Wednesday Fulham Stuff(23/01/13)...

[WhiteJC]

 
Vasilis Torosidis has snubbed an offer from Fulham in order to join Roma

Vasilis Torosidis's agent has confirmed that Roma beat Fulham to the Greek international's signature.

The 27-year-old had been tipped to leave Olympiakos and join fellow countryman Giorgos Karagounis at Craven Cottage.

However, a late move from Roma has seen them win the race for Torosidis, who has previously spent his entire career in his homeland.

"Yes, we were about to sign the contract with Fulham but Roma have made ​​a better offer at the last minute," his agent George Kazianis to Calciomercato.

Roma have since confirmed that a deal is agreed with Olympiakos and the player is now due in the Italian capital to undergo a medical.

The club announced: "Vasilis Torosidis is speaking to Roma's directors after the club reached an agreement in principle with Olympiakos.

"The transfer is subject to the player agreeing contract terms and passing a medical."



http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8425296?

[WhiteJC]

 
And Now It is a Midfielder?
   
That almost perpetual motion machine that continues to grind out transfer speculation after transfer speculation hasn`t let us down this morning.

Today, as Martin Jol looks to improve his squad we`re linked with a midfielder, probably the one area of the squad that requires bolstering.

The player we`re linked with is the twenty-eight year old Blackpool player Ludovic Sylvestre.

No fee is mentioned, as of yet, and here at Vital Fulham we know very little of the player, apart from what we saw in our FA Cup clashes with Blackpool earlier this month.

But what is the view form the floor, is he someone we should be looking at and can he offer something to the team that, at the moment, appears to be missing?



Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=306353#ixzz2IlnFfa5Y

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol target Stekelenburg looks set to stay at Roma

Fulham target Maarten Stekelenburg is likely to stay at Roma as the Serie A side have received no bids for him.

Martin Jol has been keeping tabs on the Holland keeper, who has dropped down the pecking order behind Mauro Goicoechea in recent weeks.


Sidelined: Stekelenburg has lost his place in the Roma starting XI


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2266571/Maarten-Stekelenburg-transfer-news-No-formal-offer-Fulham.html#ixzz2IlnT0TDc
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[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham & Chelsea linked with £4m rated FC Nordsjaelland star [+video]

Central defender Jores Okore is reportedly available for £4million to Chelsea or Fulham according to his club, FC Nordsjaelland.

The 20-year-old is often referred to as one of the best defenders in the Superligaen (Danish top league). Well known for being extremely comfortable in possession and a 'ball-playing' defender, Okore has attracted plenty of Premier League attention.

Okore's agent, Nikola Juric, has also confirmed interest from the Premier League, quoted as saying:

A lot of teams are interested in him. Half of the clubs in the Premier League are after him.... I heard that Fulham made an offer to sign Okore but his club rejected the proposal."

Although, Okore has not proved himself at the very highest level yet, he has proved himself in Denmark and is seen quite rightly as one of the best players to come out of the country in recent years.

Okore is still one for the future but the youngster may get a chance to prove himself if a team like either Chelsea or Fulham do fork out the £4million needed to obtain his services.




http://threeandin.com/2013/01/22/fulham-linked-with-4m-rated-fc-nordsjaelland-star-video/?

[Bedford White]

There's at least a positive in the Maarten Stekelenburg saga. There been no offers so we still have a shout at bringing him in.

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham target likely to stay in Italy

Fulham target Maarten Stekelenburg is set to stay with Roma, according to his agent.

The Dutch international, who was once a target for Manchester United, has been heavily linked with a move away from the Italian capital, with Mauro Goicoechea having taken his position between the sticks in recent times.

Cottagers chief Martin Jol is said to be keen to draft in a new stopper, with current number one Mark Schwarzer now 40 and back-up David Stockdale having moved to Hull on loan.

He has outlined Stekelenburg, who has 54 senior international caps, as one of his top targets.

It's rumoured that Roma are willing to sell, but his agent Rob Jansen stated that there have been no bids made for the 30-year-old:

"At the moment there are just rumours and journalistic speculation." He is quoted by the Daily Mail via calciomercato.

"We have yet to receive a concrete offer, so it is therefore probable that he will stay at Roma in January rather than leave.

"We know what is moving in the goalkeeping market, but nothing has been decided."

Jol has also been linked with Birmingham's Jack Butland, who is believed to be available for around £6m.

But, he may face competition from Liverpool and Southampton, who are said to be tracking the 19-year-old England star.


http://www.footballfancast.com/premiership/fulham/fulham-target-likely-to-stay-in-italy?

[WhiteJC]

 
Jol Deserves Time to Turn Fulham Form

Talk of training-ground bust-ups, rumoured disagreements with the board and reports of covetous glances in the direction of FC Schalke; after such a positive first 12 months in charge at the Cottage, is Martin Jol's time up?

First things first; if we were playing well and collecting points, talk of his future wouldn't even be entertained. But, we are not. Since the victory at home to Newcastle in December, we have taken five points from a possible 21, failed to beat Southampton, Swansea City or Wigan Athletic at home, and been hammered by a winless QPR side. Dire stuff.

However, as of January 21, we are only one point worse off than the same time last season (albeit having played one game more). Throw in the fact that this team is without its two stand-out stars of last year, and it could be argued that we've done OK. Jol's main problem has been that the team's rampaging first couple of months of the season set a false and ultimately unsustainable standard but, as fans, we are all aware of this side's shortcomings.

Is it Jol's fault that we have failed to fill these gaps? No. Is he in charge of getting the players he wants, through the door? No. Is he in charge of negotiating new contracts with the likes of Brede Hangeland? No, that is the job of the board.
By no means am I having a go at Mohamed Al-Fayed; he has been a godsend to this club. However, the lack of transfer and contract movement is not Jol's fault. Ours is a club built on conservatism, on investing wisely and on avoiding rash decisions; that is a good thing. Getting rid of Jol now would be a rash decision and would achieve little. The Dutchman deserves the opportunity to turn this ship around.

After an excellent season last year, we are a team low in confidence and struggling through a period of transition. Patience, while hard to swallow, is required. My belief is that new players will arrive, albeit probably during the last minutes of transfer deadline day, and the team will come good. We haven't become a bad side overnight. With a must-win game next week against West Ham United, the greatest boost to this Fulham team won't be new players or a new manager; it will be the total backing of its fans.


Read more: http://pickourteam.com/premierleague/fulham/news/23-01-2013/jol-deserves-time-to-turn-fulham-form/813212?#ixzz2IoOkzDSk

[WhiteJC]

 
A new offer for Yann M'Vila has come from England, Rennes have confirmed


Yann M'Vila: New offer made from England

Rubin Kazan remain favourites to snare Yann M'Vila, but Rennes have confirmed a new offer from England has arrived.

General manager Pierre Dreossi admits the club want his situation resolved this weekend, and that an agreement with the Russian club was most likely.

Queens Park Rangers have been in talks, but now Dreossi says a new bid from England has come, and he would only confirm that it was not from Newcastle.
Arsenal, Tottenham, Fulham and Reading have also been linked with moves for the 22-year-old midfielder in recent weeks.

"It is complicated, but we are still in negotiations," said Dreossi.

"It is not agreed yet, there are delays in payment, everything. I hope we will find a solution.

"Also a new offer came in England and that could be interesting but Rubin Kazan is the priority, and we are negotiating.

"I expect the player to tell me he has reached an agreement with the club so we can finish the negotiations."

Dreossi feels QPR are now out of the running, adding: "QPR? I met with them for a long time [on Monday] but I think they will withdraw and I have not heard from them since.

He would not reveal the new bidder from England, saying "The new English club? This is not Newcastle - but no matter, M'Vila will leave and it will be finished before Saturday's game."


http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8427734?

[WhiteJC]

 
Liverpool loanee in contention for West Ham comeback against Fulham

West Ham's Andy Carroll could make his return from injury as early as next Wednesday's clash against Fulham, manager Sam Allardyce has revealed.

The striker, on loan from Liverpool, has been sidelined since twisting his knee in November.

The Hammers have loaned Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh and Brazilian Wellington Paulista in the meantime, but Carroll will be hoping to reclaim his place in Allardyce's starting line-up.

The West Ham boss expects Carroll to resume full training at the end of this week and while he would prefer to first give him a run out with the under-21s, he admits he could be called upon against the Cottagers.

"I hope that by Fulham he will have completed his rehab," said Allardyce.

"He's training on a daily basis now and he will have joined in hopefully by the end of the week, or certainly the beginning of next."

He continued: "If needed against Fulham he might be considered but obviously he won't have played a game for a long time.

"So if everything's looking ok squad-wise then it will be about trying to get him a game in the under-21s or behind closed doors and then putting him back in the squad."

Asked if he had expected the England star to be absent for so long, Allardyce said: "It's about the right time now.

"We always try to see if we achieve a bit better than the prognosis but in Andy's case we're where we thought it would be.

"In the end it's better that we get him fully fit this time and make sure he stays fully fit now until the end of the season.

"It's been a big frustration for him and for us because of the two injuries he's had since he's been here."


http://www.london24.com/sport/west-ham/liverpool_loanee_in_contention_for_west_ham_comeback_against_fulham_1_1803489

[WhiteJC]

 
Derek Boateng's move to Fulham could collapse

...as Cottagers manager, Martin Jol tables bid for Blackpool's Sylvestre

Ghana midfielder, Derek Boateng could see his dreams of joining Fulham evaporating as manager, Martin Jol tables a bid for another midfielder.

Boateng had a medical with Fulham before joining Ghana's team for the 2013 Africa cup of nations but the club have since not provided details about the possibility of the transfer.

The delay has led to the suspicion that the move will not materialize.

Jol's decision to sign Blackpool's Ludovic Sylvestre even adds more to the speculation.

Apart from the 28-year-old former Barcelona player, Martin Jol has also lined up other midfield options including Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone.

Boateng who plays for Dnipropetrovsk in Ukraine played for Ghana on Sunday when the Black Stars drew 2-2 with DR Congo in the Group B opener at the 2013 Afcon.


http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/soccer/artikel.php?ID=262940

[WhiteJC]

 
Stockdale not ruling out permanent Hull move

David Stockdale has returned Hull City on loan for the rest of the season after his spell at the KC Stadium was cut short earlier in the season.

The Englishman joined Hull on loan at the start of the season but, after only making five appearances, was recalled by manager Martin Jol after an injury to Fulham's first choice keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Stockdale has only just re-signed for Hull but that isn't stopping rumours mounting about the player's future at the end of the season – and the player himself isn't ruling anything out.

The English keeper told Vital Football: "There's nothing set in stone. If there's an opportunity then you have to look at it. I'm not going to rule anything out."

Stockdale joins Hull as they sit third in the Championship, 10 points behind league leaders Cardiff City.


http://sportsbyte.sunderland.ac.uk/?p=27515

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham winger undergoes groin op

FULHAM winger Kerim Frei has had an operation in Germany in a bid to cure a niggling groin injury.

The Turkey international has endured a frustrating season so far at Craven Cottage after bursting onto the scene last year.

Frei had a disappointing loan spell at Championship promotion-chasers Cardiff City before returning to SW6 in November.

The talented teenager has made six appearances for the Whites, but hasn't featured since the FA Cup draw against Blackpool earlier this month.

And Frei has now gone under the knife in Munich to try and fix the groin problem which has hampered his progress.


Read More http://www.fulhamchronicle.co.uk/fulham-fc/2013/01/23/82029-32661600/?#ixzz2IoQifQKv

[WhiteJC]

 
Kneejerk Lambert reaction means Jol overpriced to be next boss out
Aston Villa's League Cup exit looks the only reason for Martin Jol drifting from 2/1 to 8/1

Prior to Nigel Adkins' somewhat surprise sacking from Southampton, much of the money to be the next Premier League boss to leave their post was for Martin Jol.

So much so, that his price shortened to as low as 2/1.

However, he is now back out to 8/1 and this price has to be taken, even if Aston Villa's troublesome times show little sign of turning around.

Paul Lambert is now just 4/9 to be the next Premier League manager out of a job, but this looks a kneejerk reaction to their failure to beat Bradford over two legs in the Capital One Cup semi finals.

The Villa job is a monumental one at present, with the balancing act between getting a previously high wage bill down and getting results on the pitch proving a tough one.

Lambert's plan is clearly a long-term strategy as he has a squad full of decent youngsters.

A few experienced heads in the transfer window, alongside the obvious need to improve when defending set prices, may be enough to see Villa climb clear of the relegation places.

Randy Lerner will not be expecting immediate miracles from Villa and staying up should be enough to keep Lambert in his post.

Fulham's form since mid-November has been pretty abysmal, taking just nine points from a possible 36 in the Premier League.

This is even less than the 11 points that Lambert's Villa have accrued in the same time.

Spats with players also won't help Jol's future and it has recently been suggested that he has fallen out with John Arne Riise.

Nothing has really changed at Fulham since the money started coming for Jol's departure and with Lambert's future looking only marginally less secure than before the Bradford debacle, the Dutchman's climb in price has to be taken advantage of.


http://news.ladbrokes.com/en-gb/football/premier-league/kneejerk-lambert-reaction-means-jol-has-to-be-backed-to-be-next-boss-out_135672.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Roma have completed the signing of Vasilis Torosidis from Olympiakos

Olympiakos have announced that Fulham target Vasilis Torosidis has agreed a switch to Serie A outfit Roma.

Fulham boss Martin Jol had been hoping to reach an agreement for the vastly-experienced Greece international, with an offer put on the table.

Torosidis has decided to snub the Cottagers' advances and make a move to Italy instead.

He was in Rome to undergo a medical on Tuesday and appears to have shown his new employers that he is in full working order.

The 27-year-old has now completed all of the formalities required to complete a transfer and is all set to continue his career in the Italian top-flight.

"Olympiakos can announce that an agreement has been reached with AS Roma for the transfer of Vasilis Torosidi," read a statement on the Greek club's official website.


http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11681/8428482?

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham told PSV full-back is theirs for £1.3m



Fulham will have to stump up £1.3m to land Bulgaria defender Stanislav Manolev, according to sources in Holland.

Martin Jol is on the hunt for a new right-back after selling Stephen Kelly to Reading and Manolev is on his shortlist.

The Dutchman's other defensive target Vasilis Torosidis has just completed a move to Roma and he could now concentrate his efforts on Manolev.

The 27-year-old, who has been capped 23 times, has fallen out of favour at PSV Eindhoven this season, but the Dutch club refused Fulham's initial loan offer.

However, they are willing to sell him permanently for a fee of £1.3m.

Jol has other right-back options available - most notably Sascha Riether and Chris Baird - but he is keen to strengthen his squad before the close of the transfer window.


Read more: http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/130123/fulham-told-psv-full-back-theirs-%C2%A313m-189949?#ixzz2IoRXgblA
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