Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 31/12/25...

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Fulham target £40m Eredivisie attacker
Fulham Reignite Interest in Ricardo Pepi Ahead of January Window

Fulham's January planning is beginning to sharpen, with renewed focus on PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi as Marco Silva looks to bolster his attacking options. As first reported by the Daily Mail, the west London club have returned to a name that has lingered on their recruitment list for some time, a move shaped by age, injuries, and ambition.

Raul Jimenez, now 34, continues to offer experience and intelligence in the final third, but the demands of a full Premier League campaign require depth. Rodrigo Muniz's hamstring injury has further underlined the need for reinforcements, particularly a forward capable of leading the line with energy and consistency.

Pepi Profile and Career Context
Pepi, 22, currently with PSV Eindhoven, remains one of the most intriguing young strikers in European football. Nicknamed "El Toro", the USA international was born in El Paso, Texas, and "although he was born in the USA he grew up watching Mexican football and even supported the Mexico national team as a boy."

That background has shaped a striker comfortable playing with physicality and movement, traits that appeal to Silva's pressing and transition-based system. Pepi's output supports that interest. He "has scored nine goals so far this season on the back of 17 in 28 games last season", despite suffering a knee injury during that campaign.

Transfer Valuation and Market Competition
PSV value Pepi at "around £35million to £40m", a figure that reflects both his age and productivity. West Ham tested that valuation last year, but "had an offer around £25m rejected a year ago", a reminder that PSV are in a strong negotiating position.

Whether Fulham are prepared to meet that asking price remains unclear. Pepi himself is thought to be mindful of stability, with "a World Cup place to play for" a key factor in his thinking, suggesting regular minutes will be central to any decision.

Alternative Options Under Review
Fulham's recruitment team are also considering Fiorentina striker Moise Kean. The Italy international "has some support within the Fulham backroom and scouting staff but that opinion is not shared by all." Kean's previous relationship with Silva at Everton adds context, but Pepi appears to be the more strategic long-term option.

Our View, EPL Index Analysis
From a Fulham supporter's perspective, this report feels both ambitious and logical. Pepi represents a forward-thinking move rather than a short-term fix. At 22, he fits the club's recent model of investing in players who can grow in value while contributing immediately. The quoted £35m to £40m fee is significant for Fulham, but the Premier League market rarely rewards hesitation, especially for proven international forwards.

There is also a sense that Pepi's profile suits Silva's system better than some alternatives. His goal record, nine already this season and 17 in 28 last term, suggests a striker comfortable with responsibility. Fans will note his desire to be settled ahead of the World Cup, which could work in Fulham's favour if a clear pathway to starts is offered.



https://eplindex.com/140757/fulham-target-40m-eredivisie-attacker.html

[WhiteJC]

The Score: Fulham's weird run, Rice's new role and Man Utd find a solution
Our chief football writer reviews the main talking points from the weekend's action

Fulham's weird run comes to an end
Very simple one, this. After the victory at West Ham on Saturday, every post-match interview with players and manager mentioned the satisfaction at winning three league games in a row. Fulham had three straight festive fixtures against teams below them in the table; sink or swim time. Fulham swam all the way to the top half.

But it's more than that, because now ends one of the weirder runs in the Premier League. Before Saturday, the last time that Fulham won three consecutive top-flight matches was January 2023.

In the three years since, Fulham had won two in a row on 11 separate occasions but never converted. Now they are safe again and laughing.



https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/the-score-fulham-arsenal-man-utd-4101155?ITO=newsnow

[WhiteJC]

Simply Having a One-nil-derful Christmas Time
Elizabeth reflects on Fulham's three wins in a row

At 4:40pm on Saturday, during the 84th minute of Fulham's game against West Ham, things had never felt more turgid. Fulham had just played out 84 minutes of a low-quality game against one of the worst teams in the league, and - if anything - Nuno's Hammers were on top. If West Ham's finishing hadn't been so woeful, they could've been at least one up.

And then, the narrative turned on a sixpence, as it always does in football. Harry Wilson's cross was headed away by Mateus Fernandes, but only back to the feet of our number 8 (through the legs of West Ham's Ollie Scarles). Wilson hit the ball into the six yard box with pinpoint accuracy, making it look so easy, and Raul Jimenez didn't even need to jump. One nil. This season, our striker situation has rightly been criticised - but here was Raul proving, once again, that he still has it. This was his fourth league goal this season, and three have been crucial strikes in attritional one-nil wins (Sunderland, Forest, and now West Ham).

Suddenly, we're looking up rather than down. This result elevates Fulham into the top half of the table (just about - we're one point above Tottenham Hotspur in 11th, and only three above Newcastle in 14th). For weeks, we'd been bemoaning Fulham's position in the table, and how we were rooted to 15th despite some good results. We were a victim of how bunched the middle of the Premier League is this season - as soon as we got a win, enough teams around us would as well, and we'd stay in the same position. But now, we're sailing up the table, and the density of the league's middle section is finally an advantage for us. We're three points off sixth!



This win puts Fulham 13 points above the relegation zone - a huge relief in a season where we all have, at some point, genuinely feared the drop. West Ham are in 18th place, and while I can't say with confidence that we looked that much better than them on Saturday, there is something to be said for points on the board. This run of results also unearths a Fulhamish tradition from a few years ago - from Marco Silva's first season in the Championship, 2021/22 - when we'd sound the horn after a particularly good run of results. In the Premier League, the conditions for this have been that we have to sit in the top half after three wins in a row. Maybe we are getting a little carried away with 'HMS Piss the League' at this point... just maybe...

I was amazed that Match of the Day managed to get five and a half minutes of 'highlights' out of this game. I envy anyone who didn't watch the game but will dive into the all the post-match content, buoyed by leftover mince pies and the excitement of Fulham turning their season around. Sammy and Drew's Quick Take from Crate Brewery is the perfect place to start - you can hear the glee (and a few pints) in their voices. Sammy admits he missed the first 25 minutes of the game because of train delays - but it wasn't a problem, as precisely nothing was happening.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/simply-having-a-one-nil-derful-christmas

[WhiteJC]

Crystal Palace (A) digital tickets
Supporters are reminded that digital tickets for our away match vs Crystal Palace were distributed via email last week.

Digital tickets will be in use for this fixture and all supporters must download their digital match pass to their Apple/Google Wallet ahead of arriving to Selhurst Park. This process is the same as downloading home season and match tickets.

Please check your email inbox (including any Junk or Spam folders) to locate your email, which comes from [email protected] with the subject line: 'Your Crystal Palace (A) digital ticket'.

Step-by-step guidance on how to download a digital pass can be found below.

TICKET DOWNLOAD INFORMATION

If supporters have any difficulties downloading or locating their ticket please contact the Fulham FC Ticket Office in person (Mon-Fri, 9:30am-4:30pm) or by calling 0203 871 0810 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2025/december/29/crystal-palace-a-digital-tickets/

[WhiteJC]

Games for mid-week 30/12
We make the short trip to South London to take on Palace at Selhurst Park for an 5:30 kick off

The win at West Ham was our 3rd in a row, the last time we won three "top-flight" matches on the bounce was January 2023.
It is worth noting that we have now won six of the last nine and the win against West Ham took us up to 10th in the league.
Also its worth noting is that Raúl has scored in the last two games, both 1-0, incidentally Harry Wilson had a couple of assitsts.

Over the years we've not played Palace that often, going back to 1907 we've only played them 55 times, 19 wins, 19 losses and 17 draws.
Our record, for the previous 8 games, is so so with 2 wins, 3 losses, including 2 cup games, and 3 draws.

Palace are one place above us, on goal difference, however they've lost 4 of the last six games, including the previous 3, Spurs, Leeds, Man City, Man Utd, 3 home games, and won 2 games, against us and Burnley both away games.

My team would be the same as West Ham away...



COYW's

Games of Interest

Tuesday 30/12
Burnley v Newcastle
Forest v Everton
West Ham v Brighton

Wednesday 01/01
Liverpool v Leeds
Brentford v Spurs
Sunderland v Man City
come on over to the forum and join in the conversation...
https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=36.0



https://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=3317

[WhiteJC]

Crystal Palace vs. Fulham: How to watch, date, time, live stream, TV channel for New Year's Day meeting
Crystal Palace and Fulham will both aim to start their 2026 on a winning note when they clash at Selhurst Park in the Premier League on New Year's Day.

The Eagles are striving to end a three-game losing run in the league, while the Cottagers have won all of their last three Premier League fixtures.

Here, Sports Mole provides all the details you need to know about how to watch Thursday's Premier League clash between Crystal Palace and Fulham.

What time does Crystal Palace vs. Fulham kick off?

This match will kick off at 17:30pm on Thursday, January 01 for viewers in the UK.

Where is Crystal Palace vs. Fulham being played?

Crystal Palace welcome Fulham to Selhurst Park, which has been the Eagles' home since 1924 and holds a capacity of up to 25,486 supporters.

How to watch Crystal Palace vs. Fulham in the UK
TV channels

This match will be broadcast live in the UK on the Sky Sports Premier League TV channel.

Streaming

Fans can stream the clash live through Sky Go or the Sky Sports+ app.

Viewers will also be able to stream the game live via NOW UK if they have purchased the Sky Sports package on the platform.

Highlights

Goals and key moments are likely to be posted to the SkySportsPL X (formerly Twitter) account, and the Sky Sports app will have highlights shortly after full time.

The broadcaster will also upload highlights to the Sky Sports Premier League YouTube channel later in the night.

Who will win Crystal Palace vs. Fulham?
After their stunning start to the season, Crystal Palace have hit a rough patch of form in recent weeks, with the Eagles heading into this encounter having failed to win any of their last five games, including three straight Premier League defeats.

Oliver Glasner will be desperate for his side to put their struggles behind them and start 2026 on a positive note by claiming all three points, and they will take confidence from winning all of their last three meetings with Fulham.

However, the Cottagers have triumphed in all of their last three Premier League outings, and Marco Silva will be eager for his side to maintain that momentum going into the new year.

Given Fulham's significantly stronger form than the Eagles, combined with Crystal Palace's challenges at home this term - taking just 10 points from nine home fixtures - the Cottagers are certainly the favourites to claim the victory.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/crystal-palace/feature/crystal-palace-vs-fulham-how-to-watch-date-time-live-stream-tv-channel_588691.html

[WhiteJC]

Coming up at Craven Cottage
Join us at Craven Cottage for all the New Year action!

Secure your seat in SW6 in January to enjoy the magic of the Cup and Premier League as we host four huge fixtures at Craven Cottage.

First up, Marco Silva's men will take on Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday 4th January, kick-off 3pm. General admission tickets for this fixture have sold out so the only way to secure your seat is with one of our award-winning Matchday Hospitality offerings. Please enquire with a member of the Hospitality Team for further information.

That following week we will face Chelsea for our SW6 derby under the lights on Wednesday 7th January, kick-off 7:30pm.

The team will then return to Craven Cottage that weekend to face Middlesbrough for our Emirates FA Cup Third Round tie on Saturday 10th January, kick-off 3pm.

Later in the month, the team will take on Brighton and Hove Albion in Premier League action on Saturday 24th January, kick-off 3pm.

Tickets for our clash against Chelsea are on sale to Supporters with Previous Booking History*, with tickets for our Middlesbrough fixture now on General Sale**. Tickets for our fixture against Brighton will be going on sale from 10am on Tuesday 30th December.

Take your seat in SW6 to be part of the action.

BUY TICKETS

HOW TO BUY

    Online at fulhamfc.com/tickets
    By calling the Fulham FC Ticket Office on 0203 871 0810 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm)
    In person from the Fulham FC Ticket Office (Mon-Fri, 9:30am-4:30pm)

Our Ticket Office festive period opening hours can be found here.

*To qualify for Booking History status, supporters must have purchased a Fulham FC Men's First Team ticket in the past five years. Booking History status is not valid if supporters have only previously purchased tickets against the same opposition, in this case Chelsea.

**Subject to postcode restrictions - Fulham FC will be monitoring bookings and any tickets purchased by supporters who live in the vicinity of Middlesbrough (and local areas) who do not have a previous booking history with us, will be terminated.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2025/december/24/coming-up-at-craven-cottage/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham to be 'active' in January window as Cottagers identify three key positions for transfer business
Fulham reportedly identified three priority positions for the January transfer window.

The Cottagers will head into 2026 in a positive mood after finishing the current calendar year with three consecutive victories.

Despite overseeing a positive run of form, Marco Silva will not want the club to rest on their laurels in the January transfer market, especially after being left frustrated with the lack of activity in the summer window.

Fulham only completed four signings in the summer, with two of those arriving on the final day of the market.

Fulham targeting three key areas in January window
With Fulham targeting a positive winter window, Sky Sports News are reporting that the Cottagers want to strengthen in three key positions.

Fulham are expected to be 'active' in the market and want a new central midfielder as one of their top priorities.

The west London club are keen to recruit a number eight after failing to land Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall in the summer.

They are also looking to sign a winger despite recruiting Kevin and Samuel Chukwueze on the final day of the summer window.

Fulham could allow out-of-favour attacker, Adama Traore, to depart to make room for a new wide player in Silva's squad.

The Fulham boss also sees the number nine position as another area in need of strengthening, with Rodrigo Muniz out injured and Raul Jimenez in the final year of his contract.

Cottagers want to resolve Wilson future
While the focus may be on incomings, Fulham are also keen to secure Harry Wilson's future following his fine form this season.

The Welshman, who was linked with a move away in the summer, has impressed with five goals and three assists in 16 Premier League appearances this season.

With Wilson out of contract at the end of the season, Fulham see a new deal as a top priority, along with their January transfer plans.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/transfer-talk/news/fulham-to-be-active-in-january-window-as-cottagers-identify-three-key-positions-to-strengthen_588710.html

[WhiteJC]

West Ham's woes worsen as Fulham climb into top half of table
West Ham United (0) 0 v Fulham (0) 1

Raúl Jiménez 85

By Kaz Mochlinski at the London Stadium

Premier League

Matchweek 18

This was the one that brought them to tears. Ollie Scarles could not stop himself crying very visibly on the pitch at the final whistle, after his mistake led to the winning goal in the closing stages, but most of West Ham United's faithful must have felt very similarly.

The Hammers' growing gloom got ever greater on a grey winter afternoon as they were condemned to end the year in the Premier League's relegation zone, having been beaten by a resurgent Fulham.

It was West Ham's third defeat in a row, and conversely Fulham's third consecutive victory in the league. Even more miserably, the Hammers have lost three successive matches at home, while the Cottagers have had a sequence of three away wins.

A Raúl Jiménez header five minutes from full-time was decisive, meaning that, in the space of six days, on either side of Christmas, he had scored the only goal of the game in two 1-0 successes, to follow his winning penalty against Nottingham Forest.

Fulham's fabulous festive week propelled them up the Premier League into the top half of the table approaching the midway point of the season, having won six out of nine league matches since the start of November.

Surprisingly for some, only the three leading teams - Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa - have had better results recently than Fulham. In contrast, just the bottom two sides - Burnley and Wolverhampton Wanderers - have been worse than West Ham.

The Hammers last had a victory on 8th November and they are now winless in seven games. In such circumstances, a London derby was not a pleasant prospect, as they have lost six from six during this campaign.

Five of those defeats by other capital clubs have come at the London Stadium, among a total of seven times that they have been beaten on their own pitch already. In the whole of 2025, they have had 11 reverses at home in league encounters.

That equals an unwanted club record for home losses in a calendar year, previously registered in 1967, all of 58 years ago, when there may have been something of a hangover from West Ham winning the World Cup at Wembley in 1966.

The club of England's captain and both goalscorers in the final is far less happy at the moment, and once again there were protests around the ground against the ownership and executives perceived by fans as responsible for the Hammers' present plight.

But, perhaps unexpectedly, these were relatively isolated, with the atmosphere largely being positive and supportive of a side which performed competently and creditably, if unspectacularly, until the overwhelming disappointment of the final few minutes.

In a lively contest, full of enthusiastic endeavour from both teams, West Ham always looked to be a threat going forward, especially when moving the ball at pace for Jarrod Bowen's clever runs in behind the opposition defence.

The West Ham head coach, Nuno Espírito Santo, seems to have a preference for the foursome of Bowen, Lucas Paquetá, Crysencio Summerville and Mateus Fernandes in attack, although he has rotated their positions in different matches.

Bernd Leno was admirably alert and immovable, plus a couple of close offside decisions also stopped promising moves from the home side. But West Ham desperately miss a centre-forward to take some of the scoring burden off Bowen.



Niclas Füllkrug is being loaned out to A.C. Milan for the rest of the season, an embarassing indictment of a terrible transfer policy. The 32-year-old last scored on 5th April, not starting a game since 4th October, and not playing at all in December.

Callum Wilson was brought on in the second half, having still not managed a full 90 minutes for the Hammers, and, at the age of 33, following several serious injuries, there clearly must be questions about his physical fitness.

He got into good spaces against Fulham, but he looked to be lacking any sharpness in front of goal when the chances came, and he has now not scored in his last six appearances. Unequivocally, Nuno needs a new striker in the January transfer window.

With Fulham's finishing being likewise less clinical than they would want ideally, a goalless draw seemed to be increasingly inevitable. But West Ham's defence currently also always has the high likelihood of an error to unexpectedly gift a goal.

When it came, the winner was fittingly created by Harry Wilson, who had been denied in the opening exchanges by Alphonse Areola with a fantastic flying finger-tip save of a well-struck rising shot.

In fine form and full of confidence, Fulham's Wilson got down the right for a cross which Fernandes headed out, only for Scarles to miss the ball completely with his clearance attempt, allowing the visitors' winger unchallenged to send it in again.

His second crossing effort looped over the mistimed jump of Jean-Clair Todibo, leaving Jiménez free on the edge of the six yard box to head back across the goalkeeper. Remarkably, the 34-year-old Mexican has now scored seven times against West Ham.

Importantly, it was Jiménez's third winning goal in 1-0 successes by Fulham in the last five weeks during their good recent run. He beat Sunderland with an 84th minute strike and improved on that this time, causing 85th minute heartbreak for the Hammers.

Scarles should not be solely blamed for it. He was still a teenager until just a couple of weeks ago. This was only his second match of the season at the London Stadium. And he is part of a promising group of younger players emerging for West Ham.

A pair of 22-year-olds in Freddie Potts and Soungoutou Magassa anchored the midfield in a double pivot. Plus the potentially exciting 21-year-old George Earthy made his first appearance this season as a late substitute.

Back from ankle and hamstring injuries after a loan spell at Bristol City, Earthy, along with Scarles, Potts and Magassa, will represent West Ham's future. The present is a five-point deficit to 17th position and an escape from the relegation places.

Crucially, they face the team immediately above them, Nottingham Forest, on 6th January, a reminder also of what continues to be the Hammers' only clean sheet of the campaign, in the reverse fixture back in August - when Nuno was Forest's head coach.

But the extent of his current challenge is underlined by Fulham's points total of 26 being exactly twice that of the Hammers. 13 points is West Ham's joint lowest ever in the Premier League at this stage.

The previous season when they had so few points after 18 games was in 2010-11 - and that time they ended up finishing at the bottom of the table.

West Ham United: (4-2-3-1) Areola - Walker-Peters, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles - Magassa (Souček 83), Potts - Paquetá (Earthy 83), Fernandes, Summerville (Callum Wilson 55) - Bowen

Fulham: (4-2-3-1) Leno - Tete (Castagne 82), Andersen, Cuenca, Robinson - Lukić (Diop 88), Berge - Harry Wilson, Smith Rowe (Cairney 82), Kevin (King 69) - Raúl Jiménez

Attendance: 62,464



https://www.capitalfootball.co.uk/single-post/west-ham-s-woes-worsen-as-fulham-climb-into-top-half-of-table