Thursday Fulham Stuff (31/05/18)...

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Fulham eye Bristol City defender Aden Flint as manager Slavisa Jokanovic looks to bolster defensive options

    Fulham are monitoring the situation with Bristol City defender Aden Flint
    Manager Slavisa Jokanovic wanted to bring in the 28-year-old in January
    The Cottagers have returned to the Premier League after winning the play-offs

Fulham are maintaining interest in Bristol City defender Aden Flint as they assess summer targets.

Slavisa Jokanovic wanted the 28-year-old in January and is keen to bring in two centre-backs for the Premier League.

The centre-back was convinced to sign a new contract in January - adding a year on to his current deal which runs until 2021.


Fulham are maintaining interest in Bristol City defender Aden Flint

The new deal is also seen to have upped the player's value in the transfer market.

Fulham will return to the top flight of English football after beating Aston Villa 1-0 on Saturday to secure their place in the Premier League next season.

Birmingham bid for the defender last summer, though Bristol were able to keep hold of their prized asset.



Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5784551/Fulham-eye-Bristol-defender-Aden-Flint.html#ixzz5H3Y3H6mU
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NORWOOD: I'LL ALWAYS CHERISH PROMOTION EXPERIENCES


Oliver Norwood celebrates winning promotion with Fulham at Wembley Stadium.

Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Oliver Norwood reflected on an incredible day at Wembley Stadium, as the Northern Irishman sealed back-to-back promotions, following Saturday's Play-Off Final victory with Fulham.

The Albion loanee was a second-half substitute for the Cottagers against Aston Villa, and after winning promotion to the Premier League the season before with Chris Hughton's men, the 27-year-old was delighted to do it all over again.

He said, "If you get the chance to get promoted once in your career, you'd be very happy - but it's surreal to get promoted again with Fulham, at Wembley in front of over 85,000 fans.

"It was an incredible day, and to have experienced both types of promotion in consecutive seasons is a great feeling.

"If you ask any footballer - 'you can get promoted at Wembley in financially the biggest game in football' - I think any footballer would choose to do it that way.

"The whole occasion was absolutely incredible. It's something I'll always cherish and be very proud of when I look back at the end of my career - the achievements I've had with both clubs."

Norwood made 39 appearances in the Sky Bet Championship - scoring five goals - and the midfielder commented on the similar journeys in which Albion and Fulham have been on.

"Obviously I wasn't at Brighton at the time, but if you look back at missing out the year before and then going on to win automatic promotion the following season, you could say the stories are quite similar.

"Fulham missed out in the semi-finals the season before, and it shows what characters there are in both squads.

"For the boys to go on and do what they did this year in the Premier League - watching from afar - it's been incredible.

"I'm really pleased that the club get another crack at the Premier League next season, because everyone deserves it.

"They've worked hard for years and can now look forward to doing it all over again next season."

The Cottagers will join the Seagulls in the Premier League for the 2018/19 campaign, and Norwood highlighted the successful but different styles of football played at both clubs.

"Fulham play a different type of football. The manager really insists on playing out from the back - the two centre-backs are really deep and the midfielders drop in to get the ball.

"It's two different styles of play, but both are as successful as each other. You're not always going to have two clubs that play the exact same way.

"At the end of the day, it's about winning football matches and being successful, and both teams have done that."



https://www.brightonandhovealbion.com/news/2018/may/norwood-ill-always-cherish-promotion-experiences/

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Newcastle fans want to sit on Mitrovic sale until after World Cup

Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has spoken out about his desire to keep Aleksandar Mitrovic, but Newcastle fans are hoping they wait until after the World Cup to sell.

According to reports, Fulham manager Jokanovic was at Serbia's training camp this week, where he expressed his desire to keep the feisty striker at Craven Cottage.

Mitrovic couldn't come to terms with what Rafael Benitez expected of his players at St. James', and although plenty of fans criticised the decision to let the young striker leave, the Magpies' form in his absence has silenced the doubters.

The 23 year-old was pivotal in Fulham's promotion though, scoring 12 times in 18 starts after his loan move in January.

The Cottagers are now hoping to keep hold of him when they take on the top tier of English football, but Newcastle fans are praying they can repeat the sale of Moussa Sissoko, who they sold for a whopping £30m after his impressive Euro 2016 showing.

If Mitrovic can shine at the World Cup for Serbia, the Magpies could get a huge sum to reinvest in their own frontline, and if the Serbian continues his form for the Cottagers into next season it could be a win for all parties.



https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league/newcastle-united/newcastle-fans-want-to-sit-on-mitrovic-sale-until-after-world-cup

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The Secret Ref | Fulham plan shows psychology is key to your prep

Years ago the psychology behind the game, even at the highest levels, was left to nothing more than a lonely drive home and the wait for your assessment.

What was in that assessment, when shared between amateurs long before SG1 and 2 came into being, would often have centred on the struggle to retain control during flare-ups between multiple players and the well-meaning pursuit of conflict resolution.

Even the current head of PGMOL, Mike Riley has confessed he was left with no alternative but to buy a few books and hope for the best when he was out there in the thick of it.

These days things may not be left to your own initiative, but only time will tell if the right people are in the right place to give our top referees the support as and when it is needed most.

I would be pleasantly surprised if this is what transpired following the Championship play-off final between Fulham and Villa, but for the sake of a holistic approach to the mental side of Anthony Taylor's game, it certainly should have done.

Whoever his coach is, he should have made sure they sat down together to best review the key match incidents on a TV or, more likely, a laptop. Only then, in the best, most open environment possible, could they hope to trace the source of the problems that arose.

And only then will they have been able to agree on a plan to improve on what went wrong, and to be fair, a lot of things went right for him in this match and his mistakes did not, in my opinion, unduly affect the outcome.

Fulham made the most of their dominance and, even having rightly been reduced to ten men, went on to clinch that coveted Premier League place so many people felt they had already earned by finishing third at the end of the regular season.

Where Anthony went wrong was not merely in blatantly missing the Ryan Fredericks stamp on Jack Grealish, due to his poor view, obscured as it was by a mass of players from either side, nor even in having had the misfortune to have Kevin Friend, the fourth official, apparently miss the same incident, too.

No, there was evidently something lacking far further back, which only allowed the Grealish situation to go from bad to worse and for this negligence to belatedly lead to a failure of control and authority on one of the biggest occasions of the season.

The slightest amount of homework would have told Anthony that a likely Fulham game-plan would involve singling Grealish out, just as it proved. Not only that, but you add to that homework a good look at the respective tea-sheets one hour out, just to confirm the need for any tweaks in your prep. You then share this with your team, which of course would have included Friend, and take into account any input they might have to offer.

As well as factors such as the temperament of Grealish, for example, you would assess the speed and otherwise of potential opponents such as Sessegnon and Terry. It was a rare match indeed where I had not predicted a good 18 or 19 of those names on that sheet, and it all plays a part in giving yourself the peace of mind that comes from being on top of things.

As soon as you identify the kind of tactics employed by Fulham, and they did deliberately use several players to take it in turns to niggle Grealish as well as just foul him, you let the captain know you are not having it and that, if his players do not respond, you will do something about it.

Sadly we saw none of this at Wembley. Not only should Fredericks have gone, and there's no two ways about it, VAR would have delivered that verdict, but Grealish himself would have gone, too, before Denis Odoi got his own marching orders. Who were his fouls committed against, by the way? You guessed it, Mr Grealish.

From the very off you have to be asking yourself, why is this happening? Involve your own team, by all means, but show both sets of players that you are on top of it by acting, and it's not as if it's difficult to take effective action with the cards at your disposal

Instead we were left with a show-piece marked less by skill than by the festering threat of confrontation that could so easily have been nipped in the bud. There's something, at least, that we can all learn from in that.



https://theref.online/the-secret-ref-fulham-plan-shows-psychology-is-key-to-your-prep/

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Chelsea attacker Lucas Piazon delivers verdict on his Fulham future

Chelsea man Piazon spent the entire 2017-18 season on loan at Fulham.

Chelsea attacker Lucas Piazon has not ruled out a permanent stay at Fulham, or indeed another season-long loan, during an interview with Sky Sports following the Championship side's promotion to the Premier League.

Fulham earned a narrow 1-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday evening at Wembley thanks to Tom Cairney's goal, which saw Slavisa Jokanovic go one better than last season when Fulham lost in the play-off semi-finals.

Piazon, 24, remained an unused substitute at Wembley with Jokanovic opting to start the likes of Ryan Sessegnon, Aboubakar Kamara and Aleksandar Mitrovic in attack.

However, Brazilian star Piazon has played an important part in Fulham's campaign as they narrowly missed out on automatic promotion and he stated that talks over a potential move will be staged in due course.

"Not yet," Piazon said, when asked if a return to the club was on the cards. "We spoke briefly after the game [play-off final]. Everyone was so excited and the chats were not properly serious.

"We have got time. Last year it was the same, we didn't speak much at the end of the season and I ended up coming back. Let's just see what happens."

Piazon has spent the last two seasons on loan at Craven Cottage from west London neighbours Chelsea, scoring 12 goals and adding another nine assists in 58 league and cup appearances for the Championship side.

During Fulham's promotion-winning campaign, he chipped in with six goals and five assists, despite starting only 16 of his 25 appearances.

The former Malaga, Vitesse, Frankfurt and Reading loanee has two years remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea are likely to sell if Fulham do indeed make an offer for the attacker.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/05/30/chelsea-attacker-lucas-piazon-delivers-verdict-on-his-fulham-fut/

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Why Marcus Bettinelli deserves his Premier League chance
by Dan on May 30, 2018

It might be Wednesday, but I can't be the only one still walking around with a stupid grin on my face following Fulham's promotion to the Premier League last weekend. As Sarah wrote recently, the iconic moment of the magical afternoon came with Marcus Bettinelli lifting a black flare above his head and running towards the massed ranks of Fulham fans behind the goal – and it was fitting that he should be so strikingly involved in the glorious celebrations.

Bettinelli, as he emphasised in an emotional message to supporters posted on Twitter alongside a picture of him lifting the play-off final trophy, is Fulham through and through. In an era where promising talent moves on when their side isn't successful in order to further their career, Bettinelli has been a notable exception. Ryan Sessegnon was able to point to regular first-team football as a reason for turning down the overtures of the big clubs last summer, but even when he was the club's number two goalkeeper, Bettinelli rebuffed the chance of moving to Chelsea or a host of other clubs.

Instead, he redoubled his efforts to regain his place in the team. Having made such a striking impact after being promoted to the senior side under Kit Symons, Bettinelli was the victim of a serious untimely injury to his knee after a horrible clash with Matt Smith at Hull City and was then usurped to the number one position by David Button. He's not exactly the ideal goalkeeper for Slavisa Jokanovic's play it out from the back system and has had to work exceptionally hard on his distribution and reading of the game.

What Bettinelli does give his defence is vocal instructions throughout the game. He's not afraid to make himself heard and, since coming back into the side, he's had the canny knack of making vital saves. He produced a stupendous reaction save to prevent that miserable defeat up at Sunderland from being even worse and then made a crucial block to deny Caleb Ekuban when the Leeds forward was clean through on goal with the Whites only a goal ahead at Craven Cottage. Fulham went straight up the other end and scored. On Saturday, his denying of Jack Grealish at close quarters after the Aston Villa midfielder had sauntered through the Fulham defence was both critical and magnificent – the latter because of the deflection Grealish's effort had taken off a desperate Kevin McDonald.

As the enormity of Fulham's achievement at Wembley slowly begins to sink in, attention turns to the sort of additions that Jokanovic will need to make to ensure his side are competitive in the top flight. Several pundits and supporters have already suggested that goalkeeper is a position where the Whites are in need of an upgrade. But the numbers from this season are striking. Even when taking risks with such an adventurous style of play, Fulham only conceded 49 goals in 52 matches – letting in just 21 in the final 30 games after that wretched defeat at Brentford back in December. The most critical of the eighteen clean sheets came in the most important game of all, of course.

At just 26, Bettinelli is young enough to improve still further and will relish the opportunity to test himself at the highest level of English football. He's been through the heartbreak of relegation, rejection and an injury nightmare. After his role in returning Fulham to the Premier League, he deserves a chance to prove himself worthy of being a top flight goalkeeper.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/05/why-marcus-bettinelli-deserves-his-premier-league-chance/

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Newcastle United now have at least two clubs interested in Aleksandar Mitrovic

Crystal Palace ask to be kept informed about Aleksandar Mitrovic's plans this summer

Crystal Palace have asked to be kept in the loop when it comes to Aleksandar Mitrovic's future.

The Eagles have joined Fulham near the front of the queue for the Serbian international's services next season with his time at Newcastle United looking likely to come to an end after three years on Tyneside.

Mitrovic has just completed a successful loan stint with the Cottagers with his 12 goals in 18 games helping to fire Fulham to the play-off final which they won 1-0 against Aston Villa.

Mitrovic now heads to Russia with Serbia for the World Cup finals with his representatives set to thrash out his next move.

Newcastle want at least £15million for Mitrovic, but the presence of a second club could now spark a bidding war.


Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham (Image: Getty Images Europe)

Commenting on his recent form, Mitrovic said at the weekend: "It's been the best three or four months in my professional life.

"I have played the best football.

"This team has an unbelievable soul and connection between us.

"I really enjoyed my time here and we'll see what happens.

"Now I want to enjoy this today and tomorrow start preparing for the World Cup."

Serbia will face Costa Rica, Switzerland, and Brazil at this summer's tournament.



https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/newcastle-united-now-least-two-14722264

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Fulham pushing to sign Matt Targett permanently



Fulham are pushing to complete a permanent move for Southampton defender Matt Targett, according to the Daily Star.

The young left-back joined Fulham in the January transfer window midway through last season and enjoyed an impressive spell at the club, featuring regularly in Slavisa Jokanovic's side.

Targett helped Fulham as they secured promotion to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs, establishing himself as a key man for the Whites.

The Saints academy graduate is understood to be open to the idea of remaining at Craven Cottage for the foreseeable future, with the player claiming earlier in the season that he had received no contact from Southampton since his departure.

Saints are well-stocked with left-back options but all three of their players in this position have been linked with a move away. Ryan Bertrand could leave this summer, while Sam McQueen is also rumoured to be on the verge of joining Bristol City to come in as Joe Bryan's replacement.

Targett's future is seemingly uncertain, but Fulham will evidently be doing all they can to recruit the youngster on a permanent basis.



https://readsouthampton.com/2018/05/30/fulham-pushing-to-sign-matt-targett-permanently/

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Fulham eager to sign Targett
by Dan on May 30, 2018

Fulham are hoping to persuade Southampton to allow Matt Targett to move to Craven Cottage on a permanent basis this summer, according to a report in the Daily Star.

The newspaper suggests that Slavisa Jokanovic has made securing the signatures of Fulham's two January loan signings – Aleksandar Mitrovic and Targett – one of his top priorities as the Londoners begin their planning for the Premier League after beating Aston Villa in the Championship play-off final last weekend. Targett enjoyed a terrific loan spell in south west London, starring at left back as the Whites put together a 23-match unbeaten run that saw them finish third in the table. The 22 year-old made 21 appearances – scoring at Bolton Wanderers – after joining Fulham in January and formed a formidable partnership with teenage sensation Ryan Sessegnon down the left flank.

Targett is reportedly open to making his move to Fulham permanent, having previously disclosed that he hadn't received any contact from his parent club after moving to London on loan. Much depends on how Saints manager Mark Hughes intends to reshape his squad having saved Southampton from relegation and whether he can keep hold of England international Ryan Bertrand as the club's first-choice left back.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/05/fulham-eager-to-sign-targett/

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A Part Exchange For Mitrovic Is Possible – With This Player Coming To Newcastle

The Chronicle is reporting today that Newcastle are interested in signing Fulham right-back, Ryan Fredericks.

The 25-year-old has a three-year contract that runs out at the end of next month, and he and his agent are waiting to see what Fulham offer him to stay on at Craven Cottage and play in the Premier League.

Ryan was born and bred in London having been born in Hammersmith.

He started his career at his hometown club Tottenham Hotspur and eventually moved to Bristol City before joining the Cottagers on a three year deal in the summer of 2015.

And he says he would like to stay at Fulham after they were promoted last Saturday by beating Aston Villa 1-0 in the playoff final at Wembley.

Two London clubs West Ham United and Crystal Palace are also interested in signing the defender who has been at Fulham for three years and has played for them 114 times with 16 assists.

He did have a loan spell at Middlesbrough in the northeast in the 2014-2015 season and played for the Smoggies 19 times.

After beating Aston Villa on Saturday Fredericks had this to say:

    "It's up to the people behind the scenes but I'm sure everyone will want to stay and play at the highest level with Fulham and see what we can achieve."

Newcastle do seem to have some leverage since Fulham want striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and the club could do a part exchange deal with Fredericks and cash coming Newcastle's way.

But this will all depend on what Fulham offer Fredericks in a new contract and whether that's acceptable to the right back.



http://www.nufcblog.com/2018/05/30/a-part-exchange-for-mitrovic-is-possible-with-this-player-coming-to-newcastle/

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Cairney calls on Fulham to sign Mitrovic
by Dan on May 30, 2018

Fulham captain Tom Cairney has urged the club to turn Aleksandar Mitrovic's loan move from Newcastle United into a permanent deal as soon as possible.

The Serbian striker, who scored twelve goals after moving to Craven Cottage in January as the Whites won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, has already admitted he would be open to staying with Fulham should his parent club agree to a deal. Newcastle are likely to try and hold out until after the World Cup, where Mitrovic will represent his country, in hope of receiving as big a transfer fee as possible. Reports from the north east suggest that Newcastle are looking for a deal worth between £15m and £20m.

Cairney believes securing the 23 year-old forward on a permanent basis would be a massive statement of intent from Fulham and feels that the striker's strong relationship with head coach Slavisa Jokanovic will work in the club's favour. Fulham's Wembley matchwinner told the Evening Standard:

    We have got to try and sign him. He is a Premier League centre- forward. He is going to play for Serbia in the World Cup and if he scores goals there then more people are going to be in for him. I think he loves it here and he loves the manager.

    We are an attractive club to come to. We have been in the Premier League for a long time apart from the last few years, we are in London and the style of play is attractive. We look to play football and score goals.

The Fulham skipper also cited Eddie Howe's Bournemouth as the example to follow as Jokanovic's men look to adapt their possession-based style to the challenge of the top flight over the coming months.

    We played amazing football in the Championship but everyone knows the gap between the two divisions and the top teams. We are not going to go to Arsenal and dominate the ball like we did at Wembley. We are not naive. We have got to look at the likes of Bournemouth and what they have done. They dominated possession in the Championship when they went up and scored a lot of goals like us. They look to do that against teams at home in the Premier League but when they go away to the likes of Chelsea they have to drop off and keep their shape.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/05/cairney-calls-on-fulham-to-sign-mitrovic/

[WhiteJC]

 
Newcastle up Mitrovic asking price

Newcastle United have slapped an extra £5million on the asking price of striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, according to the Evening Standard.

The newspaper claim Fulham are firmly in the hunt to sign the Serbia international on a permanent deal after his impressive loan in the second half of 2017-18.

The Chronicle reported last week that victory for the Cottagers in their Championship play-off final would pave the way for Mitrovic to move to the Londoners for £15million but the Standard now state it may cost £20million to clinch his signature.

OPINION

Given that Rafael Benitez clearly doesn't rate Mitrovic and he couldn't get a game for Newcastle for love nor money before his January loan move, it would represent a brilliant deal for the north-east giants if they could sell him for £20million this summer. The Serbian did not start a single Premier League game in the opening half of 2017-18 as he found himself sidelined and behind Dwight Gayle and Joselu in the centre-forward pecking order. But Newcastle believe his value has risen after scoring 12 goals in 20 matches for Fulham and playing the best football of his career under Slavisa Jokanovic. It does not mean a place back under Rafa, but it does help the Magpies' board move the goalposts in what they want from buying clubs. Indeed, they might want to even hold off under after the World Cup. Mitrovic will lead the line for Serbia and has a decent international record. Should he score a few goals in Russia, the pound signs in Mike Ashley's eyes would be unmistakeable.



https://nothingbutnewcastle.com/2018/05/blogs/newcastle-up-mitrovic-asking-price/

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FA seeks to reassure members over Wembley deal

The English Football Association (FA) has moved to reassure its council members that selling Wembley Stadium could allow it to spend more than £1bn (€1.1bn/$1.3bn) on grassroots football as it considers an offer for the venue from US billionaire Shahid Khan.

The FA last month received an offer believed to be worth £600m from Khan, who owns NFL American football team the Jacksonville Jaguars and newly-promoted Premier League football club Fulham.

In a speech to FA council members yesterday (Tuesday), the body's chief executive Martin Glenn said the offer represents an opportunity "to unleash an unprecedented amount of investment into community football".

Glenn said, according to UK newspaper The Guardian: "By 2030, just over 10 years from the completion of a potential sale, we could have invested over £1bn on community football facilities – and still have a £450m capital fund untouched."

Glenn said that the £1bn figure would be dependent on the FA receiving further match funding for facilities improvements.

The Guardian, citing people present at the meeting, noted that some council members expressed their unease at the proposed deal with Khan, with others stating that the proposal would free up the FA to invest in grassroots facilities. Research released yesterday showed that just one in three pitches is of "adequate" quality, with one in six matches called off last season due to poor pitch quality.

The English Football League (EFL), which operates the three divisions below the top-tier Premier League, has also insisted that half of any money generated by a sale of Wembley be given to professional clubs for community initiatives. The Guardian said that FA executives feel this could form part of any deal.

"Receiving an offer to sell Wembley Stadium is not a betrayal," Glenn added. "It is not selling the soul of the game. What we have in front of us is simply an opportunity."

In other news, the FA has confirmed that it plans on introducing a winter break to the English football season for the first time. Glenn said that the break would provide a "much-needed" improvement for clubs, with The Times newspaper reporting that it would be introduced during the 2019-20 season in late January and early February.



https://www.sportbusiness.com/sport-news/fa-seeks-reassure-members-over-wembley-deal

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What we know about Fulham's pursuit of Newcastle man Aleksandar Mitrovic as Palace join hunt

According to Chronicle Live, Crytal Palace have asked to be kept in the loop on the Serbian international's future as they look to bolster their attacking line.

Fulham have made no secret of their desire to bring Aleksandar Mitrovic back to Craven Cottage next season, but it seems like they may have a battle on their hands.

According to Chronicle Live, Crystal Palace have asked to be kept in the loop on the Serbian international's future as they look to bolster their attacking line.

Mitrovic looks increasingly likely to end his association with Newcastle united this summer after falling out of favour, and with no shortage of potential suitors, the question appears to be more about where he will end up than whether he will leave.

Do Newcastle want to sell him?

Aleksandar Mitrovic was allowed to leave the Toon Army after falling out of favour at St James' Park.

The striker made just one start for Rafa Benitez's side this season - an EFL Cup match against Nottingham Forest - and was limited to just six substitute appearances in the Premier League.

While this was largely due to suspension and injury, he was also limited to just 11 starts during Newcastle's promotion-winning campaign in the Championship, meaning that the Magpies would more than likely be happy to sell for the right price.

How much will Fulham have to pay?

According to reports, Newcastle are looking for a fee in excess of £15million for the striker.

It's thought that the presence of a second club in the queue to sign Mitrovic could spark a bidding war for the striker - although the fact that he's gone on the record to say how much he enjoyed his spell at Craven Cottage can only be a positive.


(Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

What has Tom Cairney said?

He told the Evening Standard: "We have got to try and sign him.

"He is a Premier League centre-forward.

"He is going to play for Serbia in the World Cup and if he scores goals there then more people are going to be in for him. I think he loves it here and he loves the manager."

What has Mitrovic said?

"It's been the best three or four months in my professional life. I have played the best football.

"This team has an unbelievable soul and connection between us.

"For next season you can expect the same Fulham, we will try to beat every team even top teams.


(Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

"We will try to play football, we will try to always score one more goal, we will try to play attacking football and do the same thing we did this year.

"We have to see what happens first but I would be happy to stay.

"We will see what happens, I will speak with my agent, I will speak with the club and we will see."

What happens next?

Mitrovic will now turn his attention towards the World Cup campaign with his native Serbia.

For the likes of Fulham and Crystal Palace, they'll be keen to try and strike a deal as early as possible - as a successful four weeks on the world stage wouldn't only increase Newcastle's asking price, but could also lead to admiring glances from other clubs around the continent.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/mitrovic-fulham-newcastle-crystal-palace-14723232

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Exclusive: Shahid Khan 'optimistic' Wembley Stadium purchase will be completed


Khan was at Wembley on Saturday to watch his Fulham side win promotion to the Premier League

Shahid Khan is 'optimisic' he will complete the purchase of Wembley Stadium from the Football Association.

Khan, the Fulham and Jacksonville Jaguars owner, proposed a deal to the FA last month worth around £1billion, with £600m paid up front and the rest coming from match day revenue.

The national stadium will remain the home of football in this country, with England internationals, EFL finals, and the FA Cup final still to be played on the hallowed turf.

Though the FA received the offer last month, and Khan wanted to wrap up the deal in eight weeks, there has been no official word on how the deal is progressing.

However, Khan remains confident he will complete the purchase of Wembley.

"Our part is done," Khan told talkSPORT. "It's a process the FA will run and decide, and we'll be working with them. But I'm optimistic."

Khan has a history with Wembley as his NFL team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, have played more games in London than any other side, and have been the designated home team in each of their five visits.

"I love it," Khan said of the stadium. "This is the now the fourth time we have been here and we've won. Four years ago we only won three games, and one of them was here.

"The next year, we only won five out of 16 games... and one of them was here.

"Last year we had a good year, it was huge.

"[Ahead of the Championship play-off final] I told the Fulham players and Slav (Slavisa Jokanovic, the Fulham manager): 'you have the same home field advantage here that you do at Craven Cottage. So get comfortable, because this place has the right karma, the right energy, the right soul. It's going to do everything for us'."



https://talksport.com/football/shahid-khan-wembley-stadium-purchase-completed-optimistic-fulham-jacksonville-jaguars-owner

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What to expect from Fulham in the Premier League?

Under the Wembley arch on Saturday, Fulham beat out stiff competition from Aston Villa to earn their place back in the Premier League.

Manager Slavisa Jokanovic got The Cottagers playing stylish football in England's second-tier, with that paying off with a huge victory in the most financially-rewarding match in the beautiful game. The only way is forward for Fulham under the guidance of their 49-year-old gaffer, who's now been at the helm since 2015; proving that all he needed to implement his ideologies was time.

Preparations for playing Premier League football week-in-week-out will now be well underway. Their Serbian manager will already be identifying potential new signings, while working out which members from his current squad will be able to handle the rigours that top-level English football brings.

So what should we expect from Fulham during their first Premier League campaign in half-a-decade?

I've always been a firm believer in a club that sticks with their principals, rather than adapting to the situation. Fulham have played a possession-based style under Jokanovic. Why should that change now? It's worked so far, stick with it. They should look towards Huddersfield for inspiration, and I'd already suggest that The Cottagers have a better squad than their Yorkshire counterparts.

Their manager is building something special. The Craven Cottage faithful have found their leader. Chairman Shahid Khan deserves credit, too. It would've been criminal if Fulham didn't force their way into the Premier League after an excellent campaign, and the fact that their stars stepped up when the pressure was on says an awful lot about their confidence, composure and temperaments.

As the old saying goes, football would be nothing without the fans. Fulham have themselves an immensely passionate following. Their supporters love their club with unwavering loyalty. Make no mistake about it, this makes a difference to the players on the pitch; particularly when the going gets tough. In their first campaign back in the Premier League, Craven Cottage simply has to erupt at every possible moment, they need to ensure the away team know they're in a real tight-knit game and I'm fully expecting that to be the case.

The next step is ensuring their star players remain at the club. Captain Tom Cairney has gone from strength-to-strength since being handed the armband. He'll be attracting some serious interest. The same can be said for Ryan Sessegnon, who simply has to stay put at Fulham. Keeping Aleksandar Mitrovic in London is going to be tough, he may cost a pretty penny and it will be a gamble; I'd say it'd be a chance worth taking.

When it comes down to the wire, it's all about belief and hard work. If Fulham show that, every time they take to the field, they'll have ample opportunity to pick up those all-important Premier League points. They need to make full use of a home-field advantage that they genuinely do have. When things aren't going their way (which will happen at some point), that's when the board have to keep the faith in the management team and coaching staff. They've led the club this far, and given time, I wouldn't be surprised to see Fulham as a top-half Premier League regular once again.



http://www.itsroundanditswhite.co.uk/articles/what-to-expect-from-fulham-in-the-premier-league

[WhiteJC]

 
Should Newcastle ask about Christian Benteke?

Would a swap deal - Aleksandar Mitrovic for Christian Benteke - interest Newcastle United?

According to The Chronicle, Crystal Palace are interested in Newcastle United's Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The Serbia hitman looks unlikely to have a long-term future at Newcastle while Rafael Benitez is in charge and spent the second half of last season on loan with Fulham, helping them win Premier League promotion in the process.

His future is likely to be the subject of intrigue over the summer months, but if the Magpies sell him to Palace should Benitez ask about Christian Benteke in return?

Newcastle fans might baulk at the suggestion, but Benteke, who bagged 19 Premier League goals during the 2012-13 campaign for Aston Villa, has proven that he can be a devastating force in England's top flight and although his record has been markedly less impressive in recent years, could Benitez get him back to his best?

The Spaniard is well known to be a fantastic man-manager and it wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility that Benteke - a £27 million signing by Palace in 2016 - would drastically improve under such guidance.

The St James's Park club need a big upgrade on Joselu and Dwight Gayle, and Benteke, as far as talent goes, is a significant upgrade and swapping him for Mitrovic shouldn't be dismissed.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/05/30/should-newcastle-ask-about-christian-benteke/

[WhiteJC]

 
John Terry leaves Aston Villa after failed Premier League promotion bid

John Terry has left Aston Villa in the aftermath of their Championship Play-Off Final defeat to Fulham.

Former Chelsea captain Terry joined the Midlands giants last summer with the stated aim of helping to return Villa to the Premier League after their relegation in 2016.

However that failed with a 1-0 loss to the Cottagers at Wembley on Saturday. Terry left the national stadium a devastated man and his manager Steve Bruce confirmed that the club no longer had an option to extend his contract by one year.

A statement from the club confirmed: "We would like to place on record our most sincere thanks for the effort and professionalism he showed with us last season.

"John is a true leader and was everything and more that we hoped.  Hugely popular and influential in the dressing room, he played a real captain's role in creating the incredible bond the players shared with our supporters, and vice-versa.

"We hope he looks back on his time with Villa fondly and we wish him the very best as his career moves forward."

Terry offered no indication as to whether he has played his final professional match, saying: "I'm very proud to have had the opportunity to play and captain this great and huge club.

"I have given my everything this year both on and off the pitch and I'm still hurting today that we never managed to get back to the Premier League, where this club 100 per cent belongs.

"I would like to thank Steve Bruce who was instrumental in me joining Villa, I have learnt so much from him as a manger this season that will stay with me forever.Also, I'd like to thank all the staff and players who it was a real pleasure and honour to work with everyday. "

Villa's defeat to Fulham has left Villa facing a problematic year ahead with Championship Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations to consider and a cut in their Premier League parachute payments of over 50 per cent.

Terry, 37, was one of the top earners at Villa Park and may not be the only big name to depart, with owner Dr Tony Xia confirming earlier today that the club "need to change a lot of things" amid "severe FFP challenges".



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/john-terry-leaves-aston-villa-after-failed-premier-league-promotion-bid-a3851586.html

[WhiteJC]

 
3 Top-class free agents Fulham could target this summer including 8-goal Ligue 1 youngster

Fulham defeated Aston Villa 1-0, courtesy of a Tom Cairney goal in the EFL Championship playoffs at the Wembley Stadium this past weekend, to earn a promotion back to the Premier League.

It was a deserved result for Slavisa Jokanovic's side that has been playing arguably the best football in the English second division over the past couple of seasons. Now that they are back in the big league after four years, they will want to maintain their Premier League status for a number of years to come. 

To that end, the summer transfer window will play a huge role in defining how the season will pan out for the Cottagers.

There will be a number of key decisions that need to be taken regarding loan players like Tomas Kalas and Aleksandar Mitrovic, who have played a pivotal part in Fulham's success, while the future of some of the key players like Ryan Fredericks and Ryan Sessegnon needs to be secured at the earliest.

However, there is no second thought about the fact that the squad needs to be strengthened this summer if they are to put up a strong challenge in the top-flight.



While significant investment will definitely be needed, snapping up a player or two on free transfer could prove to be a shrewd way for the Londoners to operate. Here are three players that they should look to sign on a Bosman transfer this summer.

Jonathan Bamba (Saint-Etienne)

The 22-year-old has generated interest from a number of Premier League clubs including the likes of West Ham United and Crystal Palace, and Fulham too should consider looking at him this summer.

An academy product of Saint-Etienne, Bamba enjoyed his breakthrough campaign with the senior team in the 2017/18 campaign and came up with highly impressive returns of 8 goals and 11 assists in 37 appearances across all competitions. The attacker also has scored three times in 10 appearances for the France U-21s and has been heralded as one of the future stars of French football.



Capable of playing on either flank or through the middle, the 22-year-old possesses pace and trickery. As highlighted by his numbers this season, he can score and create goals in equal measure. A young and talented prospect with a solid season behind him, Bamba could prove to be a great bargain for Fulham.

Adam Maher (FC Twente)

Once regarded as the future of Dutch football, Adam Maher's career has taken a downward path in recent years. Crowned the Dutch Eredivisie Young Player of the Year back in 2011/12 after a stellar campaign with AZ Alkmaar, sky was the limit for the midfielder.

However, a difficult spell with PSV Eindhoven and a season that ended in relegation with Twente has left the 24-year-old in search of a new club this summer. Despite Twente's disappointing campaign, Maher finished the 2017/18 season with 5 goals and 5 assists in 23 appearances across all competitions. 


Adam Maher

Once compared with Spanish pass maestro Cesc Fabregas, the five-time capped Netherlands international is a technically gifted player with an eye for the pass and the ability to create chances in plenty. Not shy of doing his defensive duties either, Maher makes important contributions in both halves of the pitch.

Things might not have gone all too well for the talented playmaker in recent years but his abilities are there for all to see and given his technical abilities, he could be a great fit into Jokanovic's Fulham side.

Diego Reyes (FC Porto)

The 25-year-old Mexican centre-half has lost his spot in the starting XI at Porto but remains an integral part of the national team and has gone on to make 53 appearances for El Tri, which is a strong indicator of his abilities.


Diego Reyes

Reyes managed just 12 appearances in the Liga NOS in the 2017/18 season as Porto were crowned champions, scoring two goals and assisting one. He did feature 6 times in the UEFA Champions League and 6 times in the cup competitions.

Good in the air and comfortable with the ball at his feet, Reyes is a talented centre-back who also showed that he is equally comfortable in the defensive midfield position this past season. Just 25 years of age, he will only get better from here on.

With Tomas Kalas set to return to Chelsea after his loan spell, a move for Reyes makes sense for Fulham, especially considering that he won't cost them a penny.



https://soccersouls.com/2018/05/31/3-top-class-free-agents-fulham-could-target-this-summer-including-8-goal-ligue-1-youngster/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham a logical destination for West Ham's Michail Antonio, after report claims Hammers are open to offers for ex-Sheffield Wednesday winger

Fulham currently employ one of the West Ham United winger's former Sheffield Wednesday colleagues.

West Ham United could be willing to listen to offers for Michail Antonio during the summer transfer window, according to the Guardian.

Antonio has scored or made 32 goals in 90 West Ham games since his £8.5 million leap from Championship football, but endured his worst season as a Hammers player last term, in which he suffered various injury lay-offs.

However, with a record like the above and after earning England recognition as recently as March 2017, the versatile winger would still be a useful addition for most Premier League clubs.

And after the culmination of Fulham's loans for Sheyi Ojo and Lucas Piazon this summer, not to mention the uncertain future of Cottagers right-back and reported West Ham target Ryan Fredericks, SW6 could be a logical destination.

Factor in too that Antonio is already well known to one member of Fulham's coaching team, Stuart Gray - after playing under the 58-year-old during Gray's two years as Sheffield Wednesday's assistant manager/head coach - it may be one to keep an eye on.



http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/05/30/fulham-a-logical-destination-for-west-hams-michail-antonio-after/