Wednesday Fulham Stuff(22/05/13)...

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Fulham set to sign Ghana International Derek Boateng
Martin Jol looking to complete deal to bring long-standing target to Craven Cottage

Fulham are hoping to complete a deal that will see Dnipro midfielder Derek Boateng join the West London team on a permanent move.

The G looked set to move to Craven Cottage in the past, but contract disputes between the two clubs have stood in the way of a transfer. But it now seems that a deal is close to being finalised between the Ukrainian club and the Cottagers.

Manager Martin Jol has kept Boateng on his radar for a long time, and he will be relieved at finally bringing him to the club as he has tried and failed several times before.

The former Getafe, Colgne and Beitar Jerusalem player is reported to have been offered a two-year contract, and he is unlikely to be the only new face this summer.

Jol confirmed at last week's press conference before their clash with Swansea that he had agreed a deal with one of Wolves' Bakary Sako, Athletic Bilbao' Fernando Amorebieta or Roma's Maarten Stekelnburg, but he remained coy on who had the deal in place.

Sascha Riether, who has been on loan at Fulham from FC Koln, will join on a permanent deal as Jol looks to get his business in without wasting any time.



http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/fulham-set-to-sign-ghana-international-derek-boateng-8625514.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham Target French Winger



Nancy winger on Cravan Cottage radar.

Fulham are reportedly lining up a swoop for French under-21 winger Yohan Mollo from AS Nancy this summer, according to the Daily Mail.

The 23-year-old has been on loan with Saint Etienne this season where he has impressed by helping the club reach fourth in the table and with one game to go could still secure Champions League football for next season.

He has bagged four goals in 18 appearances for Les Verts this campaign and though primarily a right winger he can play just as comfortably on the left too.

However, his return to Nancy at the end of the season is likely to be just a formality as the northern side suffered relegation to Ligue 2 and are said to be willing to listen to offers for the player of around £4 million.

Having began his career with Monaco in 2008 he then moved onto Caen before joining Spanish side Grenada for an unsuccessful season in 2011. Nancy brought him back to France in January of last year and after 35 appearances with them he joined St Etienne on loan last summer.

Fulham are also soon expected to complete the long awaited signing of Ghanaian midfielder Derek Boateng who was released by Ukrainian side Dnipro recently.



http://www.caughtoffside.com/2013/05/21/fulham-target-french-winger/?

[WhiteJC]

 
End-of-season report: Fulham

Fulham, having finished a strong ninth under Martin Jol in 2011/12, were tipped for another mid-table finish, with top half a strong possibility.

Instead, the season went from good to bad and it was the loss of key players from the previous year that would prove the club's undoing as Fulham finished poorly.

Sports Mole takes a look at the Cottagers' season to see where it went right and wrong for the Londoners.

August

Last season's top-scorer Clint Dempsey made it clear in the summer that he intended to leave the club, but despite this a Mladen Petric-inspired Fulham thumped Norwich 5-0 in the season opener.

Then, despite taking the lead, they went down 3-2 to Manchester United in a battling performance at Old Trafford, before being beaten at Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup.

However, the month was to end with many personnel changes as midfield dynamo Moussa Dembele moved to Tottenham Hotspur at the end of the transfer window, along with Dempsey on deadline day, with Dimitar Berbatov coming in form Manchester United.

September

September started with a thumping defeat away to West Ham United as the loss of two of their starting midfielders started to hit.

However, the Whites responded in style after the international break as they beat West Bromwich Albion 3-0 at home with their new Bulgarian helping himself to a brace.



They followed that win with victory at Wigan Athletic, but the month ended on a low note as they fell to defeat at home to Manchester City despite leading.

October

A previously tight Fulham defence was undone twice by Southampton set-pieces as Jose Fonte snatched a late equaliser for Southampton in a pulsating 2-2 draw.

Chris Baird scored a rare goal in a 1-0 win at home to Aston Villa before more defensive woes befell Jol as Fulham were twice pegged back in the last five minutes to draw 3-3 with Reading to end the month with Fulham sitting pretty in seventh.

November

High-scoring draws remained the norm for Fulham as the season moved into its third full month. It started with Steve Sidwell earning Fulham an undeserved point in a 2-2 draw with Everton.

Then came arguably the club's game of the season. Fulham found themselves 2-0 down at the Emirates, but managed to turn it around to lead 3-2 before Olivier Giroud levelled matters once more. Goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer then saved a last-minute penalty kick from Mikel Arteta.



Despite scoring at will by this point, Fulham would end all six games in November without a win as defeats to Sunderland 3-1 at home and Stoke City away came before a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge.

December

Fulham had dropped to 11th by this point and the poor run was showing no signs of ending as they were turned over 3-0 at Craven Cottage by Tottenham Hotspur.

The Cottagers recorded a long overdue win at home to Newcastle United as Hugo Rodallega headed in the winner in a 2-1 victory, but five days later they handed local rivals Queens Park Rangers their first win of the season.

A difficult festive period for Fulham ended with just one point from their next three games - a 1-1 draw at home to Southampton sandwiched in between a thrashing by Liverpool and a disappointing home defeat to Swansea City.

Fulham were by now in the thick of it and had dropped to 14th.

January

The new year started with a win from the unlikeliest of sources - away from home. Alexander Kacaniklic rolled in the winner as the Whites took it 2-1.

Then it was time for the FA Cup, but the first game proved little respite from the league as the Whites were held to a replay by Blackpool. Giorgio Karagounis scored there and he followed it up with a strike against Wigan, although Fulham were pegged back to draw 1-1.



In the Cup replay Fulham scraped through 2-1 after extra time but were back to losing way in the league as they were undone by David Silva, whose brace helped City to a 2-0 win.

Another defeat in Manchester followed, this time to United in the FA Cup, but January ended the way it started with a victory - 3-1 against West Ham.

It was to be a disappointing transfer window, too, as Jol could only bring in loan signings. Urby Emanuelson, Emmanuel Frimpong, and Eyong Enoh all arrived until the end of the season.

February

Despite an unfortunate defeat to United at the Cottage, Fulham managed a run of form that would pull them away from trouble at the bottom of the league.

This started with a 0-0 draw at Carrow Road against Norwich City, before the month ended with a 1-0 win over Stoke, in which Schwarzer was again penalty hero with a save from Jonathan Walters.



March

The run continued into March with a 2-2 draw at Sunderland, although the Whites were devastated to have thrown away a two-goal lead at the Stadium of Light.

Then came an unlikely win at White Hart Lane as Berbatov and Jol came back to bite their old side; Berbatov scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win.

April

Fulham moved to within a point of the fabled 40-point mark with a thrilling 3-2 win over QPR, in which the visitors were unfortunate not to equalise.



However, that would be the last high point of the season, as the Cottagers went on a miserable run of form to end the year - starting with a late defeat to Newcastle at St James' Park.

A lucky point at Villa brought Fulham their 40th point but they were not to taste victory again in April as first Chelsea, then Arsenal and finally Everton were all to beat the Whites to nil.

May

In May already relegated Reading embarrassed Fulham at the Cottage by winning 4-2, which was followed by another home humiliation - this time at the hands of Liverpool.

The campaign would end in style though thanks to a 3-0 win away at League Cup winners Swansea City, with young winger Alexander Kacaniklic in particular impressing in the Wales sunshine.



http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/news/end-of-season-report-fulham_84656.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Mollo attracts Prem interest
Nancy's promising young winger Yohan Mollo has attracted interest from several English teams according to the club's chairman.

The 23-year-old has spent the season on loan at St Etienne where he has impressed, but with parent club Nancy being relegated from Ligue 1, they may be forced to offload him.

The former Marseille youngster is thought to command around a €6million fee, which may deter potential suitors Fulham who have been linked with him.

However, with numerous French clubs also linked with a move for the France U21 star, Nancy chairman Jacques Rousselot revealed it is the Premier League that could be his likely destination.

"St Etienne didn't move. But two English clubs are attracted," he told L'Equipe.



http://www.football365.com/fulham/8726407/-?

[WhiteJC]

 
Summer Screenings

With no Olympic Games to capture the imagination of the capital this summer, you could be forgiven for thinking this year will be rather quiet on the sporting front.

There are, however, a host of events taking place over the coming months, all of which you'll be able to watch at Craven Cottage.

Whether you're after just a bar to watch this year's UEFA Champions League Final, breakfast alongside The Lions Tour, or even a day to sit and watch The Ashes with some food and drink, we can accommodate you and your party at the Cottage.

Either inside one of our lounges or on our Riverside Terrace, we'll be able to provide you with a package that suits your requirements.

Take a look at some of the events taking place over the summer of 2013, which we could screen for you.

Call our dedicated events team on (+44) 020 7862 5372, 9am to 5pm, Mon-Fri, or email us today for more information or to book your event.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/may/21/summer-screenings?

[WhiteJC]

 
Ajax Midfielder Eyong Enoh Keen On Fulham Stay

Fulham have received a boost in their bid to retain on loan Ajax midfielder Eyong Enoh, with the 27-year-old keen to stay at the Cottagers, according to the Algemeen Dagblad.

Enoh arrived at Craven Cottage in January of this year, and a string of impressive performances in nine games have earned him praise from boss Martin Jol.

His contract at Ajax still has two years left, but with Christian Poulsen and Lasse Schone ruling the defensive-midfield roost back in Amsterdam, the Cameroon international could find favour in England.

Fulham could be asked to pay £3M for his full-time services, but it may provide Enoh with regular first-team football, given he only made three Eredivisie appearances for the Dutch champions this season until his loan move.

The 27-year-old played a total of 98 games for Ajax during his five years in Holland, scoring three goals.

Enoh's potential signing could help ease the worry over the departures of loanees Urby Emanuelson (AC Milan) and Stanislav Manolev (PSV Eindhoven).



Read more at http://www.insidefutbol.com/2013/05/21/ajax-midfielder-eyong-enoh-keen-on-fulham-stay/86784/#xsBL5qD1CHHDMKcJ.99

[WhiteJC]

 
Duo Lined Up
   
Whoever deals with the niceties associated with transfers, down at Craven Cottage, could be in for a busy summer.

With Martin Jol predicting that as many as nine players could be leaving, it`s fairly certain that there will also be a huge influx.

Today, in the red-top gossip columns, the inference is there that Jol is chasing two players currently pursuing their trade in French football.

The first of these is Yohan Mollo a winger who is on the books of Nancy and the second is Grzegorz Krychowiak a midfielder who I son the books of Stade De Reims.

It is mentioned that both could cost in the region of £2 million, but it remains to be seen whether one, or both, will sign on the dotted line at Craven Cottage.

We`ll endeavour to keep you informed.


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=320042#ixzz2TzNenmjL

[WhiteJC]

 
Schwarzer - No Offer
   
Just what is going on with regards to a new contract for our Australian keeper, Mark Schwarzer?

Yesterday, the press were running with the suggestion that Fulham had offered Schwarzer a new contract but the stumbling block relating to being the first choice keeper was proving to be a stumbling block.

Today, in the press, Schwarzer has responded to that suggestion by remarking

"I may have played my last game for Fulham. Contrary to reports, I have had no official offer of a new deal."

"It would be nice to stay at Fulham. But I have to find a club that believes in my ability."

Can someone please sort this out once and for all, before someone gets egg on their face!


Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=320044#ixzz2TzNsHcBq

[WhiteJC]

 
Marcello Trotta hoping for Fulham chance

Fulham youngster Marcello Trotta has revealed that he would like to be given the chance to prove himself by the Premier League club next season.

The 20-year-old earned a number of plaudits for his performances while on loan in League One with Brentford during the last campaign.

Having now returned to Craven Cottage, he is hoping that he did enough with the Bees to have caught the attention of Fulham boss Martin Jol.

"I will go back to Fulham and see what happens. I will do my best and hopefully get some chances over there. They have followed me every week and they have been very happy with my progression," the Fulham Chronicle quotes him as saying.

"It is crucial that I play first-team football. I am a young player and I need to play, on loan or hopefully at Fulham. It is important for me to play and develop."

Trotta joined Fulham in 2009 following a stint with Manchester City's academy.


http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/news/trotta-hoping-for-fulham-chance_85488.html