Summer Silly Season Transfer Thread 2025

[bencher]

Just thinking about Cherki as an example where the club were ambitious, but not ambitious enough.

It may be he never would have come to us, but I bet we still were offering £70/80K a week rather than £120-150K a week. If we got him for that £20m last Summer and he stayed fit, I reckon we at least get Europa League, and then we'd be selling him this Summer for a massive profit.

All reports said he wasn't interested in coming to Fulham, period, he'd come off the back off a hot and cold season, no one was offering him 120k last summer ...never sounded like the issue was personal terms, He backed himself to play at a higher level and it's paid off.

He had a great impact off the bench on his France debut last night; scored a beautiful volley from outside the box into the top corner, then sent in an inch perfect cross for France's 4th. The Cherki ship has sailed.

[YoungsBitter]

Just thinking about Cherki as an example where the club were ambitious, but not ambitious enough.

It may be he never would have come to us, but I bet we still were offering £70/80K a week rather than £120-150K a week. If we got him for that £20m last Summer and he stayed fit, I reckon we at least get Europa League, and then we'd be selling him this Summer for a massive profit.

All reports said he wasn't interested in coming to Fulham, period, he'd come off the back off a hot and cold season, no one was offering him 120k last summer ...never sounded like the issue was personal terms, He backed himself to play at a higher level and it's paid off.

He had a great impact off the bench on his France debut last night; scored a beautiful volley from outside the box into the top corner, then sent in an inch perfect cross for France's 4th. The Cherki ship has sailed.

Supposedly on his way to Citeh, so definitely out of our league. However, it shows our scouting was reasonably sharp to have identified him as the prior year with Lyon was not his greatest, if anything this year he really only turned it on after Xmas.

[Arthur]

Nelson wasnt that great when he had a run at starting

Our best 5 game streak in the whole season was when he started all the games so the facts disagree

What were those 5 fixtures?
Not sure how much stock I'd put into the game streak and Nelsons importance on that...

Brentford (W), Palace (W), Wolves (L), Spurs (D), Brighton (W)

Interestingly, however, in the five games you list, we scored 9 goals and secured 10 points: 6 of the goals were were scored - earning us 6 of the points - when Nelson wasn't on the pitch. Maybe the fact he started all of those games isn't as compelling as it first appears.

[jayffc]

Just thinking about Cherki as an example where the club were ambitious, but not ambitious enough.

It may be he never would have come to us, but I bet we still were offering £70/80K a week rather than £120-150K a week. If we got him for that £20m last Summer and he stayed fit, I reckon we at least get Europa League, and then we'd be selling him this Summer for a massive profit.

All reports said he wasn't interested in coming to Fulham, period, he'd come off the back off a hot and cold season, no one was offering him 120k last summer ...never sounded like the issue was personal terms, He backed himself to play at a higher level and it's paid off.

He had a great impact off the bench on his France debut last night; scored a beautiful volley from outside the box into the top corner, then sent in an inch perfect cross for France's 4th. The Cherki ship has sailed.

Supposedly on his way to Citeh, so definitely out of our league. However, it shows our scouting was reasonably sharp to have identified him as the prior year with Lyon was not his greatest, if anything this year he really only turned it on after Xmas.

Another winger along with kluivert we missed out on

[Jims Dentist]

Nelson wasnt that great when he had a run at starting

Our best 5 game streak in the whole season was when he started all the games so the facts disagree

What were those 5 fixtures?
Not sure how much stock I'd put into the game streak and Nelsons importance on that...

Brentford (W), Palace (W), Wolves (L), Spurs (D), Brighton (W)

Interestingly, however, in the five games you list, we scored 9 goals and secured 10 points: 6 of the goals were were scored - earning us 6 of the points - when Nelson wasn't on the pitch. Maybe the fact he started all of those games isn't as compelling as it first appears.

Shows that without drilling down stats don't always tell the whole story.

[Deeping_white]

Nelson wasnt that great when he had a run at starting

Our best 5 game streak in the whole season was when he started all the games so the facts disagree

What were those 5 fixtures?
Not sure how much stock I'd put into the game streak and Nelsons importance on that...

Brentford (W), Palace (W), Wolves (L), Spurs (D), Brighton (W)

Interestingly, however, in the five games you list, we scored 9 goals and secured 10 points: 6 of the goals were were scored - earning us 6 of the points - when Nelson wasn't on the pitch. Maybe the fact he started all of those games isn't as compelling as it first appears.

And yet if you'd watched those games you'd have seen the positive impact he did have

[MickTheBeard]

I can't see if you had money to spend and you gave money to fulham to buy nelson from arsenal who has been injured for 5 years he is aproaching 25 has a poor return he is still under contract at arsenal on close to 3m a year they wanted up to 25m for him at most a free transfer and contract pay as you pay with our budget you can not take a chance on a player like that don't apply for a scouts job at fulham.

[hopper]

Just thinking about Cherki as an example where the club were ambitious, but not ambitious enough.

It may be he never would have come to us, but I bet we still were offering £70/80K a week rather than £120-150K a week. If we got him for that £20m last Summer and he stayed fit, I reckon we at least get Europa League, and then we'd be selling him this Summer for a massive profit.

All reports said he wasn't interested in coming to Fulham, period, he'd come off the back off a hot and cold season, no one was offering him 120k last summer ...never sounded like the issue was personal terms, He backed himself to play at a higher level and it's paid off.

He had a great impact off the bench on his France debut last night; scored a beautiful volley from outside the box into the top corner, then sent in an inch perfect cross for France's 4th. The Cherki ship has sailed.

Supposedly on his way to Citeh, so definitely out of our league. However, it shows our scouting was reasonably sharp to have identified him as the prior year with Lyon was not his greatest, if anything this year he really only turned it on after Xmas.

Examples like this are so interesting, at how people in the game know the talent of the players even when they're out of form. For example how no big club has gone in for Gyokores or Osimhen despite their proven track records, but Arsenal for example are negotiating for Sesko.

Typically as fans we go and look at key stats and draw our conclusions on that - but the eye test, and close knowledge through people in the game, or extensive scouting will always tell us things that raw data doesn't.

[Arthur]

Interestingly, however, in the five games you list, we scored 9 goals and secured 10 points: 6 of the goals were were scored - earning us 6 of the points - when Nelson wasn't on the pitch. Maybe the fact he started all of those games isn't as compelling as it first appears.

And yet if you'd watched those games you'd have seen the positive impact he did have

Indeed. But now you're voicing an opinion. Before, you were resting your argument on a fact.

[@jolslover]

To be honest. Two of our key targets last year: Cherki and Mctominay have gone on to have fantastic seasons. I am in Naples now and they love Mctom here. Shows we are doing something right. Annoying it is always the ones we don't get though 😂

[Twig]

I can't see if you had money to spend and you gave money to fulham to buy nelson from arsenal who has been injured for 5 years he is aproaching 25 has a poor return he is still under contract at arsenal on close to 3m a year they wanted up to 25m for him at most a free transfer and contract pay as you pay with our budget you can not take a chance on a player like that don't apply for a scouts job at fulham.

Agreed that, given both his earlier injury history and then last seasons's problems, he is not a prospect any club would sign. I think all that is being suggested is that there were glimpses of a very decent player on the occasions when we gasp him on the pitch.

The only viable option to my mind would be a further loan season if and only if FFC were convinced we could get him right by the start of next season.

[Twig]

I can't see if you had money to spend and you gave money to fulham to buy nelson from arsenal who has been injured for 5 years he is aproaching 25 has a poor return he is still under contract at arsenal on close to 3m a year they wanted up to 25m for him at most a free transfer and contract pay as you pay with our budget you can not take a chance on a player like that don't apply for a scouts job at fulham.

Agreed that, given both his earlier injury history and then last seasons's problems, he is not a prospect any club would sign. I think all that is being suggested is that there were glimpses of a very decent player on the rare occasions when we did see him on the pitch.

The only viable option to my mind would be a further loan season if and only if FFC were convinced we could get him right by the start of next season.

[jayffc]

I can't see if you had money to spend and you gave money to fulham to buy nelson from arsenal who has been injured for 5 years he is aproaching 25 has a poor return he is still under contract at arsenal on close to 3m a year they wanted up to 25m for him at most a free transfer and contract pay as you pay with our budget you can not take a chance on a player like that don't apply for a scouts job at fulham.

Agreed that, given both his earlier injury history and then last seasons's problems, he is not a prospect any club would sign. I think all that is being suggested is that there were glimpses of a very decent player on the occasions when we gasp him on the pitch.

The only viable option to my mind would be a further loan season if and only if FFC were convinced we could get him right by the start of next season.

I reckon they'd go for that to be fair, gets wages off the books and a potential fee.

Loan with 10m option would be good business in my opinion. There's a good player in there for sure IF he can sort these injuries out. Would definately want him + another though. Ideally a pacey striker who can play out wide.

Club doctors will have a good idea of reiss chances of bouncing back so over to them.

[JimmyConway]

Read Douglas Luiz likely to be on the market! We've been linked before and if ever there was a player who could take us up a few more notches it's him. Statement signing he would be though likely a few further up the food chain than us?
Perhaps offer him Captaincy as opposed to midweek European football next season might tilt it our way???

[sarnian]

Personally I don't think there will any incomings before Tuesdays window close.

[Twig]

Read Douglas Luiz likely to be on the market! We've been linked before and if ever there was a player who could take us up a few more notches it's him. Statement signing he would be though likely a few further up the food chain than us?
Perhaps offer him Captaincy as opposed to midweek European football next season might tilt it our way???

He's an excellent player no question, however it would be a bit like the Palhinha conundrum (if we were to re-sign him) in that you couldn't play Berge, Lukic and Luiz together. That would mean rotation or benching one of them and I just don't quite see that working.
To my mind the midfield priority should be signing an upgrade on AP, I feel he has too many weaknesses and contributes too few assists or goals. I know ESR could be that person but he isn't there yet and anyway with TC at or near retirement I feel we need more strength in attacking mid field.

[Twig]

Personally I don't think there will any incomings before Tuesdays window close.

Sadly, neither do I. To be fair I don't think many clubs will be doing much business until after the window reopens.

[demeant0r]

I don't get why the window doesn't normally open at the beginning of June. There's usually no football left in June except for the CL final.

[hovewhite]

Hounslow are one of the only clubs I think that have made a signing.
Also most players are signed up till the end of this month.

[Drewry66]

Read Douglas Luiz likely to be on the market! We've been linked before and if ever there was a player who could take us up a few more notches it's him. Statement signing he would be though likely a few further up the food chain than us?
Perhaps offer him Captaincy as opposed to midweek European football next season might tilt it our way???

He's an excellent player no question, however it would be a bit like the Palhinha conundrum (if we were to re-sign him) in that you couldn't play Berge, Lukic and Luiz together. That would mean rotation or benching one of them and I just don't quite see that working.
To my mind the midfield priority should be signing an upgrade on AP, I feel he has too many weaknesses and contributes too few assists or goals. I know ESR could be that person but he isn't there yet and anyway with TC at or near retirement I feel we need more strength in attacking mid field.

Was just looking and he played more CM than DM for Villa. You'd defo be buying him to play CM with either Lukic or Berge but don't see any issue there as for me Lukic and Berge are both best at DM and neither are offering enough going forward...just play one depending on the opposition/form. Luiz at CM for Villa had a very decent goals and assists record so a definite upgrade on AP at CM there. Don't want another 10 in as want King to fight for that with ESR. I think Luiz definitely immediately improves us in midfield then if he can find his Villa form and could kick us on. Sounds like he has had a nightmare in Italy but Villa fans seem to absolutely love him and from what remember he was quality.

Just turned 27 however so £35m+ is a lot when value would diminish but he certainly would be a statement signing.