Summer Silly Season Transfer Thread 2025

[FFC1987]

Erm if asked I'd admit if you're buying established and often CL certified or EPL established players you're likely paying a premium in both transfer fees and wages/contracts but if the end goal is Europe I think that's not a poor route to go.

If we had unlimited money, sure. We do not have unlimited money though.

Signing 21-24 year olds is such a gamble when, more often than not, they simply won't perform at the same levels of maturity compared to older players I. The 26-28 bracket. So as I mentioned the only issue being raised really, is how healthy the balance sheet looks which, looking at ours....has been healthy for the last few years.

Does it look all that good? We are usually skirting along the FFP limits with a low (comparatively) transfer investment while constantly running at a loss, in a large part due to our wages (third highest compared to our turnover in the league, only topped by Forest and Villa).

As for the Andersen example, with the context that had we not had a completely inept manager, we'd of likely got that better deal you referenced.  Clearly the club see him as a natural Ream leader replacement so I guess we'll see how that turns out.

The point wasn't that we shouldn't have signed him in a vaccuum, it is that he isn't a completely unique player. Bassey cost less both in wages and fee and most here would agree he is the better player. The point is that our targets seem very lazy. We could have signed Berge from Sheffield United for half the fee we paid Burnley if we went for it a year earlier. We are currently looking at paying Chelsea more than they paid Leicester for a squad player that is now older, on higher wages and has hardly played since joining. It just feels like the club is one step behind where it should be in many situations.

Does sometimes feel like the club can do no right though.

They can, I'm not calling for anyones heads, but the direction that we are going is concerning. I assume I'm one of the "positive posters" that Angus is referring to, but I don't have complete rose tinted glasses. If you're going to ask what the issue I see is I will give you an answer.

Not really sure why you've mentioned the bottomless pit money here. We have a limited budget, so paying for thew proven and tested seems better value for money as opposed to the scattergun approach of buying 4-6 youngsters on low wages and expecting results that drastically increase their value, whilst also pushing us for europe.

Yes, our balance sheet looks good. During the entire PSR process, not once was Fulham mentioned to have been struggling, and most who look at the accounts in more detail than me consider our general FFP position as healthy, except in the requirement to perhaps bring down the wage bill....Something clearly we're not overly concerned with having signed up youth players, whilst continually looking at established players who drive premium rates.

As for Andersen and Chelsea comments, lets wait and see. If Andersen improves on last year, and is a driving force as a leader in the dressing room, being a role model for the likes of Luc De Fougerolles, then the fee and wages over the terms of his contract won't feel as drastic, whilst still allowing us to manoeuvre for amazing deals, like mentioned with Bassey.

As for buying Berge earlier, I think we also know the situation with Palinha changed our vision. We brought in Lukic as the 8, had Palinha as the 6 and at period of time, didn't need him. Circumstances changed so Berge would likely of turned us down (speculation on my part) if he was looking at the 6 role in Palinha, opting for a starting place elsewhere. Ideally we'd of had him as a rotating player, but I think even back then, with the 3 year turnover rules, we still had some knock on effects from our relegation window so we'd of been way tighter on what we could bring in than now.

Last comment, I wasn't necessarily meaning you think Fulham can do no right, as you always seem perfectly reasonable. The club deserves criticism and I get why people would rather adopt the buy low sell high (in both cost and quality) system but we do mix it up really and past the days of bargain binning 30+ year olds only and skimming over the cracks.

[FFC1987]

WE HAVE A SIGNING!!!!

[Somerset Fulham]

It will take minutes before the tears start again.

[Deuce]

Good signing by Everton:

https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1949091227976036369?s=46

Bloody hell! That should be us rather than going for Nelson.

Major coup for Everton.

Absolutely, where are we in the conversation? What is the excuse?

I think he is a prime example of how the club operates. We very rarely go big for younger talents, but rather try to get bargains in the damaged goods.. sorry in the proven players department. Players that really werent wanted by their clubs (or at least available for some reason)

Not sure what the price is for Fofana but surely its 30-40 mil. I think the club thinks its too much of a risk tbh. Cant blame the club really in some of these instances, but often buying 28-32 year olds is investment that very rarely give you any financial return (unless we actually reach Conference League). Relatively high wages and a fairly high fee in combination with a player being in their prime or even in the twilight years is sometimes also a risk financially in the long run

In the case of Fofana tho, I think its quite worrying that  the clubs he was linked with earlier in the summer has dropped significantly in terms of reputation.

 The fact that he seems to have to settled for Everton might be telling to as of what level he is actually on, which might have put us - and others - off.

[Twig]

Damn, a signing before P168. What the hell are FFC playing at?

[Thailand Mick]

I wonder how much Everton have to spend, Moyes is quoted as saying he wants 10-12 players in.

[Tabby]

I wonder how much Everton have to spend, Moyes is quoted as saying he wants 10-12 players in.

They released 5 players on free transfer and lost 4 loanees, so 10-12 is pretty reasonable.

[Chi_FFC]

I wonder how much Everton have to spend, Moyes is quoted as saying he wants 10-12 players in.

They released 5 players on free transfer and lost 4 loanees, so 10-12 is pretty reasonable.

Yeah, I think I posted here a few days ago that this summer they've lost players (either released or loanees who returned to their parent club) who played a combined 10958 league minutes for them last season (~30% of total minutes played).

[Deeping_white]

https://twitter.com/jacobsteinberg/status/1949114932865224803

[Tabby]

Don't really know anything about Schmid but he seems to fill a similar mould to KDH. Werded Bremen play with wingbacks and he is one of their more attacking central midfielders.

[alfie]

Good signing by Everton:

https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1949091227976036369?s=46

Bloody hell! That should be us rather than going for Nelson.

Major coup for Everton.

Absolutely, where are we in the conversation? What is the excuse?

What are we doing? This is a major coup from Everton and we are just as attractive as a club as they are.
This guy has massive resale value, it's a really good buy yet we are aiming for sterling with 0 resale.

Our transfer approach is so confusing. In fact it's dreadful.

Without trying to be clever, maybe Marco was not interested in him.

[Coastwalker]

It will take minutes before the tears start again.

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[Fulham Tup North]

WE HAVE A SIGNING!!!!

How come?... we haven't hit page 168 yet??... I'm very confused.. 

[AJW48361]

Good signing by Everton:

https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1949091227976036369?s=46

Bloody hell! That should be us rather than going for Nelson.

Major coup for Everton.

Absolutely, where are we in the conversation? What is the excuse?

I think he is a prime example of how the club operates. We very rarely go big for younger talents, but rather try to get bargains in the damaged goods.. sorry in the proven players department. Players that really werent wanted by their clubs (or at least available for some reason)

Not sure what the price is for Fofana but surely its 30-40 mil. I think the club thinks its too much of a risk tbh. Cant blame the club really in some of these instances, but often buying 28-32 year olds is investment that very rarely give you any financial return (unless we actually reach Conference League). Relatively high wages and a fairly high fee in combination with a player being in their prime or even in the twilight years is sometimes also a risk financially in the long run

In the case of Fofana tho, I think its quite worrying that  the clubs he was linked with earlier in the summer has dropped significantly in terms of reputation.

 The fact that he seems to have to settled for Everton might be telling to as of what level he is actually on, which might have put us - and others - off.

What was ESR

[Deeping_white]

Everton's bid of 31.5m including add-ons for Fofana has been rejected

[FFC1987]

Everton's bid of 31.5m including add-ons for Fofana has been rejected

Boy, that escalated quickly 

[demeant0r]

Leipzig agreed terms with Romulo too

https://xcancel.com/FulhamTransfer/status/1949097593230819759#m

I knew it. Romulo would be this season's Andre.

[Deuce]

Good signing by Everton:

https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1949091227976036369?s=46

Bloody hell! That should be us rather than going for Nelson.

Major coup for Everton.

Absolutely, where are we in the conversation? What is the excuse?

I think he is a prime example of how the club operates. We very rarely go big for younger talents, but rather try to get bargains in the damaged goods.. sorry in the proven players department. Players that really werent wanted by their clubs (or at least available for some reason)

Not sure what the price is for Fofana but surely its 30-40 mil. I think the club thinks its too much of a risk tbh. Cant blame the club really in some of these instances, but often buying 28-32 year olds is investment that very rarely give you any financial return (unless we actually reach Conference League). Relatively high wages and a fairly high fee in combination with a player being in their prime or even in the twilight years is sometimes also a risk financially in the long run

In the case of Fofana tho, I think its quite worrying that  the clubs he was linked with earlier in the summer has dropped significantly in terms of reputation.

 The fact that he seems to have to settled for Everton might be telling to as of what level he is actually on, which might have put us - and others - off.

What was ESR

Proven PL player that Arsenal wanted to sell for various reasons. And due to his injury record, Id say damaged goods because without his injuries Im certain he'd still play for Arsenal

[WindyCity]

Not sure what's gonna happen with the FFC interest in Sterling and KDH.  But I do have a question about KDH.

Is he (KDH) really a good player, one we should be interested in?  Just curious.  From some of the commentary in the forum, apparently his 'best' season was in the Championship, which brought interest and promotion to PL football.  But really hasn't shown much in top tier? 

Do folks here in forum welcome him in to the club?  And if so, what kind of money/cost is reasonable?

[SerbianLad]

Not sure what's gonna happen with the FFC interest in Sterling and KDH.  But I do have a question about KDH.

Is he (KDH) really a good player, one we should be interested in?  Just curious.  From some of the commentary in the forum, apparently his 'best' season was in the Championship, which brought interest and promotion to PL football.  But really hasn't shown much in top tier? 

Do folks here in forum welcome him in to the club?  And if so, what kind of money/cost is reasonable?

At the price that is quoted by several journalists, I'd, personally, move to a different target. Too much of a gamble for 30+ million.