Thursday Fulham Stuff (22/12/16)...

[WhiteJC]

 
RED BULL LEIPZIG JOIN THE HUNT FOR FULHAM WONDERKID

Red Bull Leipzig have joined the race for Fulham's starlet, Ryan Sessegnon, along with some of the Premier League's top clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham.

The Premier League giants have all made enquires for the left-back last summer and now Red Bull Leipzig have been tracking him too are preparing a January bid, according to the London Evening Standard.

Sessegnon has featured in 10 matches so far this season for Fulham and became the youngest ever player to score in the Championship, when he netted in his side's 2-2 draw with Cardiff on the 20th August.

Tottenham, Arsenal, Liverpool City and United aren't the only ones who are reportedly interested in the 16-year-old. Bayern Munich are also thought to be tracking him and Leipzig would have to fend off some of Europe's most elite clubs if they want to get their man.

Leipzig have shown that they aren't afraid to splash the cash on young British talent, after they signed Oliver Burke from Nottingham Forest for £13m last summer.

It's unlikely Fulham would be open to selling Sessegnon in the upcoming transfer window, but Leipzig, who sit joint top of the Bundesliga, are a very attractive proposition for some of Europe's young talent.


http://readbundesliga.com/2016/12/21/red-bull-leipzig-join-hunt-fulham-wonderkid/

[WhiteJC]

 
Cardiff identify Championship goalkeeper as Amos replacement

The Sun reports that Cardiff City are looking to swoop for Fulham goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli in the January transfer window. Neil Warnock is said to be closing in on a loan move for the 24-year-old, who is the second choice keeper at Craven Cottage behind David Button.

The Bluebirds are keen on adding another shotstopper in the January transfer window after some erratic performances from Ben Amos in recent times. Amos is only on loan with the club anyway after then-manager Paul Trollope had to react quickly in replacing David Marshall, who joined Hull City earlier in the season.

Bettinelli is not expected to be the only man to enter the Cardiff City Stadium next month in the form of new players. Football manager veteran Warnock stated following the recent 4-3 defeat to Barnsley that he planned on making big changes and could not wait for the transfer window to reopen again. Bettinelli, a former England Under-21 international, has failed to make a single appearance under Slavisa Jokanovic this season and has been named on the bench on 18 occasions. His last appearance in a Fulham jersey came in the 1-0 home win over Bolton Wanderers in May. A serious injury restricted him to only 12 games last season. His experience at Championship level will make him a worthy addition, but he will again need to prepare himself to be involved in a relegation battle, which again is something he has been used to in the past.


http://the72.co.uk/69959/cardiff-close-in-on-bettinelli/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham and Cardiff unite against FA Cup fixture
Fulham and Cardiff City's supporters trusts unify in protesting 'insulting' kick off time of the FA Cup fixture in Cardiff on January 8th.

Fulham and Cardiff City's supporter trusts have united against the unjustified and 'insulting' kick off time of the their third round FA Cup match up on the 8th January at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Fulham's supporters trust voiced their concern by writing directly to BBC Wales, requesting that they consider rescheduling the 11.30am kick off.

Limitations to the public transportation schedule on match day restricts the travelling Fulham fans to a window in which only one train service runs, just to ensure they arrive in Cardiff in time for the match.

The first train of the day is due to leave London Paddington at 8.37am and is set to arrive at Cardiff Central at 10.59am.

The aforementioned letter stated that the early kick off time is "insulting to the supporters who are the lifeblood of the game."

BBC Wales ultimately made the decision on when to stage the fixture in conjunction with the Football Association and the local police force.

"As a public service broadcaster, BBC Wales should have a duty to consider the wider implications of their scheduling," the statement added.

The full letter that was sent to BBC Wales is pictured below.

http://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2016/12/21/14027672/fulham-and-cardiff-unite-against-fa-cup-fixture-bbc-kickoff-trains

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham eyeing Tshibola move
by DAN on DECEMBER 21, 2016

Fulham are the latest Championship club to join the race to sign Aston Villa midfielder Aaron Tshibola, according to a report from Here Is The City this evening.

The 21 year-old midfielder is expected to move on January having struggled for first team opportunities at Villa Park after Steve Bruce replaced the sacked Roberto Di Matteo. Tshibola, a £5m capture from Reading in July, has made just a solitary appearance since Bruce took charge and has already been the subject of significant interest from a number of clubs. Wigan Athletic are said to be one of the latest sides to register an interest in signing the former England youth international, although much depends on whether Villa would consider a loan move rather than seeking to recoup the substantial fee they paid the Royals straight away.

Tshibola, who joined Reading's academy at the age of nine, made his senior debut as a substitute against Nottingham Forest in August 2014 and enjoyed a successful loan spell with League Two Hartlepool United the following January. The midfielder made 23 appearances under Ronnie Moore, seeing his loan deal extended until the end of the campaign after the manager commended his commitment to the club, and Tshibola followed that up with sixteen appearances for the Royals the following season before his move to Villa. He has played seven games for Villa, scoring a late equaliser in their 1-1 draw with Newcastle United back in September.

Where he would fit into Fulham's midfield is an intriguing question given the options that Slavisa Jokanovic has at his disposal. Tom Cairney and Stefan Johansen are the Serbian head coach's preferred central midfield partnership with Kevin McDonald sitting deeper protecting the back four and Fulham have plenty of options in reserve including Ryan Tunnicliffe, club captain Scott Parker and academy graduate Lasse Vigen Christensen.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2016/12/fulham-eyeing-tshibola-move/

[WhiteJC]

 
Þorsteinsson signs new Fulham contract
by DAN on DECEMBER 22, 2016

Jón Dagur Þorsteinsson has extended his contract with Fulham, according to his agent's Facebook page and reports in the young forward's native Iceland tonight.

Þorsteinsson, 18, who joined Fulham after a successful trial at Motspur Park last year, quickly established himself as a key player in the club's Under-18 side last season after scoring on his debut against Tottenham and has made the step up to Under-23 level football impressively this season.

The attacking midfielder, who has been capped at Under-19 level by Iceland, is highly rated at Craven Cottage and has cited the progression of the likes of Ryan Sessegnon, Dennis Adeniran and Stevie Humphrys into the first team as one of the reasons for opting to sign a new contract with Fulham.


http://hammyend.com/index.php/2016/12/thorsteinsson-signs-new-fulham-contract/