Monday Fulham Stuff (26/06/17)...

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No bids for Fulham midfielder Kevin McDonald as Nottingham Forest's interest cools

The 28-year-old had been the subject of interest from Nottingham Forest, Rangers and Brighton but looks set to stay at Craven Cottage this season

Fulham have received no bids for midfielder Kevin McDonald.

The 28-year-old had been the attention of interest from fellow Championship side Nottingham Forest, with Mark Warburton extremely keen to add him to his ranks at the Forest Ground.

Brighton and Scottish side Rangers were also interested, but none of the sides formally enquired about McDonald or made a solid bid.

Reports in the national media suggested Fulham slapped a £7million price tag on the midfielder's head, although GetWestLondon understands no such price tag was quoted, with the club's policy on McDonald that he was never for sale.

It is also understood that McDonald is keen to remain a Fulham player for this season and wants to stay at Craven Cottage.

Meanwhile, Bordeaux's president has confirmed the club has received offers for striker Diego Rolan , while the French side has reached an agreement that will see striker Alexandre Mendy join the club from Guingamp, which could help pave the way for Rolan to move elsewhere.




http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/no-bids-fulham-midfielder-kevin-13235543

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Former Fulham Boss Takes New Job On

Flicking through various newsfeeds, one small piece of news grabbed my attention.

It related to somebody who was in the Fulham hot-seat back in 1996-1997, Micky Adams.

During his time at Fulham, Adams guided Fulham out of the fourth tier of English football and into the third-tier, before moving on.

Now 55-years-of-age, Adams has accepted a role in the ninth-tier of English football with Harborough Town.

Adams will run the youth side for the United Counties League Premier Division side who are based in Leicestershire, at Market Harborough.

Announcing the appointment on their web-site, Harborough Town praised Adams remarking about their new employee that he,

'Will be an inspiration to both the players and the club's coaches.'

Here at Vital Fulham we`d like to wish Micky Adams all the best in his new role.



Read more: http://www.fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=495936#ixzz4l5M1iLHi

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Report: Fulham close to Marcelo Djalo deal despite reservations among coaching staff

Lugo centre-back Marcelo Djalo could be the first new player at Craven Cottage this summer with Fulham move edging nearer.

Fulham are edging ever closer to their first major signing of the summer, although the shiny new striker fans may be hoping for appears to remain out of their grasp for now.

Slavisa Jokanovic's side have made bids for three goal-scorers this summer after Chris Martin returned to Derby County upon the expiry of his loan spell, Steve Mounie, Rui Fonte and now Diego Rolan, but it appears that a centre-half could get them off the mark in the summer window.

Because the Daily Mail claims that the Cottagers are close to agreeing a deal to sign 23-year-old defender Marcelo Djalo from Spanish second division side Lugo.

Sky Sports claim that the Barcelona-born Djalo had been identified as a potential target by Fulham's statistical analysis team.

Though the deal could cause some division at Craven Cottage as the report adds that some of Fulham's coaching staff are not convinced that Djalo would be a good addition to the squad.

Nonetheless, the 6ft 4ins stopper, who was signed by Juventus in 2014 but did not make a single appearance, will be under pressure to solidify a defence which conceded 57 goals in the Championship last season.

And you wonder whether Fulham are stepping up their pursuit of Djalo in response to reports that Tomas Kalas could be on his way elsewhere. The Czech Republic defender spent an impressive season on loan at Craven Cottage from London rivals Chelsea, confirming at the end of the season that he would jump at the chance to stay.

However, the Hull Daily Mail now claim that Hull City, whose manager Leonid Slutsky is a close friend of Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich, are now leading the chase.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/06/25/do-report-fulham-close-to-marcelo-djalo-deal-despite-reservation/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham midfielder Jozabed set to complete permanent move to Celta Vigo

The two clubs are close to agreeing a fee for the Spaniard with Jozabed hoping to be a Celta player by the time their pre-season starts on July 10

Jozabed is set to complete a permanent move to Celta Vigo.

The 26-year-old spent half the season out on loan at the La Liga club after he failed to settle in England and he is now set to make that deal permanent, with Celta and Fulham close to agreeing a fee.

The two clubs had an agreement in place that the loan deal could be made permanent for a fee in the region of €4million - €5million, but the Spanish club felt they could pay less, with a fee of around €3million looking like it will be accepted by Fulham.

Real Betis had shown an interest in Jozabed and hoped Celta's unwillingness to meet Fulham's valuation would allow them to swoop in, but Celta have no negotiated with Fulham, paving the way for him to move back to Spain.

Jozabed signed for Fulham last summer from Rayo Vallecano, putting pen to paper on a three-year deal at Craven Cottage.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/fulham-midfielder-jozabed-set-complete-13235644

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Fulham favourites to be top of the Championship after the opening day according to the bookies

Ladbrokes believe that Fulham stand the best chance of being top of the pile after the opening set of fixtures

Fulham are the favourites to be top of the Championship after the opening day, according to Ladbrokes.

The opening day will see Slavisa Jokanovic's side face Norwich at Craven Cottage, with the last time the two sides met on the first day of the season resulting in a thumping 5-0 win for the Cottagers.

Last season, Fulham drew 2-2 with Norwich at the Cottage before going to Carrow Road on April 14 and winning 3-1, despite playing half the game with ten men after Chris Martin was sent off on his old stomping ground.

The club are 6/1 to be top after the opening set of fixtures, with Aston Villa second favourites at 7/1.

If you want another west London team, Brentford are 40/1 to be top after their opening day fixture against newly promoted Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

After their game with Norwich, Fulham face Wycombe Wanderers in the Carabao Cup first round, followed by a Play-off semi final revenge mission against Reading at the Madjeski Stadium.

Many supporters have committed to following the Whites next term, starting with the first home fixture on August 5 against Norwich.

Fans can watch all the action unfold from as little as £349 for adults and just £59 for juniors by purchasing their Season Ticket today online, or by phone on 0843 208 1234 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm).



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-favourites-top-championship-after-13235569

[WhiteJC]

 
Nottingham Forest withdraw interest in Fulham midfielder

Nottingham Forest have withdrawn their interest in Fulham's Kevin McDonald according to a report from Get West London.

Earlier this week, there were reports that Forest were set to go in for McDonald. The club were looking to massively improve their squad after coming close to getting relegated last season and saw signing the 28-year-old midfielder as a great way of doing that. The report said that Forest were set to make a bid of £3m, but that it would be way short of the £7m valuation that Fulham had put on him.

However while Forest were interested in the player, they have now cooled on the idea of signing McDonald and will no longer attempt to sign him. when they made an approach to sign him, they were not given the £7m value that had been reported earlier in the week and were simply told that he was not for sale. This, alongside the fact McDonald is happy to stay at Fulham, seems to have done the trick as the East Midlands club are now looking at other targets they can sign.

The Cottagers will now be keeping hold of a key midfielder who has been able to prove himself at several levels over the last few years. After starting his career with Dundee, he'd soon head south of the border to sign for Dundee. After three years at Turf Moor, he'd sign for Sheffield United where he would be a star player until his move to Wolves in 2013. He would play for them for three years before eventually moving to Fulham.



http://the72.co.uk/84997/nottingham-forest-withdraw-interest-fulham-midfielder/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham looking to add Lugo defender Marcelo Djalo to their U23 squad rather than the first team

Reports suggested there was reservations amongst the coaching staff, but the 23-year-old looks to be integrated into the U23 side first

Fulham are looking at signing Marcelo Djalo as a replacement for Cameron Burgess in their U23 squad, as opposed to adding him to their first team straight away.

The 23-year-old centre back, who has played for Badalona, Granada's B team, Juventus, Girona and Murcia before signing for Lugo in 2016, has been linked to Fulham amidst suggestions he has been identified as a target by the club's analytics department despite reservations from the coaching staff that he wouldn't be worthwhile.

However, it is understood that the club view him as a signing for the U23 side initially, replacing 21-year-old Burgess who saw his promising youth career dealt a blow by ex-manager Felix Magath in an opening day game at Ipswich, where he was played out of position in a central midfield role.

The Australian has now joined Scunthorpe and Fulham will look to add Djalo to the U23 squad as his replacement and will monitor his progress with an eye on moving him to the first team when he is ready and established.

Despite only being able to play in the U23s as an U23 player until October, Fulham will use on of the three overage places they have in their squad for Djalo.

The Spaniard is not a replacement for Tomas Kalas, with whom Fulham are still hoping to sign on a permanent deal.



http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/fulham-looking-add-lugo-defender-13236554

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Rangers yet to make concrete offer for McDonald

Rangers are yet to firm up their interest in Fulham ace Kevin McDonald with a concrete offer, according to a Get West London report.

The news outlet claims Rangers have not even made an enquiry into the 28-year-old central midfielder's availability.

It is said Brighton and Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest were also weighing up bids for McDonald, but Fulham are yet to receive any offers.

The report states Forest manager Mark Warburton was "extremely keen" on the Scotsman, who impressed at Craven Cottage last term.

The central midfielder was a mainstay in the Cottagers' engine room last season, making 48 appearances across all competitions, netting three goals and supplying four assists.

He joined Fulham last summer in a £1.3million switch from Wolves, and he played a key part in the club's sixth-place finish in the Championship and subsequent play-off efforts.

Get West London claims contrary to other reports, McDonald was not given a £7million price tag, and the club never wanted to sell him.

It is also said that the 28-year-old is happy at Craven Cottage, and is keen on remaining there for the 2017-18 campaign.

This comes after the Sun reported earlier this month that the Gers were ready to rival Brighton in the race to sign the 14-time Scotland Under-21 international.



https://thisisfutbol.com/2017/06/rumour-mill/rangers-yet-to-make-concrete-offer-for-mcdonald/

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Woodrow eyes Cottage progress

Cauley Woodrow is looking to "really push on" with Fulham after they took up the option to extend his contract by a year until 2019.

The forward, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Burton, is currently with the England Under-21 squad at the European Championships in Poland.

He told the Fulham website: "It's a nice feeling to be rewarded for going out on loan and doing quite well, then getting called up for the England U21s and coming to the Euros and to then have the club taking up that option, I am really pleased.

"The plan for me now is to hopefully break into the Fulham team and play more regularly than I have done in the past and really push on."



https://www.clubcall.com/championship/woodrow-eyes-cottage-progress-1855037.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Nottingham Forest said to have cooled interest in Fulham midfielder Kevin McDonald

Rumoured Nottingham Forest target Kevin McDonald looks likely to stay at Fulham for the upcoming Championship campaign.

The Reds had been linked with a move for the midfielder, with boss Mark Warburton said to be keen on bringing him to the City Ground in a £3m deal.

Newly-promoted Brighton and Warburton's former club Rangers were also said to be eyeing up the 28-year-old Scot.

But it is claimed Forest's interest has now cooled, with GetWestLondon reporting no bids, or formal enquiries, have been received for McDonald.

National reports had said Fulham were looking for £7m for the player, a fee which would have required the Reds to break their transfer record to secure his services.

However, GetWestLondon say they understand no such price tag was quoted, with the Craven Cottage side's policy that McDonald was not for sale. They add the former Notts County loanee is understood to be keen to remain with the Whites this season.

After signing from Wolves last summer, McDonald made 48 appearances for the club last term, scoring three goals as Slavisa Jokanovic's team went desperately close to a top-flight return – falling to Reading in the play-off semi-finals.




http://www.nottinghampost.com/nottingham-forest-said-to-have-cooled-interest-in-fulham-midfielder-kevin-mcdonald/story-30408698-detail/story.html