🌞Summer Silly Season Transfer thread 2026

[SimonDaviesEnjoyer]

With four days left of this transfer window left, we are we fannying around trying to get a RB, a position we are do not need to upgrade urgently when we have more urgent positions like RCB and CM or RW?

Were in talks regarding multiple positions we aren't fannying about on a RB at all? It just one of 4 positions we've been in discussions over with multiple targets in each one

I mean I guess that's fine but IMO RB is not a position we desperately need to upgrade this season, especially when Castagne seems to have gotten the hang of the tactics leading him to being involved in both goals vs Chelsea. But what do I know, I'm not AA.

Both are getting on a bit, maybe he wants a senior pro and the successor, then flog the left over senior (Tete I assume). That's what I do in Football Manager so I assume AA is equally skilled.

[jayffc]

Interesting RB name out the blue

Guessing Bellanova deal is looking unlikely. Were reports we were waiting on an Atalanta decision who were allegedly meeting to discuss it within this timeframe so assuming the outcomes there have proven unfruitful.

This guy is absolutely rapid and on far lower wages than our current full backs mind you

[@jolslover]

Ratiu is great going forward and has been up there with the best fullbacks in La Liga these last two years.
 
He was no.1 for successful dribbles in Europes top 5 leagues out of any RB last season and was recorded as the fastest player in La Liga last season.

A huge upgrade on Tete and Castagne with regards to his attacking play (I was not unhappy with those two as RB options but suspect one will leave now)

https://x.com/LaLiga/status/2084157319357530315

[Kingjay81]

Never heard of Ratiu as I don't follow Spanish football but internet shows he's been strongly linked with Liverpool and Man City in the last couple windows. If that's the case, could he quite a coup for us.

[General]

Never heard of Ratiu as I don't follow Spanish football but internet shows he's been strongly linked with Liverpool and Man City in the last couple windows. If that's the case, could he quite a coup for us.

Perhaps, but does feel a bit of a weird signing.. Kenny got two assists last games and Castagne has been looking goof so far in preseason and vs Chelsea too. We've got two solid older RB options. For me, with Ratiu being 28, I don't really get the point in outlawing upto €25m for a 28 Yr old when we've got two players of similar age and performing. Hector Fort was apparently rumoured to cost around €10m and was doing very well in la liga and much younger.

Ratiu feels like a good option don't get me wrong, but not a first option as it's not in keeping with the clubs stated transfer policy of bringing the squad age down. Feels like a move to do something instead of nothing to show we're being busy. But fundamentally if we sign him we're in the same place as we were, with a 28 Yr old player, nearing the later stages of his career and with little resale value, and disrupting a happy squad, for what? It's not a priority position for me.

We should be targeting a DM/CM, RW and RCB first. A much better use of time and money.

[Hatch007]

Why assume just because we're linked with a RB we are not actively, perhaps even prioritising, signings for other positions simultaneously?

[jayffc]

Why assume just because we're linked with a RB we are not actively, perhaps even prioritising, signings for other positions simultaneously?

We absolutely are
This myth that Fulham can't possibly work on multiple deals simultaneously is both verifiable untrue by looking at signings we've made before, and the conversations weve had all summer with players we end up signing late in windows having signed others in the meantime.

Signing an RB does not stop us nor get in the way of us signing other players in other positions.

Whatever we feel, the manager clearly wants more pace and highly advanced full backs with top attacking skillsets for our RB. This is consistent across all the options we've looked at and clearly advanced fullbacks are a key part of Arbeloas system.

Therefore if the manager thinks it's a key position for him to implement the system he wants, then fair enough.

Tete is a brilliant defensive right back when available, but, Injury record is a fair concern, and he doesn't have the pace in attack that we clearly want to have ideally. We've gone for younger options but seems the ones we want may not be available to us ,so we've lined up a player who's clearly been highly rated in la liga.

Given we have
Garcia/Palacios/King/Zepa/Charles/Kevin/Bobb/JKA as well as lots of other young prospects coming through and more linked in other positions - it's not like we're now short of young assets now who can make us big money. So if in this case we opt for someone this age instead as a ready to contribute now option then fair enough really.

[General]

Why assume just because we're linked with a RB we are not actively, perhaps even prioritising, signings for other positions simultaneously?

Don't think anyone's suggesting that, though we've had a lot of RB rumours come through recently, and moreso than RCB, RW and RCB (though we've had splatterings of both)..

I wonder if all the names are coming out because its close to the end of the window and agents are shopping around their players more publicly

[AJW48361]

Ratiu is great going forward and has been up there with the best fullbacks in La Liga these last two years.
 
He was no.1 for successful dribbles in Europes top 5 leagues out of any RB last season and was recorded as the fastest player in La Liga last season.

A huge upgrade on Tete and Castagne with regards to his attacking play (I was not unhappy with those two as RB options but suspect one will leave now)

https://x.com/LaLiga/status/2084157319357530315

I would imagine he is well known to Arbeloa.

[AJW48361]

Why assume just because we're linked with a RB we are not actively, perhaps even prioritising, signings for other positions simultaneously?

We absolutely are
This myth that Fulham can't possibly work on multiple deals simultaneously is both verifiable untrue by looking at signings we've made before, and the conversations weve had all summer with players we end up signing late in windows having signed others in the meantime.

Signing an RB does not stop us nor get in the way of us signing other players in other positions.

Whatever we feel, the manager clearly wants more pace and highly advanced full backs with top attacking skillsets for our RB. This is consistent across all the options we've looked at and clearly advanced fullbacks are a key part of Arbeloas system.

Therefore if the manager thinks it's a key position for him to implement the system we wanted, then fair enough.

Tete is a brilliant defensive right back when available, but, Injury record is a fair concern, and he doesn't have the pace in attack that we clearly want to have.

I have never seen Kenny looking so fit and in such great shape on Thursday night a wrench if he left the Club.

[jayffc]

@AJW48361 yeh I've been very vocal about my adoration of Tete over the years. One of my favourites and will be sad to see him depart tbh. But it seems likely it would be he who exits in this system. He's just not really a marauding pacey RWB

Such a talented player when fit. For me probably the best defensive RB we've ever had or right up there at least

[v]

Any truth in Justin Kluivert coming in on loan with obligation to buy for £10m (Italian media sources)?

AA giving Bobb competition and having Zepa up his sleeve as a wild card?

[AJW48361]

Ratiu is great going forward and has been up there with the best fullbacks in La Liga these last two years.
 
He was no.1 for successful dribbles in Europes top 5 leagues out of any RB last season and was recorded as the fastest player in La Liga last season.

A huge upgrade on Tete and Castagne with regards to his attacking play (I was not unhappy with those two as RB options but suspect one will leave now)

https://x.com/LaLiga/status/2084157319357530315

I would imagine he is well known to Arbeloa.

You would get the impression he's defending maybe a weakness.

[Kingjay81]

General, I think it's pretty clear AA doesn't see Tete or Castagne as his ideal RB for his system given the links of others in this window.

Not every single signing has to have resale value. If there is a player who the club thinks will be an upgrade on what we currently have then that's good enough for me.

20 million quid for a first choice player who we could potentially have in our line up for the next 4 or 5 seasons seems sensible money. Although no resale value, there's a lot of value in having a player improve us and have stability in that RB position for the next few years.

[Moussa Dembele the 3rd]

I find it kind of odd that you come to this team and think a major priority during the window is right back. Castagne and Tete are both strong defensively and going forward. I really don't have time for the "oh they don't fit into AA's system" remarks either. We play a 4-2-3-1. If he wants offensive wingbacks then why aren't we playing 3 at the back? Where's the cover? They're both fine options if you're playing 4 at the back. Seems like a waste of limited resources.

[FFC007]

Centre back has to be a priority. LDF is out and AA suggesting he needs regular game time, so that's a loan outgoing.

One centre back and one in the midfield would do nicely.

Winger as a luxury if there is scope.

[Deuce]

Andrei Ratiu Romania RB from Rayo Vallecano, apparently personal terms agreed working on a fee

These links saying we are in advanced talks for Andrei


https://x.com/jackellyffc/status/2093596542749802865

https://m.allfootballapp.com/news/Headline/Fulham-Rayo-Vallecano-negotiate-for-Ratiu-personal-terms-agreed/5174280

A fairly expensive 28 yr old. I dont doubt his quality, only our priorities.

But hey, if AA thinks we need to strengthen that side in order to get the tactic to fully function, then sure by all means. I doubt the financial side of this is wise considering that price in combo with his age

[Deuce]

I find it kind of odd that you come to this team and think a major priority during the window is right back. Castagne and Tete are both strong defensively and going forward. I really don't have time for the "oh they don't fit into AA's system" remarks either. We play a 4-2-3-1. If he wants offensive wingbacks then why aren't we playing 3 at the back? Where's the cover? They're both fine options if you're playing 4 at the back. Seems like a waste of limited resources.

Yep, I can only imagine that pace is absolute key in defence for AA. Dont see any other upside than that in replacing a 30yr old with a 28 yr old

[jayffc]

I find it kind of odd that you come to this team and think a major priority during the window is right back. Castagne and Tete are both strong defensively and going forward. I really don't have time for the "oh they don't fit into AA's system" remarks either. We play a 4-2-3-1. If he wants offensive wingbacks then why aren't we playing 3 at the back? Where's the cover? They're both fine options if you're playing 4 at the back. Seems like a waste of limited resources.

Because he wants pace and advanced attacking on both flanks.

We don't play 3 at back because that isn't the defensive bit attacking system Arbeloa deploys, we play high wing backs and our defensive midfielders cover when they push up, as well as the wide midfielders also often tucking in when they are overlapped by the full back.

You may have noticed in ore season king and/others talking about their positions and how the gaffer wbats them in very different positions in and out of possession that would take them some time to adjust to. This is what they are referring to.

It's a completely different and much more fluid approach where our formation and positioning  alters alot when in and out of possession. We aren't in a set conventional 4231

This will indeed make us more attacking, and yes potentially may leave some spaces in behind although we have players like Charles who I suspect will be helping out the defenders when our fullbacks push up.

But Also...who said it was THE priority? It's one of a number of areas we are clearly targeting having signed others players already in other key positions

[Thailand Mick]

Everton enquired about Castagne and we turned them down, maybe they came back with a bigger offer and Fulham have said they would sell if they get a replacement but asked Everton to keep it quiet. We sign Ratiu 25m on a five year contract which amoratises to 5m this year and sell Castagne for 15m. That gives us 10m and lower wages in the pot towards a RCB.