Summer Silly Season Transfer Thread 2025

[Deuce]

I think Sterling could be a good signing, I read he has only failed to hit double figure goals (all comps) in a season twice in the last 13 seasons. One of which was last year where he barely played for Arsenal.

If we can get him back playing week in week out I think there's no reason he couldn't rediscover some form and turn into a smart purchase (on a year loan with low wage contributions)

Im sure he is still a decent player, but he is on astronomical wages. Even if we pay half his wages he would easily be our highest earner. Paying that, and likely some sort of loan fee, for a player in his twilight years, and to bail out Chelscum, doesnt seem sensible to me.

[JimmyConway]

Sterling would be a pretty typical signing, but I don't think he would be a good one.

That's what people said about Willian before he signed the first time.. how about we let Marco make the judgement call?

Doesn't everyone trust Marco these days. I reckon Marco could be a great man manager for Sterling for what it's worth.

I don't blindly trust Silva. I would like there to be actual scouting from the scouts that the club employs finding talent for the first team and not just the u18s. When managers get to pick their own targets it often ends up being established players on the older side which is both short term and expensive. Some people were wondering why we have such a relatively high wage to turnover ratio, and that is the main culprit.

Sterling may do well, but what if we instead found a Mahrez, Olise, Mitoma, Eze, Mbuemo etc? A player that we find before they hit their peak would be nice instead of being the rehabilitation home for players that have stalled out their careers.

Not sure there is any evidence that our scouting network can or have unearthed talent mentioned though Muniz? might buck the trend? Was it our scouting network or did Marco recommend when he joined? Our major transfers away from the club recently have been two more experienced type and we have more than doubled what we paid for both. Both players recommended by manager/s at the time. How far does our scouting network spread out? Obviously nowhere like Brighton's. Not sure it would be a disaster say if Brighton got relegated financially whereas Fulham ? Then factor in we are competing against the Worlds top football clubs when it comes to finding talent and many can blow us out of the water!
Khan with his outlay is probably thinking as long as we are in this division the more outside chance of a return on investment and if that means more journeymen or elderly type player and it fits in the financials then fill your boots?
We all like to see a youngster come through the ranks or a gem bought for a snip but it is getting harder every season for teams of Fulham size to pull a rabbit out?   
I do see your point though when teams like Bournemouth Brighton etc seem to find rough diamonds on a regular basis.

[alfie]

Sterling would be a pretty typical signing, but I don't think he would be a good one.

That's what people said about Willian before he signed the first time.. how about we let Marco make the judgement call?

Doesn't everyone trust Marco these days. I reckon Marco could be a great man manager for Sterling for what it's worth.

I don't blindly trust Silva. I would like there to be actual scouting from the scouts that the club employs finding talent for the first team and not just the u18s. When managers get to pick their own targets it often ends up being established players on the older side which is both short term and expensive. Some people were wondering why we have such a relatively high wage to turnover ratio, and that is the main culprit.

Sterling may do well, but what if we instead found a Mahrez, Olise, Mitoma, Eze, Mbuemo etc? A player that we find before they hit their peak would be nice instead of being the rehabilitation home for players that have stalled out their careers.

Scouts do their job look at players and recommend or dismiss players, they just report back we don't necessarily see or know that side of it, it's then up to the recruitment team to decide whether to show an interest, or not.

I'm talking about what is actually happening in real life, not a hypothetical. Since promotion we have signed very few players who weren't already established premier league players. Last season the sole exception was Cuenca (and we even signed three former Fulham players).

Not sure what part of my comment was "hypothetical"

[Deuce]

Sterling would be a pretty typical signing, but I don't think he would be a good one.

That's what people said about Willian before he signed the first time.. how about we let Marco make the judgement call?

Doesn't everyone trust Marco these days. I reckon Marco could be a great man manager for Sterling for what it's worth.

I don't blindly trust Silva. I would like there to be actual scouting from the scouts that the club employs finding talent for the first team and not just the u18s. When managers get to pick their own targets it often ends up being established players on the older side which is both short term and expensive. Some people were wondering why we have such a relatively high wage to turnover ratio, and that is the main culprit.

Sterling may do well, but what if we instead found a Mahrez, Olise, Mitoma, Eze, Mbuemo etc? A player that we find before they hit their peak would be nice instead of being the rehabilitation home for players that have stalled out their careers.

Exactly this. Managers are great at knowing what THEY want. And obviously Marco, just like any manager, wants to get as good and ready made players as possible to increase the likelihood of the teams (and his own) success.

This doesnt exclude the fact that Marco obviously doesnt mind (enjoys even) to coach young promising players. But at the end of the day, Marco knows the business of this sport and that immediate success will always be what matters most. He knows that his job depend on it and that it also opens doors to better clubs for him.

[Fulham Mike]

Up the fulham

[KentFulham]

Dont see the point in taking Sterling on his wages and a loan fee, just another OAP signing that smacks of desparation

[Tabby]

Scouts do their job look at players and recommend or dismiss players, they just report back we don't necessarily see or know that side of it, it's then up to the recruitment team to decide whether to show an interest, or not.

I'm talking about what is actually happening in real life, not a hypothetical. Since promotion we have signed very few players who weren't already established premier league players. Last season the sole exception was Cuenca (and we even signed three former Fulham players).

Not sure what part of my comment was "hypothetical"

You're speculating about what the scouts may be doing. I'm talking about the results we've gotten. Since promotion it has been well known names who have fallen off a bit. This fits Jimenez, Traore, Nelson, Castagne, Pereira, Leno, Iwobi, Willian, James, ESR, Sess, Diop, Mbabu, Vinicius, Ballo-Touré, Bassey, Kurzawa, Duffy and Soares. Some of them are great signings, but it is a trend. Andersen, Solomon, Berge, Benda, Cuenca, Palhinha and Lukic are the only exceptions to the rule.

Maybe they are finding hidden gems all over the place but there sure is a paucity of them getting signed. Is this because Silva wants sure bets? Maybe. Is it because our scouts aren't actually finding talent? Maybe. The main point is that the trend since promotion is worrying me long term, and if our two signings for wingers are Sterling and Nelson that gets even more stark.

[South Coast White]

Just realy hoping we can get the Cardosa deal done, this guy is big and strong and clearly knows how to score.

[MickTheBeard]

I've mentioned it before I have spoken to Everton fans who go to games when silva was their with a director of football they spent o hell of a lot of money on players which even now is hampering their progress for instance they paid aprox 33 mill for awobi, and very rarely played youth.It would be interesting to see who they bought,age,price and how much sold for during silvas reign.If anyone can enlighten us.

[HV71]

Am I going mad - and obviously I may be wrong - but somewhere in the back of my mind I thought there was a quote about us being " ambitious " in this window.
If some of the rumours are true  regarding Terami, Sterling etc then I am somewhat underwhelmed and if that is ' ambitious " then it's rather like wanting to go into a care home.

[WolverineFFC]

Just realy hoping we can get the Cardosa deal done, this guy is big and strong and clearly knows how to score.

I'm going to be surprised if that one comes off. Feels like one of those situations where Fulham are the player (or current club's) backup option.

[General]

Sterling would be a pretty typical signing, but I don't think he would be a good one.

That's what people said about Willian before he signed the first time.. how about we let Marco make the judgement call?

Doesn't everyone trust Marco these days. I reckon Marco could be a great man manager for Sterling for what it's worth.

I don't blindly trust Silva. I would like there to be actual scouting from the scouts that the club employs finding talent for the first team and not just the u18s. When managers get to pick their own targets it often ends up being established players on the older side which is both short term and expensive. Some people were wondering why we have such a relatively high wage to turnover ratio, and that is the main culprit.

Sterling may do well, but what if we instead found a Mahrez, Olise, Mitoma, Eze, Mbuemo etc? A player that we find before they hit their peak would be nice instead of being the rehabilitation home for players that have stalled out their careers.

Can we count how many players of that ilk we've actually found/attracted in our history?

like bringing in a transfer for the first team who was unheard of and who developed into that star? Not an academy prospect we've honed for years...

Mitro maybe? Saha?.. Palhinha - does he count?

But realistically we've had very little success, or seemingly interest in finding those players.

Muniz may become one?

[TB1973]

I've mentioned it before I have spoken to Everton fans who go to games when silva was their with a director of football they spent o hell of a lot of money on players which even now is hampering their progress for instance they paid aprox 33 mill for awobi, and very rarely played youth.It would be interesting to see who they bought,age,price and how much sold for during silvas reign.If anyone can enlighten us.

Since Silva has been here starting in the championship, don't see any issue with the squads he has assembled.What have Everton got to do with the progress we have made since returning to the prem.

[iansthailand]

Am I going mad - and obviously I may be wrong - but somewhere in the back of my mind I thought there was a quote about us being " ambitious " in this window.
If some of the rumours are true  regarding Terami, Sterling etc then I am somewhat underwhelmed and if that is ' ambitious " then it's rather like wanting to go into a care home.

Maybe the 'ambition' was to grow the bank balance not the squad.

[Tabby]

Sterling would be a pretty typical signing, but I don't think he would be a good one.

That's what people said about Willian before he signed the first time.. how about we let Marco make the judgement call?

Doesn't everyone trust Marco these days. I reckon Marco could be a great man manager for Sterling for what it's worth.

I don't blindly trust Silva. I would like there to be actual scouting from the scouts that the club employs finding talent for the first team and not just the u18s. When managers get to pick their own targets it often ends up being established players on the older side which is both short term and expensive. Some people were wondering why we have such a relatively high wage to turnover ratio, and that is the main culprit.

Sterling may do well, but what if we instead found a Mahrez, Olise, Mitoma, Eze, Mbuemo etc? A player that we find before they hit their peak would be nice instead of being the rehabilitation home for players that have stalled out their careers.

Can we count how many players of that ilk we've actually found/attracted in our history?

like bringing in a transfer for the first team who was unheard of and who developed into that star? Not an academy prospect we've honed for years...

Mitro maybe? Saha?.. Palhinha - does he count?

But realistically we've had very little success, or seemingly interest in finding those players.

Muniz may become one?

Dempsey, Robinson, Hangeland (wasn't exactly young, but neither was Mitoma when Brighton signed him), Dembele and Smalling jump to mind. Going back further we have Finnan I guess. But there is a long running issue when it comes to identifying promising players for the first team from more obscure leagues.

[rusty shackleford]

I dont want that little diving b1tch anywhere near us

[General]

Sterling would be a pretty typical signing, but I don't think he would be a good one.

That's what people said about Willian before he signed the first time.. how about we let Marco make the judgement call?

Doesn't everyone trust Marco these days. I reckon Marco could be a great man manager for Sterling for what it's worth.

I don't blindly trust Silva. I would like there to be actual scouting from the scouts that the club employs finding talent for the first team and not just the u18s. When managers get to pick their own targets it often ends up being established players on the older side which is both short term and expensive. Some people were wondering why we have such a relatively high wage to turnover ratio, and that is the main culprit.

Sterling may do well, but what if we instead found a Mahrez, Olise, Mitoma, Eze, Mbuemo etc? A player that we find before they hit their peak would be nice instead of being the rehabilitation home for players that have stalled out their careers.

Can we count how many players of that ilk we've actually found/attracted in our history?

like bringing in a transfer for the first team who was unheard of and who developed into that star? Not an academy prospect we've honed for years...

Mitro maybe? Saha?.. Palhinha - does he count?

But realistically we've had very little success, or seemingly interest in finding those players.

Muniz may become one?

Dempsey, Robinson, Hangeland (wasn't exactly young, but neither was Mitoma when Brighton signed him), Dembele and Smalling jump to mind. Going back further we have Finnan I guess. But there is a long running issue when it comes to identifying promising players for the first team from more obscure leagues.

Dembele played at AZ Alkmar who were doing well in the eredivise at the time.. Robinson - fair. I still don't think Dempsey that was amazing for us tbh. He did have one good season, but he was hardly a star - He ditched us for spurs and didn't play much, and for much of the time he was with us he was a starter/sub and largely frustrating. He did have some stand out moments, which I think biases some peoples opinion and I get that, but I don't think at the time he was that popular.

Hangeland - could be a solid shout. But still - few and far between and Hangeland was great for us as a club and a solid PL defender, definitely.

[JimmyConway]

Am I going mad - and obviously I may be wrong - but somewhere in the back of my mind I thought there was a quote about us being " ambitious " in this window.
If some of the rumours are true  regarding Terami, Sterling etc then I am somewhat underwhelmed and if that is ' ambitious " then it's rather like wanting to go into a care home.

Maybe the 'ambition' was to grow the bank balance not the squad.

You might not be far off the truth! Teams like Fulham will never be self sufficient In today's football let alone maintaining premier status. How fortunate we have been with the present owner & the one previous.

[ffc73]

Just realy hoping we can get the Cardosa deal done, this guy is big and strong and clearly knows how to score.

I'm going to be surprised if that one comes off. Feels like one of those situations where Fulham are the player (or current club's) backup option.

Over many past windows I have regularly felt we are 🥈🥉choice or even just being used as a bargaining chip.

[FFC007]

Breaking news....

The BBC live site has just published the Fulham transfers incoming this season... and a few comments from fans about us and West Ham.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/c80p0vdz289t