Monday Fulham Stuff 13.07.15

[Friendsoffulham]

Dembele scores for France U19s



Fulham striker Moussa Dembele scored tonight as the French Under-19 side beat Greece in the European Under 19 championships.

The teenage forward scored France's second goal in the 64th minute to cap an impressive display of pace, power and perceptive running. He finished off a slick French move that split the Greek offside trap, keeping his composure after seemingly slipping at the vital moment. Dembele's strike against the hosts was his second goal of the tournament after he found the net after coming on as a substitute in France's second game of the group stage against Ukraine.

In a fitting link, Dembele's display was watched from the stands by former Fulham midfielder Giorgos Karagounis. You can see Dembele's goal in the Vine below:

https://vine.co/v/evDd9jbe7nv

[Friendsoffulham]

He`ll Cost Us a Pretty Penny
   
Speculation linking the highly-rated AFC Wimbledon defender Ryan Sweeney with a move to Fulham has appeared in the media.

However, it appears that if Fulham`s interest is genuine then they will, according to the local news vehicle getwestlondon.co.uk, have to cough up an extortionate fee.

Eighteen-year-old Sweeney broke into the AFC Wimbledon side at the back end of last season producing two fine displays in his two appearances, thereby attracting attention from other clubs as well with Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion said to be monitoring the situation.

But AFC Wimbledon, managed by their former player Neil Ardley, are under no financial pressure to sell their promising youngster, hence the suggestion it would take serious money to make them sell.

Fulham, as we all know, have paid over the odds for several players in the past, with Kostas Mitroglou being the perfect example.

Here at Vital Fulham we don`t expect them to be caught out again and the possibility of Sweeney coming to Craven Cottage, at the moment, remains remote.

Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=405394#ixzz3fiKiz5oB

[Friendsoffulham]

Genoa make move for Casasola



Genoa have approached Fulham about the possible transfer of centre back Tiago Casasola, according to a report in tomorrow's Times.

The nineteen year-old defender only joined Fulham last summer from Boca Junior but has failed to make an impression on the first team under Kit Symons. Whilst Casasola has featured regularly for the Argentinian national youth sides, he has made only brief appearances for Fulham's under-21 side since his move to England and stayed behind whilst the first team toured Portugal this week. Casasola played for the under-21s in their 1-0 defeat by the Met Police in midweek.

The centre half, who had been tracked by the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona in his earlier years, has two more years on his current contract at Craven Cottage and Fulham have an option to extend his deal by another year. The Serie A side are looking to strengthen their back line following several summer departures and it is likely that Fulham would demand a considerable fee for Casasola, who remains highly rated at Motspur Park and helped Argentina win the South American Youth Football Championship back in January.

http://hammyend.com/index.php/2015/07/genoa-make-move-for-casasola/?

[Friendsoffulham]

Mitroglou expected to join Sporting Lisbon on loan today



Going into the summer, there was much speculation amongst Fulham fans about which new players would arrive at the club but on the outgoings, nearly all fans were united in their views that Kostas Mitroglou would not be a Fulham player by the end of the transfer window.

After weeks of  reports linking him with clubs like Fenebahce and Besitkas, towards the end of last week speculation grew that Mitroglou could join former teammate Bryan Ruiz at Sporting Lisbon. Reports from Portugal this morning are claiming that a deal for Sporting to sign the Greek striker on loan are nearly complete and once the last details are finalised with Fulham, the signing could be announced later today.

As part of the loan deal, a fee will be set to allow Sporting to purchase Mitroglou next summer. It's important that his not insubstational wages are removed from our books but you would hope that next summer he can be sold so all parties can move on from what must rank as one of the worst signings in Premier League history.

See more at: http://www.vivaelfulham.co.uk/news/mitroglou-set-to-join-sporting-lisbon-today-13-615.html?#sthash.mvcAPHcc.dpuf

[Friendsoffulham]

Melbourne City bring former Fulham defender Aaron Hughes to A-League



Melbourne City have bolstered their defensive options by signing Northern Ireland international Aaron Hughes for the new A-League season starting in October. The 35-year-old will add the A-League to his long international and Premier League career after signing a one-year deal with John van 't Schip's side.

Hughes said former Newcastle United team-mate Damien Duff, who impressed in his stint with City last season, put the club on his radar. "He pretty much said if I didn't do it, he would never speak to me again," Hughes laughed. "It's a great opportunity to go and try something new ... it was an easy decision in the end to come here and bring my family here as well."

The signing is unlikely to impress fans seeking a big-name glamour signing similar to those enjoyed by sister club New York City FC, such as superstars David Villa, Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo. But the Ulsterman, who played with English Championship outfit Brighton and Hove Albion last season, brings experience and versatility to City's defence.

Van 't Schip said Hughes's ability to play in each position across the back four makes him a terrific asset for the coming A-League campaign. "Aaron is an extremely experienced professional and is an excellent addition to our squad," he said. "He brings with him a vast amount of Premier League and international experience which will be of great benefit to the team and his qualities will greatly strengthen our defence."

Hughes still features at international level for Northern Ireland, playing most recently last month in a friendly with Qatar. Northern Ireland, ranked 37 in the world, are on track to qualify for their first European Championship and Hughes suggested he would continue his international commitments.

"We find ourselves in a really good position where we find ourselves in a qualification place," he said. "We're hoping it's our turn now and we can push and make the Euro ... the confidence in the squad at the moment is huge."

Hughes is City's fifth signing in the off-season and joins Socceroo Ivan Franjic as major defensive acquisitions since their semi-final finish in May.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2015/jul/13/melbourne-city-sign-former-fulham-defender-aaron-hughes?

[Bassey the warrior]

Noooo don't sell Tiago.

[Riverside]

Noooo don't sell Tiago.

A loan though would be very sensible . IF it gets him playing time


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[MJG]

Noooo don't sell Tiago.

A loan though would be very sensible . IF it gets him playing time


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Personally I think he's been away from the club enough in the last year. Time to knuckle down,  be first choice u21 centre back and show his worth.

[Friendsoffulham]

Mitroglou poised to sign for Sporting Lisbon



Reports from Portugal suggest that Sporting Lisbon are very confident of completing a loan move for Fulham striker Kostas Mitroglou today.

The Greek international has been linked with potential permanent transfers to Greek sides Besiktas and Fenerbahce for most of the summer but those moves have stalled due to disagreements about matching Fulham's valuation of a player they paid £12m for last January. Sporting, who recently signed Mitroglou's former Fulham team-mate Bryan Ruiz on a permanent basis, have reportedly completed negotiations with Fulham over a loan, which will cost them around €1 million and offer an option to sign the striker should the move prove successful.

The Lions decided to focus their attention on Mitroglou after failing in their attempt to tempt Norwich City striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel back to the Estadio Jose Alvalade as they couldn't match his current wages. Mitroglou, who has made only three appearances for Fulham since that big money move from Olympiakos, spent last season on loan at his former club, scoring sixteen goals in 24 league appearances, as the Greek giants won the domestic double. The 27 year-old has won forty caps for his country and scored eight goals at international level.

http://hammyend.com/index.php/2015/07/mitroglou-poised-to-sign-for-sporting-lisbon/?

[Friendsoffulham]

Moussa Nets Again



Moussa Dembélé scored again on Sunday as France defeated Greece 2-0 in their final group stage match at the UEFA Under-19 Championship.

Having already booked their Semi-Final place, Les Bleus needed just a point to guarantee top spot in Group A and made the perfect start when Mouctar Diakhaby headed in from a Samed Kilic free-kick with just five minutes played.

Zisis Karachalios twice went close for the hosts as they probed for an equaliser, but Kilic and Dembélé – who was making his first start of the tournament – also had chances to add to the scoreline before the break.

But the Fulham man grabbed his second goal in as many games shortly after the hour mark. Alexis Blin played in Neal Murphy who lured goalkeeper Konstantinos Kotsaris out of position before squaring to Dembélé, with the striker controlling his shot into the unguarded net.

France will face the runners-up from Group B in the Semi-Final on Thursday, although it remains to be seen who will provide the opposition, with Spain, Russia, Germany and the Netherlands all on three points with one game still to play.

http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2015/july/13/moussa-nets-again?

[Friendsoffulham]

Fulham bag a million euros for loaning misfit to Sporting Lisbon



Fulham are close to a loan deal that will take misfit Kostas Mitroglou to Sporting Lisbon for a million euros.

The move will make the Greek striker the second White moving to the Portuguese giants inside a week.

Bryan Ruiz was finally removed from the Cottage books to secure a switch to one of Europe's big clubs last Tuesday, and record signing Mitroglou is set to join him after Olympiakos, where Mitroglou was on loan last season, and Besiktas in Turkey lost the race to buy a player with just three Fulham appearances behind him.

http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-bag-million-euros-loaning-9643354?

[ffcbulgaria]

we've already recovered a few million from the purchase of Mitroglou, if we get a further million or so next year and then sell him for 5-7mil at some point, we will almost break even :D