Monday Fulham Stuff (07/01/13)...

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Everton bid to snatch Forren from Fulham's grasp with rival £4m offer

Everton are believed to have had a £4million bid for Norway defender Vegard Forren accepted by his club Molde.

Fulham reportedly made an offer for the 24-year-old on Thursday and Molde boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed Forren was set to leave the club.

But, according to The Sun, Everton have now rivalled Fulham's bid and are in pole position to wrap up Forren's signature this week.


Wanted man: Vegard Forren is a target for Fulham and Everton

Solskjaer confirmed last week: 'Vegard is not travelling to the national team camp, because we are in the final stages of negotiations with another club.

'It's possible that Vegard will go for a medical check-up and negotiate his personal contract.'

The centre back, who can also play at left back, has also attracted interest from Sunderland.


In the market: David Moyes wants to sign defensive reinforcements



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2257924/Everton-4m-bid-Vegard-Forren.html#ixzz2HGBJkKJU
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[WhiteJC]

 
Senderos for Sale?
   
One leading Sunday tabloid carries the inference that Martin Jol may be prepared to call time on the Fulham career of Philippe Senderos.

The Swiss defender, used by Jol this season to partner Brede Hangeland on some occasions, is, the tabloid suggests, to be sold to provide transfer funds for the January transfer window.

It remains to be seen if there`ll be any takers.



Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=304743#ixzz2HGBltgdR

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol to Pursue His Kaiser
   
Rumours are rife that Tottenham Hotspur are looking at off-loading Tom Huddlestone this transfer window.

Rumours are also rife that Martin Jol would be more than keen to bring the midfielder to Craven Cottage.

Jol and Huddlestone have worked together before, when Jol was in charge at White Hart Lane with Jol decreeing that Huddlestone was similar in style to the legendary German player - Franz Beckenbauer.

Will it happen?

Let`s sit back and wait and see shall we!



Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=304744#ixzz2HGC1CToR

[WhiteJC]

 
A Swap Deal
   
Rumours persist that Martin Jol is on the lookout for a goalkeeper.

This morning an interesting proposition is being championed by one source.

It`s inferring that Jol would like to negotiate a swap deal with Birmingham City whereby the promising young England keeper Jack Butland would arrive at Craven Cottage with David Stockdale moving to St Andrews.

Far-fetched or quite possible?

I guess time will be the judge on this one!



Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=304746#ixzz2HGCBvZhm

[WhiteJC]

 
Well Thanks a Bunch
   
It had been assumed that having spent a considerable period of time with us, recuperating from injury, Sinan Bolat would become a Fulham player.

But not so, the twenty-eight year-old Standard Liege goalkeeper, now fit after recovering from his knee injury, has, as his agent Kismet Eris puts it,

"Sinan has decided not to play in England."

Well, thanks for nothing!



Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=304750#ixzz2HGCMxAJl

[WhiteJC]

 
Stockdale sure Fulham will progress in FA Cup replay against Blackpool


David Stockdale: Ready for Blackpool replay

Goalkeeper David Stockdale is 'confident' Fulham will avoid an FA Cup upset when they travel to Blackpool for their third-round replay.

The Cottagers came within 10 minutes of being dumped out of the competition on their own patch on Saturday but Giorgos Karagounis' sensational equaliser denied the Championship club a famous win.

Stockdale, who avoided a repeat of his horror show in his last home game against Swansea, said: "We were going for it a bit more so we got caught a few times. We might have been more patient, but I'm confident going up there as well.

"They will fancy their chances up there but we have to play the same way with the same attitude. I think the goals will then come."

Stockdale insists Fulham should have sealed a place in the fourth round at the first time of asking.

The 27-year-old said: "We dominated the game but a silly bit of defending cost us. We had a enough crosses and chances to get more out of it.

"It wasn't to be be but we have to keep the faith. Blackpool was never going to be walkover."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8383381?

[WhiteJC]

 
FA Youth Cup Tie Rearranged

Fulham's FA Youth Cup Fourth Round clash at Arsenal – originally scheduled for Wednesday 16th January (7pm) at Barnet's Underhill Stadium – will now be played on a new date.

Arsenal's first team drew their FA Cup tie against Swansea City on Sunday and the Replay is due to take place at The Emirates on the same evening as the FA Youth Cup tie.

Confirmation of the new Youth Cup date will be announced in due course.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/january/06/fa-youth-cup-tie-rearranged?

[WhiteJC]

 
Hammers Or United Await

Fulham or Blackpool will be away to West Ham United or Manchester United in the Fourth Round of the FA Cup with Budweiser.

The draw, which took place on Sunday, pitted the winners of the Replay between the Whites and the Tangerines with a fixture against either the Hammers or the Red Devils, who drew 2-2 at Upton Park on Saturday. The Fourth Round tie will take place on the weekend of 26/27th January.

Fulham were held 1-1 by Blackpool at the Cottage in Saturday afternoon's Third Round tie, setting up the Replay at Bloomfield Road on Tuesday 15th January (8pm).

Ticket details for the trip to the home of the Seasiders will be released in due course.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/january/06/fa-cup-draw?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham linked with move for St Etienne winger Banel Nicolita


Banel Nicolita: Linked with a move to Fulham

Romanian winger Banel Nicolita admits he is in the dark over rumours linking him with a switch to Fulham, but claims he would be interested in a move to England.

Reports in his native Romania claim Fulham are lining up a move for the St Etienne man during this month's transfer window.

Nicolita has been a long-term target for Fulham, with the club credited with an interest in the 27-year-old during the summer transfer window.

He has endured a difficult 2012 because of injury and he is not expected to return to action until February following his latest problem.

The versatile performer will hold talks with St Etienne about his future as he waits to see if Fulham make a move for his signature.

"I don't know anything about this transfer but as far as I know there are no reasons why I couldn't leave," Nicolita told Dolce Sport.

"When I get back to France I will have a discussion with the bosses from the team if I am supposed to have a discussion. If not, I will prepare as well as I have done so far.

"I would like to play in England because it is a strong championship but at the moment I like being at Saint Etienne.

"My aim is to recover and get into the first team. That's the most important for me at the moment."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8383798?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham manager Martin Jol regrets the fading romance of the FA Cup following third-round draw with Blackpool
Martin Jol bucked convention by naming a full-strength side at home to Blackpool but even the Dutchman, a firm believer in the value of the FA Cup, admitted that British football's love of the competition has "changed over the last 10 years or so".

Giorgos Karagounis' superb equaliser and first goal for the club earned Fulham a replay but Jol, who reached the semi-finals of the competition as a player with West Bromwich Albion and, more recently, the quarter-finals as manager of Tottenham Hotspur , was disappointed some of the magic has disappeared.

"We had fourteen, fifteen thousand here today and that is good but I would like to have sell outs all the time because that is what I tell people abroad: in the early stages we have sell-outs," he said. "It was such a good competition and an unbelievable cup to win."

The replay at Bloomfield Road will be on a pitch that Blackpool manager Michael Appleton has described as a "cabbage patch" but the slick surface at Craven Cottage posed no problems to the visitors as they more than held their own in a 1-1 draw.

"It wasn't to be but we have to keep the faith," said Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale who was forced into smart saves from Thomas Ince and Kevin Phillips during a first half in which Blackpool dominated. "Blackpool was never going to be a walkover."

Appleton's men led here until 10 minutes from time after Ludovic Sylvestre had latched onto Nathan Delfouneso's pass to fire low into the corner on the hour mark. Fulham got the draw that their second-half performance deserved though Karagounis' 25-yard half-volley.

"It was a great goal. It was important and I wish it was the winner," said the former Greece captain reflecting on his strike.

"We were under pressure and, unfortunately, it's a super strike that's done us and that's why they've got the draw," conceded Blackpool defender Neal Eardley who is enjoying a recent return to the team. "Sometimes, that just happens and you just have to take it on the chin. We just wanted to come here and express ourselves and enjoy it. We did that."



http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/9783986/Fulham-manager-Martin-Jol-regrets-the-fading-romance-of-the-FA-Cup-following-third-round-draw-with-Blackpool.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham favourites to sign Butland but only if Birmingham lower his price tag

Fulham have been put off by Birmingham's £6million demands for 19-year-old Jack Butland.

The Cottagers are in the market for a new goalkeeper with both Mark Schwarzer and David Stockdale struggling for form this season.

Roma's Maarten Stekelenburg has been linked with a switch to join his fellow countryman Martin Jol in West London, with Southampton and Liverpool also tracking Butland.


Rising Star: Butland has caught the eye of many Premier League clubs

Birmingham admitted last week that they may be forced to sell their No 1 in the January transfer window with the club's acting chairman Peter Pannu admitting he is prepared to lose the England stopper.

'I can't say that we are in a very wonderful situation, I would be lying if I said that,' he told the Birmingham Mail.

'This is a very tricky question (player sales). What I can say is that - and I might be blasted for this by the fans - but no-one is for sale and everyone is available. As at any club.


International cap: Butland is the youngest keeper to play for the England side

'Give me a £15m offer for Jack Butland, can I say no? I have rejected £6m from Southampton (in the summer) but I rejected it when our finances were okay.

'As the time is ticking, I might not be able to reject it if I get something similar. I do have a responsibility to keep the club running.
'My top priority now - and if I do offend anyone, I care not - is to make sure this club stays afloat.'


Dutch delight: Stekelenburg has been the regular Holland keeper since van der Sar retired



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2258171/Fulham-favourites-sign-Jack-Butland-Birmingham-lower-price-tag.html#ixzz2HGFS0gxk
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[WhiteJC]

 
Arsenal, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool and Southampton to duel for young star?

The Daily Star is reporting that these clubs are to fight for the signature of England international Jack Butland.

Butland, who sat out Birmingham's game against Leeds at the weekend, was first choice for the Great British side at the Olympic Games. His club are suffering financially, with acting chairman Peter Pannu seeking to sell up, possibly to a coalition headed by Flavio Briatore.

However, Butland, one of the club's remaining assets, could be sold to a Premier League side to keep the club going in the interim.

Around £6 million is thought to be enough to take Butland off Birmingham's books.



http://spoughts.co.uk/2013/01/07/arsenal-everton-fulham-liverpool-and-southampton-to-duel-for-young-star/?

[WhiteJC]

 
Nicolita hesitates over Fulham deal

Fulham target Banel Nicolita has denied that a move to the west London club is imminent.

The Romania international winger has been linked with a move to Craven Cottage ever since the summer transfer window.

But Nioloita has refused to rule out a potential move to the Premier League in the future.

However, after suffering huge injury problems this season for Ligue 1 outfit Saint-Étienne, the 27-year-old believes his first target should be returning to first-team action for his current club before thinking of moves away from the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

"I don't know anything about this transfer but as far as I know there are no reasons why I couldn't leave," Nicolita told Dolce Sport.

"When I get back to France I will have a discussion with the bosses from the team if I am supposed to have a discussion. If not, I will prepare as well as I have done so far."

The former Steaua Bucharest wideman has been capped 34 times by his country and scored three goals from 19 appearances in all competition for his current side last season.

"I would like to play in England because it is a strong championship but at the moment I like being at Saint Etienne," Nicolita said.

"My aim is to recover and get into the first team. That's the most important for me at the moment."



http://uk.soccerway.com/news/2013/January/07/nicolita-hesitates-over-fulham-deal/?