Summer Silly Season Transfer Thread 2025

[itombomb]

Thing is if all we are looking to do is improve on what we have convincing that level of player is pretty tough for a club of our size and/or often the selling club will want to ensure they have replacements first.

I'd imagine most of the deals we are going for this year are probably something similar. Easier for the big clubs...it's always the players first choice and half the time they can just pay the fee with their limitless funds. Yes some mid/smaller clubs have made some signings but what's to say they haven't overpaid or not settled for their second or third choice?

All these are examples of the best players that we can get at our level only being available late so it's just not true that you are 'missing out' on the best players early. The big clubs have to go for the best players that are way out of our reach early and gradually the knock on effect is the chess pieces move and the best players that we can realistically get at our level become available.

I think these are all really key points.

We're at the point now where we need to sign really good £30/40m type players to improve the team. Those are the same kind of players who frankly would rather get a move to a bigger club than come to us (see Cherki and Marmoush last year).

We all know the way we seem to do things - which is identify 2 or 3 players in positions of need, with a set budget, and then we play the clubs/agents off against each other to get the best deal. Occasionally that hasn't worked out - the panic of not getting the winger last Summer leading to the Nelson loan - but generally it has, like getting Bassey over Igor and Murato.

I absolutely would love to get signings in earlier (and I think a part of our relative failure to move players on at the right times is because Marco won't sanction player departures until there are replacements), but you need to strike a balance.

Sunderland have done a load of business with young players, and it may turn out they've made a load of amazing signings, but apart from Adingra, they have paid over market price for all of them.

[AJW48361]

Are we still shell shocked from the 2018 window?

[AJW48361]

Not signing players early
In the window how much of this is a Financial decision?Also it feels a pretty tight dressing room at Fulham I wonder if a big worry on Recruitment is signing a bad egg which could have a big detrimental effect Team morale going forward?

[JimmyConway]

Are we still shell shocked from the 2018 window?

Would lean towards that window still haunts the corridors of Fulham Football Club.

[hovewhite]

The 2018 window was massive and we couldn't do it now especially when it was wasted under the management at the time.A Wasted opportunity and relagation.

[Carborundum]

Has anyone ever read a book called House of Leaves. It is a meandering story with footnotes and different people writing and side comments but all about a house that changes and has huge rooms one minute and the same rooms vanish the next.

I only mention it because year after year we have the same thing happening in this thread.

Do Jason Koumas and Carlton Cole make cameo appearances in the narrative?

Haven't read the book, but it does sound rather like this thread.  FWIW I find the thread a bit like Christmas.  I know carols, mince pies, decorations, Shane&Kirsty, family coordination, present buying, kitchen logistics, a jigsaw, alcoholic excess, World's Strongest Man and a trip to the Cottage are virtually certain to feature.  Each year we go long on various aspects, others aspects more muted, but the overall effect is the same. Comforting and a good way to get through a fallow time of year. 

Even better, we get a mini version of the thread each January.  You can't have too much of a good thing.

[StuinSalop]

Many good points being posted and nobody is wrong or right.

We have made early great purchases, Palhinha being best example, but our MO is to play the market and do things later when we think we get better value.

I guess the difference for me this season, is our squad is unchanged apart from Nelson who went very early last season, so no need to be panicking.

We will bring in 4 or 5 1st team squad or starting players.   They will however come on our terms and that is probably going to mean the waiting game continues.

[ffcthereligion]

Are we still shell shocked from the 2018 window?

I think this is not highlighted enough. Yet if you look at who was actually signed, two of those players are elite level footballers (Anguissa and Mitrovic), and many others were serviceable (Rico, Bryan, Seri). Yes there was some dross (Mawson, Le Marchand, Christie) but only Mawson was for a fee I believe. So overall, that window may have scarred us but we probably wasted around 30m on Mawson and overpaying for Seri but that was balanced by underpaying for Anguissa and Mitrovic.

If you look at Forest, they went totally scattergun and bought a load of duds when they came up. Doesn't matter, because the gems they found amidst the duds are selling for 60m a piece allowing them to reinvest and they are in Europe. Meanwhile those who were surplus to requirements were easily sold off to clubs like Palace (Henderson), Burnley (Shelvey), Al Hilal (Lodi) and Lyon (Niakhate).

I am not necessarily advocating for frivolous spending, and of course there will be exceptions to the rule, but the general point is that there currently appears to be a fetishisation of 'targets' whereby people are defending the club by saying 'well would you rather get our targets or not'. The reality is you can have targets and wait all day for them but just because you've decided they're a target it doesn't mean they'll work out. ESR and Andersen are hardly shining examples of the fruits of holding out for your targets. I would argue that thus far, neither have improved the side, although hopefully ESR can improve further

All in all, it seems other clubs are more prepared to adopt an investment strategy to their business based on calculated risk and an element of the unknown than we are. Instead, as a result of 2018 perhaps, we would rather wait cautiously and sign established players with premier league experience (expensive and little re-sale value).

I note another poster said, 'to improve the quality of the squad we need to be making 40m purchases who are waiting out for CL clubs' - Im sorry but no we dont. We will never be in that position as long as PSR is around. We need to be finding Hujsens, Kerkezs, Caicedos, Cucerellas and Mbuemos. If that means a few more Le Marchands then thats a risk this club need to be brave enough to take

[FFC007]

I do wonder that with Silva only having a year left on his contract, whether the decision has been made not to invest due to him potentially going next summer.

They won't spend big on players for Silva for one season, and may wait til next summer if a new boss comes in, to spend big.

[Jules]

I do wonder that with Silva only having a year left on his contract, whether the decision has been made not to invest due to him potentially going next summer.

They won't spend big on players for Silva for one season, and may wait til next summer if a new boss comes in, to spend big.

It could be a consideration, but the main one is that we absolutely have to invest in i think 4 or 5 new players. Possibly to include a loan or two. If we don't add to our squad, we will struggle. Our first 11 is decent. Mid table or just below, but teams around us are strengthening and some of our depth could do with an uplift in quality. Those teams  coming up will be tougher than the promoted teams last year. The owners surely will know this. Cannot stand still in this division. It's tough and our start is very important, and not easy. Hence many of us are concerned about late signings not having time to bed in. It's the way we do it as we are after the best deals. Hoping it works out again this season.

[bencher]

Are we still shell shocked from the 2018 window?

I think this is not highlighted enough. Yet if you look at who was actually signed, two of those players are elite level footballers (Anguissa and Mitrovic), and many others were serviceable (Rico, Bryan, Seri). Yes there was some dross (Mawson, Le Marchand, Christie) but only Mawson was for a fee I believe. So overall, that window may have scarred us but we probably wasted around 30m on Mawson and overpaying for Seri but that was balanced by underpaying for Anguissa and Mitrovic.

If you look at Forest, they went totally scattergun and bought a load of duds when they came up. Doesn't matter, because the gems they found amidst the duds are selling for 60m a piece allowing them to reinvest and they are in Europe. Meanwhile those who were surplus to requirements were easily sold off to clubs like Palace (Henderson), Burnley (Shelvey), Al Hilal (Lodi) and Lyon (Niakhate).

I am not necessarily advocating for frivolous spending, and of course there will be exceptions to the rule, but the general point is that there currently appears to be a fetishisation of 'targets' whereby people are defending the club by saying 'well would you rather get our targets or not'. The reality is you can have targets and wait all day for them but just because you've decided they're a target it doesn't mean they'll work out. ESR and Andersen are hardly shining examples of the fruits of holding out for your targets. I would argue that thus far, neither have improved the side, although hopefully ESR can improve further

All in all, it seems other clubs are more prepared to adopt an investment strategy to their business based on calculated risk and an element of the unknown than we are. Instead, as a result of 2018 perhaps, we would rather wait cautiously and sign established players with premier league experience (expensive and little re-sale value).

I note another poster said, 'to improve the quality of the squad we need to be making 40m purchases who are waiting out for CL clubs' - Im sorry but no we dont. We will never be in that position as long as PSR is around. We need to be finding Hujsens, Kerkezs, Caicedos, Cucerellas and Mbuemos. If that means a few more Le Marchands then thats a risk this club need to be brave enough to take

I think there's a bit of truth to both sides (expensive signings to improve the side, and cheaper gamble signings) and we have tried a bit of everything last couple of years. We bought Cuenca as a gamble signing, and he's done ok but not had a run in the side because Bassey is a key figure. Muniz was a punt and I think it has paid off but some might say it's still unclear. Buying Bassey was also a bit of a punt after his time at Ajax but it has paid off quite well. We also haven't been afraid to pick up free transfers like Sess and Traore.   

[DM]

A meeting with Douglas Luiz agent took place this week. Unfortunately that deal is unlikely now.

[jayffc]

A meeting with Douglas Luiz agent took place this week. Unfortunately that deal is unlikely now.

CM who can play DM more likely then.

Guessing we're not happy with the terms?  which means well probably sit it out to see if demands come down later in window.

Could also of course be he's not that interested, back in for Reitz?

[Drewry66]

A meeting with Douglas Luiz agent took place this week. Unfortunately that deal is unlikely now.

It's a real shame but that one was always a massive long shot although defo worth trying. He would have immediately improved us dramatically if he could have found his Villa form and is exactly the profile we need at 8 with goals and assists in his game whilst also being able to defend. Would have been a real statement and exciting signing. I suspect he'll end up somewhere like United but would be annoying if Everton or someone similar managed to get him.

I suppose the only positives is he's getting older and wage would prob have broke the bank a bit. In a way I'd still love us to go for someone younger with huge potential upside like that Rocco Reitz although by all accounts he's not for sale as they don't want to let him go and he wants to stay. Such a key signing this new 8 so wonder who it will be.

[JimmyConway]

A meeting with Douglas Luiz agent took place this week. Unfortunately that deal is unlikely now.

That's a shame as he would of been a very good signing for us. Box to box type with quality.

[hovewhite]

a Luiz type in midfield could help us dropping 28 points again this coming season.

[St Eve]

a Luiz type in midfield could help us dropping 28 points again this coming season.

Like Palhinha perhaps

[RAY Rock]

A meeting with Douglas Luiz agent took place this week. Unfortunately that deal is unlikely now.

That's why Cairney got a new 1 year deal i have heard the players we are going for have multiple options from different clubs and we are being turned down by the players and agents we are now looking at plan C players that clubs are finding difficult to shift

[Deeping_white]

A meeting with Douglas Luiz agent took place this week. Unfortunately that deal is unlikely now.

That's why Cairney got a new 1 year deal i have heard the players we are going for have multiple options from different clubs and we are being turned down by the players and agents we are now looking at plan C players that clubs are finding difficult to shift

When are we signing Phil Jones?

[Drewry66]

A meeting with Douglas Luiz agent took place this week. Unfortunately that deal is unlikely now.

That's why Cairney got a new 1 year deal i have heard the players we are going for have multiple options from different clubs and we are being turned down by the players and agents we are now looking at plan C players that clubs are finding difficult to shift

Which is in all likelihood why it is taking time. We are going for top end targets but often they won't want to come so we either have to move on if it's totally clear they never will or some may be available later in the window when bigger clubs don't take them. It's good that our list is ambitious. This is the annoying thing...we have some money this summer but attracting the level of player we want to come to us is probably the bigger challenge.