Thursday Fulham Stuff - 31/07/25...

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Friendly Result

Wednesday 30/07
Al-Ittihad	2-4	Fulham
		Wilson ESR King Cuenca

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FULHAM 4-2 AL-ITTIHAD
Fulham continued their strong pre-season form with a 4-2 win over Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad on a sweltering evening in the Algarve.

A dominant first-half display saw the Whites race into a commanding lead, with goals from Harry Wilson, Emile Smith Rowe, Josh King, and Jorge Cuenca.

Karim Benzema struck twice after the break to reduce the deficit, but Fulham remained in control and created several opportunities to add to their tally in the second half.

The early stages saw a moment of danger as Karim Benzema capitalised on a loose pass, but Bernd Leno reacted sharply to deny the striker and Houssem Aouar's follow-up effort flew harmlessly over the bar. From that point on, Fulham took control.

Just as he did against Nottingham Forest last time out, Wilson opened the scoring with a moment of magic. Picking up the ball on the edge of the area, the Welshman bent a sublime strike into the far corner with the outside of his left foot.

The Wales international nearly turned provider shortly after, swinging in a deep corner that found the head of Joachim Andersen, though the defender's effort was too high to trouble the goalkeeper.

Our second goal came via excellent wing play from Emile Smith Rowe, who burst down the left, beat his marker, and delivered a teasing cross that floated over the Al-Ittihad 'keeper and nestled in the net.

Fulham thought they had added a third before the half-hour mark with a flowing team move. Wilson and Smith Rowe combined brilliantly before the former picked out Timothy Castagne, who finished calmly – but the goal was ruled out for an offside in the build-up.

Al-Ittihad responded briefly after both teams had enjoyed drinks break, with Steven Bergwijn attempting a low strike to catch Leno off guard, but the Fulham stopper was equal to it.

Chances continued to come our way, and Rodrigo Muniz will feel he could have done better when he met Castagne's excellent cross in the middle, only to miss the target.

Fulham did eventually extend the lead five minutes before the break. Tom Cairney delivered an excellent curling ball to the far post, where King was perfectly placed to apply the close-range finish.

There was still time for one more before the interval, as Wilson's pinpoint corner was met by Cuenca, who swept home a smart first-time finish to cap off a dominant first-half display.

Marco Silva rang the changes at half-time, introducing nine fresh faces, but Fulham's intensity remained high after the restart.

Adama Traoré wasted little time making an impact, bursting through the Al-Ittihad defence before firing narrowly wide. Moments later, Andreas Pereira tested the goalkeeper with a powerful effort from distance, but it was well held.

The Saudi side were handed a route back into the match when Karim Benzema was awarded a penalty following a contentious challenge in the box. Substitute goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte did superbly to deny the initial spot-kick, but the rebound fell kindly for Benzema, who tucked it away on the second attempt.

The Frenchman struck again in the 74th minute, finishing off a swift counter-attack. Moussa Diaby raced down the flank and sent in a low ball across the face of goal, which Benzema bundled in at close range.

Adama continued to cause problems at the other end, forcing goalkeeper Shenqity into a smart save with a thunderous volley. The Al-Ittihad stopper then denied him again, bravely diving at the winger's feet to claim the ball as he looked to round him.

Al-Ittihad applied some late pressure in search of a third, but Fulham stood firm to see out the match and claim another encouraging pre-season victory.

Leno (Lecomte 45'), Castagne (Tete 45'), Andersen (Diop 45'), Cuenca (Bassey 45'), Sessegnon (Esenga 63'), Lukić (Berge 45'), Cairney (Reed 45'), Wilson (Adama 45'), King (Andreas 45'), Smith Rowe (Iwobi 45'), Muniz (Loupalo-Bi 63').



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2025/july/30/fulham-4-2-al-ittihad/

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Silva: Cuenca's not for sale
Fulham head coach Marco Silva has confirmed that Spanish centre half Jorge Cuenca won't be leaving Craven Cottage this summer, according to Jack Kelly.

The defender, who played twelve games in his first season with the Whites after signing from Villarreal, had been linked with a return to La Liga but Silva told Canal 11 last night that the 26 year-old is part of his plans for the forthcoming campaign.

"We have four centre backs. This is my best year at the club ... we are well served in terms of centre backs. [Jorge] Cuenca didn't play as much last year, but we're happy with him."

Cuenca is fit to face Saudi side Al-Ittihad in tomorrow's behind-closed-doors clash having completed a couple of training sessions after limping during Fulham's 3-1 win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2025/07/silva-cuencas-not-for-sale/

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Silva: 'I'm at Fulham until the end of the season'
Fulham head coach Marco Silva has given a wide-ranging interview to O Jogo this morning.

Silva's return to his homeland with the Whites for their annual pre-season training camp on the Algarve has seen the popular Portuguese manager appear on Canal 11 and answer questions for a number of sports journalists.

Responding to a question about how stable the average coach feels these days, Silva says:

In recent years, things have been crazy in Portugal; the reality is that it's been out of the box. In England, it's different, but honestly, it's very different from when I arrived. Coaches used to be much more resilient to negative results. With foreign investors, that British culture is starting to disappear, and coaches are less resilient. It's not that I worry; I think about what's behind those decisions. When you manage a club and hire a coach you think is right for the project, I don't think everything changes in two months. There's an analytical aspect, and it's understanding the effect of these psychological blows after a season rather than immediately.

He plays down the prospect of qualifying for the Champions' League with the Cottagers.

"I'm ambitious, but I'm not unrealistic. This year, the spots opened up for five, and ambition doesn't stop us, but we can't be unrealistic. With the budget, with the capacity for eight or 10 clubs in the Premier League, there's not much room for that. Nottingham [Forest] were knocking on the door of this goal for a long time last season, and Leicester [City] were champions a while ago, but right now, I don't see a team like that winning the title any time soon, because the power of [the top] three or four clubs is enormous. The Champions League isn't our objective; the ambition right now is to do better than last season, and if we do that, we'll be in seventh or eighth place and fighting for other goals, but it's about trying to beat our points record."

Silva also rules out an immediately return to coaching in Portugal.

"I don't make any major long-term plans in that regard. There's been that possibility throughout my career, but the goal is the Premier League. I could have returned already, no point saying where, but those opportunities didn't happen because it wasn't possible, and other times it was a personal decision. But in the short term, I'm focused on Fulham and then we'll see what happens next season. If the opportunity arose? We'll see. My coaching career has been based on reaching the Premier League and cementing something in that competition. Maybe I'll be the third or fourth longest-serving manager in the league, and the goal is to stay focused on my club. I don't know when it will happen, but I think it will eventually happen because of my nationality and my love for my country, also realizing the lack of competitiveness and that we could have already made strides, but we continue to have great coaches and three or four clubs above the others. Portugal isn't in the top five European leagues, but we have quality clubs. I don't have a club preference; it's not something that's on my radar."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2025/07/silva-im-at-fulham-until-the-end-of-the-season/

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U21s face Juventus in PL International Cup
Fulham's under 21s face play Juventus, Nordsjaelland, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Valencia in the Group B of the Premier League International Cup.

Hayden Mullins' side reached the semi-final of the prestigious academy competition last season and will play the four European sides at home. It remains to be seen whether the meeting with the Serie A giants, who had Marco Silva on the shortlist for their managerial vacancy earlier this summer, will be staged at Craven Cottage, where the Old Lady were humbled by Roy Hodgson's heroes on an extraordinary Europa League evening fifteen years ago.

Dates and times for the fixtures will be confirmed by the Premier League and the clubs in due course.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2025/07/u21s-face-juventus-in-pl-international-cup/

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It would be mad to sell Adama Traore
Cam Ramsey says it'd be a mistake to sell our winger to Nottingham Forest.

Nottingham Forest are supposedly keen on our turbocharged winger. I want to stress why we shouldn't sanction any proposed move away from the Cottage because, simply, a side that has Adama Traore in its ranks is far more dangerous than a side that doesn't.

There are calls for Fulham to rid themselves of Adama, but as ever, our timelines are riddled with conflicting opinions. "Sack him off", I read. "Get him gone", others tweet. He may well be a highly frustrating attacker - that I can admit - but there's method in his madness and it's on us as a club to make sense of it.

A danger
For one, the baby-oiled Spaniard is a full-back's nightmare. Get him in a straight foot race and he will humble anyone and everyone that stupidly steps in his path. There really isn't a threat like Adama in the Premier League; he's a one-of-a-kind menace that leaves opponents trembling in his wake and he doesn't even need to be on the pitch for that to be so.

Even in the terraces, britches suddenly become heavier at the mere thought of him mauling underprepared defenders. He wins mental battles before he exits the team coach before kick-off. He isn't a secret weapon; the entire division knows what he's all about and there really isn't a single thing they can do about it.

When his teammates are asked who the strongest player in the dressing room is, they all say Adama. When they're asked who's the quickest, it's Adama. When they're asked who's the most difficult to contend with, he is unanimously name-dropped - so why would we want to lose such a ridiculously dominant machine?

Pros and cons
The bone of contention, of course, is his finishing in clear-cut scenarios. Manchester City at the beginning of last season springs to mind, as does Arsenal away two years ago. But in each game he left both Kyle Walker and William Saliba for dead and he was at the forefront of virtually every meaningful counter wagered.

Our famous 2-1 win at Old Trafford was sparked by the man. He whipped in pinpoint crosses for Raul Jimenez at Legoland. There's plenty to admire about the 29-year-old's contributions and at that age, given the intimidating shape he's in, he still has plenty to offer and I am all here for it.

Traore may not be a gifted one-on-one dispatcher, although he is an almost unstoppable catalyst on the break and while we tend to focus on the misses, he's chalked up decent stats. Two goals and nine assists in all competitions, predominantly off the bench, isn't horrendous by any stretch and while there's certainly room for improvement, I want that growth to be with us, not anyone else.

Could he track back with greater enthusiasm? Probably. Could he learn to control himself with steadier poise and conviction in front of the target? Definitely. Like all professionals, Traore has imperfections and yet he also possesses qualities only he is fortunate of, and they speak far louder than any lingering defect.

In short, and indeed long bursts, nobody can compete. Shoulder charges, shielding the ball, fending off markers, Adama is a cheat code and not one team in the league has anything quite like him. They have zippy, they have tricky, they have physical, but we have all of that wrapped into one player alone.

He must stay
Perhaps a reunion with Nuno Espirito Santo and European football is alluring - and few can argue with the latter. But I'd like to think the relationship between Adama and Marco Silva is already strong enough to ensure he remains in SW6 for the campaign ahead and though there's talk of replacements being lined up, the essence of our summer transfer window has been retention; so why can't we have both new signings and Traore?

I want right-backs to hesitate over sticking a leg in like it's their first time unclipping a bra strap; I want tearful left-backs to tell their parents just how awful their day was; I want rival fans to poo talk and I want them to eat their words as our ballistic bruiser of a bloke switches on the style after a few customary misplaced passes.

To Fulham bigwigs, Tony Khan, and whoever else has a wider say in what happens in the coming weeks: holding onto Adama is smart and essential business and his rumoured departure shouldn't be entertained.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/it-would-be-mad-to-sell-adama-traore

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Exclusive: Fulham Make Approach to Sign £200,000-a-Week Arsenal Star
Fulham have made an approach to sign Arsenal defender Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed on the latest episode of the Market Madness podcast.

But the London club are now pushing to ramp up their business, and an approach has been made to bring in a versatile star with Champions League experience.

Fulham Make Approach for Zinchenko
Arsenal open to offers of around £15m

Now the north London club are open to offers to sell the Ukraine international, and Fulham have entered into talks with the player's camp over a potential move across the capital. The two parties have been in talks since early June and they are now considering making a formal bid, with Arsenal valuing the 28-year-old at around £15m.

They will face competition from Serie A giants AC Milan, who are looking to replace France international Theo Hernandez following his move to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal earlier in the window.

Oleksandr Zinchenko Stats (Premier League 2024-25)

Appearances:	15
Goals:	0
Assists:	1
Interceptions:	0.3
Tackles per game:	0.4
Total duels won:	1.6(45%)

While talks for Zinchenko are ongoing, a new left-back is not considered to be a priority for Fulham at the moment, but it could become so if current first-choice star Antonee Robinson departs.

The American has attracted interest from Saudi side Al-Nassr, but it is currently unclear if he would be open to making the switch to the Middle East. If he decides to stay in London, then Fulham could opt to put their budget into other priority positions instead.

Fulham in Advanced Talks for Nelson
Nelson set to return to Craven Cottage

 While a deal for Zinchenko remains up in the air, Fulham are in advanced talks with Arsenal about a deal to re-sign winger Reiss Nelson this summer.

The 25-year-old spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Craven Cottage, but had his campaign curtailed early due to a hamstring injury in December. However, he made a big enough impact on manager Silva that the club are still looking to bring him back.

Fulham had also considered a move for former Arsenal loanee Raheem Sterling, but that deal is not expected to happen if they are able to complete a move for Nelson. The club are also considering a move to sign Chelsea star Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall as they look to bolster their midfield.



https://www.givemesport.com/exclusive-fulham-make-approach-to-sign-200000-a-week-arsenal-star/

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Chelsea ramp up efforts to sell Raheem Sterling to Fulham, agreement close
Chelsea and Fulham are reportedly inching closer to striking an agreement over a deal for 30-year-old English attacker Raheem Sterling in the summer transfer window.

According to a report by TEAMtalk, Raheem Sterling is the subject of interest from Fulham. The Cottagers are keen on reinforcing their offensive unit by signing a versatile wide attacker in the summer transfer window. So, the 30-year-old Chelsea misfit has emerged as a target for the West London club.

Chelsea will demand £20 million to part ways with the Englishman, with Fulham viewing the price as a bargain for a player of his quality. Meanwhile, Sterling is close to agreeing on personal terms with Fulham, with the former Liverpool and Manchester City star keen on remaining in London beyond the summer transfer window.

The Raheem Sterling struggles
Raheem Sterling has reached a crossroads in his career since returning from a disastrous loan spell with Arsenal in the 2024/25 season. Chelsea signed the 30-year-old from Manchester City in a deal worth £47.5 million in July 2022, but he has not been a game-changing attacker for the West London club.

The English international never got going at Arsenal, managing only 1,143 minutes of game time in 28 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal while producing a paltry tally of one goal and five assists. So, Sterling has returned to Chelsea, where he has no future. The veteran attacker has no shortage of suitors pursuing his signature, with Fulham among the prospective suitors vying for his signature in the summer transfer window.

Another move across London on the horizon?
Fulham's interest in Raheem Sterling is understandable. The Cottagers are scouring the market for a wide attacker this summer after parting ways with Willian as a free agent again. In addition, Adama Traore faces an uncertain future at the West London club, with Alex Iwobi the only reliable wide attacker at Craven Cottage.

So, Fulham must sign a wide attacker this summer, with Sterling emerging as a viable target for the West London club. Recent reports have also linked the 30-year-old Englishman with Napoli, with Antonio Conte approving a summer move. However, the former Manchester City winger wants to remain in London, and he is close to agreeing on personal terms with Fulham.

Recent reports have suggested that the Cottagers are the front-runners to sign Sterling, and they view Chelsea's asking price of £20 million as a bargain. So, an agreement between the three parties may be close, and the English international should begin the process of resurrecting his stuttering fortunes at Craven Cottage in the 2025/26 season.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2025/07/30/chelsea-ramp-up-efforts-to-sell-raheem-sterling-to-fulham-agreement-close/

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F.C.V. Dender loan for De Fougerolles
Luc De Fougerolles has joined Belgian Pro League side F.C.V. Dender on a season-long loan.

Following his involvement in Canada's recent Gold Cup campaign, the 19-year-old signed a long-term contract with the Club, keeping him at Craven Cottage until 2029.

After a steady rise which saw Dender earn two promotions in three seasons, Luc joins an outfit which finished 12th in the Jupiler Pro League last year.

Everyone at Fulham wishes Luc all the best for the season ahead.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2025/july/30/dender-loan-for-de-fougerolles/

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Newcastle make 'Muniz enquiry'
Newcastle United have made a formal enquiry for Fulham forward Rodrigo Muniz, according to the Daily Mail's Craig Hope.

Fulham value the Brazilian striker at £50m – and have already turned down two bids from newly-promoted Leeds United this summer.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2025/07/newcastle-make-muniz-enquiry/

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Aston Villa and Tottenham alerted to Rodrigo Muniz situation amid Fulham contract uncertainty
TBR Football can exclusively confirm that Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur are among the clubs contacted by Rodrigo Muniz's camp over a prospective summer move.

Muniz is currently in contract talks with Fulham as they look to extend his time at Craven Cottage beyond 2027 – his current deal runs until 2026 with a year's option.

However, there is interest in the Fulham star from Premier League rivals, with TBR Football previously confirming that Leeds are keen on Muniz.

TBR Football can also confirm what Muniz's representatives think about his contract talks with Fulham, and which other teams have been contacted over the player.

Leeds and Newcastle also in Rodrigo Muniz picture alongside Aston Villa and Tottenham
TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey can confirm that Fulham remain in talks with Rodrigo Muniz over a new contract, but interest in him is getting stronger.

Muniz has already been the subject of interest from Leeds, but we can confirm that intermediaries have had contact with a host of clubs in recent weeks, circulating his name as a possible option.

We can confirm that Newcastle United have been contacted, but they are not alone in being approached.

As we have mentioned, Leeds are in the picture, but Aston Villa and Tottenham have also been informed.

"Fulham have been talking to Muniz about a new deal since April, but nothing has been agreed," Bailey exclusively told TBR Football.

"His people fully believe he is worthy of fresh terms and whilst they are not done, it is no shock that other clubs are being made aware of his potential availability."

Marco Silva has already explained why Rodrigo Muniz is such a good striker
Muniz has shown he has what it takes to thrive at the highest level and, at 24 years of age, he's yet to reach his peak.

In April, Fulham handed Liverpool their first away defeat of the season when they ran out 3-2 winners over the soon-to-be Premier League champions.

Muniz played a big role in that result, scoring Fulham's third goal to put them out of reach of Arne Slot's side, and Marco Silva explained just why he rates the Brazilian so highly.

"He's a proper quality striker," Fulham boss Silva told BBC Sport following the game. "He's still very young but going so quick and doing so well.

"We have in our hands a very good striker. He knows that and he knows my opinion. He has many things to improve but he's so strong, a very high quality for a No. 9 striker.

"The capacity to play with his back to the central defenders, then inside the box being a technical player and sharp enough to take these types of moments which he showed again.



https://tbrfootball.com/aston-villa-and-tottenham-alerted-to-rodrigo-muniz-situation-amid-fulham-contract-uncertainty/

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Fulham transfer news: Cottagers 'approach' Arsenal over move for AC Milan-linked defender
Fulham have reportedly approached Arsenal over a deal to sign Oleksandr Zinchenko.

The Ukraine international looks set to leave Arsenal after struggling for regular playing time at the Emirates Stadium.

Zinchenko was restricted to 23 competitive appearances last term, including just five starts in 15 Premier League matches.

The 28-year-old has fallen behind Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly in the battle for Arsenal's left-back spot.

Fulham make Zinchenko approach
According to GIVEMESPORT, Fulham are ready to offer Zinchenko a way out of Arsenal before the transfer window shuts on September 1.

The report claims that the Cottagers have made an approach to the Gunners over a move for the former Manchester City man.

Arsenal are believed to be looking for around £15m to part ways with a player who has entered the final year of his contract.

Marco Silva's side will have to be wary of competition from AC Milan, who are on the lookout for a new left-back following Theo Hernandez's move to Al-Hilal.

Do Fulham need to sign Zinchenko?
Fulham do not appear to be in desperate need of a left-back, with Silva able to call upon USA international Antonee Robinson.

However, that stance could change if Robinson were to leave the club, amid reported interest from Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.

If Robinson stays, Zinchenko would struggle to gain regular playing time on the left side of Fulham's defence.

The Ukrainian is capable of playing as a central midfielder, but it is unclear whether Silva sees him in that position or as a cover at left-back.

Zinchenko would surely want assurances over regular minutes before he considers making the switch to Craven Cottage.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/transfer-talk/news/fulham-approach-arsenal-over-move-for-defender_578317.html

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Report: Arsenal and Fulham in talks to complete double deal
Arsenal and Fulham are in active discussions over a potential double transfer deal that could see two players make the switch.

Arsenal have made several signings already but now may need to shift some players before further acquisitions occur. Those attempts to raise funds could be really boosted with both Oleksandr Zinchenko and Reiss Nelson tipped to make the short trip across London to Craven Cottage.

According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Fulham has now approached Zinchenko, with talks first beginning with the Ukrainian's camp in early June. Arsenal are reportedly open to offers of around £15million for the 28-year-old, and Fulham are now weighing up a formal bid.

This follows The Athletic's David Ornstein reporting that Reiss Nelson was already in advanced talks to join Fulham, though the final structure of that potential move remains under discussion.

It's not the first time Fulham have been linked with the duo. Similar reports emerged earlier this summer, with suggestions the Cottagers were exploring a combined swoop for both players back in June.

Should Arsenal succeed in offloading both Zinchenko and Nelson permanently, they could raise around £30million in transfer fees and remove over £200,000 per week from their wage bill — providing significant flexibility as the club shapes its squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.

While there has been some speculation that Arsenal may consider keeping Zinchenko as cover at left back amid Riccardo Calafiori's ongoing fitness assessments, that scenario seems increasingly unlikely.

The Gunners already have multiple options who can play on the left side of defence, including Calafiori himself, Jakub Kiwior, Jurrien Timber and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

With Zinchenko now firmly surplus to requirements and just one year remaining on his contract, Arsenal risk losing him for free next summer if they don't capitalise on Fulham's interest now. The positive relationship between the two clubs could help facilitate a smooth deal, with Fulham also keen to bolster their squad ahead of the new campaign.

We think there could well be substance in this one, so stay tuned to our Arsenal transfers section for all the latest as it develops.



https://fresharsenal.com/report-arsenal-and-fulham-in-talks-to-complete-double-deal/

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Fulham beat Al-Ittihad in friendly in Portugal
Fulham continued an impressive pre-season with a 4-2 win against Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad.

First-half goals from Harry Wilson, Emile Smith Rowe, Josh King and Jorge Cuenca saw the Whites take a commanding lead into the break.

Fulham made nine changes at half-time in the blazing heat in Portugal.

Karim Benzema pulled a goal back for Al-Ittihad, scoring from the rebound after new signing Benjamin Lecomte saved the initial effort.

Benzema added his second of the match six minutes later on the counter-attack following a Fulham corner.
Fulham: Leno (Lecomte 46), Castagne (Tete 46), Andersen (Diop 46), Cuenca (Bassey 46), Sessegnon (Esenga 64), Lukic (Berge 46), Cairney (Reed 46), King (Pereira 46), Wilson (Traore 46), Muniz (Loupalo-Bi 64), Smith Rowe (Iwobi 46)



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-beat-al-ittihad-in-friendly-in-portugal

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Fulham victors over Women's Under-19s in pre-season opener
Fulham 3-1 Spurs WU19s

Our Women's Under-19s put in a hard-fought performance in their pre-season opener, but Fulham ran out as 3-1 winners at Motspur Park on Wednesday evening.

Competing in the FA Women's National League and deep into their pre-season programme, the Whites took control of proceedings in the first hour of the game, Meg Mendez converting from the penalty spot in the first half before former Spur Kayleigh Stead and Katie Dungate extended their advantage early in the second period.

Sabiha Jamal's side grew in the final half an hour as Cruz Fuller-Fagan headed home our first goal of pre-season to cut the deficit before Nife Aramide and Cairo Evea-Antoine, who have stepped up from Under-16s to Under-19s for this summer, forced the hosts' goalkeepeer into action in the closing stages of the game.

All in all, it was a positive outing for our youngsters as all players got valuable minutes while going toe-to-toe with senior opposition.

Jade Bradley thought she had opened the scoring after just three minutes when she headed home from point-blank range, but the midfielder was adjudged to be in an offside position in the build-up. However, that set the early tempo for the hosts and after a creating a number of opportunities - Dungate firing wide in quick succession at the midway point of the first half – they broke the deadlock seven minutes before the break when Mendez slotted home from the penalty spot after Sophie Jackson was penalised for a collision inside the box.

Fulham then doubled their lead five minutes after the restart as Stead, who made her senior debut for us in December, 2022, against Southampton and spent a number of years in our Academy, picked out the bottom corner with a low strike from inside the box. Ruby Gaitely carved out our first opportunity in the contest as her effort from the edge of the box went over the bar, but Fulham added a third in the 56th-minute when Dungate converted from a low cut-back from the left.

Following wholesale changes on the hour mark, including a number of first years earning their first minutes with the Under-19s, our youngsters began to grow into the game and managed to cut the deficit in the 65th-minute as Lucy Barraclough's cross from the right was headed home by Fuller-Fagan. Heidi Hills saw an effort cleared off the line minutes later before Antoine had the ball in the back of the net but a swift offside flag denied her as we continued to push forward in the final quarter of an hour of the contest.

The hosts' goalkeeper was called into action in the closing stages, getting down low to her left to deny a header from Antoine before tipping over Aramide's free-kick from 30 yards out over the bar as we couldn't find a response in the first game, but there were plenty of positives for our youngsters to take away from the encounter.



https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/2025/july/womens-under-19s-match-report-fulham-july-2025/

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Mehdi Taremi keen on Premier League move amid West Ham United, Fulham, Leeds United links
West Ham United, Fulham and Leeds United have received a significant boost in their pursuit of Inter Milan ace Mehdi Taremi.

According to a report from Tasnim, Mehdi Taremi is looking to move to the Premier League this summer. It is a massive boost for West Ham, Fulham and Leeds, who are interested in signing the experienced Iranian striker.

Taremi made quite a name for himself at FC Porto before joining Inter Milan on a free transfer last summer. While he was involved in a total of 43 matches, the 33-year-old was more of a backup option at the Italian club. He finished with 12 goal contributions in just over 1,800 minutes of first-team action.

While he still has two years left on his deal at the club, he could end up parting ways with them as Inter are revamping this attack ahead of the new season. They are expected to make multiple additions in the final, which will push Taremi further down the pecking order.

As a result, the Iranian international is set to leave Inter just 12 months after joining them. His departure is now a certainty. While multiple top clubs from across the globe are keen on his signature, the veteran striker has his heart set on a move to the Premier League.

Premier League trio could battle it out for Taremi
It is a massive boost for clubs like West Ham, Leeds and Fulham, who have expressed an interest in signing him. The Hammers lack options in the final third with Niclas Fllkrug their only experienced striker. As a result, they are looking at Taremi as a short-term fix.

With Leeds securing a return to the Premier League, they are looking for players who can help them stay up. Daniel Farke seeks a proven goal scorer, and Taremi could prove to be a reliable option up top.

Meanwhile, Fulham are also in the market for a new striker, and Marco Silva looks to help them take the next step. While the Iranian forward will be more of a stop-gap signing, they do have Rodrigo Muniz for the long run.

Taremi currently earns around €3 million per season, which certainly won't be a problem for any of the clubs. However, Inter are yet to name their asking price for the 33-year-old, who still has two years left on his deal.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2025/07/31/mehdi-taremi-keen-on-premier-league-move-amid-west-ham-united-fulham-leeds-united-links/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham put four past Al-Ittihad
Fulham scored four first-half goals as they beat Al-Ittihad behind-closed-doors on the Algarve tonight to make it four pre-season wins from four fixtures.

Harry Wilson continued his superb summer form by lashing in a lovely left-footed strike to give Marco Silva's side the lead before Emile Smith Rowe doubled the Premier League's side advantage when his floated cross from the left edge of the area looped over the goalkeeper and into the net. Tim Castagne finished a fabulous move but saw his goal ruled out of offside before Josh King converted a deep cross from Tom Cairney to make it three.

Jorge Cuenca crashed in a cracking strike from outside the box in first half stoppage time after the Saudi Pro League side were slow to react to a well-worked Wilson corner. Adama Traore, linked with a move to Nottingham Forest earlier this week, quickly became influential as one of the experienced Fulham susbtitutes. A trademark individual run took Traore through the Al-Ittah rearguard but shot just wide. Andreas Pereira shot straight at keeper before Al-Ittiahd roared back into the contest.

They were given a debatable penalty midway through the second half. Benjamin Lecomete, who had replaced Bernd Leno at half time to make his first appearance since signing from Montpellier. The French veteran spread himself to save Karim Benzema's spot-kick, but the savvy striker tucked away the rebound. That proved the catalyst for a strong spell from the Sadi Pro League side with former Real Madrid forward Benzema turning home a cross from Moussa Diaby just two minutes later.

Traore's venomous volley needed clawing away by Shengity, who then sprawled at the winger's feet to prevent the Spanish international from scoring a fourth. Silva's side survived a prolonged period of pressure from Al-Ittihad to earn another enterprising win in the scorching sunshine. The Whites will complete their training camp tomorrow before taking on Championship side Sheffield United in another behind-closed doors battle at Motspur Park on Saturday.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Leno (Lecomte 45); Castagne (Tete 45), Andersen (Diop 45), Cuenca (Bassey 45), R. Sessegnon (Esenga 63); Luki? (Berge 45), Cairney (Reed 45); Wilson (Adama 45), Smith Rowe (Iwobi 45), King (A. Pereira 45); Muniz (Loupalo-Bi 63).

GOALS: Wilson (7), Smith Rowe (22), King (30), Cuenca (45+1).

AL-ITTIHAD (4-2-3-1): Al-Shanqiti; Al-Mousa, Mitaj, D. Pereira, Borrell; Kante, Al-Nashri; Diaby, Berguin, Aaour; Benzema.

GOALS: Benzema (71, 74).



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2025/07/fulham-put-four-past-al-ittihad/

[bog]

A big yes please from me for Zinchenko.   

[Bill2]

It would be mad to sell Adama Traore
Cam Ramsey says it'd be a mistake to sell our winger to Nottingham Forest.

Nottingham Forest are supposedly keen on our turbocharged winger. I want to stress why we shouldn't sanction any proposed move away from the Cottage because, simply, a side that has Adama Traore in its ranks is far more dangerous than a side that doesn't.

There are calls for Fulham to rid themselves of Adama, but as ever, our timelines are riddled with conflicting opinions. "Sack him off", I read. "Get him gone", others tweet. He may well be a highly frustrating attacker - that I can admit - but there's method in his madness and it's on us as a club to make sense of it.

A danger
For one, the baby-oiled Spaniard is a full-back's nightmare. Get him in a straight foot race and he will humble anyone and everyone that stupidly steps in his path. There really isn't a threat like Adama in the Premier League; he's a one-of-a-kind menace that leaves opponents trembling in his wake and he doesn't even need to be on the pitch for that to be so.

Even in the terraces, britches suddenly become heavier at the mere thought of him mauling underprepared defenders. He wins mental battles before he exits the team coach before kick-off. He isn't a secret weapon; the entire division knows what he's all about and there really isn't a single thing they can do about it.

When his teammates are asked who the strongest player in the dressing room is, they all say Adama. When they're asked who's the quickest, it's Adama. When they're asked who's the most difficult to contend with, he is unanimously name-dropped - so why would we want to lose such a ridiculously dominant machine?

Pros and cons
The bone of contention, of course, is his finishing in clear-cut scenarios. Manchester City at the beginning of last season springs to mind, as does Arsenal away two years ago. But in each game he left both Kyle Walker and William Saliba for dead and he was at the forefront of virtually every meaningful counter wagered.

Our famous 2-1 win at Old Trafford was sparked by the man. He whipped in pinpoint crosses for Raul Jimenez at Legoland. There's plenty to admire about the 29-year-old's contributions and at that age, given the intimidating shape he's in, he still has plenty to offer and I am all here for it.

Traore may not be a gifted one-on-one dispatcher, although he is an almost unstoppable catalyst on the break and while we tend to focus on the misses, he's chalked up decent stats. Two goals and nine assists in all competitions, predominantly off the bench, isn't horrendous by any stretch and while there's certainly room for improvement, I want that growth to be with us, not anyone else.

Could he track back with greater enthusiasm? Probably. Could he learn to control himself with steadier poise and conviction in front of the target? Definitely. Like all professionals, Traore has imperfections and yet he also possesses qualities only he is fortunate of, and they speak far louder than any lingering defect.

In short, and indeed long bursts, nobody can compete. Shoulder charges, shielding the ball, fending off markers, Adama is a cheat code and not one team in the league has anything quite like him. They have zippy, they have tricky, they have physical, but we have all of that wrapped into one player alone.

He must stay
Perhaps a reunion with Nuno Espirito Santo and European football is alluring - and few can argue with the latter. But I'd like to think the relationship between Adama and Marco Silva is already strong enough to ensure he remains in SW6 for the campaign ahead and though there's talk of replacements being lined up, the essence of our summer transfer window has been retention; so why can't we have both new signings and Traore?

I want right-backs to hesitate over sticking a leg in like it's their first time unclipping a bra strap; I want tearful left-backs to tell their parents just how awful their day was; I want rival fans to poo talk and I want them to eat their words as our ballistic bruiser of a bloke switches on the style after a few customary misplaced passes.

To Fulham bigwigs, Tony Khan, and whoever else has a wider say in what happens in the coming weeks: holding onto Adama is smart and essential business and his rumoured departure shouldn't be entertained.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/it-would-be-mad-to-sell-adama-traore

Havy to agree with this in the main. When going down the line probably none better that Adama, however, when he cuts inside has a habit of giving the ball away allowing the opposition to attack in dangerous for us situations.