a simplicity that made his early-season struggles seem a thing of the past.

With Fulham now as many points away from the Champions League places as they are the relegation zone, they can now look forward to the busy schedule ahead rather than worry about where their next victory is coming from. Success in their EFL Cup quarter-final at Everton next week could mean there is even more to get excited about in the new year.



https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/class-of-cairney-has-helped-fulham-power-clear-of-premier-league-danger-zone-as-goals-have-flowed-for-whites/

Newcastle United 'massive' injury boost as £13m star returns — could start v Fulham
Newcastle United defender Dan Burn is back from injury and could start against Fulham.

Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe says the return of Dan Burn provides a "massive" boost to his squad.

The Blyth-born defender fell awkwardly on his back during the 1-0 Premier League win at home to Arsenal on November 4 and was expected to be out for a "couple of months".

However, six weeks later, and Burn returned ahead of schedule. The 31-year-old was named on the bench for Wednesday's Champions League to AC Milan before playing the remaining half hour with Kieran Trippier forced off.

Burn is the third player - Callum Wilson and Sean Longstaff are the others - to return from the treatment room in the last week to help ease the club's current injury situation.

"All the players who have been injured have had that thought [to get back asap] in them. They've all wanted to come back and they've all seen the position we've been in and I'm sure they've all had different emotions watching the team.

"There has been that 'can I push myself?' We don't want to push players where break down but if you're able to play like Dan's is more a pain management issue rather than a recurrence issue. He's done really well and he's trained pain-free."

Burn could be recalled to the starting XI for the visit of former club Fulham this afternoon.

Kieran Trippier is serving a one-match suspension after receiving five yellow cards this term, which will likely see Tino Livramento move over to right-back.

That opens up a place at left-back with Lewis Hall and Burn in contention. But given how highly Howe speaks of Burn is perhaps a hint.

"Massive," Howe said when asked about Burn being back available. "Dan is not just a player and a character but is a leader in the dressing room. He's vastly experienced.

"He has allowed us to play a certain way, he's been pivotal in allowing us to play different ways. Dan has been an important part of what we've achieved and we've missed him since he's been away.

"We've missed him physically as well, there's no denying his physical strengths from set plays for and against. He's a big player for us."



https://www.newcastleworld.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/newcastle-united-massive-injury-boost-as-ps13m-star-returns-could-start-v-fulham-4447952

Tom Cairney is re-emerging as a player Fulham and Marco Silva simply cannot do without
The midfielder is showing no signs of slowing down, aged 32, after working his way back firmly into Marco Silva's plans

For the first time this season, Tom Cairney has started successive games in the Premier League. Fulham have won them both 5-0.

Coincidence? Yes, almost certainly. But a coincidence that the Fulham captain has deserved. You reap what you sow.

Cairney is now 32, and the West Ham rout marked his 300th appearance for Fulham, the club he joined in 2015 in a bid to take his career to the next level.

A pivotal player in Marco Silva's first season as Fulham romped to the Championship title, Cairney's involvement became bit-part last term, when he made 27 Premier League appearances off the bench but only started six games.

Yet whenever he came on, he was always lively, hard-working, and impacted the game. The same was true this season, until Silva rewarded Cairney with a start at home to Wolves last month.

Fulham's club captain repaid that faith by registering an assist in a hard-fought 3-2 win, while his 90 per cent pass completion rate this season is bettered by only eight midfielders across the whole Premier League.

"In four games, he's started three", Marco Silva recalled on Thursday. "He's been crucial for our last few great performances.

"He's been a vital player for me since I joined. In the first season for a long time he had a bad injury in his knee. Last season, our three players in the midfield line gelled together so well — Joao [Palhinha], Harrison [Reed] and Andreas [Pereira]. It was really difficult for someone to come in and start any games in the Premier League.

"This season, he's working hard again to get his chance. He played against Wolves because he showed to me in the weeks before that he was ready.

"His is a top player, [with] the quality and calmness that he can give. If he can be more complete in all these scenarios, he's going to be even more crucial for us in the future. How many games will he start in the future? I'm going to decide.


"He deserves all these moments in the white shirt. We love him, that is clear, and I am really pleased for him. He is always ready to help the team, and when you have a player like him — coming in for 90 minutes and performing so well — of course I am so pleased with him."

A goalscoring No10 by trade, Cairney instead partnered Palhinha in a double-pivot in the recent thumping wins against Nottingham Forest and West Ham.

"The last few games we have played with Joao, TC and Andreas", Silva recalls. "On the ball, I want him and Andreas to do more or less the same thing. Andreas is so crucial in his first pressure.

"With his [Cairney's] capacity to give us more calm in the build-up, how we are using him sometimes looks and seems that he is much deeper than Andreas. On the ball, he plays the same role as Andreas. Off the ball, he has to work with Joao and drop a little more."

It is a role that gives Cairney both attacking licence and defensive responsibility. He is showing he is up to the challenge, and re-emerging as a player Fulham cannot do without.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/tom-cairney-fulham-fc-newcastle-premier-league-2023-b1127185.html

Chelsea plotting blockbuster double January deal to steelen their resolve

Chelsea are willing to splash 100 million Euros to bring Joao Palhinha and Dusan Vlahovic to Stamford Bridge
Chelsea are in a dire state, leaving their fans not much to rejoice about. Apart from the ever-growing injury list, there is also poor performance to deal with. Pressure looms within the club with each passing week. Undoubtedly, it is Mauricio Pochettino who is in the crosshairs.

According to Spanish publication Fichajes. the Blues boss have handed in a request to get Joao Palhinha and Dusan Vlahovic. This seems to be a strong attempt from the Argentine to fill the gaps within the squad.

Chelsea are estimated to splash a total of 100 million Euros to grab the deal. The scales tip towards Fulham star Palhina, as the club are ready to spend close to 60 million Euros for him.

Fulham's Portuguese midfielder Joao Palhinha is wanted by the Blues boss. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

The West Londoners have invested a lot in transfers over the last few seasons. They are yet to reap the benefit as the club is out of European competitions and occupy a humble spot in the PL table. The coach believes, Palhinha can add depth to the midfield and so can Vlahovic up front.

Chelsea's failed luxury with incoming players
The fans have had the chance to welcome many newcomers over the last three seasons. Chelsea beat Liverpool to grab midfield duo Moises Caceido and Roméo Lavia, particularly at the start of this season. Neither Caceido nor Lavia could prove to be as impactful as expected.

Joao Palhina is a crucial figure at Fulham, having scored 2 goals and an assist from 13 games despite being a defensive midfielder. The Premier League is valuing defensive midfielders more than ever lately. Chelsea seem to be milking this opportunity by adding another to the roster.

On the other hand, not many are providing the firepower at the frontline except for Raheem Sterling. Dusan Vlahivoc is having a fine run with Juventus. He is involved in six G/A (five goals and one assist) for the Old Lady so far this season. The incoming of these players can strengthen the Chelsea attack per Mauricio Pochettino. It seems like a good idea. Let's see if it transpires into actual moves.



https://www.astamfordbridgetoofar.com/2023/12/chelsea-plotting-double-january-deal-to-steelen-their-resolve/

Alexander Isak returns to the starting lineup in our predicted starting XI to face Fulham on Saturday
Eddie Howe finally has a couple of options available going into a match meaning we've actually had to think about our predicted lineup this time.

While there won't be wholesale changes, we have had to think about a couple of positions this time around which is novel after the last five teams picked themselves.

Newcastle will be desperate to get back to winning ways against Fulham after three consecutive defeats and we believe we've got the best XI selected to do that with one big question mark hanging over the side.

How we think we'll lineup to take on Fulham at St James' Park
Goalkeeper
Martin Dubravka - Not going to lie, we're nervous about this as he's been utter pants since he came in for Nick Pope but it is what it is.

Defence
Tino Livramento - Tino will get to play in his preferred position due to Kieran Trippier's suspension.

Jamaal Lascelles - Still no sign of Sven Botman so Lascelles will continue at the back alongside ...

Fabian Schar - Rightly or wrongly criticised for AC Milan's second goal on Wednesday, Schar is still a top player to have in the side.

Dan Burn - He may just be back from injury but the suspension of Kieran Trippier means he will be thrust into the lineup. Unless of course Tino stays left and Howe opts for Emil Krafth at RB.

(https://nufc.news/imager/news/244340/d3867277feb154defec9b24a5714fadb.webp)

Midfield
Sean Longstaff - Lewis Miley has been incredible lately, but Howe will want to go with more experience in the middle.

Bruno Guimaraes - Still not at his best right now but he's too important to drop

Joelinton - Nabbed our Player of the Match for three games running, surely he can't make it four in a row ... can he?

Forwards
Miguel Almiron - As much as he's getting on our collective nerves with his poor finishing here at nufc.news Towers, we have no better option available.

Alexander Isak - We simply don't think Callum Wilson will start two games in a row. As neither striker is fully fit Howe just has to play the odds.

Anthony Gordon - Question marks over his fitness mean he may not be fit enough to play but we're going with hope over common sense and putting him in.

There may be a couple of changes come tomorrow depending on Gordon's fitness test
If Anthony Gordon isn't passed fit enough to play tomorrow then we expect Matt Ritchie to be thrown in over Lewis Hall. Or, Joelinton pushed forward and Lewis Miley kept in the side alongside Bruno and Longy.

It's so nice to have options again, even if they are much weaker than we'd like. Progress is progress.

Howay the lads!



https://nufc.news/alexander-isak-returns-to-the-starting-lineup-in-our-predicted-starting-xi-to-face-fulham-on-saturday

'Won't be easy': Chris Sutton has now given his prediction who will win on Saturday - Newcastle or Fulham
It's not every week you come up against a team who has just won two games back-to-back by a scoreline of 5-0 but that's what Newcastle United come up against on Saturday when Fulham come to Toon.

As impressive as that stat is for Fulham, it's probably safe to say that had Newcastle had their full squad fit, we'd not be remotely worried about this fixture, and that's not meant as disrespect towards Fulham, it's just truth.

However, as things stand, Eddie Howe's Walking Dead are set to go again, but there could be a couple of 'fresh' faces in the lineup this time around, although when we say fresh we mean freshly back from injury and unlikely to manage 90 minutes.

It's a tough one to call
This, coupled with the contrast in form, is why it's such a tough one to predict but that's what Chris Sutton gets paid for.

In his BBC Predictions column Chris Sutton went up against professional dart chucker and Newcastle Fan Chris Dobey and both backed the Mags to win.

    "Free-scoring Fulham have turned into the Premier League's surprise package, so predicting this game is not as clear-cut as it might have been a couple of weeks ago.

    "That's partly because it would be easy to doubt Newcastle at the moment - they were out on their feet against Tottenham last weekend and gave everything in defeat to AC Milan on "Wednesday.

    "But I am still going with Eddie Howe's side to come out on top. They play Chelsea in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals next week but now they are out of Europe, they can concentrate on the "league. They have to, really.

    "And, at home, they have still been impressive with seven wins and only one defeat in the league so far this season - that late turnaround against Liverpool in August. This won't be easy, but the crowd will help them here.

    "Sutton's prediction: 3-1"

Given he's a Mag we've included Dobey's prediction too
    "Dobey's prediction: Fulham have been playing well - I watched them recently against Liverpool, and no way did they deserve to lose that one, and then they smashed West Ham at the weekend too. But I can never back against Newcastle, can I? And our form at home has been very strong. We have been solid at St James' so far, although we might need the fans to be the 12th man to get us over the line. 2-0"

We'd love to have a pint of whatever Sutton's drinking, but 3-1 seems like a massive reach.

Would be nice though, wouldn't it? We could definitely do with something positive right now.




https://nufc.news/absolute-shock-as-rival-fan-doesnt-pick-bruno-guimaraes-to-steal-from-newcastle-in-our-fulham-q-a

Newcastle United entering 'make or break' week with free-scoring Fulham out to add to Europe misery
It's a crucial seven days for Newcastle United and the rest of their 2023/24 season

We are about to embark upon a week which will go a long way towards shaping the rest of the season for Newcastle United. It begins with Fulham's visit to St James Park on Saturday, then the Carabao Cup quarter-final at Chelsea, and finally a trip to Luton Town.

All three are absolutely crucial to the emergence of United after their demoralising exit from the Champions League and two humiliating Premier League setbacks. It is quite a week for me too because I was born in Fulham, played for them and managed them, I hated Chelsea as all young Cottagers do because they are only a mile across west London from us, and I also played for Luton of course.

At the end of it all Newcastle can be in the semi-final of a domestic cup with a great opportunity to end half a century without silverware and back in the race for the PL top four or they can be cut adrift of everything bar the FA Cup _ with noisy neighbours Sunderland to test their resolve at the beginning of the New Year!

I am so disappointed at what happened in midweek. Having waited for so long to get back into the Champions League United exited from European competition altogether thanks to a total lack of game management.

I have praised Eddie Howe and his players from the day they got together to lift the spirits and belief within my old club and I will continue to do that. They have been dealt a dreadful hand with an unbelievable list of injuries.

But facts are facts and United were naive in the extreme against AC Milan and not for the first time. For so long on Wednesday night they were leading Milan and in the last 16 of the Champions League but by the final whistle they were out of everything. How on earth did that happen?

Through being gungho instead of street wise. At 1-1 with the game in its dying embers they ought to have shut the back door while still playing the game. All they needed was discipline. They should have made sure they were the ones going into the Europa League and not AC.

Instead what did we get? A central defender, Fabian Schar, trying to play a one-two with Alexander Isak in the Milan penalty area only to lose the ball. Milan swooped, raced upfield with no central defender in the hole where Schar ought to have been, and scored the winner.

Let me say straight away that keeping your shape at the back and in midfield doesn't make you a defensive team, just a clever one. Teams that win things don't just attack like kids in the schoolyard. They are crafty but still adventurous _ at the right times.

We couldn't afford to have Schar where he ended up. Milan had sent on five subs which meant a huge influx of fresh legs while Newcastle used three who were all still finding their feet and power after injuries in Alexander Isak, Dan Burn, and Sean Longstaff. It meant United couldn't put in the yardage Milan did and it was their subs who turned the game. United couldn't chase back when Milan broke.

Lesson learned? Well no, actually, because exactly the same happened when Liverpool came up here earlier in the season. Then with 10 minutes to go United were leading 1-0 with 11 men playing 10 yet somehow contrived to lose 2-1 with a sub scoring both their goals. No game management. No Plan B.

I applaud the way United play, it is a joy to watch, but it doesn't mean you have to get suckered in by crafty sides. Take those three points off Liverpool and give them to Newcastle and the table looks a lot healthier. Stop Milan scoring their winner when we were all over the place and we would still be in Europe.

However we can do nothing about that now...except make sure it never happens again. Fulham come up here scoring goals for fun and they will be a real threat to a team that desperately needs an injection of self belief after the last three defeats.

The Cottagers have got over the loss of their main striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and have won their last two matches 5-0. As I've said it is going to be a tough week. A make or break week. Let us pray we are smiling at the end of it.



https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-united-entering-make-break-28299275

Absolute shock as rival fan doesn't pick Bruno Guimarães to steal from Newcastle in our Fulham Q&A
Newcastle United have a tough game ahead on Saturday as they welcome Fulham to St James' Park for a good old 3pm kick-off, which of course means no live TV coverage in the UK.

Newcastle and Fulham's current form could not be more contrasting right now so Saturday's game is giving us a touch of anxiety with Fulham coming to Newcastle off the back of two consecutive 5-0 wins, while we go into the game off the back of three straight defeats.

We've asked Stephen from Fulhamish if he thinks Fulham have enough to see off the challenge from Newcastle.

How have you enjoyed the season so far? Where do you think you'll finish?

    It's been a really bizarre campaign so far, because up until the last few weeks, there was a large frustration around the fanbase about the transfer business, and where the goals were coming from. We really struggled to score from the onset with the loss of a certain number nine, and seemingly never replaced him. But now everything has just clicked, we find ourselves in 10th place and things are looking very positive - credit to Marco Silva for being patient and embedding his strategies into the squad and new players over time!

How is life after Mitrović? You certainly don't seem to be struggling for goals lately!

    There was certainly something missing up top when our favourite Serbian departed the club, it was really hard for us to take at first, and it felt like Raul was never designed to be a replacement as he joined early before the transfer to Saudi Arabia started to gain momentum. It was certainly a tough period of transition for the club, however now the confidence is high again, players are finding their feet in their preferred position and we've been blown away by the goals we've produced over the last month - very happy! As long as Raul can keep his head up now, things are looking very positive. Plus there is hopefully some money in the bank to spend in January.

Who is your best player? Who is one to watch for the future?

    There really is a strong handful of players you could pick so I'll say two. Bernd Leno is simply superb, I don't know how the owners managed to get him from Arsenal for such a cheap fee, and the shot stopper just signed a new contract with the club and seems very happy - a true professional. The obvious choice of course is João Palhinha. My word that guy knows how to tackle, year on year he makes the most tackles in the Premier League which is credit to his tenacity, awareness and physical prowess - we'll be very lucky if he's still a Fulham player post January. One for the future - our squad is a lot more senior than most others, but at age 23, Calvin Bassey has started to integrate himself into the Fulham squad and will hopefully be a name on our first team team sheet for years to come.

What are your thoughts on Newcastle and Eddie Howe?

    So positive. It's refreshing to see Newcastle performing so well and breaking the top 4 regular names alongside the likes of Brighton and Aston Villa. Whilst Howe has had significant investment to support his work, financially the squad doesn't compare to the likes of United, City and Arsenal in my opinion and yet the team are achieving brilliant things, so that's credit to the system Eddie has implemented and the hard work of the team. Long may it continue! I can only see the club growing from strength to strength over the years and seeing them in Europe against the big boys was really exciting.

If you could have one NUFC player in the Fulham team, who would it be and why?

    We have a couple of ex-Fulham boys in your squad with the likes of Dan Burn and Matt Targett who we are fond of and it's great to see them doing so well. If it was for one season, I'd love to take Trippier and he offers so much in attack, Fantasy League dream! Long term, Isak would be exactly what we need in our squad. Feel free to donate them to us.

Finally, what is your score prediction?

    This is definitely a game to be had at and I think the team that's more aggressive going forward might have the edge. I'm going straight down the middle with 2-2, ordinarily I'd say the Toon army edge this, but with the last couple of results going against them and the energy levels being a tad lower due to the Champions League and injuries, coupled with Fulham's form at the moment, I think it will make for a ferocious game full of goals.




https://nufc.news/alexander-isak-returns-to-the-starting-lineup-in-our-predicted-starting-xi-to-face-fulham-on-saturday

Villa deny Fulham U21s at the death
Substitute Taylor–Jay Hart smashed inn a stoppage-time equaliser to deny Fulham all three points after the Whites had made light of Jay Williams' early dismissal to lead through Kristian Šekularac. Hayden Mullins' had to console themselves with a share of the spoils at Bodymoor Heath after their disciplined defence was breached in the second minute of added time in heart-breaking fashion.

The Londoners were up against in as soon as Williams, operating at centre half, panicked after being robbed of possession by Rico Richards and pulled back the striker as he burst through on goal. The Welsh youth international was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity and the hosts quickly assumed control of the contest. Fulham were able to restrict Villa for long-range shots for a while, with Alfie McNally easily fielding a speculative shot from skipper Tommi O'Reilly, who had made his first-team debut in the Conference League last night.

The visitors remained a threat on the break and would have hit the front in stunning fashion were it not for the remarkable reflexes of Sam Proctor, who got his fingertips to a Šekularac strike to turn it onto the crossbar. The Swiss international popped up again to finish over a flowing counter-attack two minutes before the interval, when he latched onto an intelligent ball from Luke Harris. Proctor had absolutely no chance this time – wrongfooted by a deflection.

Villa restarted strongly but McNally was equal to another O'Reilly effort before the Fulham goalkeeper made a brilliant reaction save to repel a rising drive from Hart, who had replaced the ineffectual Kyrie Pierre with twenty minutes to play. Fulham then fashioned a chance to kill the game off with some superb approach play but captain Ollie O'Neill rattled the post before Palmer palmed away Imani Lanquedoc's finish from the rebound.

Šekularac then skied away from inside the penalty and Fulham's failure to convert their chances came back to bite them in added time. McNally, who already saved superbly from Todd Alcock's, was eventually beaten by Hart's close-range finish from O'Reilly's cross as the home side hauled themselves level at the last.

ASTON VILLA UNDER 21s (4-4-2): Proctor; Ealing (Barber 65), Munroe (Burchall 59), Rowe, Smith; Alcock, Rowe (Borland 65), O'Reilly, Broggio; Pierre (Hart 71), Richards. Subs (not used): Lewis.

BOOKED: O'Reilly.

GOAL: Hart (90+1).

FULHAM UNDER 21s (4-3-3): McNally; Donnell, Araujo, Odutayo, Williams; Okkas, O'Neill, Harris; Lanquedoc, Works (Bogle-Campbell 84), Šekularac. Subs (not used): Allen, Park, Picotto.

BOOKED: Okkas, Araujo, Harris.

SENT OFF: Williams.

GOAL: Šekularac (43).

REFEREE: Oliver Mackey.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/12/villa-deny-fulham-u21s-at-the-death/

Osmand secures dramatic FA Youth Cup success
Callum Osmand scored a stoppage-time winner to send Fulham's under 18s into the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup after Ali Melloul's side came from behind to stun Cardiff City last night.

The Welsh under-19 international sparked wild celebrations when he finished a brilliant break from a Bluebirds corner. Josh King, who brought Fulham level with another stunning strike, drove through the middle of the park before passing to Tom Olyott and the winger's weight of pass was perfect for the in-form Osmand to race into the box and slip a low finish past Luke Armstrong.

Ali Melloul picked a number of under-21 regulars for the trip to Wales and Jon Esenga almost gave the Londoners a fourth minute lead when his low, deflected free-kick from the right was cleared off the line by Dan Barton. Osmand then lashed over from a good position after the lively Aaron Loupalo-Bi had pinched possession high up the pitch before Armstrong saved superbly from the in-form centre forward.

The home side were competing well despite being a division below their opponents and after sixteen year-old King was tenaciously tackled, the ball broke for Troy Perrett, whose left-footed effort was tipped over by Dino Kaiser in the Fulham goal. Osmand was denied by another excellent Armstrong save before City took when Trey George turned home Tanatswa Nyakuhwa's cross at the near post seven minutes before half time.

Fulham were handed a glorious chance to go in level at the interval when King was felled in the area but Armstrong pulled off a great save from Olyott's penalty. The visitors were on the back foot in the early stages of the second period with a rampaging run through the middle of the park from Nyakuhwa culminating in the captain firing over the bar from some way out.

The Whites responded immediately with Dylan Lawler bravely blocked Olyott's drive behind from a corner, from which Armstrong did superbly to smother Brad de Jesus' header on the line. Perrett then tested Kaiser with an effort of his own, but Fulham were ramping up the pressure at the other end. A backpeddling Armstrong somehow managed to turn a cross from Lemar Gordon onto the bar despite being initially wrongfooted but the Bluebirds back line was to cave in a couple of minutes later.

A wonderfully worked move saw King spread the play out to right flank where Olyott and de Jesus worked a one-two before the talented midfielder found the bottom corner with a deft finish. The Bluebirds were far from deflated by the concession of the equaliser, however, with Cody Twose coming close to restoring their lead when he latched onto Japhet Matondo's cut back but drilled his shot straight at Kaiser.

Osmand was disappointed to be denied by Armstrong when he darted infield with ten minutes to go but he saved his telling contribution for deep in stoppage time – setting up another trip to Wales in the most dramatic fashion. Melloul's men will take on Swansea City, who recorded an impressive win over Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Tuesday evening, in the fourth round.

CARDIFF CITY UNDER 18s (4-3-3): Armstrong; Spiers, Giles, Edwards, Lawlor; Barton, Twose, Mafico; Nyakuhwa, George, Perrett. Subs: Thomas, Hibbs, Philipps, Talbot, Matondo, Ola, Kpakio.

GOAL: Perrett (38).

FULHAM UNDER 18s (4-2-3-1): Kaiser; de Jesus, Slade, Amissah, Esenga; King, Nwoko; Olyott, Gordon, Osmand; Loupalo-Bi. Subs: Varney, Tabares, Nsasi, Quashie, White, Ali-Wahid.

GOALS: King (66), Osmand (90+1).

ATTENDANCE: 282.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/12/osmand-secures-dramatic-fa-youth-cup-success/

Sources: Tottenham set sights on Santiago Gimenez amid £60m reveal
Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez is likely to cost in excess of £60million as Fulham, Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal plot a move for his services, sources have told Football Insider.

Football Insider revealed on Friday (15 December) that Fulham scouts watched Gimenez, 22, in action against Celtic in the Champions League earlier this week.

The Cottagers are keen to add a new striker to their ranks in the January window – but it is believed that the Argentina-born star's price tag and the quality of other clubs interested means they are unlikely to land him mid-season.

Feyenoord are set to ask for a fee of more than £60million to part with the in-form attacker – and a well-placed source has told Football Insider that a move is more likely in the summer than in the new year.

It is believed the Dutch giants have no intention of selling mid-season as they target success in the Eredivisie and in Europe.

Fulham took the opportunity to watch Gimenez at close quarters earlier this week but it is believed elite Premier League sides like Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal are set to join the race for his services at the end of this season.

The Mexico international has notched 20 goals and four assists in 20 appearances across all competitions so far in the 2023-24 campaign.

He also hit 28 goals last term to help Feyenoord win the Eredivisie title before signing a fresh contract in August, keeping him at De Kuip until June 2027.

The six-foot-tall attacker has hit four goals in 24 total caps for Mexico and played for his country at the Gold Cup earlier this year.

Tottenham are yet to replace departed talisman Harry Kane, while Fulham are on the hunt for striking reinforcements despite their recent upturn in goalscoring form.

Arsenal are also keen to reinvent their forward options – while Chelsea are unsatisfied with their strikeforce despite signing Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson in the most recent summer window.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-tottenham-set-sights-on-santiago-gimenez-amid-60m-reveal/

Newcastle United star ruled out for three months has just hinted at major comeback v Fulham
Sven Botman has teased his Newcastle United return ahead of the Premier League clash against Fulham.

Sven Botman is likely to be named in Newcastle United's matchday squad against Fulham this afternoon (kick-off 3pm).

The Dutch defender has missed the last three months with a knee injury. His last appearance was the 8-0 win at Sheffield United in September, where he netted his first goal since joining from Lille for £35million in 2022.

Botman was initially scheduled to return around late October or early November but his knee swelled when back in light training. United feared he might have to undergo surgery but fortunately has responded well in recent weeks.

And the 23-year-old has dropped a major hint over his involvement versus Fulham after uploading a matchday graphic to Instagram, something Botman hasn't done during his time out.

In the centre-back's absence, club captain Jamaal Lascelles has stepped up to partner Fabian Schar. But Botman's imminent return is a major boost for Newcastle, who face Chelsea in the Carabao Cup last eight, plus Luton Town, Nottingham Forest and Liverpool in the next 17 days.

After weeks of injuries piling up, United, in the last seven days, have managed to nurse Callum Wilson, Sean Longstaff and Dan Burn back to fitness. Howe, however, is reluctant to say the injury situation is turning.

Indeed, the head coach revealed on Friday morning that Harvey Barnes and Joe Willock have suffered setbacks and won't return until January at the earliest.



https://www.newcastleworld.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/newcastle-united-star-ruled-out-for-three-months-has-just-hinted-at-injury-comeback-v-fulham-4448330

Exclusive: Transfer expert says top Premier League clubs are "informed" on Liverpool target
The future of Fulham's Joao Palhinha has been widely discussed ahead of the January transfer window and Fabrizio Romano has cleared the situation up.

The Portuguese midfielder has impressed since moving to the Premier League in 2022 and it looked like he would be joining Bayern Munich during the summer but the transfer fell through on Deadline Day.

The German champions' interest remains in the player but there are top Premier League clubs being kept in the loop about Palhinha's future ahead of the January transfer window.

One of the rumoured clubs with interest is Liverpool and Fabrizio Romano has shed some light on the Reds' pursuit of the Portugal international.

Fabrizio Romano has said in his latest exclusive CaughtOffside column that he doesn't have any concrete information about Liverpool's interest in Palhinha as the Reds are yet to decide what areas of the pitch they want to invest in during the January transfer window.

"There have been lots of rumours regarding Fulham's Joao Palhinha in recent weeks and I can honestly say that I don't have concrete information on Liverpool being in talks to sign Palhinha yet," the transfer journalist said.

"For sure the top Premier League clubs are informed on the player's situation at Craven Cottage but nothing has started in terms of negotiations with Joao or Fulham yet. Also, Liverpool still have to decide what areas of the pitch they want to invest in during the January transfer window."



https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/12/16/exclusive-transfer-expert-says-top-premier-league-clubs-are-informed-on-liverpool-target/

Liverpool tipped to make massive £70m splurge for Prem star in January as Klopp is told signing can deliver title glory
Liverpool are being urged to push through the transfer of Joao Palhinha in January having been told his signing can help steer Jurgen Klopp's side to Premier League title glory and with a source revealing he's a player they've wanted for "over a year now".

The Merseysiders spent the summer window rebuilding their midfield having shelled out a combined £145.2m to bring in Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch, who stepped in to fill the breaches left by six departing stars. Those upgrades, so far, have been transformative, with Liverpool going into the weekend's round of fixture sat top of the Premier League.

However, there remains something of a nagging doubt that Klopp's midfield still lacks a little something, with suggestions that Japan star Endo is only a temporary fix as a No 6 and doesn't totally yet have the trust of the Reds boss. And with Mac Allister often looked awkward when asked to fulfil the role – the World Cup winner excelled as a No 8 for Brighton last season, while can also play as a No 10 – it leaves Klopp with plenty to ponder ahead of the January window.

With that winter window officially opening for business in just 16 days time, Klopp is being linked with a fresh move to sign a new No 6 with Palhinha apparently once again coming under his radar.

And while there is a school of thought that suggests Klopp is more likely to sign a new defender instead to cover for the injured Joel Matip, there is no doubting the Liverpool manager would love to sign two top level stars in January.

Massive price on Joao Palhinha
Any deal for the Fulham star will not come cheap. The Portuguese star is the leading tackler in the Premier League once again this season, having already racked up an impressive 72 so far. Next best is Tottenham's Yves Bissouma with 50, exemplifying just how good the Fulham star is and why he's considered as the elite No 6 in the English top flight.

As a result, interest in acquiring Palhinha's services is widespread. Bayern Munich narrowly missed out on a summer approach, having just failed to beat the clock on his paperwork, having already agreed personal terms with the player.

And while he has since been rewarded with a new deal and a payrise at Craven Cottage, the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea are also in hot pursuit for the 24-times capped Portugal midfielder.

Given the demand for his services, it is little wonder Marco Silva's side are placing a minimum £70m asking price on the 28-year-old's head.

To that end, we revealed this week that Liverpool's focus is likely to be on other targets, potentially leaving Arsenal and Chelsea in a straight battle for Palhinha's services.

Liverpool tipped to make January move for Joao Palhinha
However, TEAMtalk transfer journalist Dean Jones is adamant that Palhinha still represents a player of huge interest to Liverpool and believes his signing in January can help the Reds become Premier League champions.

"I'm surprised Liverpool haven't already made their move on Palhinha if they were going to do it," he said in an interview with GIVEMESPORT.

"They've had their eye on him for the past year and it seems very clear to me that Palhinha is a player that they could do with.

"If Palhinha was playing number six for Liverpool, I think that they would have a much better chance of going on to win the league this season than they would without him.

"Certainly when you see Alexis Mac Allister having to play that role, there doesn't seem to be a defined person right now at Liverpool who can play that role."

In addition to being a brilliant tackler, Palhinha has also averaged 1.8 interceptions per game this season, and also has 84% pass accuracy – a record that stands against the best around.

He also has a bit more to his game too than other No 6's, proving he's capable of contributing with scoring and creating goals too. Last season, the former Sporting Lisbon man struck four times, while in 2023/24, he already has two goals and an assist to his name too.



https://www.teamtalk.com/liverpool/reds-tipped-make-massive-70m-january-splurge-prem-star-klopp-told-signing-can-deliver-title-glory

Newcastle United star 'confirms' return v Fulham after injury setback with social media tease
Newcastle United injuries: Sven Botman has dropped a big hint at his return to action after three months out.

Newcastle United defender Sven Botman is set to return after almost three months out with a knee injury.

Botman hasn't featured for The Magpies since scoring in the 8-0 win at Sheffield United in September. But the 23-year-old is understood to be back in contention for Saturday's Premier League match against Fulham at St James' Park.

The Dutchman provided a further hint to his involvement as he took to social media to post a personalised preview of the match. Such posts are often a clear indicator that a player is available and ready to play.

Botman suffered setbacks with his knee issue that ended up ruling him out for 17 games in total. Given his lengthy absence, Botman may have to settle for a place on the bench against Fulham with head coach Eddie Howe describing Botman as an 'integral' part of his team. Newcastle will be looking to end a run of three straight defeats and bounce back from their Wednesday night Champions League exit against AC Milan.

And Botman's return comes as a welcome boost for The Magpies amid a serious injury crisis. Howe has welcomed Callum Wilson, Sean Longstaff and Dan Burn back from injury over the past week but it has also been revealed Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes have suffered setbacks that will rule them out until January at the earliest.



https://www.shieldsgazette.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/sven-botman-ps35m-newcastle-united-star-confirms-injury-return-v-fulham-4448347

Paul Merson predicts Newcastle vs Fulham – "It's been too long..."
Paul Merson is backing Newcastle United to bounce back from three-straight defeats with a 3-1 victory over Fulham in today's 3pm kick-off at St James' Park.

The Sky Sports pundit has been blown away by Fulham's recent form – they've won their last two games 5-0 and scored three at Anfield the week before – but thinks we'll show our class after that devastating loss to Milan in midweek.

He does think we'll have 'one eye' on Tuesday's cup quarter-final against Chelsea, mentioning that our wait for a trophy have see us prioritise that fixture, although he still expects us to come away with a much-needed win in this one.

In his latest piece for Sportskeeda, here's what he's had to say:

"I said a few weeks back that Fulham are in a relegation battle because they couldn't score a goal at the time but they've gone mad since! They can't stop scoring and it's absolutely amazing.

"Newcastle will be devastated after yesterday [Wednesday] as they were so close to the knockouts [of the Champions League], but now they're out of Europe altogether after finishing fourth in their group.

"They have to pick themselves up and show up against an in form Fulham team but will also have one eye on the cup game against Chelsea [on Tuesday]. Newcastle haven't won a trophy since I was born and I'm 55! For a club of that size, it's been too long.

"Fulham are on a bit of a mad run, but I expect the home side to show their class in this one.

"Prediction: Newcastle United 3 Fulham 1"



https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2023/12/16/paul-merson-predicts-newcastle-vs-fulham-its-been-too-long/

31-year-old Newcastle man now set to miss out on Fulham game through injury
The Newcastle United Newton's Cradle of Injuries continues to click-clack back and forth. One in. One out.

Sven Botman has given a massive hint that he will be back in contention for Newcastle United today after a three month layoff with a knee injury.

However, just as Botman returns, we reportedly lose another player as has been the story all season.

Fabian Schar will miss today's game
According to journalist Daniel Wales, Newcastle United will be without Fabian Schar this afternoon when Fulham come to town.

Daniel wrote on X at around midday that Schar is out for today's game.

    "NEW: Fabian Schär ruled out of today's game against Fulham."

We echo the sentiments of the first reply to Dan's post - if we don't laugh, we'll cry.

Jamaal Lascelles and Paul Dummet at the back today?
Botman will be way off the levels required to start the game, or at least if he does he's never going to last the full 90 minutes. Schar's timing is just a little bit off.

We now expect Paul Dummett to start alongside Jamaal Lascelles with Botman coming off the bench around the hour mark.

Lascelles and Dummett in central defence was a terrifying enough thought a few years ago, but now ... my word.

Nothing we can do about it though, just have to hope the old guard can keep it tight at the back. Seriously though, can we just call time on this season early?



https://nufc.news/31-year-old-newcastle-man-now-set-to-miss-out-on-fulham-game-through-injury

Dan Burn selection call made with Newcastle United forced into changes against Fulham
Eddie Howe has a big decision to make to try and arrest the Magpies' slump, with Kieran Trippier missing against Fulham through suspension

Newcastle United supporters have made their feelings clear about the team they expect to see line up against Fulham this afternoon, with the call over who plays at full-back being perhaps the most intriguing decision.

Kieran Trippier's five yellow cards mean he'll be forced to sit out against Marco Silva's side at St James' Park, with on-loan Lewis Hall and the recently returned Dan Burn the likeliest candidates to replace the United talisman.

And despite Hall finding opportunities limited on Tyneside since his summer move from Chelsea, it's Burn who gets the nod to feature on the left side of defence, with Tino Livramento switching back to his more familiar right-back position.

Burn was a surprise inclusion to the squad against AC Milan in midweek, with the Blyth giant originally scheduled to appear on BBC Radio 5 Live's coverage of the match before being handed a late call-up. The former Brighton man had been out with a back injury, with his last appearance coming in the 1-0 win over Arsenal at the start of November prior to his substitute appearance on Wednesday night.

There's also a change in midfield, with Sean Longstaff also picking up his first start since making his return from injury in place of Lewis Miley. Longstaff has been limited to two appearances off the bench since returning from an ankle injury picked up against Bournemouth.

Full team: Dubravka; Livramento, Lascelles, Schar, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Gordon, Wilson



https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/dan-burn-selection-call-made-28301997

Bid for Fulham target expected very soon – Club may be keeping talks in secret
After silence on the future of Fluminense midfielder André, who's a target for Fulham, we now get to see some news on what's happening around him.

Journalist Victor Lessa, who's covering the Brazilian club's campaign at the Club World Cup, features a video claiming the player continues to be chased by many clubs.

It's said that even though André is represented by agent Carlos Leite, Jorge Mendes has a partnership for his sale and has been offering him to clubs around Europe.

One of those clubs is Paris Saint Germain, although they're only considered in case a move to the Premier League doesn't work out.

Regarding the English clubs, it's said Liverpool's interest seems to have got 'a bit colder', and Fulham showed up with 'more strength'.

Lessa says that no official bids have arrived so far, and the offers are expected to be made during or after the Club World Cup, which is already taking place.

The journalist even points out that with Fluminense focused on the tournament, they have 'no interest' in talking about the sale, so there's a chance something is going on in secret.

So as Fulham continue showing up as one of the favourite destinations, perhaps their bid is on the way.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/bid-fulham-target-expected-soon-club-may-keeping-talks-secret/

Fulham enter Etienne Youte Kinkoue chase

Fulham are reportedly interested in signing 21-year-old French defender Etienne Youte Kinkoue from Le Havre.
A report from Fussball Transfers has claimed that Fulham are interested in signing 21-year-old French defender Etienne Youte Kinkoue. The Le Havre star is also a target for a few Bundesliga clubs.

The 21-year-old has done quite well for Le Havre in Ligue 1, and he has made six appearances for them in the top flight this season. Meanwhile, Fulham have also shown interest in his Le Havre teammate Arouna Sangante.

Fulham have been quite vulnerable defensively this season, and they could certainly use a quality defender. The West London club have conceded 26 goals in 16 league matches, and the talented young French defender could prove to be a solid addition. He will help them tighten up defensively and push for a place in the top half.

Fulham will need to tighten up defensively if they want to finish the season strongly, and signing a central defender in January would be a wise decision. The 21-year-old is highly rated in France, and he has a bright future ahead of him. He could develop into a key first-team player for Fulham with the right coaching and guidance.

The opportunity to play in the Premier League could be an attractive option for the young defender, and he will be tempted to join the London club if there is a concrete proposal on the table. The towering central defender has the physical attributes to thrive in English football, and he could be a long-term asset for Fulham if he manages to fulfil his potential with them.

If the Cottagers manage to sign him for a reasonable price next month, the move might look like a masterstroke in the long run. The defender has a contract with the French club until the summer of 2025. So, it is fair to assume that he could be available for a nominal price.

Players like Tosin Adarabioyo have been linked with a move away from Fulham. So, the Cottagers will have to replace the defender adequately. The 21-year-old Frenchman could be the ideal alternative.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/12/16/fulham-enter-etienne-youte-kinkoue-chase/

Christian Falk: Liverpool and Bayern's £56m Transfer Tug-of-War

Liverpool and Bayern Munich: A Tug-of-War Over Joao Palhinha
In the dynamic world of football transfers, the competition for top talent is always fierce. The latest buzz in the football community revolves around Fulham's midfielder Joao Palhinha, with heavyweights Liverpool and Bayern Munich at the centre of the speculation. Thanks to Christian Falk of BILD, we have a glimpse into the unfolding drama.

Bayern's Hesitation and Liverpool's Concrete Interest
Christian Falk's recent revelations in The Daily Briefing have stirred the pot in the ongoing saga of Joao Palhinha. "Bayern heard that Liverpool are concretely interested in Joao Palhinha so things are getting complicated already ahead of the January transfer window," Falk disclosed. This interest from Liverpool is throwing a spanner in the works for Bayern Munich, who had previously come close to securing Palhinha's signature for a whopping £56 million. Falk's insight suggests a strategic reshuffle may be on the cards for Bayern, as they prioritize a centre-back over further midfield reinforcements.

Financial Constraints and Alternative Targets
Bayern's financial constraints are no secret, with Falk noting, "They don't have the money at the moment to commit to many big transfers." This reality forces Bayern to weigh their options carefully, considering players like Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad as potential alternatives. This prudent approach reflects the changing dynamics in football transfers, where financial viability is as crucial as the player's skill set.

Liverpool's Calculated Move?
The intrigue deepens with Liverpool's alleged interest in Palhinha. While some sources, like Fabrizio Romano, claim Liverpool's intentions aren't as 'concrete', Falk's report suggests otherwise. Liverpool's involvement in this transfer tussle could be a game-changer, especially considering Jurgen Klopp's known desire for a defensive midfield specialist. The acquisition of Palhinha, valued at his prime and with a hefty price tag, would signify Liverpool's aggressive pursuit of Premier League glory, particularly in a season where Manchester City appears vulnerable.

Skepticism and Realism in the Transfer Market
However, there's a need for realism amidst the swirling rumours. Owen Hargreaves' assertion that Palhinha could be the key to Liverpool's Premier League success is optimistic, yet the likelihood of Liverpool committing to such a significant investment mid-season remains questionable. Similarly, Bayern's apparent cold feet over the deal, as Falk suggests, indicates that this transfer rumour might need to be taken with a grain of salt.

In summary, Christian Falk's insights provide a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of football transfers. With financial considerations, strategic priorities, and the allure of top talent like Joao Palhinha, the January transfer window is shaping up to be as unpredictable as it is exciting.



https://anfieldindex.com/61259/christian-falk-liverpool-and-bayerns-56m-transfer-tug-of-war.html