Monday Fulham Stuff (11/07/11)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Gera - I snubbed Fulham stay
Hungarian hopes to start training with Baggies in a month

Midfielder Zoltan Gera claims he shunned Fulham's offer of a new deal in favour of a West Brom return.

The Hungary international will rejoin Roy Hodgson's side this summer on the condition he can prove his fitness, having undergone surgery on his ankle last week.

Gera, who spent four seasons at the Hawthorns before moving to Fulham in the summer of 2008, is hoping to pen a two-year deal with the option of a further year at the Midlands club.

The 32-year-old's contract at Craven Cottage expired this summer, but he insists new manager Martin Jol wanted him to stay.

"There was a chance of me staying at Fulham but I had already made a verbal agreement with West Bromwich Albion," he told origo.hu.

"After I spoke to Hodgson the Fulham manager changed. They wanted me to stay but I didn't want to break my agreement (with West Brom)."

Grateful

He added: "I'm grateful to Fulham for the years I spent there. I've received only good things from them.

"I felt good and they wanted me to stay. It's not true that they told me to go, it was my own decision. I considered it to be the best thing for me."

Gera is targeting a return to training with West Brom in a month's time, adding: "I hope I can attend training in one month but I wouldn't like to put a definite time on my recovery.

"I needed this operation so I would not have any more problems with my ankle in the future.

"I'm very grateful to West Brom for helping me. I'm happy that they made it public that we're close to agreeing a deal.

"I'd love to sign my contract at West Brom and I think they want me too. I hope that everything will be cleared up in the near future.

"If everything goes well I plan to sign a two-year contract with the option to extend it by a year."



http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_7032179,00.html?

[WhiteJC]

 
Martin Jol makes Somogyi his first Fulham signing

Fulham have confirmed Hungarian goalkeeper Csaba Somogyi has signed a one-year-deal with the club following a successful trial.

Somogyi, 26, has become Martin Jol's first signing since he took over at Craven Cottage and also had a trial at Ajax during Jol's time in charge at the Dutch club.

The former Rakospalotai EAC man signed as a free agent and the club have an option to extend the deal by a further year until 2013.

He will compete with Mark Schwarzer and David Stockdale to be first-choice at Fulham, although Stockdale has been linked with a move away from the club.



http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/100531.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

[WhiteJC]

 
Hungarian goalkeeper Csaba Somogyi joins Fulham

Hungarian goalkeeper Csaba Somogyi has joined Fulham on a one-year deal.

The 26-year-old free agent is Martin Jol's first signing since taking over as manager at Craven Cottage in June.

Somogyi, who impressed Jol in 2010 during a trial at his former club Ajax, will compete with Mark Schwarzer and David Stockdale to be number one.

However, Somogyi's arrival could pave the way for Stockdale, who has been linked with a move to Premier League newcomers Swansea, to leave Fulham.

BBC Wales Sport understands that the Swans have failed with a £2m bid for the 25-year-old goalkeeper.

But over the weekend, Stockdale was reported as saying a move to the south Wales club would "suit me down to the ground".

He added: "They've signed a new goalkeeper [Csaba Somogyi], so hopefully that paves the way for a loan move. I want to play games."



http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14108726.stm?

[WhiteJC]

 
Swansea City bid for David Stockdale rejected by Fulham

Swansea City have failed with a £2m bid for Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale, BBC Wales Sport understands.

Premier League newcomers Swansea have already signed keeper Jose Moreira from Benfica to replace Dorus de Vries, who has joined Wolverhampton Wanderers.

But manager Brendan Rodgers is keen to increase his options between the posts, and has made Stockdale his priority.

The 25-year-old stopper has found regular first-team football hard to come by at Craven Cottage.

Fulham signed Stockdale from Darlington on a two-year deal in 2008, but he has managed only 13 appearances for the Premier League side as an understudy to Mark Schwarzer.

Stockdale, who has had loans spell at Leicester, Rotherham and Plymouth Argyle, is keen to find regular first-team action to move his career forward.



http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14039566.stm

[WhiteJC]

 
Nicklas Bendtner 'in talks to leave' with Villa, Bolton, and Fulham waiting
Arsenal have confirmed Nicklas Bendtner is 'talking to other clubs', with Aston Villa, Fulham, Bolton and Newcastle thought to be interested.

The Danish striker and Manuel Almunia were left out of Arsenal's 23-man squad that travelled to Asia for a pre-season tour, and Arsene Wenger has revealed that the two have been left at home to sort out their futures.

'Both of them are possible departures,' said the manager.

'They are talking to other clubs at the moment. I cannot tell you which ones.'

Villa, Fulham, Bolton and Newcastle are all on the hunt for new firepower this summer, and early reports suggested Bendtner could be involved in a swap deal with Wanderers defender Gary Cahill.

However, the 23-year-old forward wasn't said to be keen on a move to the Reebok, and would favour a move abroad to either Borussia Dortmund or Sporting Lisbon, who have so far failed to match Arsenal £12million valuation.

Young defender Ignasi Miquel is another alternative to be used as a makeweight in the Cahill deal, as the Gunners could offer Bolton the Spaniard on a one-year loan.



Read more: http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/868961-nicklas-bendtner-in-talks-to-leave-with-aston-villa-bolton-and-fulham-waiting#ixzz1RoNKpe9q

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham snap up goalkeeper

Fulham have confirmed Hungarian goalkeeper Csaba Somogyi has signed a one-year-deal with the club following a successful trial.

Somogyi, 26, has become Martin Jol's first signing since he took over at Craven Cottage and also had a trial at Ajax during Jol's time in charge at the Dutch club.

The former Rakospalotai EAC man signed as a free agent and the club have an option to extend the deal by a further year until 2013.

He will compete with Mark Schwarzer and David Stockdale to be first-choice at Fulham, although Stockdale has been linked with a move away from the club.



http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-sport/football/article-23968960-fulham-snap-up-goalkeeper.do?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham's keeper signing opens Stockdale loan door
Fulham - Csaba Somogyi signs from Rakospalotai EAC after trial

Fulham have announced the signing of Hungarian goalkeeper Csaba Somogyi from Rakospalotai EAC on a free transfer.

Somogyi signed after a completing weeklong trial with the Cottagers, a year after the 26-year-old underwent the same process with Ajax, where he impressed now Fulham manager Martin Jol during his time at the Amsterdam Arena.

Somogyi made 43 appearances last season with the Hungarian second division side, although had limited first team experience with any club prior to that.

"I had him on a five-day trial and he made a very good impression," said goalkeeping coach Hans Segers.

"It's a big step up for Somogyi because he was playing in the Hungarian second division but he's a very good goalkeeper."



http://www.givemefootball.com/premier-league/fulhams-keeper-signing-opens-stockdale-loan-door?