Sunday Fulham Stuff - 07/06/26...

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Said El Mala ready to reject other bids to join Chelsea this summer
FC Koln winger Said El Mala and his agent are hoping to join Chelsea this summer amid his links with Fulham and Brentford.

According to a report by German outlet BILD, Said El Mala is the subject of interest from Fulham. The Cottagers are keen on reinforcing their offensive unit by signing a wide attacker in the upcoming transfer window, and they have set their sights on the 19-year-old FC Koln attacking sensation.

However, the report by BILD has revealed that the teenage prospect and his entourage, particularly his agent, have their hearts set on moving to Chelsea. They are ready to reject other offers to move to Stamford Bridge in the summer transfer window.

Who is Said El Mala?
Said El Mala is the latest promising prospect to rise in prominence in his homeland. Born in Krefeld, the youngster has spent his formative years thus far in Germany, passing through the academies at Linner SV, KFC Uerdingen, Borussia Monchengladbach, TSV Meerbusch, and FC Viktoria Koln. However, the 19-year-old has burst into the spotlight this season at FC Koln.

The teenage sensation has enjoyed his Bundesliga breakthrough this term, scoring 13 goals and providing five assists in 34 league games. Meanwhile, El Mala's exploits have piqued the attention of several well-known clubs. Chelsea and Fulham are among the prospective suitors vying for the German attacking prospect's signature this year.

London calling?
Said El Mala has been on Chelsea's wishlist for an extended period. The continued interest makes sense, as Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens were dreadful in their debut season at the West London club. The FC Koln winger has thus emerged as a viable target for Chelsea.

As for Fulham, the Cottagers remain concerned about Harry Wilson's long-term future, as he has yet to sign a new deal with the West London club. So, they must seek a solution from the market, and El Mala can be a long-term solution from either flank for Fulham.

While recent reports suggested that Chelsea fell behind Brentford in the battle for El Mala's signature, his desire to move to Stamford Bridge changes the equation. Meanwhile, the report by BILD has revealed that Koln will hope to recoup around €50 million from his departure, and Chelsea should have the funds to afford a deal.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2026/06/06/said-el-mala-ready-to-reject-other-bids-to-join-chelsea-this-summer/

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Fulham's search leads to ex-Man United boss as Marco Silva heads to Portugal
Fulham may have unexpectedly emerged as Ruben Amorim's most realistic route back into management after Benfica effectively moved on from the former Manchester United boss.

The managerial merry-go-round involving Benfica, Fulham and two Portuguese coaches has moved quickly in recent days.

Marco Silva has already been confirmed as leaving Fulham and is expected to be unveiled by Benfica next week. Significantly, the move comes after the Lisbon club spent weeks trying to convince Amorim to take the job.

Benfica president Rui Costa had personally led efforts to bring the former Manchester United manager to the Estádio da Luz. However, Amorim was reluctant, having repeatedly indicated he wanted to remain abroad after leaving Old Trafford.

Now the situation appears to have come full circle.

Fulham turn to Amorim
According to Correio da Manhã, Fulham have identified Ruben Amorim as the man they want to replace Marco Silva.

The report states the London club hope to convince Amorim to accept the same proposal that had originally been presented to Silva before his move to Benfica gathered momentum.

For weeks, Benfica viewed Amorim as their preferred option. Now Marco Silva is the man heading to Lisbon, while Fulham are looking at the coach Benfica could not persuade.

In effect, Benfica's managerial search has directly influenced Fulham's.

Manchester United exit still defining
Amorim has remained out of work since leaving Manchester United in January. Since then, reports from Portugal have repeatedly suggested that he has no desire to rush into another role.

In fact, there has even been talk of a potential sabbatical year, allowing him time to study, develop new ideas and reset after a coaching rise that took him from Braga to Sporting and then Manchester United in quick succession.

Perhaps more importantly, Amorim has consistently been linked with staying abroad rather than returning immediately to Portuguese football.

Fulham may offer exactly what Amorim wanted
Benfica tried emotional arguments. Rui Costa reportedly pointed to Amorim's lifelong connection to Benfica and his history as a player there. Financial arguments and sporting ambitions were also presented.

Ultimately, though, Benfica moved towards Marco Silva, who is now set to become Mourinho's successor.

But Fulham can offer something that appears much closer to Amorim's stated preferences.

The club would allow him to remain in England, rebuild his reputation after Manchester United and work in a significantly less intense environment than Old Trafford.

However, with Fulham actively searching for a Marco Silva replacement, the former Manchester United manager suddenly has an option that seems to fit the plan he has outlined ever since leaving Old Trafford.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/fulhams-search-leads-to-ex-man-united-boss-as-marco-silva-heads-to-portugal/

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Arne Slot rebuffs Fulham approach, ready to wait for next job
Fulham are looking to bring in a quality manager this summer, and they recently identified Arne Slot as a target.

According to a report by the Daily Mirror, Fulham want the former Liverpool manager as a replacement for Marco Silva. However, the Dutch tactician has decided to turn down the West London club's approach. He is ready to wait for the ideal job instead of immediately returning to work.

The 47-year-old was shown the door after a disappointing season with Liverpool, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up after not responding favourably to Fulham's interest. Slot has helped Liverpool win the Premier League title during his time at the club, but he failed to get the best out of his players last season.

The Reds finished fifth in the League table, and they were quite underwhelming in the competitions as well. The Dutchman was backed heavily last summer, and Liverpool considerably remodelled the offensive unit. Naturally, they were expected to fight for the league title and push for major trophies. However, they were heavily criticised for their lacklustre performances and for the manager's lack of identity and philosophy.

Where will Arne Slot end up?
Slot has also linked with clubs like AC Milan in recent weeks. Despite being sacked by Liverpool, there is no doubt he is a good manager and could do an impressive job with the right team. Securing his signature could have been a coup for Fulham.

Marco Silva has done an excellent job at Fulham, but he has decided to move on and join SL Benfica. The Portuguese international deserves to compete at the highest level and fight for trophies. The Primeira Liga club will be able to provide him with that opportunity.

Any manager coming in this summer will be expected to help Fulham compete at a reasonably high-level and secure a place in the top half. Slot certainly has the quality to manage them, but it seems that he is not keen on the job. It will be interesting to see if the Cottagers are willing to try their luck once again with an attractive offer.



https://thehardtackle.com/news/2026/06/06/arne-slot-rebuffs-fulham-approach-ready-to-wait-for-next-job/

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"It's just" Fulham star reflects on travelling to World Cup
Norway have travelled for their first World Cup appearance since 1998, and the current generation of players will be delighted to compete and represent their nation on the biggest stage.

The Norwegians remain one of the most exciting teams to watch as the competition kicks off in a few days, and they will believe they can perform well and reach the latter stages. With players like Erling Haaland in their squad, they have proven winners who can raise standards at key moments.

World Cup preparation and mindset
Most of these players have travelled together many times before for qualifying matches and Nations League fixtures, building familiarity and understanding within the squad.

However, this is the first time they are travelling together for a World Cup, making the experience unique as they spend extended time together in America and prepare for a different level of expectation.

The step up in intensity also means training and recovery are approached differently, with players fully aware that every detail matters when representing their country at a major tournament.

Berge reflects on the experience
According to VG, Fulahm star Sander Berge spoke about the journey and said:

"We're just there and juggling. Sitting on the plane with your loved ones to the World Cup. Then it's just fun. Now we're not sitting on the plane to Kazakhstan and the Nations League. Now it's the World Cup."

The excitement within the squad is also reflected in the wider support from fans, as Norway prepare to compete on football's biggest stage and test themselves against the world's best teams.

Overall, this moment marks a significant milestone for Norwegian football, with the team eager to build on their progress and make a lasting impact at the tournament.



https://www.footballnorge.com/posts/its-just-fulham-star-reflects-on-travelling-to-world-cup/