Friday Fulham Stuff - 21/07/23...

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Fulham: £80k-a-week star now 'basically on strike' at Craven Cottage
Fulham boss Marco Silva has suffered a major blow as he gears his side up for the fast-approaching 2023/24 campaign

Fulham star Aleksandar Mitrovic is 'going on strike' in a bid to force through his Craven Cottage exit, and transfer insider Dean Jones has told GIVEMESPORT what Al-Hilal's next bid will be.

Although Cottagers boss Marco Silva was boosted when Willian rejected a move to Nottingham Forest and signed fresh terms in west London a matter of days ago, he is in danger of being unable to call upon his talisman in the upcoming campaign.

Fulham transfer news - Aleksandar Mitrovic
According to Sky Sports, Mitrovic has told relatives he will never play for Fulham again after believing his current employers have priced him out of a move to Al-Hilal by setting a £52million price tag.

The report suggests agent Pini Zahavi and PFA representatives had to convince the striker to join his teammates on a pre-season tour of the United States, while his representatives are urging vice-chairman Tony Khan to lower the Cottagers' valuation to between £35million and £45million.

Fulham are desperate to hold onto Mitrovic after he scored 15 goals in 28 appearances last season, playing a key role in Silva's side finishing in the top half during their first campaign back in the Premier League.

The Cottagers are also in a strong negotiating position as the Serbia international's contract, which allows him to pocket £80,000-per-week, still has three years to run.

Al-Hilal have been eager to make Mitrovic the next Premier League star to secure a life-changing deal in big-spending Saudi Arabia, but Fulham snubbed a £25million bid earlier this month.

The 28-year-old has found the back of the net 111 times since joining the capital club, winning the Championship title along the way.

What has Dean Jones said about Mitrovic?
Jones believes Zahavi is pushing Mitrovic to essentially go on strike by threatening to refuse to play for Fulham again.

The respected journalist understands that Al-Hilal are preparing to make another bid worth up to £40million, but they could turn their attentions back towards Chelsea frontman Romelu Lukaku if the Cottagers stand firm and are unwilling to do business.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT: "The narrative being played out is that Mitrovic is basically going on strike now. It's surprising he would be so aggressive over his stance on this. It's impossible not to believe that his agent is the one driving it and, in fairness, I don't think Mitrovic actually told Fulham he would not go.

"Of course, the money is there to change Mitrovic's life now, but why would Fulham not expect to benefit similarly if he's going to go? The Saudi Arabian teams have been willing to throw fortunes into deals on the player side of things, but the actual transfer fees don't relate to it.

There is a drive to try and sign Mitrovic, with one more offer from Al-Hilal to come of around €40million to €45million, from what I'm told.

"I can't see Fulham accepting that, but we'll see. Don't forget Al-Hilal also wanted Lukaku initially, ahead of Mitrovic, and he's still on the market, so there's probably a little bit of panic involved in all this too."

What's next for Fulham?
Transfer insider Jones recently told GIVEMESPORT that Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi and Benfica's Morato are keen on sealing a move to Fulham.

The reporter suggests new bids for both players are possible as Silva looks to make his first additions to the squad during the summer window.

According to the Daily Mail, Fulham suffered a setback in their pursuit of Hudson-Odoi when rivals Chelsea rejected their opening bid earlier this month.

The Cottagers were looking to pounce after it emerged that the wide-man, who spent last season on loan with Bayer Leverkusen, wants to seal his permanent exit from Stamford Bridge.

Fulham have also attempted to bolster their backline with the acquisition of Morato, but Benfica are refusing to sell him on the cheap and turned down an £18million proposal despite the Brazilian's desire to head to the Premier League.



https://www.givemesport.com/fulham-transfer-news-80k-a-week-star-basically-on-strike-craven-cottage/

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Marco Silva considers £40m offer from Al-Ahli as Fulham face key Aleksandar Mitrovic decision
Fulham face the prospect of losing two key figures to Saudi Arabia this summer

Al-Ahli have offered Fulham manager Marco Silva a two-year deal worth around £40million.

The 46-year-old continues to mull over a decision between life-changing money or staying in the Premier League, which he believes will further his career.

The dilemma lies solely with Silva, who has a £6m release clause in his contract which the Cottagers powerless to stop his exit.

Silva's future could also be tied to that of his star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has seen Fulham turn down several bids from Al-Hilal despite wanting to move to Saudi Arabia.

Mitrovic's potential departure could leave Silva concerned about the situation at Craven Cottage, with any sale risking the manager considering his future further.

It's a difficult position for Fulham, who are chasing several key transfer targets for Silva. The club are trying to sign a high quality defender to replace Tosin Adarabioyo, with Benfica's Morato and Ajax's Calvin Bassey as two key current targets.

Callum Hudson-Odoi is also a key target but negotiations with Chelsea have stalled over the asking price and Nottingham Forest are also considering a move for the 22-year-old winger.

There's a feeling several targets are also reluctant to move to Fulham until Silva and Mitrovic's situations are resolved.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/silva-weighs-up-ps40m-saudi-deal-as-fulham-powerless-to-stop-his-exit-b1095830.html

[WhiteJC]

West Ham: Palhinha "said to want" move
The Portugal international starred last campaign.

Fulham star Joao Palhinha is "said to want" a move across London to West Ham United, according to reliable club insider ExWHUemployee.

Who will West Ham sign?
Following the departure of star midfielder Declan Rice to Arsenal, there is a lot of work to be done for manager David Moyes as the Irons look to source as a capable replacement.

The England international made the move to Mikel Arteta's side in a British record £105 million transfer deal (including £5m in add-ons), giving West Ham a huge financial windfall but also a glaring squad problem to solve.

There have been a fair few star midfielders linked with a move to the London Stadium, notably Switzerland international Denis Zakaria, Bayern Munich star Leon Goretzka and Man United's Scott McTominay.

Palhinha is another player of interest to West Ham in that position, though some reports suggest Fulham are set to dig their heels in and could even demand as much as £90 million (The Daily Mail).

The Portugal international, who dazzled at Craven Cottage in his debut season after signing from Sporting Lisbon last summer, is apparently keen to join West Ham.

That's according to ExWHUemployee, who claimed on his Patreon (via The West Ham Way) that Palhinha is personally said to want to make the move.

However, there is a problem in the form of his club, who are not particularly keen to sell their star and have rejected West Ham's opening bid for him.

"Whilst Fulham are said to have turned down the first offer from West Ham for Joao Palhinha, the player is said to want a move across London," stated Ex.

"He could speak to Fulham to see what their plans are for him. Although as of our last report the club do have a number of other defensive midfielder targets so Fulham would have to lower their demands significantly for a deal to happen."

How good is Joao Palhinha?
The 28-year-old, according to WhoScored, ranked as one of Marco Silva's best-performing players by average match rating whilst scoring multiple goals from midfield.

Palhinha was also an un-droppable member of the Fulham starting eleven, with goalkeeper Bernd Leno being the only player in their squad to feature over more league minutes (WhoScored).

Over 2022/2023, the tough-tackling ace averaged more successful challenges per 90 than any other Fulham star, and than anyone in the entire Premier League for that matter (WhoScored).

Want-away Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, speaking last season, called Palhinha an "amazing, amazing" player and one of their best 2022 summer signings.

"I think this year there's been some sensational [signings] that we have made," said Mitrovic.

"For me personally, [Joao] Palhinha is the signing of the season so far, amazing, amazing [player].

"[Bernd] Leno is the signing that we made that's amazing. The players who fit straight away and didn't need time to adapt like before, they fit straight away."

Meanwhile, Sporting boss Ruben Amorim also lavished praise on Palhinha during the "special" player's time in Portugal.

"I often tell Palhinha that he is very good without the ball and with the ball," said Amorim in 2021.

"More than a tactical coach, I get it in Palhinha's head that he is a special player."



https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league-west-ham-fulham-joao-palhinha-transfer-news-latest/

[WhiteJC]

Tottenham and Fulham keen on Beto
Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham are both interested in Udinese star Beto this summer

According to Nathan Gissing via Twitter, Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham are both interested in the services of Usinese star Beto in the ongoing summer transfer window.

The 25-year-old joined Le Zebrette in 2021 (initially on loan) and has since emerged as an important player for the Serie A side. He has netted 21 goals in 63 appearances for the club across all competitions and steadily making a name for himself at the Dacia Arena.

The Portuguese ace is a late bloomer and is yet to make a mark at any level of the international game. A move to a bigger club will certainly earn him more attention and elevate his standing among the fans.

Beto has several options at his disposal with Tottenham, Fulham, Juventus and Napoli all interested. Udinese are not averse to his sale and are seeking a fee of about €35 million for his services.

Tottenham lacks a viable alternative to Harry Kane and could find themselves in trouble should the English international be unavailable. Kane is currently in the final year of his deal at the club and has been linked with an exit to Bayern Munich.

Should he be moved on, Spurs will need to bring in a reliable goalscorer. While Beto is far from prolific, he could be a good fit for Ange Postecoglou's site and should link up well with the other attackers around him.

The same goes for Fulham who could lose Aleksandar Mitrovic to Saudi Arabia. This leaves them without a focal point of attack ahead of the 2023-24 season. He is unlikely to be a direct replacement given that Beto is not the best player to hold up the ball up top.

In fact, the Portuguese ace is more of a dribbler who excels at finishing. As long as Marco Silva uses him to get behind the opposition's defences, there is a chance he could thrive at Craven Cottage.

Both Tottenham and Fulham will need to move quickly as Napoli appears the most keen to land Beto's services. The Serie A holders are a team on the rise and can offer Beto a chance to take his game to the next level in a league he is familiar with.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/07/21/tottenham-and-fulham-keen-on-beto/

[WhiteJC]

Chelsea reject chance to sign impressive Premier League midfielder as he is too old
Chelsea are believed to have rejected the chance to try and sign Fulham's Joao Palhinha as the Blues feel the midfielder is too old.

That is according to talkSPORT, who report that the West London club were presented with Palhinha as a possible alternative to top target Moises Caicedo but they decided to reject the opportunity as the 28-year-old does not match the age profile Chelsea's recruitment team are looking for.

The Portuguese star was one of the most impressive players in the Premier League last season with Fulham and his performances have gained him a lot of attention during this summer's transfer window.

Chelsea will continue to pursue Caicedo but as of now, the Brighton star looks no closer to moving to Stamford Bridge.

According to the report, a new offer for Palhinha may arrive soon from West Ham after their initial £40m bid was rejected by their London neighbours.

The Hammers are in the market in search of a replacement for Declan Rice and have identified the Fulham star as a solid option. The Cottagers will not want to lose one of their star performers from last season and will do their best to hold on, or at least get a big fee.



https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/07/20/chelsea-reject-chance-to-sign-impressive-premier-league-midfielder-as-he-is-too-old/

[WhiteJC]

Mitrovic's Departure Could Spell Disaster For Fulham
Saudi Pro League's Big Spending Spree
As the Saudi Pro League teams continue to throw money around with reckless abandon, it appears that the Premier League has become a hunting ground for the PIF-backed big four who are looking to build "super teams" with big-name stars.

Al-Hilal's Star-Studded Signings
One of those PIF-backed clubs is Al-Hilal who have signed Premier League stars Ruben Neves and Kalidou Koulibaly this summer, as well as snapping up one of the best players in all of Serie A in Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. The Neves and Milinkovic-Savic deals were especially surprising as they don't fit the "over 30 and declining" profile of players like Koulibaly and others who are gathering in the Middle East.

Building a Consistent Team
Clearly Al Hilal want to build a team with star names still in their prime who might not be of the same type of calibre as Karim Benzema, Ngolo Kante, and Cristiano Ronaldo but who, over the course of a season, might be able to maintain a more consistent level.

Mitrovic: The Next Target
Following on from the signing of Milinkovic-Savic it appears they have now set their sights on his close friend and international team-mate Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham.

Mitrovic's Journey in Premier League
Mitrovic joined Fulham in the winter window of the 17/18 season and prior to this season had developed a reputation of being far too good for the Championship but not good enough for the Premier League. He put that to bed last season, scoring 14 goals in just over 2000 minutes.

A Season of Ups and Downs
His season wasn't without disappointment though as he was handed an eight-match ban for grabbing the arm of a referee. It felt like an unjust ban, and it was a real shame because Mitrovic had been so impressive up to that point in the season.

Mitrovic's Potential Move to Saudi Pro League
Reports suggest that Mitrovic has agreed to personal terms with the Saudi club and is determined to move. It would be disappointing from a Premier League perspective because the 28-year-old is one of the best strikers in the division and a lot of fun to watch, but from a Fulham perspective, it's potentially devastating.

The Impact on Fulham
They have turned down two bids for the player so far, and Mitrovic has reportedly declared that he will never play for the club again as he looks to secure the untold wealth on offer in the Saudi Pro League.

He is Fulham's star, their talisman, and their best player. He enabled them to compete at the highest level last season and was vital to them outperforming expectations in their first season back in the top flight. To lose him unexpectedly, without a succession plan in place, could have a catastrophic impact on them next summer.

The Challenge of Replacing Mitrovic
The market is not flush with strikers who could come in and replace what he brings, not just in terms of goals but also hold-up and link play, work rate, and defensive contributions on set pieces.

Looking Ahead: Fulham's Options
Perhaps they might look to replace him with multiple players, although that could prove cost-prohibitive, but if they are going to let him leave they need to do so soon in order to begin the process of replacing him.



https://eplindex.com/92597/mitrovics-departure-could-spell-disaster-for-fulham.html

[WhiteJC]

Fulham Face Battle To Hold On To Marco Silva
Fulham are battling to hold on to Marco Silva amidst interest from Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli this summer, according to talkSPORT.

The Cottagers are already facing the prospect of losing Aleksandar Mitrovic, who is interested in taking up a lucrative offer from Al Hilal.

And the Premier League side are now facing the real danger of losing their manager with a little less than a month left before the start of the new Premier League season.

Al Ahli have offered a two-contract worth £40m to take Silva to Saudi Arabia this summer.

The Portuguese earned praise for leading Fulham to a top-half finish in the league last season following getting promoted to the Premier League.

But Fulham are battling to convince Silva to ignore the lucrative offer from the Saudis and stay at Craven Cottage.

He is in the final year of his contract at Fulham and is yet to commit to a new deal with the club.

The Fulham boss is en route to the US where Fulham will take part in pre-season friendlies in the coming days.

It remains to be seen whether Fulham manage to hold on to Silva amidst the serious interest from Al Ahli.



https://insidefutbol.com/2023/07/20/fulham-face-battle-to-hold-on-to-marco-silva/611749/