Summer Silly Season Transfer Thread 2025

[Bal_13]

the reality is our club is in the best shape competitively that it's been in for over a decade.

You make some good points and i mostly sympathise but I'd query this. In the last MAF season we finished 12th, and went into the next season as 5th/6th favourites for relegation. Almost identical to our current position on those metrics. And no one with hindsight would say we were in great shape competitively, largely because, like now, we had the oldest side in the division. Don't get me wrong it was worse then than now (average age 29.9 vs 27.9 now) but we've learned the hard way it's a creeping risk that we ignore at our peril.

I'd argue the parallels to 2013-14 are largely coincidence / spun.

If we take the top 11 players by minutes played from 2013-14 you have 7 players 30+ (Sidwell, Reuther, Parker, Hangeland, Stekelenberg, Berbatov, Riise) vs. 2 last season (Leno, Jimenez - and TC and Willian are the only 30+ players otherwise in the whole squad)

As for the bookies I'd take odds on relegation with a pinch of salt.

I sympathise and agree with the need to be ambitious and push for young talented players and to not be complacent, but I think it's a little doom and gloom to make comparisons to that relegation squad before a ball has been kicked.

Anyway, to get back to transfers, I can't see why Muniz would want to lead the line at Leeds next season - Jimenez is getting older and surely he'll be leading the line for us very soon.

That said £50 million is a lot of money if that's the touted figure.

[Somerset Fulham]

Didn't we bring the average age of the squad down a bit last season?

[Angus Telford]

Didn't we bring the average age of the squad down a bit last season?

Based on average age across all players used (which I believe includes Stansfield) we brought it down by 0.4 years, but remain the oldest and > 2 years above the average. The numbers are a bit deceiving, people think it's just about getting rid of Ream or Willian. In reality even getting down to average will be a multi-year project requiring a totally different transfer philosophy and overhaul of half the squad.

[AJW48361]

Be careful. I don't consider us a Established premier league club and to be honest there are not that many clubs I consider cast iron certainties of Remaining in the premier league every season.

[Somerset Fulham]

Didn't we bring the average age of the squad down a bit last season?

Based on average age across all players used (which I believe includes Stansfield) we brought it down by 0.4 years, but remain the oldest and > 2 years above the average. The numbers are a bit deceiving, people think it's just about getting rid of Ream or Willian. In reality even getting down to average will be a multi-year project requiring a totally different transfer philosophy and overhaul of half the squad.

Yep, totally get that and agree that it is going to take time to lower the age further.

Its a start though, and as long as that average age isn't going up any more then in this day and age I don't see 28 as too much of an issue.

Something to keep an eye on for sure, but no more than that.

[Twig]

Didn't we bring the average age of the squad down a bit last season?

Based on average age across all players used (which I believe includes Stansfield) we brought it down by 0.4 years, but remain the oldest and > 2 years above the average. The numbers are a bit deceiving, people think it's just about getting rid of Ream or Willian. In reality even getting down to average will be a multi-year project requiring a totally different transfer philosophy and overhaul of half the squad.

Not disagreeing with the thrust of your points but where does getting rid of Ream fit into this?

[Angus Telford]

Didn't we bring the average age of the squad down a bit last season?

Based on average age across all players used (which I believe includes Stansfield) we brought it down by 0.4 years, but remain the oldest and > 2 years above the average. The numbers are a bit deceiving, people think it's just about getting rid of Ream or Willian. In reality even getting down to average will be a multi-year project requiring a totally different transfer philosophy and overhaul of half the squad.

Not disagreeing with the thrust of your points but where does getting rid of Ream fit into this?

The fallacy sometimes suggested on here in the past that our average age is/was hugely skewed by one or two very old players (eg Ream)

[Deeping_white]

https://twitter.com/fulhambone/status/1932934134109732886

It's slightly random granted but further down the thread is the Cov guy being correct with a cryptic message about a signing so who knows. For any further reading see here:

https://www.skybluestalk.co.uk/threads/milan-van-exit.169511/ - it looks like he predicted the new manager and a signing very recently so maybe has some legs to it - not sure what that means for Tete/Castagne but assume Kenny might be off if we sign him

[irish_mike]

Would be a shame to lose Tete. What a signing he was. Rate him much higher than Castagne

[Birmingham White]

My mate is a s/ticket holder at Cov. and he really rates Van Ewijk. He said he is quick, has a good passing range, loves to overlap and hits a lovely curling cross. The only drawback is that he is smaller than Tete. He is expected to leave this summer and we have been linked with him before so I would not be surprised if we signed him. I just checked and he is 24 and 5ft 9 so is a good age and isn't really small.

[Tabby]

My mate is a s/ticket holder at Cov. and he really rates Van Ewijk. He said he is quick, has a good passing range, loves to overlap and hits a lovely curling cross. The only drawback is that he is smaller than Tete. He is expected to leave this summer and we have been linked with him before so I would not be surprised if we signed him. I just checked and he is 24 and 5ft 9 so is a good age and isn't really small.

I see him as a promising RB replacement if Tete leaves.

The only other one I can recall us being linked with is Coufal, so would much rather try and get a longer term solution rather than a stop gap.

[Twig]

Didn't we bring the average age of the squad down a bit last season?

Based on average age across all players used (which I believe includes Stansfield) we brought it down by 0.4 years, but remain the oldest and > 2 years above the average. The numbers are a bit deceiving, people think it's just about getting rid of Ream or Willian. In reality even getting down to average will be a multi-year project requiring a totally different transfer philosophy and overhaul of half the squad.

Not disagreeing with the thrust of your points but where does getting rid of Ream fit into this?

The fallacy sometimes suggested on here in the past that our average age is/was hugely skewed by one or two very old players (eg Ream)

Ah got you thanks. For a moment I thought I had travelled back in time!

[Deeping_white]

https://twitter.com/marcoconterio/status/1933048532837245419

Translates to:

The #FulhamFC is on Raoul Bellanova.

Among the best full-backs in our league, the Atalanta international is one of the Cottagers' priorities for the summer.

Napoli also asked for him in the last few days, Ivan Juric considers him to be at the centre of the Dea project.

[hopper]

That Coventry ITK post is absolutely outstanding, given me a good chuckle

[jayffc]

Would be gutted to lose Tete. My favourite Fulham RB ever.

But he will of course move on eventually, and the coventry lad seems worth a shot if Kenny doesn't accept our offer or wants a move elsewhere.

We have the liberty in this position of taking a risk on someone like Van Ewijk, given Castagne is a great option capable of starting already. Don't forget when he wasn't struggling with an injury he once kept Tete justifiably out of the team for a long time. His recent form has been tempered by that injury and he's not as good a defender as Kenny (though I'm not convinced there's many better defensive RBs in the prem to be honest) but his all round game is plenty good enough to try our luck with the second option.

[Drewry66]

Van Ewijk Is an interesting one. For me prob the best option that has been rumoured. Looked at the stats vs Tete and Tete edges him on most, especially defensively. Watching the clips and reading the Coventry forums however what he would definitely offer us is speed and overlapping. He actually looks a lot like Robinson in the way he plays. Interceptions high like Robinson as well. We of course looked very one dimensional with everything going left for Robinson overlaps last year and teams worked it out and shut it down. If he could do it at prem level this could defo give us a bigger threat on the right as well so that would be a positive. Coventry fans pretty much unanimously seem to rate/love him.

The only thing is likely to cost £12m to £15m I would have thought. Tete said he wants to stay. Is Tete's requested salary/terms of contract really that high to warrant that kind of an outlay when certainly defensively it would make us worse?! Not to mention if Tete is asking for stupid amounts who else is going to match that? Doubt clubs in Holland could? Just seems strange that it's not happening but certainly taking a long time so guessing there is a stand off and we do not agree with what he wants.

Anyway Van Ewijk would certainly be quite an exciting one and certainly could improve us going forward to break down these low blocks against lower teams so let's see. At least it's not Coufal if true!!

[Drewry66]

https://twitter.com/marcoconterio/status/1933048532837245419

Translates to:

The #FulhamFC is on Raoul Bellanova.

Among the best full-backs in our league, the Atalanta international is one of the Cottagers' priorities for the summer.

Napoli also asked for him in the last few days, Ivan Juric considers him to be at the centre of the Dea project.

Looks very decent. 11 assists in the league last year. Great carrying stats and looks like he has a great cross on him. Interestingly looks like he started as a right back but played right midfield the last 3 or 4 years. Could be very useful if like this year we get an injury to one of our right backs as well so that had no one to cover of course. Left you have Bassey and Cuenca who can back up Sess and Robinson but right there was no one so would be great to sign a really good winger who can also cover there if needed. Could also play him from there if we were behind and needed a goal.

[Deuce]

https://twitter.com/marcoconterio/status/1933048532837245419

Translates to:

The #FulhamFC is on Raoul Bellanova.

Among the best full-backs in our league, the Atalanta international is one of the Cottagers' priorities for the summer.

Napoli also asked for him in the last few days, Ivan Juric considers him to be at the centre of the Dea project.

Gut feeling saying its a made up rumor tbh. We are being linked with a lot of RBs and it wouldnt surprise me if an agent or club chucks this guy into the mix for various reasons.

[jayffc]

https://twitter.com/marcoconterio/status/1933048532837245419

Translates to:

The #FulhamFC is on Raoul Bellanova.

Among the best full-backs in our league, the Atalanta international is one of the Cottagers' priorities for the summer.

Napoli also asked for him in the last few days, Ivan Juric considers him to be at the centre of the Dea project.

Ooo I missed this link.

IF we got the money to splash on it I'd be well up for this but would be suprised if he was available at anything under £30-35m+. Seen him play a bit due to checking in with how Roma are getting on and he stood out when I saw him play. Great on the ball with a good cross on him, tall strong lad too which would be useful if we're going to deploy him at RB and are losing Tete. Not as a pacy as Van Ewijk but certainly no slouch either.

Doubt this highly though, he had a very good season and only just signed for Atlanta last summer (from Torino) for about £20m so would take big money that I just can't see us spending on a RB when we have Castagne.

[ffcthereligion]

Would be gutted to lose Tete. My favourite Fulham RB ever.

But he will of course move on eventually, and the coventry lad seems worth a shot if Kenny doesn't accept our offer or wants a move elsewhere.

We have the liberty in this position of taking a risk on someone like Van Ewijk, given Castagne is a great option capable of starting already. Don't forget when he wasn't struggling with an injury he once kept Tete justifiably out of the team for a long time. His recent form has been tempered by that injury and he's not as good a defender as Kenny (though I'm not convinced there's many better defensive RBs in the prem to be honest) but his all round game is plenty good enough to try our luck with the second option.

I personally disagree with that assessment of Castagne. He may have been carrying an injury which gives him an excuse (a fair excuse I wouldn't like to unfair) but even when fully fit I don't see him as a 'great option' neither do I see him as having 'justifiably kept tete out the team'. So I guess I disagree with you and Marco on that but that's just my opinion.

I see Castagne as a distinctly average premier league player whose main asset is his utility to step in when required across the back line. He excels neither in attack or defence. I would suggest we overpaid for his services at £15m