Saturday Fulham Stuff 18.07.15

[Friendsoffulham]

Fulham kid to fill Sterling's void at Liverpool?



Patrick Roberts has quality. Enough so that with a handful of Premier League clubs interested in him, Fulham have slapped a £10m price tag on the 18-year-old kid.

It is a lot of money for somebody who is yet to score his first goal at senior level but nowadays the transfer market has gone haywire and money is thrown left, right and centre, with little care.

Manchester City and Liverpool are the two clubs believed to be involved in a transfer war for acquiring the services of Roberts, with an £8m offer from City reportedly turned down by Fulham.

Now it is Liverpool's turn to launch a bid to sign Roberts, as Brendan Rodgers is in the market to find a replacement for the departed Raheem Sterling, but the £5m offer reported by the Express might have small chances of success.

Fulham's problem, however, is that with just a single year left on the 18-year-old's contract, they haven't been able to tie him down to a new deal; and losing such a promising player for free is not the best of options for the Championship club.

A left-footed playing on the right wing, Roberts has started to steal the show at youth level by beating defenders with quick direction changes, cutting inside from the right and finding the net with good accuracy.

Felix Magath has done very few good things in his little time at Fulham, but offering the first taste of Premier League action to the then-17-year-old Roberts was perhaps quite a shrewd decision.

Roberts also represented England at all age categories up to Under-19, with his most important performance coming for the Under-17 squad at the European Champions in Malta in 2014. England won the tournament and the Fulham winger was named in the most valuable team of the tournament.

His talent is of little doubt and interest from the Premier League big guns only proves this point furthermore. A move to Liverpool might turn out to be prosperous, as the void left by Sterling needs some filling up – a task not all that difficult, under the right tutelage.

But where there is willingness from both the Reds and from Roberts, Fulham might not be so keen to sell unless their demands are met. It will be for Rodgers to decide if the kid is worth the money.

Chance is, he might be.

http://threeandin.com/fulham-kid-to-fill-sterlings-void-at-liverpool/?

[Friendsoffulham]

Former Swansea City defender Jazz Richards: Team spirit behind Fulham move



JAZZ Richards has revealed Fulham's team spirit convinced him to switch to Craven Cottage.

The former Swansea City defender completed a move from South Wales to West London earlier this month, reportedly snubbing interest from Premier League pair Aston Villa and Norwich.

Richards links up with manager Kit Symons, until recently his assistant boss while on international duty with Wales.

The right-back spent a loan spell with the Cottagers last season and he admitted his familiarity with the set-up convinced him to sign.

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"Knowing I only had a year left at Swansea, it was the right time to get out and get some games," said Richards.

"When I came here I developed strong bonds with the lads and long may that continue.

"Knowing the manager and how good he is, and the backroom staff, it's a comfortable place for me."

Richards gave his bid to find a new club a major boost with an excellent showing for Wales against Belgium in June.

A surprise inclusion, the 24-year-old went on to stifle Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard as Wales recorded an eye-catching victory over the World Cup quarter-finalists.

"That was one of the highlights of my career so far," added Richards.

"We've not done it yet, we've still got three games to play. It's about getting game-time for your club and going on to play for your country.

"We look in a strong position to go to France for the finals in 2016."

Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Swansea-City-defender-Jazz-Richards-Team-spirit/story-26935501-detail/story.html#ixzz3gF2jdMc6

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Latest Austin speculation and Bournemouth are linked with Parker



A round-up of the latest transfer speculation involving Fulham and QPR...

Bournemouth want to sign Scott Parker from Fulham, according to The Sun.

The newly promoted club have been linked with a host of players since reaching the Premier League and it is claimed that midfielder Parker is among their targets.

The Sun declares that Bournemouth are looking to 'keep it in the family' as Parker, 34, is the brother-in-law of Cherries midfielder Harry Arter.

Meanwhile, speculation over the future of Charlie Austin continues.

West London Sport revealed earlier this month that QPR had rejected a £12m bid from Leicester for the striker – the only move made for him this summer despite a host of reports suggesting Rangers were receiving approaches from a number of clubs.

The north-east media have insisted that Newcastle have been trying to agree a deal to sign Austin and that another such approach was imminent.

The Newcastle Chronicle now reports that no bid has been made for Austin, but that the Magpies are monitoring developments.

The Shields Gazette also now reports that no offer has been made by Newcastle and that they are reluctant to pay the £15m asking price but remain interested.

http://www.westlondonsport.com/features-comment/bournemouth-linked-with-fulham-man-and-latest-austin-speculation-as-newcastle-continue-to-be-linked-with-qpr-striker-wls-football

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Parker Set for Premier League Return?
   
A former Hammer and one who graced our claret and blue shirt with great dignity, could be set for a return to the Premier League.

Scott Parker, a former 'Hammer of the Year` is currently on the books of the West London outfit Fulham.

However, in the UK`s leading tabloid publication, The Sun, it is being inferred that Scott could be heading to the south-coast to play for the Premier League new-boys, Bournemouth.

Now 34-years-of-age, a move to Bournemouth would see him join up with his brother-in-law Harry Artur, something we`d imagine would be a first for the Premier League.

The move, so the tabloid is suggesting, would be a loan move which would see Bournemouth expected to pay all Scott`s wages, said to be in the region of £35,000 a week.

Personally, I reckon it`d be great to see Scott back in the Premier League and I`m sure he`d get a wonderful reception back at the Boleyn Ground.

Read more: http://www.westham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=405969#ixzz3gF3p1ojz

[Friendsoffulham]

Bournemouth target Fulham's former England international midfielder 



According to The Sun this morning, Premier League new boys Bournemouth are keen on a deal for Fulham's high-earning Scott Parker with the paper claiming the Cherries want to 'keep it in the family' with Parker being Harry Arter's half-brother.

The veteran midfielder has been at Craven Cottage for the past two seasons since joining from Tottenham and is known as one of the highest paid players in the Championship.

Bournemouth are looking to add Premier League experience to their squad in order to secure their top flight status next season with Parker having played over 350 games in England's top tier.



Starting his career with Charlton Athletic and spending 17 years at the Valley, the 34 year-old amassed over 100 appearances and winning promotion from the Championship for the Addicks before being snapped up by Premier League giants Chelsea for a £10 million fee.

After making just 15 appearances in the league for Chelsea in his first season at Stamford Bridge, Parker was sold to Newcastle for £5.5 million in 2005 and would go on to spend two seasons at St James' Park.

The defensive minded midfielder then moved on to West Ham for another big fee of £7 million and would go on to become a fan favourite at the Boleyn Ground – winning the Hammer of the Year award for three straight years between 2008 and 2011.

His performances bought about the attention of Tottenham who signed the London-born player for £5.5 million in 2011 – a year which saw Parker named England Player of the Year, winning a place in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year, and be awarded the FWA Footballer of the Year.

Two seasons in North London preceded his move to Fulham where, in his first season with the Cottagers, they were relegated to the Championship.

http://the72.co.uk/31434/bournemouth-target-fulhams-former-england-international-midfielder/?