Saturday Fulham Stuff - 29/05/26...

[WhiteJC]

Reedy wins Premier League Guinness Goal of the Season!
Harrison Reed's thunderbolt against Liverpool has been named the Premier League's Guinness Goal of the Season.

It's the first time a Fulham player has ever won the accolade, while Reedy is only the second ever Brit to claim the trophy.

"A huge thank you to everyone that voted for my goal," Reed said. "There were some incredible goals scored this season, so to win this award feels like an amazing achievement."

It had looked to be a disappointing end to our meeting with Liverpool at the start of the year, after Cody Gakpo had struck in the fourth minute of stoppage time to seemingly earn them a 2-1 win at Craven Cottage.

But Reed had other ideas, capitalising on a non-existent press to advance forward before unleashing an unstoppable howitzer from 30 yards that sailed away from Alisson – arguably one of the best goalkeepers in the game – and into the top corner via the underside of the bar.

A wonderful moment for one of the most popular people at the Club.




https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/may/29/harrison-reed-wins-premier-league-guinness-goal-of-the-season/

[WhiteJC]

Wilson and Cabango out of Wales' friendlies squad
Fulham forward Harry Wilson has pulled out of Wales' friendlies against Ghana and Romania next month, along with defender Ben Cabango of Swansea City.

Wilson, 29, has been Wales' outstanding performer under Craig Bellamy and 12 of his 17 career international goals have come in the past three years.

The former Liverpool and Bournemouth player is out of contract with Fulham this summer and has been linked with a move to several other Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa, Everton and Leeds United.

Cabango, 25, an unused substitute in Wales' World Cup play-off defeat against Bosnia-Herzegovina in March, played 47 games for Swansea this season.

Uncapped duo Cameron Congreve and Ollie Bostock have been called up as replacements.

Swansea winger Congreve, 22, spent the season on loan at Dundee while attacking midfielder Bostock, 19, of West Bromwich Albion has two Wales Under-21 caps.

Wales host Ghana, one of England's World Cup group opponents, at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday, 2 June, before facing Romania in Bucharest the following Saturday.

Captain Ben Davies has returned from a serious ankle injury while Connor Roberts could make his first competitive appearance for a year.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Davies, who turned 33 last month, has not played since sustaining the injury, which required surgery, while playing for his club in January.

Burnley right-back Roberts has been absent since injuring himself during Wales' World Cup qualifying defeat by Belgium in June 2025.

The 30-year-old was forced off with a groin injury in Brussels, before damaging his Achilles after returning to Burnley, ruling him out of the entire 2025-26 season.

Having featured for the Clarets' Under-21s earlier this month, Roberts returned to the first-team matchday squad for the first time this campaign on Sunday as he was an unused substitute for the Premier League draw with fellow relegated side Wolves.

There is also a return from injury for centre-back Chris Mepham but midfielders Jordan James and Rubin Colwill as well as forwards Liam Cullen and Mark Harris miss out with minor injuries.



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/c1421pjze62o

[WhiteJC]

Report: Everton and Fulham set to battle for £10m-rated defender
Aaron Wan-Bissaka Transfer: Everton and Fulham Eye £15m West Ham Defender

Aaron Wan-Bissaka's future is set to become one of the more intriguing Premier League transfer subplots of the summer, with Sports Boom reporting that Fulham, Brentford and Everton are all monitoring the West Ham United right-back.

The report claims that Wan-Bissaka could be available following West Ham's relegation, with a contract clause allowing him to leave the London Stadium after the club dropped into the Championship. Sports Boom state that the deal could be worth "between £10-£15million", a figure that immediately makes the 28-year-old a live option for clubs seeking proven Premier League experience.

Wan-Bissaka Exit Clause Creates Transfer Opportunity
Sports Boom report that "Wan-Bissaka is expected to attract strong interest this summer after a clause in his contract allowed him to leave the London Stadium following relegation to the Championship."

That detail is central. West Ham's relegation does not merely weaken their negotiating position, it creates a market opportunity. Wan-Bissaka is not a speculative signing, nor a developmental full-back. He is a defender with experience at Manchester United, West Ham and Crystal Palace, plus nine caps for DR Congo.

The original article adds that the player "is keen to remain in the top flight rather than spend next season battling in the second tier." That stance is hardly surprising. At 28, he is at an age where Premier League security, international visibility and tactical fit matter more than sentiment.

Fulham Interest Hinges on Marco Silva
Fulham's interest appears particularly logical. Marco Silva has long valued structure, discipline and full-backs who can defend space. Sports Boom report that Silva "is understood to be a huge admirer of Wan-Bissaka's defensive qualities."

That admiration makes sense. Wan-Bissaka remains one of English football's most effective recovery defenders, especially in one-on-one duels. He may not be the most expansive attacking full-back, but for a side that wants reliability, control and defensive security, his profile carries obvious appeal.

There is, however, an important caveat. Sports Boom report that any move could depend on Silva's future, with Benfica "desperate to recruit him as their new manager." If Fulham lose Silva, recruitment priorities may quickly shift.

Everton Rebuild Needs Defensive Certainty
Everton's interest is equally understandable. Sports Boom write that "Everton are also desperate to bolster their defensive options" as David Moyes prepares for another significant rebuild.

For Everton, Wan-Bissaka would represent a relatively safe Premier League signing. He has top flight experience, physical resilience and a defensive skillset that could suit Moyes' preference for compactness and organisation.

There are questions, of course. His West Ham spell was described by Sports Boom as "mixed", and the report notes that "things never truly clicked for either player or club during a miserable period, which ended in relegation." That should not be ignored, but context matters. West Ham's broader decline damaged several reputations.

Premier League Suitors Sense Value
At £10m to £15m, Wan-Bissaka may become a smart market play. He is not a fashionable attacking full-back, but his strengths remain clear, pace, tackling ability, recovery defending and Premier League know-how.

Sports Boom credit him with 65 appearances across two years in claret and blue, while also noting that he featured in 25 Premier League matches last season.

For West Ham, this looks like part of a wider reset. For Wan-Bissaka, it is about staying at the level he believes he still belongs. For Fulham, Brentford and Everton, it may become a test of who can move quickest, offer the clearest role and convince him that his next Premier League chapter will be more stable than his last.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis
From an Everton perspective, this is exactly the sort of deal that feels both sensible and slightly complicated.

Wan-Bissaka would bring something Everton badly need, defensive reliability. There have been too many seasons where the squad has looked patched together, short of balance and overly dependent on individual resilience. A right-back who can defend one-on-one, recover quickly and cope physically with Premier League wingers would be welcome.

The price also matters. If Sports Boom's reported valuation of "between £10-£15million" is accurate, Everton should at least be in the conversation. In the current market, that is not excessive for a player with his background.

The concern is whether Everton need more than just a defender. Modern full-backs are expected to contribute in possession, overlap, underlap and help progress the ball. Wan-Bissaka has never been viewed as elite in those areas. If Moyes wants structure first, he fits. If Everton want to evolve into a more progressive side, the question becomes whether he gives enough going forward.

Still, relegated clubs often create buying opportunities. West Ham's collapse should not automatically define Wan-Bissaka. Everton have signed players before who needed a clearer role and a reset. This one could make sense, provided the wages are manageable and the plan is clear.



https://eplindex.com/146940/report-everton-and-fulham-set-to-battle-for-10m-rated-defender.html

[WhiteJC]

Marco Silva update: Fulham manager has chosen Benfica but now hesitates over delay
Fulham have been given a late opening in the Marco Silva saga, with Friday's Portuguese newspapers claiming the manager has chosen Benfica in principle but is now hesitating over whether to wait for the Lisbon club.

Yesterday, local outlets reported that he is already in Lisbon, with Benfica hoping to move things towards a decision. But nothing concrete happened yet.

Still, Correio da Manhã say Silva had expected his future to be resolved this week. Fulham had told him they would wait until the end of the month for an answer to their renewal offer, while Benfica expected José Mourinho's exit to Real Madrid to move quickly... But that has not happened.

According to the newspaper, Silva assessed his options over recent weeks and effectively picked Benfica. That position still stands. However, he now has to decide whether he is prepared to remain in limbo until at least June 8th, the day after Real Madrid's elections.

That gives Fulham a chance they may not have expected a few days ago.

Fulham still waiting for formal answer
Marco Silva has not yet formally communicated a decision to Fulham.

Correio da Manhã say that is because of the uncertainty around Benfica. Silva does not want to cut ties with the London club and then find himself stuck if the Mourinho situation fails to move as expected.

That is where Fulham's patience matters. Their offer remains on the table until the end of the month. It would run until 2030 and guarantee Silva €30m (£25.3m) in net salary across four years, before bonuses.

The Portuguese newspaper say Fulham are prepared to make him the third highest-paid manager in the Premier League.

As we pointed out before, that is not the decisive factor for Silva, but it keeps the English club alive while Benfica wait.

Staff salaries become key issue
Benfica's financial proposal is lower, and Silva has already accepted that. The new detail is his condition around the rest of his staff.

Correio da Manhã say Silva is willing to lose around a third of his annual salary to take the Benfica job, but he wants proper salaries protected for his assistants. He does not want Gonçalo Santos, Gonçalo Pedro, Fernando Ferreira and Bruno Mendes to face the same level of reduction.

A Bola also say Benfica are likely to try to reduce the gap through a signing bonus and performance-related bonuses. They still believe an agreement is possible, but admit there is still work to do.

The same newspaper add that Silva has been receiving advice from people close to him in recent days, and those opinions have not always pointed in the same direction. That helps explain the hesitation.

Benfica confidence meets Real Madrid delay
Interestingly, there is a slight divergence between the approaches taken by Portugal's main newspapers.

Record remain confident. They say Silva has practically everything agreed to become Benfica manager and "should no longer escape". They also expect Fulham to soon communicate that he will not continue. A Bola goes the same way.

Correio da Manhã, though, are more cautious. They insist Silva has still not given Fulham a formal answer. O Jogo follows that pattern.

It shows Benfica feel they are close, while Fulham have not yet received the one thing that really matters: Silva's final decision.

O Jogo also report the move is effectively waiting on the Real Madrid election process. Florentino Pérez spoke about Mourinho on Thursday, but still avoided confirming him as the club's next manager.

So the situation remains stuck in an awkward middle ground. Silva appears ready for Benfica, but not ready to wait forever.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/marco-silva-update-fulham-manager-has-chosen-benfica-but-now-hesitates-over-delay/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham player could renew contract or join another English club – Has clear priority for future
Fulham's Raúl Jiménez could either extend his stay or join Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer.

The Mexico international spent five years at Wolves and left them for Fulham in July 2023.

He signed a two-year deal, with an option for another year, and Fulham activated it in May 2025.

The striker's contract expires in June, and the possibility of signing him for free make him an attractive option in the market.

Jiménez spent six years at Club América's academy and has talked about his desire to return to his former club at some point. Due to his contract situation, the Mexican club are hoping to sign him for free.

Last month, the Mexican media specifically asked him about joining Club América in the next window.

At that time, he said: "I don't know yet... we're still working on everything. There's time, and we'll see what happens in the next few games."

"It depends a lot on what Fulham decides, on negotiations, on an offer being made. Then we'll analyse what's best."

Fulham player's priority is European stay
Marca in Mexico again report Club América are keen on signing Raúl Jiménez while also have Federico Viñas on their agenda. The latter spent four years with them and left for Club León in 2023.

The Mexican club could consider Viñas if they miss out on the Fulham player. That's most likely to happen as Jiménez's priority is to continue in Europe.

He seems to favour extending his stay in England. The report state the 35-year-old could either renew his contract with Marco Silva's side or return to Wolves, who will play in the Championship next season.

Fulham man won't be short of options
The frontman's immediate focus will be on the World Cup, hosted by both his country and America.

Should he leave Fulham, Raúl Jiménez can join Wolves or Everton, who have also shown interest.

Jiménez managed 10 goals and three assists from 43 matches for Fulham and nine goals, and three assists were in the Premier League. Transfermarkt value him at €4m.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-player-could-renew-contract-or-join-another-english-club-has-clear-priority-for-future/

[Shredhead]

Thanks for posting.