Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 13/05/26...

[WhiteJC]

From Brazil: Marco Silva hesitation opens door for 70% win-rate manager at Fulham
Fulham are the latest English club to enter the conversation around Filipe Luís, with the former Flamengo manager rapidly becoming one of the most discussed coaching names linked to the English market ahead of the summer.

Over recent weeks, Sport Witness have revealed interest from Championship sides Queens Park Rangers and Middlesbrough, both of whom held talks with the Brazilian's representatives. Watford have also kept him on an internal shortlist.

At the same time, Filipe Luís has increasingly been linked with higher-profile possibilities. European reports recently placed him among the names under consideration at Chelsea following Liam Rosenior's dismissal.

As we covered earlier, there had already been previous conversations between the coach and the London club before Rosenior's appointment in December.

Now another Premier League side has emerged.

Marco Silva situation forcing Fulham to prepare
According to ESPN Brazil, Fulham are evaluating Filipe Luís as a possible successor to Marco Silva as uncertainty continues around the Portuguese manager's future at Craven Cottage.

Marco Silva has had a renewal proposal on the table for months, with Fulham offering a new three-year deal. However, the manager has deliberately waited until the end of the season before making a final decision.

That hesitation has created movement behind the scenes.

Benfica are increasingly attentive to Silva's situation as they prepare for the possibility of José Mourinho leaving Fenerbahce for Real Madrid. As a result, Fulham have started exploring alternatives in case they suddenly need a replacement.

Filipe Luís is now among the profiles under analysis.

His availability is one obvious factor after leaving Flamengo in March. There is also the Jorge Mendes connection, with the influential Portuguese agent representing both Marco Silva and Filipe Luís.

English interest continues to grow
The Fulham link reinforces how quickly Filipe Luís' reputation has travelled beyond Brazil.

At Flamengo, he built one of the strongest managerial records in South American football over the last two years. He won five major trophies while maintaining a win rate close to 70% across 101 matches.

His side also scored more than 180 goals during that period, averaging comfortably above 1.8 goals per game. His dismissal earlier this year had more to do with off-pitch affairs.

Those numbers, combined with his profile as a former Atlético Madrid and Chelsea player, have made him an increasingly attractive option for English clubs searching for younger coaches with a defined football identity.

One issue still unresolved
There is still one important obstacle, which we already detailed.

Filipe Luís is working to accelerate the process of obtaining his UEFA Pro Licence, which remains mandatory for coaches managing at the highest level in Europe.

His staff are in contact with the Brazilian FA in an attempt to validate previous experience and speed up the process.

That issue is understood to have complicated Chelsea's interest earlier this year.

Even so, the market around Filipe Luís keeps growing. And Fulham are now considering whether he could become part of their own succession planning if Marco Silva departs.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/from-brazil-marco-silva-hesitation-opens-door-for-70-win-rate-manager-at-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

Chelsea tipped to appoint 'perfect' manager after Ornstein update as 'meeting' revealed
Chelsea have been backed to make a move for Fulham head coach Marco Silva as an alternative to Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola.

The Blues are in the process of appointing a new head coach following the exit of Liam Rosenior last month.

Chelsea cannot afford to get this appointment wrong as a huge rebuild is required following an embarrassing 2025/26 campaign, and they are linked with a host of potential replacements.

It was initially reported that Bournemouth boss Iraola, who will become a free agent next month, was the leading candidate to join Chelsea, but David Ornstein reported on Monday evening that they have made a move for Alonso.

Ornstein said on X: 'Chelsea exploring deal to appoint Xabi Alonso as next head coach. 44yo former #RMFC boss understood to be open to possibility, although nothing decided yet as process continues. Andoni Iraola also strong contender ahead of departing.'

Iraola 'meeting' held but Chelsea told to appoint an alternative...
As mentioned, Iraola is another candidate, and they may have to go for him after Alonso reportedly decided on his preferred next move.

And a report from The Sun claims Chelsea have held a 'meeting' with Iraola's representatives over a move to Stamford Bridge.

The report reveals: 'The Blues, who sacked Liam Rosenior last month, have identified Iraola and former Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso as leading candidates.

'Iraola and Alonso are represented by the same agency, with Chelsea having approached both coaches to express their interest.'

Silva, who is also due to become a free agent next move, has been mooted as a left-field candidate for Chelsea, and former Aston Villa forward Gabby Agbonlahor has explainaed why he would be "perfect" for Chelsea.

"I actually said this exactly, and I was getting Chelsea fans saying, 'How dare you!'" Agbonlahor responded to Jeff Stelling on talkSPORT after Silva's move to Chelsea was suggested.

"I'm saying to myself, 'Marco Silva is the perfect character that these big time Charlies at Chelsea need'.

"The way they've got rid of Rosenior, they'll do it to a soft manager that comes in. They need a hard hitting manager.

"Marco Silva doesn't take any nonsense, Jeff. We've seen him on the sidelines, similar to Antonio Conte's sort of style.

"He will go into that football club Chelsea in pre-season, sort them out. [He will work out] who's on side, who's going to work hard, who's going to follow runners, who's going to run?"

He continued: "How many games this season have Chelsea been outrun? That's incredible. That's the most embarrassing stat for a manager, if your team isn't running.

"When I was finishing football, Jeff, players were being played because they could run more than players that are probably technically better.

"So to see that from Chelsea, they need a hard manager like Marco Silva going in there."



https://www.football365.com/news/chelsea-appoint-perfect-manager-ornstein-update-meeting-revealed

[WhiteJC]

Exclusive: Tottenham and Fulham both tracking winger – One offer rejected
Tottenham and Fulham are both closely monitoring Lucas Ronier as Premier League clubs continue to scan the Brazilian market for younger attacking options with resale potential.

Sport Witness sources understand the two London clubs are watching the Brazilian winger closely. There may also be wider interest from England, although that side of things is still becoming clearer.

Ronier has quietly built a strong reputation at Brazilian side Coritiba over the past two seasons. The 21-year-old has three goals and three assists in 22 appearances this year. Last season, he managed seven goals and two assists in 39 matches while continuing his development at Coritiba.

The Brazilian fits a profile Premier League recruitment teams love right now. He is left-footed, technically sharp and very comfortable in one-against-one situations. His low stature and quick changes of direction make him difficult to stop in tight spaces.

Why Tottenham and Fulham are paying attention
Lucas Ronier mainly plays from the right wing, but he is far from a traditional touchline winger. He regularly drifts inside and gets involved centrally, almost as another creator. That tactical flexibility is part of the attraction for both Tottenham and Fulham.

The attacker is known in Brazil for his futsal-style dribbling. He keeps the ball glued to his feet, uses body feints naturally and can beat defenders on either side.

Coaches also value his work-rate without the ball. Ronier tracks back, helps his full-back and competes defensively, which always helps when Premier League clubs are assessing young attackers.

Back in January, Globo Esporte highlighted the growing excitement around the winger at Coritiba. Manager Fernando Seabra openly praised both the player's mentality and his versatility behind the scenes.

"What you are seeing on the pitch is the result of his behaviour and the way he works every day," Seabra explained.

"He is very dedicated in training. He trains with great competitiveness in game situations. Even outside training exercises, he is always willing to challenge himself and do everything that is requested. He is a player for short spaces, long spaces, attacking the box, playing on both sides and through the middle."

His contract runs until December 2027 after Coritiba secured a renewal designed to protect one of the club's biggest assets.

Inside the Brazilian club there is growing belief Ronier could become their biggest ever sale. That record currently belongs to striker Igor Paixão, who joined Feyenoord for around £6.8m (€8m) in 2022.

Coritiba already rejected major offer
Coritiba's stance has been firm for a while. Back in 2024, speaking to Rádio TMC, a club director made it clear they would only entertain offers aligned with their market valuation.

"It is natural there is interest, but until there is an official proposal and real progress, it takes time. It will not happen overnight," he explained.

"But obviously, if at some point an official proposal arrives, we will analyse it, evaluate it, understand the clubs involved and the conditions being offered within a market reference."

That position already led Coritiba to reject a major proposal from Saudi Arabia. In 2024, Neom offered around £9.4m (€11m) for Ronier, but the bid was rejected because the player's priority is a move to European football.

That also gives a better idea of the market around him now. Transfermarkt currently values Ronier at around £3.4m (€4m), but the reality of the market appears very different.

Any deal involving Tottenham, Fulham or another English side would almost certainly need to go beyond that figure.

What happens next
Neither Tottenham nor Fulham are currently at the stage of formal negotiations. However, both clubs are paying close attention to the situation ahead of the summer window.

For Fulham, Ronier would offer a very different profile to Harry Wilson on the right side.  The contrast could appeal to Marco Silva as Fulham continue looking for attackers capable of changing games in transition and tight spaces.

At Tottenham, the situation is slightly different because there is no completely untouchable long-term starter on the right wing right now. Ronier could be viewed as a development signing with upside rather than an immediate starter.

Spurs have shown repeatedly they are willing to invest in younger players before they fully break out, and the Brazilian's versatility and tactical intelligence would fit that model well.

Of course Ronier still has areas to improve, especially his end product and consistency in the final third. Still, Premier League clubs clearly believe the raw talent is there.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/exclusive-tottenham-and-fulham-both-tracking-winger-one-offer-rejected/

[WhiteJC]

Is Fulham's ticket price hike strategy backfiring?
In 2025, Fulham sold more tickets, but made less money, despite charging more.

I've been looking at Fulham's most recent set of financial reports and found out some very concerning numbers related to Fulham's ticket sales. You can also look at the reports - just go here to start. This is the first in a series of (shorter) articles I'm going to write about what I've found in the financial reports.

Fulham files reports on its finances for the previous financial year to the UK Government in the spring. Last month, it released data about financial results for last year (2025). The club offers comparisons to results for 2024 in these statements.

The ownership structure for the club is somewhat complicated in terms of financial reporting (more to come on this) - i.e., there are several different financial entities. For this piece, I'm relying on the 2025 report for "Fulham Football Club Limited", which is the entity that runs the club (essentially).

The club reports on several key metrics for the year in the report because "the directors consider these (indicators) to be the most useful measure of performance as they link the on-field performance of the team to financial results achieved by the company."



One of these key metrics is total attendance and, as you can see, the report notes that from 2024 to 2025, the team increased its attendance by 2,515 people per game. Presumably, some of this increase is due to the Riverside Stand opening up fully in 2024/25.



Someone who's friends with Alistair Mackintosh might say "Good job, attendance is up!" However, further in the report, the club states the following:



As you can see from above, the club's revenue from "gate receipts" went down from £18.39m in 2024 to £18.01m in 2025. Gate receipts include revenue from season ticket sales (according to the report) and, I am assuming, matchday ticket sales.



And, this happened despite total attendance increasing from 461,916 to 509,689 from 2024 to 2025.

Now, while I do have an MBA (and am a former business journalist), I am not an accountant and could be missing something. But, it looks like the club reported somehow making less money in 2025 from ticket sales while increasing attendance. They made less while charging more to get into the Cottage (and having more seats to sell).

I don't know about you, but the one argument I at least understand about higher ticket prices (I don't agree with it but I do understand it) is that because of looming SCR rules, the club needs to do everything it can to generate more revenue including higher ticket prices so it can bring in the players we need to compete, continue to stay up and, hopefully, get better and get to Europe.

I personally don't think the amount of revenue generated by higher ticket prices is worth the trade-off of losing longtime fans, the impact on the atmosphere at the games (by having so many one-off tourists attending games instead of real fans) and the negative impact on the community, but I get it.

I don't get raising ticket prices and losing money. This is a lose-lose situation. If true, it means the club has been alienating fans for no reason and actually making itself less financially secure as a result.

To be clear, the report does not state why gate receipts decreased in 2025. One clue as to what might be happening is found in the "deferred income" section of the report



As you can see, deferred income from "season ticket sales in advance" decreased from £9.19m in 2024 to £8.96m in 2025. Of course, the team could simply be changing how and what it accounts for deferred income, but it does seem strange that the team is reporting making less money from selling advance season tickets despite having more inventory and more expensive season ticket packages (e.g. more than £3,000 for a season ticket in the Riverside). So, possibly, higher prices - or other factors - could be negatively impacting season ticket sales and total sales.

Looking back a bit, you can see that this could be the start of a trend. Advance season ticket sales have been declining since the club increased its prices by 18% for the 2023/24 season and while they overcame this loss for that season, with overall gate receipts, potentially, the continued negative impact of higher ticket prices meant that the club lost money as of the 2024/25 season (when the club raised prices by another 4%).



It's kind of incredible when you put all the data for the different seasons, side by side.



Attendance has gone up but the club is making less money. It looks like Fulham made a mistake by increasing ticket prices so dramatically and ended up alienating its existing fanbase while not finding a new one. And, then after that happened they have not really tried to repair the damage done with long-time fans. Perhaps, the club fixed things for the 2025/26 season, somehow? We will see.

Regardless, the club should explain what happened and have an honest dialogue with the fanbase about the effect of higher prices on revenue and the club.

Fulham's pricing strategy may be backfiring not only for the fans (i.e., those who can no longer afford to attend games) but also for the club's financial performance, which would be really unfortunate and stupid.

If anyone else, who is an accountant (or affiliated with the club) can explain what is happening and how the new ticket strategy is working (or not working) to help make the club stronger and more sustainable financially, please do so in the comments.

C'mon Fulham (we can do better than this)!



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/is-fulhams-ticket-price-hike-strategy

[WhiteJC]

Sheffield United 'register interest' in Huddersfield Town's Cameron Ashia as Fulham, Burnley and Celtic linked
Huddersfield Town midfielder Cameron Ashia linked with a raft of clubs including Sheffield United and Fulham

Sheffield United have reportedly registered interest in Huddersfield Town prodigy Cameron Ashia.

An attack-minded midfielder, Ashia has made swift progress since joining Huddersfield's academy in 2024. Over the course of the 2025/26 campaign, the 21-year-old registered six goals and three assists across 31 appearances in all competitions.

Huddersfield missed out on a place in the League One play-offs, slipping to ninth in the table, and it appears they could now have to face interest in one of their highly-rated prospects.

Interest in Huddersfield Town's Cameron Ashia
Mail Online have credited a raft of clubs, including Huddersfield's Yorkshire rivals Sheffield United, with interest in Ashia.

It has been claimed the Blades have registered interest alongside Southampton, Burnley, Ipswich Town and Cardiff City as well as German sides Hoffenheim and Stuttgart.

Established Premier League outfit Fulham are said to have lodged an enquiry, while there is also thought to have been contact from Scottish heavyweights Celtic and Rangers.

Ashia recently had a one-year extension option in his deal activated, meaning he is now under contract until the summer of 2027. The option may have prevented Huddersfield losing him on a free transfer, although the Terriers do still appear to be in a vulnerable position.

The report has suggested Ashia could be available for as little as £500,000, a bargan fee for such a promising player.

Cameron Ashia's impressive development at Huddersfield Town
Ashia was recently awarded named the Antoni's Memorial Academy Player of the Year by Huddersfield and drew praise from Terriers academy director Jon Worthington.

He said: "This season has been a massive opportunity for Cameron to make an impact in the firdt team, and we are really proud to see how he has developed since joining the club a couple of years ago, and see the progression that he has made throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

"His dedication and commitment to improve has remained at a consistent and high level since his arrival, and that is something that is valued both at the academy and at the club as a whole.

"Cameron travelled with the first team to Austria in pre-season, which was an experience that we knew would be incredibly important for his development. From there, some of his key strengths were recognised, with him being included in the second League One match day squad of the season.

"To see him come off the bench that day and score on his league debut was a moment that was really special for him, but is also a memory that we cherish at the academy. We are constantly striving to help players transition through the academy, with the aim of them hopefully representing thefirst team one day.

"Just one of a handful of academy graduates to make the leap into the first team this season, we are delighted that Cameron has received this award, and we hope that he continues to positively apply himself moving forward."



https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united-huddersfield-town-cameron-ashia-fulham-burnley-celtic-8540990

[WhiteJC]

Chelsea urged to snub Xabi Alonso for 'perfect' Premier League manager
Chelsea have been urged to forgo Xabi Alonso and instead hire Premier League-proven manager Marco Silva this summer.

The Blues are currently forming their shortlist to fill their permanent managerial vacancy following the sacking of Liam Rosenior last month.

Callum McFarlane will remain in post until the end of the season, but the Blues are reportedly keen to have a replacement named before the start of this summer's World Cup.

Recent reports suggest that Chelsea have made contact with former Liverpool midfielder Alonso following his departure from Real Madrid earlier this season.

The Spaniard, who guided Bayer Leverkusen to a historic league and cup double in 2024, is highly regarded by Chelsea and has also been linked with Liverpool as a potential alternative to Arne Slot.

Outgoing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is also said to feature high up in Chelsea's shortlist, having guided the Cherries to the brink of European football this season.

However, former Premier League striker Gabby Agbonlahor has thrown his support behind Fulham boss Silva, who has proven a steady pair of hands since his appointment at Craven Cottage back in 2021.

The Portuguese coach helped Fulham break their record Premier League points tally last season, and Agbonlahor is confident that the 48-year-old has the 'perfect' temperament to whip Chelsea's young side into shape.

'Marco Silva is the perfect character that these big-time Charlies at Chelsea need,' he told talkSPORT.

'The way they've got rid of Rosenior, they'll do it to a soft manager that comes in. They need a hard-hitting manager.

'Marco Silva doesn't take any nonsense. We've seen him on the sidelines, similar to Antonio Conte's sort of style.

'He will go into that football club Chelsea in pre-season, sort them out. [He will work out] who's on side, who's going to work hard, who's going to follow runners, who's going to run?'

Agbonlahor continued: 'How many games this season have Chelsea been outrun? That's incredible. That's the most embarrassing stat for a manager, if your team isn't running.

'When I was finishing football, players were being played because they could run more than players that are probably technically better.

'So to see that from Chelsea, they need a hard manager like Marco Silva going in there.'

Silva is out of contract at the end of the season, but recently pushed back on any speculation linking hi wit ha move to Stamford Bridge.

'I don't pay any attention,' he said last week. 'We have decisive games ahead, and all the focus is going to be on them.'



https://metro.co.uk/2026/05/12/chelsea-urged-snub-xabi-alonso-perfect-premier-league-manager-28335531/?ito=newsnow-feed

[WhiteJC]

'They Are Scared' – Ex-PL Star Lays Into 'Boring' Fulham
Former Premier League forward Charlie Austin has blasted Fulham as 'scared' and 'boring' after he watched them produce a toothless display against Bournemouth.

Fulham's hopes of securing European football suffered a major blow as they slipped to a 1-0 home defeat against Bournemouth on Saturday, with both sides reduced to 10 men.

Rayan's strike in the 53rd minute was enough to secure Bournemouth all three points and move the Cherries to sixth place in the Premier League table, where they currently occupy the Europa League spot.

It was the fourth game in the last five when the Cottagers have failed to score in the Premier League.

Despite keeping the majority of the possession against Bournemouth, Marco Silva's side managed only two shots on target at Craven Cottage.

Austin is not a fan of Fulham's approach under Marco Silva, suggesting the team's style of play has become predictable and boring due to their reluctance to shoot at goal.

The 36-year-old striker blasted the Fulham players for being scared to shoot in fear they might miss the target.

Austin highlighted substitute Josh King as one of the few players willing to attempt an effort on goal, suggesting the rest of the side lacked attacking bravery.

Austin said on talkSPORT (9th May, 17:12): "Their [Fulham's] play is quite boring.

"You can see they've not scored and after watching that [against Bournemouth] I can certainly see why.

"They are scared to get a shot off or scared to miss.

"Fulham are scared, the whole team are scared to have a shot.

"Josh King came on and listen, he had one chance, but the rest of the team, they are scared to have a shot on goal."

Fulham will now travel to Molineux to face already relegated Wolves in the hope of keeping their European ambitions alive.

There are question marks over who will be in charge at Fulham next season, with Silva attracting attention from several sides.

The Cottagers though are already looking to strengthen their squad for next season, having shown keen interest in signing Paris FC defender Moustapha Mbow amid interest from other Premier League clubs.

With the last two fixtures remaining, Silva's side will be determined to finish the season strongly by securing all six available points and hoping other results go in their favour to keep their European hopes alive.



https://insidefutbol.com/2026/05/12/they-are-scared-ex-pl-star-lays-into-boring-fulham/713106/

[WhiteJC]

Benfica line up move for Fulham's Marco Silva as Jose Mourinho closes in on Real Madrid job
Benfica are plotting a move to appoint Fulham boss Marco Silva to replace Real Madrid-bound Jose Mourinho, sources have told Football Insider.

The 48-year-old could be available this summer as he has yet to put pen to paper to extend his stay at Fulham beyond the end of the season.

His potential availability is believed to have put a number of clubs on alert, but Benfica are the latest to show an interest in luring him away from Craven Cottage.

Mourinho is currently in charge at the Portuguese giants and they have been extremely reluctant to lose him, but he is now closing in on the Real Madrid job.

As a result, work is already underway to identify his replacement, and Silva's work in the Premier League with Fulham has seen him emerge as a leading contender.

Could Benfica make a move for Marco Silva?
Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Crystal Palace are eyeing Silva to be their next manager as he edges towards leaving Fulham.

However, the opportunity to step up and manage a team with the European pedigree of Benfica could tempt to Fulham boss back to his native Portugal instead.

Silva is believed to be eyeing a step up from Fulham as he feels he has taken them as far as they can go, with the Cottagers currently sitting in 11th place.

Benfica, meanwhile, have missed out on the Portuguese title despite being unbeaten after 33 games with the potential of finishing the season as invincibles.

Silva would be tasked with returning the title to Benfica, beating Sporting and Porto in the process, and the chance to win silverware could prove appealing.

What is the latest on Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid?
Real Madrid have been searching for a new manager to replace interim boss Alvaro Arbeloa, with talks accelerating as the end of the season nears.

Football Insider revealed on 10 May that Mourinho is Real Madrid's top target and appears to be edging closer to becoming their next permanent manager.

Los Blancos had also considered Aston Villa manager Unai Emery as one of their targets, with suggestions he could be tempted to leave Villa Park and return to Spain.

As a result, sources say Villa hope Mourinho will return to Madrid and ease any speculation over Emery's future as they plan for a return to the Champions League next season.

The Spaniard has been tipped as an ideal contender for the Real Madrid job given his European pedigree and success both in Spain and England, but that move is now unlikely.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/benfica-line-up-move-for-fulhams-marco-silva-as-jose-mourinho-closes-in-on-real-madrid-job/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham plan fresh Raul Jimenez contract talks as new 'short-term' deal could yet be on
Fulham are planning new contract talks with striker Raul Jimenez once they have settled the future of manager Marco Silva, sources have told Football Insider.

The frontman is out of contract at Craven Cottage this summer, but the club remain keen to offer him another "short-term" deal for at least the 2026-27 campaign.

Jimenez is set to explore all his options ahead of next term, and sources have indicated that there has been a hold-up in his discussions with Fulham due to the uncertainty over Silva's future.

The Portuguese's deal is also due to expire in the coming months, and he has been linked with several other jobs of late.

Fulham unlikely to lose Raul Jimenez to Premier League rivals
Football Insider revealed on Monday that Everton are unlikely to move for Jimenez this summer, despite recent reports suggesting that they are interested in taking the Mexican on a free transfer.

The 35-year-old is understood to be too old to fit the Toffees' ideal profile for their next striker addition, and that has cast doubt over them making a move for him, despite his potential availability.

Everton's interest in the former Wolves star is not beyond its early stages at the moment, and there are major doubts as to whether it will ever progress any further.

However, Jimenez has also been linked with a return to his homeland in recent weeks, with Mexican giants Club America also interested in his services.

He has shown that he still has plenty to give at Premier League level after nine goals and three assists so far this term, and Fulham still feel that he will have a role to play for them in 2026-27.

Addressing the managerial uncertainty at Craven Cottage is the current priority for the club hierarchy, who will then turn their attention towards sitting down with Jimenez once again.

Crystal Palace backed to launch move for Marco Silva
Former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider last week that Crystal Palace could try to tempt Marco Silva away this summer, as they search for a replacement for Oliver Glasner.

The former recruitment boss suggested that the Eagles could use the potential for Europa League football next season to launch a move for the 48-year-old, who is set to have plenty of options available to him.

Brown outlined that Silva will want to move to a club where the ceiling is a little higher than what he can currently achieve in West London, and he feels that a move to Selhurst Park would provide that.

He added that Silva is unlikely to be on the radar of any elite clubs, meaning a move to a side like Palace could be the natural next step for him.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/fulham-plan-fresh-raul-jimenez-contract-talks-as-new-short-term-deal-could-yet-be-on/

[WhiteJC]

Nott'm Forest considering shock Pereira sack as Marinakis eyes stunning reunion with Prem boss
 Nottingham Forest retain a strong interest in Fulham boss Marco Silva and could make a shock managerial change this summer if the Portuguese coach signals a willingness to move to the City Ground, TEAMtalk understands.

Silva has admirers across Europe following another impressive spell with Fulham, but Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis remains one of his biggest supporters after their hugely successful time together at Olympiakos.

As TEAMtalk has previously reported, the relationship between Silva and Marinakis has remained extremely strong since their period in Greece, where Silva guided Olympiakos, who are also owned by Marinakis, to the 2016 Super League title.

That campaign included a remarkable European-record run of 17 consecutive domestic victories at the start of the season and firmly cemented Silva's reputation as one of the most promising young coaches in Europe at the time.

Interestingly, when Silva took over at Olympiakos, he replaced fellow Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira, and TEAMtalk understands a similar sequence could now unfold again at Forest.

The former Wolves chief took over from Sean Dyche in February and has guided them to safety, and also made the semi-finals of the Europa League.

But sources have now confirmed to TEAMtalk that Marinakis is considering another managerial reshuffle this summer despite Forest already going through four different managers during the current campaign.

Nott'm Forest face competition for top manager target
The Forest owner is understood to believe Silva could provide the stability, tactical structure and Premier League credibility needed to elevate the club to the next level.

TEAMtalk can reveal Marinakis would be prepared to make a decisive move if Silva indicates he is open to taking over at the City Ground.

However, Forest are far from alone in pursuing the former Everton and Hull City boss. Chelsea continue to assess Silva as part of their ongoing managerial search following the decision to move on from Liam Rosenior.

As TEAMtalk reported earlier this week, the Blues are considering a broad shortlist of candidates and Silva remains a respected figure among influential members of the Stamford Bridge hierarchy.

Chelsea appreciate Silva's Premier League experience, attacking style of football and proven ability to improve players within structured systems.

Meanwhile, Benfica are also monitoring Silva closely as they prepare for the likely departure of Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho is expected to return to Real Madrid this summer, forcing Benfica into the market for a new head coach and Silva is among the names being seriously discussed internally.

TEAMtalk understands Benfica view Silva as a coach capable of restoring domestic dominance while also implementing an attractive, modern playing style.

Despite the growing interest, Fulham remain keen to keep Silva and value the work he has done at Craven Cottage immensely.

However, with multiple major clubs now circling and Marinakis prepared to act aggressively once again, Silva's future is shaping up to become one of the most fascinating managerial stories of the summer.



https://www.teamtalk.com/nottingham-forest/vitor-pereira-sack-nottingham-forest-marco-silva-evangelos-marinakis

[WhiteJC]

"Incredible goal instincts" – Fulham interest in striker unsurprising for journalist
Fulham's interest in PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi is no surprise, as the forward has "incredible goal instincts".

That's the opinion of journalist Wim Kieft. His comments on the Fulham target from the KieftJansenEgmondGijp podcast have been relayed by Voetbal Primeur.

Ricardo Pepi's goalscoring ability
Ricard Pepi has continue to impress in the Netherlands since being close to joining Fulham in the January transfer window. Last weekend saw him find the net for the fourth consecutive time in the league.

His goal against Go Ahead Eagles took him to 15 in the league this season and 18 in all competitions. That's despite playing just 1616 minutes this season due to injury problems. He's played in less than 50% of the available minutes in the Eredivisie.

He has already matched his tally from last season, when he had 18 goals in 29 games in all competitions and 1132 minutes of action.

The 23-year-old appears destined for a big summer move as a result. Fulham, of course, tried to get a deal done in January. They continued negotiating after the window closed, before PSV pulled the plug as the clubs couldn't reach an agreement.

Summer transfer likely
It now remains to be seen if they return for a third attempt. Kief, clearly, thinks that they will.

"He is a class above Ueda," he said.

"That is simply true; that guy has an incredible goal-scoring instinct. So, I don't find it strange at all that they (Fulham) see that too." Asked if he thinks that Pepi would prove himself at Craven Cottage, Kieft agreed.

"I think so," he added.

"He scored them at FC Groningen too. That boy has a good shot, is good at heading, and has a very good sense of positioning."

Eyes will be on Fulham to see what they do next. After two failed attempts, perhaps they will turn their attention elsewhere. That would be a mistake, at least as far as Kieft is concerned.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/incredible-goal-instincts-fulham-interest-in-striker-unsurprising-for-journalist/

[WhiteJC]

Mullins named PL2 Head Coach of the Season
Hayden Mullins is the winner of the inaugural PL2 Head Coach of the Season award.

The Fulham Under-21s boss was voted Head Coach of the Season following both a peer nomination and panel review process.

This season, the former West Ham midfielder took our U21 side on a seven-month unbeaten run in PL2. That 13-game streak was eventually halted by Crystal Palace in February, but our Young Whites still managed a top-four finish in the 29-team division.

Across his three years at the club, Mullins has led Fulham to third, second and fourth-placed finishes in PL2. His body of work is even more impressive when you consider that he led our Young Whites to the Premier League Cup title in 2024 and reached the Semi-Finals of the Premier League International Cup 12 months later.

Mullins, who was presented with the award at the Premier League Youth Development Conference at Wembley Stadium, told fulhamfc.com: "It's an honour to be recognised by your peers, the ones that work in your field.

"It's not just me, it's the whole MDT who have played their part in this as well. It feels like we're doing something right here and that we're on the right path. This award just reflects the hard work that the team have put in this year."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/may/12/mullins-wins-pl2-head-coach-of-the-season/

[hovewhite]

Nott'm Forest considering shock Pereira sack as Marinakis eyes stunning reunion with Prem boss
 Nottingham Forest retain a strong interest in Fulham boss Marco Silva and could make a shock managerial change this summer if the Portuguese coach signals a willingness to move to the City Ground, TEAMtalk understands.

Silva has admirers across Europe following another impressive spell with Fulham, but Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis remains one of his biggest supporters after their hugely successful time together at Olympiakos.

As TEAMtalk has previously reported, the relationship between Silva and Marinakis has remained extremely strong since their period in Greece, where Silva guided Olympiakos, who are also owned by Marinakis, to the 2016 Super League title.

That campaign included a remarkable European-record run of 17 consecutive domestic victories at the start of the season and firmly cemented Silva's reputation as one of the most promising young coaches in Europe at the time.

Interestingly, when Silva took over at Olympiakos, he replaced fellow Portuguese coach Vitor Pereira, and TEAMtalk understands a similar sequence could now unfold again at Forest.

The former Wolves chief took over from Sean Dyche in February and has guided them to safety, and also made the semi-finals of the Europa League.

But sources have now confirmed to TEAMtalk that Marinakis is considering another managerial reshuffle this summer despite Forest already going through four different managers during the current campaign.

Nott'm Forest face competition for top manager target
The Forest owner is understood to believe Silva could provide the stability, tactical structure and Premier League credibility needed to elevate the club to the next level.

TEAMtalk can reveal Marinakis would be prepared to make a decisive move if Silva indicates he is open to taking over at the City Ground.

However, Forest are far from alone in pursuing the former Everton and Hull City boss. Chelsea continue to assess Silva as part of their ongoing managerial search following the decision to move on from Liam Rosenior.

As TEAMtalk reported earlier this week, the Blues are considering a broad shortlist of candidates and Silva remains a respected figure among influential members of the Stamford Bridge hierarchy.

Chelsea appreciate Silva's Premier League experience, attacking style of football and proven ability to improve players within structured systems.

Meanwhile, Benfica are also monitoring Silva closely as they prepare for the likely departure of Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho is expected to return to Real Madrid this summer, forcing Benfica into the market for a new head coach and Silva is among the names being seriously discussed internally.

TEAMtalk understands Benfica view Silva as a coach capable of restoring domestic dominance while also implementing an attractive, modern playing style.

Despite the growing interest, Fulham remain keen to keep Silva and value the work he has done at Craven Cottage immensely.

However, with multiple major clubs now circling and Marinakis prepared to act aggressively once again, Silva's future is shaping up to become one of the most fascinating managerial stories of the summer.



https://www.teamtalk.com/nottingham-forest/vitor-pereira-sack-nottingham-forest-marco-silva-evangelos-marinakis

we could do a manager swap, it could be a master stroke by our owners.

[WindyCity]

The Charlie Austin commentary above is not wrong by any stretch.  This team does not shoot enough.  But I don't understand why they would be so "scared" to have a go?  You can't score unless you shoot.  I was glad to see the Lukic distance shot v Bournemouth, it was well taken and little more flair/bend in the shot might have produced a goal.  Need to do much more of this.  If "scared" is the right word, then Berge is the biggest scaredy-cat in the team. 

[Jim©]

The Charlie Austin commentary above is not wrong by any stretch.  This team does not shoot enough.  But I don't understand why they would be so "scared" to have a go?  You can't score unless you shoot.  I was glad to see the Lukic distance shot v Bournemouth, it was well taken and little more flair/bend in the shot might have produced a goal.  Need to do much more of this.  If "scared" is the right word, then Berge is the biggest scaredy-cat in the team. 

It's him with his usual hatred for us (think he may be a QPR fan).

Shot wise v Bournemouth we had just a couple less than we usually do- hit the crossbar twice, Muniz missed an easy header, Lukic hit a classy swerver, Kevin hit a decent dipper and Bobb should have done way better after waltzing around their whole team. Bournemouth had half of ours, but no "they're scared to shoot" accusations there.

By the way, we're 11th in league for shots per game- 12.42,  Man City lead with 15.7

[WindyCity]

The Charlie Austin commentary above is not wrong by any stretch.  This team does not shoot enough.  But I don't understand why they would be so "scared" to have a go?  You can't score unless you shoot.  I was glad to see the Lukic distance shot v Bournemouth, it was well taken and little more flair/bend in the shot might have produced a goal.  Need to do much more of this.  If "scared" is the right word, then Berge is the biggest scaredy-cat in the team. 

It's him with his usual hatred for us (think he may be a QPR fan).  Shot wise v Bournemouth we had just a couple less than we usually do- hit the crossbar twice, Muniz missed an easy header, Lukic hit a classy swerver, Kevin hit a decent dipper and Bobb should have done way better after waltzing around their whole team. Bournemouth had half of ours, but no "they're scared to shoot" accusations there.  By the way, we're 11th in league for shots per game- 12.42,  Man City lead with 15.7

Thx for the response.  Would be interested where FFC ranks in league for shots on goal.
That said, just the old eye test, I still believe FFC does not shoot enough and take those shots when opportunity is created.  I've been on about lack of shot taking all season long, and even least season as well.  And, of course, Berge performance within this context is plain to see.  I still stand by my critique  of lack of shot taking, but can't rap my head around why they would be so "scared" to have a go?

[Jim©]

Thx for the response.  Would be interested where FFC ranks in league for shots on goal.
That said, just the old eye test, I still believe FFC does not shoot enough and take those shots when opportunity is created.  I've been on about lack of shot taking all season long, and even least season as well.  And, of course, Berge performance within this context is plain to see.  I still stand by my critique  of lack of shot taking, but can't rap my head around why they would be so "scared" to have a go?

Shots on target we're worse off- down in 16th (3.6 per game). Man Utd top with 5.5 per game.
I agree that the naked eye tells you that but I wonder if it's a by-product of an increasingly attritional league where teams are content to sit deep and bore the other team into submission!!