Winter Silly Season Transfer Thread 2025/2026

[Deeping_white]

Still think we're not going to get another CM and the plan is to retread Bobb into an 8. Seems like he can navigate traffic pretty well while holding onto the ball which is kinda what we're missing in the midfield. Give us more press resistance in that area and he's played a significant minority if his games as either an attacking midfielder or a right midfielder.

He's a 5'8 winger, there's no chance he can play as a CM in the premier league because he hasn't got the physical presence

Sometimes the case but depends on how good his other attributes are. Can be possible at the 8 for a player like Bobb. He has top-level technical ability on the ball. There are some players that height that are probably too lightweight, but must say Bobb is suprisingly strong on the ball and hard to disposess. Plenty of central mid players his height or smaller - you just have to have top level attributes outside of that for it to work:

Wilshere, Schneider, Modric, Iniesta, Verratti, Santi Corzola, Steed. etc etc.

Yeah but he has to be able to defend regularly as a #8 and that's not his skillset, so I don't see why anyone would want to take a winger with such a high talent ceiling and then move them out of position to play as a CM? Given we've transitioned Iwobi from a winger to CM we see that defensively we're pretty poor with him next to a DM, now amplify that to someone who's never played CM before and would get overrun regularly. I appreciate what you're saying regarding the ball retention piece but I would look at tactics to get him on the ball deeper rather than sacrificing any sort of presence at CM to play him there

[demeant0r]

£50m got you Mitrovic after his best ever PL season so £50m for Strand Larsen after 1 goal in 21 is criminal!

[jayffc]

From SkySport;
Fulham also want to add a young striker and a midfielder. They have been in talks with PSV Eindhoven for striker Ricardo Pepi and Udinese for midfielder Arthur Attra.

Also Keiron Bowie travelling to Hellas Verona for a medical following an increased offer of £6 million to Hibs. Fulham reported to have a 20% sell on clause included after selling to Hibs for £600K.

If we only had Adama as an outgoing, whilst bringing in Pepi, Atta, and Bobb, then it'd be a very good window.

Though concious we've a few players out of contract at the end of this window, so we're back to playing catch up again on our squad to a degree.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-fulham/vertragsende/verein/931

Sess, Raul, Wilson, Chuk are a significant part of our attacking output this season.. We need to tie down 2 minimum, and ideally at least three.

Option on Sess - if we want him, he'll stay.

Chukwueze it's up to us. Not sure why I see comments elsewhere online about being worried about tying him down in the face of other options. My understanding has always been that we have pre-agreed a contract with the player in these instances, that we have the option to exercise should we trigger the buy.

Far as I'm aware, we agree these things prior to completing a loan with option deal. So if we want him, we have him also, it's only if we don't take up the option before the loan period ends that other clubs can then come in. As I understand it. Happy to be proven wrong there if I've missed something.

As for Raul - Sign Pepi, move on Rauls wages, have youth as 3rd option.

Wilson I'd like him to sign but if he doesn't, we go back into the market in the summer for 1 winger with Chuk or Bobb as number 1 RW.

Take up option on JKA or promote ALB depending on how they get on to 3rd spot.

So then the only gaps are if we haven't signed a CM.

Otherwise it's purely about who we want to upgrade or who wants to be sold from there - so potentially RB and CB (Castagne and Diop likely want a move) and maybe DM (assuming we move on Reed or just want to try and upgrade there).

[SimonDaviesEnjoyer]

@SerbianLad I can see I've provoked the red mist by saying, "He reminds me a little bit of Mitrovic, dare I say it", so apologies, it really wasn't intended as an insult to your fellow countryman. If you see previous pages, my posts about SL are all expressing surprise at the fees quoted.

Either way, the stats are what they are (basically identical goals/assists per appearance in the PL) and the market values them very similarly.

For what it's worth I completely agree that Mitro was talismanic and I'd rather have him than SL.

[SerbianLad]

@SerbianLad I can see I've provoked the red mist by saying, "He reminds me a little bit of Mitrovic, dare I say it", so apologies, it really wasn't intended as an insult to your fellow countryman. If you see previous pages, my posts about SL are all expressing surprise at the fees quoted.

Either way, the stats are what they are (basically identical goals/assists per appearance in the PL) and the market values them very similarly.

For what it's worth I completely agree that Mitro was talismanic and I'd rather have him than SL.

I'm not angry at all I'm just surprised that someone would compare them apart from the physical traits.

I don't see how you can look at stats without context? And even without context, Mitro's PL stats are a bit better. And his international record is miles better.

[jayffc]

Still think we're not going to get another CM and the plan is to retread Bobb into an 8. Seems like he can navigate traffic pretty well while holding onto the ball which is kinda what we're missing in the midfield. Give us more press resistance in that area and he's played a significant minority if his games as either an attacking midfielder or a right midfielder.

He's a 5'8 winger, there's no chance he can play as a CM in the premier league because he hasn't got the physical presence

Sometimes the case but depends on how good his other attributes are. Can be possible at the 8 for a player like Bobb. He has top-level technical ability on the ball. There are some players that height that are probably too lightweight, but must say Bobb is suprisingly strong on the ball and hard to disposess. Plenty of central mid players his height or smaller - you just have to have top level attributes outside of that for it to work:

Wilshere, Schneider, Modric, Iniesta, Verratti, Santi Corzola, Steed. etc etc.

Yeah but he has to be able to defend regularly as a #8 and that's not his skillset, so I don't see why anyone would want to take a winger with such a high talent ceiling and then move them out of position to play as a CM? Given we've transitioned Iwobi from a winger to CM we see that defensively we're pretty poor with him next to a DM, now amplify that to someone who's never played CM before and would get overrun regularly. I appreciate what you're saying regarding the ball retention piece but I would look at tactics to get him on the ball deeper rather than sacrificing any sort of presence at CM to play him there

At the 8 he just needs to press, more than be an all-out tackler. Which he can do given he's a product of pep ball. AP wasn't a great tackler and nor were any of the names I mentioned bar Kante, but they all played CM at a high level, Andreas just got about the pitch and chased well, something Bobb is capable of.

Have we been that poor defensively with Iwobi over others? He plays even deeper for Nigeria. Im not sure our results or Goals conceded necessarily reflect that we're that worse off in that regard, but I haven't checked the numbers. For example Tom has come in a number of times at the 8 and he's changed the game - but he's not defensive master either. Of course there are trade offs, What you get from Bobb is press resistance and ability to break lines at speed and would put him into an area he likes to attack from.

For what it's worth he's been quoted as saying hes happy to play anywhere but prefers to be in "that pocket between full back and centre back but a bit deeper". As an 8 in our system that's where he'd be pushing into when we attack to support ESR.

Pepi also quoted as saying, "and defensively he's a machine; helps us a lot, so smart." fwiw

Again, I'm more than happy for him to play off the wing but not against the idea of seeing what he could do there too.

[RAY Rock]

Still think we're not going to get another CM and the plan is to retread Bobb into an 8. Seems like he can navigate traffic pretty well while holding onto the ball which is kinda what we're missing in the midfield. Give us more press resistance in that area and he's played a significant minority if his games as either an attacking midfielder or a right midfielder.

He's a 5'8 winger, there's no chance he can play as a CM in the premier league because he hasn't got the physical presence

Inesta and xavi were small the didn't sherk their defensive responsibilities it depends on the player and how much desire they have in them

[McBrideOfFrankenstein]

£50m got you Mitrovic after his best ever PL season so £50m for Strand Larsen after 1 goal in 21 is criminal!

It's an insane fee!

[SerbianLad]

They've spent almost 90 million on him and Brennan Johnson. There are obviously some poor things our recruitment team does, but we rarely overspend like that.

[Hatch007]

I don't think £35m for Tottenham's top goal scorer last season is too OTT but I wouldn't take SL on a free on this season's form

[Volz]

@SerbianLad I can see I've provoked the red mist by saying, "He reminds me a little bit of Mitrovic, dare I say it", so apologies, it really wasn't intended as an insult to your fellow countryman. If you see previous pages, my posts about SL are all expressing surprise at the fees quoted.

Either way, the stats are what they are (basically identical goals/assists per appearance in the PL) and the market values them very similarly.

For what it's worth I completely agree that Mitro was talismanic and I'd rather have him than SL.

I'm not angry at all I'm just surprised that someone would compare them apart from the physical traits.

I don't see how you can look at stats without context? And even without context, Mitro's PL stats are a bit better. And his international record is miles better.

I hate being pedantic and i always, always appreciate your sober views and good perspectives SL, but, if you insist on bringing international record in to the picture please keep in mind that JSL plays in an international team competing with Haaland and Sørloth in front of him for selection. Also the age difference.
That said, I'm not even a fan of JSL and,i could not care much less if he is Norwegian or not. I believe SimonDaviesEnjoyer merely referred to the general style of play of them both, please don't take offense from my slight intermission here

[SerbianLad]

I hate being pedantic and i always, always appreciate your sober views and good perspectives SL, but, if you insist on bringing international record in to the picture please keep in mind that JSL plays in an international team competing with Haaland and Sørloth in front of him for selection. Also the age difference.
That said, I'm not even a fan of JSL and,i could not care much less if he is Norwegian or not. I believe SimonDaviesEnjoyer merely referred to the general style of play of them both, please don't take offense from my slight intermission here

And Mitro competed with Vlahovic and Jovic(who was literally one of the best strikers in Europe and earned a big money move to Real Madrid). He was still our starter even when he played in the Championship or had limited game time in the PL.

[FFC007]

Sterling is available on a free if things fall over in the next few days.

Worse case scenario... Willian 

[FFC007]

https://x.com/FulhamTransfer/status/2016894987988865091?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Looks like this is a dead duck now....

[Drewry66]

https://x.com/FulhamTransfer/status/2016894987988865091?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Looks like this is a dead duck now....

Have you never seen this story before?! Happens with nearly every transfer we ever make. 😂😭We are just trying to squeeze every penny out of it. Highly unlikely we don't go back.

[Deeping_white]

Forest had a £20m bid rejected for Ayari who scored that belter against us the other day. I don't know what Brighton would actually want to sell him but that seems like pretty decent value for money in a position we need?

[Sting of the North]

https://x.com/FulhamTransfer/status/2016894987988865091?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Looks like this is a dead duck now....

In other news, water is wet... I mean, what even is this? Unless one of the parties changes it's mind, they won't agree... like with every transaction in the history of humankind?

[Sting of the North]

Forest had a £20m bid rejected for Ayari who scored that belter against us the other day. I don't know what Brighton would actually want to sell him but that seems like pretty decent value for money in a position we need?

Good player, lot's of energy. Probably a hard sell with somewhat of a sideways move when he has hrabbed a regular starting spot.

[Deeping_white]

Forest had a £20m bid rejected for Ayari who scored that belter against us the other day. I don't know what Brighton would actually want to sell him but that seems like pretty decent value for money in a position we need?

Good player, lot's of energy. Probably a hard sell with somewhat of a sideways move when he has hrabbed a regular starting spot.

Maybe so, however I can see a case where he'd start a lot of games for us given his profile, and Brighton are on a right turgid run of games so maybe could sell the ambition of Europe potentially, and I'd also imagine we could offer bigger wages than Brighton on average?

[Deeping_white]

Forest had a £20m bid rejected for Ayari who scored that belter against us the other day. I don't know what Brighton would actually want to sell him but that seems like pretty decent value for money in a position we need?

Good player, lot's of energy. Probably a hard sell with somewhat of a sideways move when he has hrabbed a regular starting spot.

Maybe so, however I can see a case where he'd start a lot of games for us given his profile, and Brighton are on a right turgid run of games so maybe could sell the ambition of Europe potentially, and I'd also imagine we could offer bigger wages than Brighton on average?

@Sting of the North - turns out his contract expires next summer so that might be why!