Friday Fulham Stuff (13/07/18)...

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Everton fans react as Seri seemingly nears Fulham move

According to Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Fulham have won the race to sign Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri, who is rated at £27m by Transfermarkt.

Seri, who has also been linked with West Ham United and Chelsea this summer, is believed to be keen on a move to the Premier League ahead of the new campaign.

Everton have also been credited with an interest, meanwhile, and their supporters have been reacting to suggestions that Seri is on the verge of joining Fulham.

With respect to Fulham, Seri was strongly linked with Barcelona last summer, and it would be a surprise if he moved to Craven Cottage ahead of the 2018-19 season.

Fulham are seemingly going to pay £35m to sign Seri in a deal that will send shockwaves around Europe.

Everton fans, meanwhile, are still twiddling their thumbs as they wait for some transfer activity to arrive before the end of the month.



https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league/everton/everton-fans-react-as-seri-seemingly-nears-fulham-move

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Fulham break transfer record to sign Jean Michael Seri and Maxime Le Marchand


Jean Michael Seri (right) had been linked with a move to Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea Credit: AFP

Premier League newcomers Fulham have beaten off interest from Dortmund and Chelsea to just sign midfielder Jean Michael Seri from Nice for a club record of around £25million.

The Ivorian international, will arrive with Nice team-mate Maxime Le Marchand in a combined deal believed to be in excess of £30m.

Seri, 26, who was last season described by Xavi as having "Barcelona DNA", was unveiled at Craven Cottage on Thursday morning, having signed a four-year deal.

It is Fulham's first major move of the summer as manager Slavisa Jokanovic strengthens his squad in preparation for their top-flight return.

Seri scored two goals and had six assists 31 matches for Nice last season and his arrival could mean Stefan Johansen, a prominent figure in last season's promotion campaign, has a reduced role.

Fulham's owner, Tony Khan, said: "This is a big day for everyone associated with Fulham. I trust all Fulham supporters are collectively as thrilled and ecstatic as we are that Jean Michael will be joining our squad as we return home to the Premier League"

Le Marchand, who can play at centre-back and left-back, will help fill the gaps left by Thomas Kalas and Matt Targett. who have returned to Chelsea and Southampton, respectively, after their loan spells expired.

Le Marchand said "I'm very happy to sign for Fulham, this is a big club that's very popular."

Having appeared for Nice 81 times in both Ligue 1 and the Europa league, the defender brings experience and depth to a back line desperate for reinforcement.

The double signing will be viewed as a statement of intent from Fulham, who are ready to spend significant sums to help survive in the Premier League.

A major target could be Newcastle's Alexander Mitrovic, who scored 12 goals while on loan at Craven Cottage during the second half of last season. Fulham would probably have to pay in the region of £20 million to make the Serbian striker a permanent asset.



https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/07/12/fulham-break-transfer-record-sign-jean-michael-seri-maxime-le/

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"Barca DNA": Fulham sign Jean-Michael Seri to kick-off summer spending

The 26-year-old has today been announced as a Fulham player.

Newly promoted clubs are nowadays expected to make a splash, shelling out cash in a bid to upgrade their squads to Premier League quality.

However, despite these expectations, no one (with the exception of Tony Khan) could have imagined Fulham signing Jean-Michael Seri, the highly-rated central midfielder from Nice.

Fulham's acquisition of a player who has topped the Ligue 1 rankings for passes played and passes completed for two seasons in a row, and one who Xavi had famously praised, represents the coup of the summer.

The 26-year-old had drawn the interest of Europe's elite in past seasons, heavily linked to moves to Barcelona, and later Chelsea.

This remarkable praise from one of the generation's best midfielders illustrates how good Seri is. His eye for a pass is second to none, and his goal scoring rate (12 in 103 appearances for Nice) is also laudable.

Fulham desperately needed reinforcements in the centre of midfield, as an upgrade was needed on Stefan Johansen.

Although the Norwegian was crucial to the club's promotion, at times last season he was frustratingly ineffective and Seri is undoubtedly a more accomplished player to operate in the engine room of the pitch.

    "He can play anywhere in the middle. He is fantastic. He has what they call the Barca DNA. No doubt."

– Xavi evidently saw the Ivory Coast international as his heir at the Camp Nou, August 2017.

The purchase of Seri is a hugely ambitious move that sends a strong statement of intent to the rest of the top flight. Credit is in store for Tony Khan and the recruitment team, who have bought a player who many expected would depart to clubs of a higher status than Fulham.

Fulham fans had to wait a while for the first signing, but the marquee purchase of one of the best young midfielders in the world was well worth the wait. And just minutes later, Fulham also confirmed the signing of defender Maxime le Merchand from Nice as well, an accomplished centre-back and left-back who will add experience in the backline.

With pass master Jean-Michael Seri alongside Tom Cairney in the Fulham midfield, Premier League defences should be on high alert. Fulham have made their first foray into the transfer market, and they mean business.



https://tbrfootball.com/michael-seri-barca-dna/

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Fulham seal sensational Seri swoop for club record fee

Fulham have completed the signing of Jean Michaël Seri from Nice for a club-record fee in the region of £25m, on an initial four-year contract with a further option for one year.

The west London club have beaten off stiff competition from several European clubs to sign Seri, who was on the verge of a move to Barcelona last summer.

Chelsea, West Ham, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal were thought to be interested in the Ivory Coast international but Slavisa Jokanovic's side have acted decisively to make him their first summer signing on their return to the Premier League.

"He's been at the very top of our target list for a long time," said Tony Khan, the Fulham sporting director. "This is a big day for Fulham."

Meanwhile the club also completed the signing of Seri's former Nice teammate Maxime le Marchand.

The defender, who can play at centre-back and left-back, played 81 times for the French club and joins for a fee of £5m.



https://www.adifferentleague.co.uk/2018/07/football-league/fulham/fulham-seal-sensational-seri-swoop-club-record-fee/

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Why Fulham fans should be excited about Seri signing

Well, that's some coup for Fulham isn' it? Jean Michael Seri, who has been linked with moves to Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea, on Thursday completed his move to Craven Cottage for a club-record £27m. Given the competition for his signature, for the Cottagers to land the Ivorian is a huge statement of intent.

After their return to the Premier League was confirmed in the playoff win over Aston Villa back in May, Fulham have the clash to splash. Seri may have been reluctant to make the switch to west London initially, but the financial windfall ultimately convinced the ball playing midfielder to secure a move to England's capital. Nice may have wished to keep the 26-year-old, yet after batting away offers last summer, were better prepared to cash in on Seri this time around.

He may be a club-record capture, but Seri's arrival is one that raises eyebrows. The player himself has a lengthy list of admirers - "I'm not used to seeing such talent in midfield anymore," former Barcelona legend Xavi once told Le Parisien - and he seemed a perfect fit for the Blaugrana, so for Fulham to land him speaks volumes.

His possession based style of play suits a Fulham side that averaged more possession (57.8%) than any other Championship team last term. While it will be easier said than done translating that into the Premier League, Seri is a player who'll help with the transition. Indeed, he made more accurate passes (2418) than any other player in Ligue 1 last season, to reinforce a statistically calculated WhoScored.com strength of 'passing', for a Nice outfit that enjoyed a similar possession return (56.3%) to Fulham.

The Premier League may be quicker than Ligue 1, yet his composure in the middle of the park will only benefit a Fulham outfit that looks to get the ball on the floor rather than implement a more direct approach. While it'll be easier to soak up pressure and aim to hit teams on the counter-attack, head coach Slavisa Jokanovic can be expected to stick to his guns and maintain the style of football that secured Fulham's promotion, and he has to be respected for that.

Seri, though, won't simply be used to retain possession without looking to thread passes to the attack either, which is another strong point to his game. In the last two Ligue 1 seasons, 37 attempted through balls is the seventh best in France's top tier. Take away PSG players, and the moves up to third behind Dimitri Payet (63) and Florian Thauvin (59), two players traditionally deployed higher up the pitch by Marseille than Fulham's new signing.

It may not have always paid off, but that forward thinking approach will only serve as a boost for this Fulham side. With a return of 2.1 key passes per game leading to five assists in Ligue 1 last season, the capital outfit have themselves a midfielder who isn't afraid to attempt a pass to split a defence in half and put his side on the front foot. This eye for a goalscoring opportunity means Fulham won't necessarily hold onto the ball for the sake of it and adds another dimension to their attack.

Having largely performed in a 4-3-3 formation for Nice last season too, Seri will be well-versed in the tactical demands of the Fulham side, especially with Jokanovic expected to keep with a similar setup for the coming campaign. However, Seri's arrival will disrupt the established midfield equilibrium of Tom Cairney, Stefan Johansen and Kevin McDonald, with the trio key players in Fulham's successful promotion push. That being said, improvements and an increase in competition are always welcomed and will only have a positive impact on Fulham.

With the arrival of Maxime Le Marchand also confirmed on Thursday, Seri isn't alone in making the trip from the French Riviera to London and the defender's arrival should help the big-money signing capture settle in the capital. What's more, Le Marchand is familiar with Seri and the style of the play as 257 of the total passes Marchand made in Ligue 1 last season were to Seri, the second highest return at Nice.

All in all, his is a great capture by Fulham and one the certainly catches the eye. Provided he can transfer his fine club form from France to England, then the Cottagers have a real player on their hands.



https://www.whoscored.com/Articles/MvqQzBMLK0uNxfBWd300Sw/Show/Why-Fulham-fans-should-be-excited-about-Seri-signing

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Barnet Kick Off Amended

Fulham Under-23s' meeting with Barnet at the Hive Stadium this Saturday 14th July will now kick-off at the earlier time of 1pm.

It was originally scheduled to kick-off at 3pm.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/july/12/barnet-kick-off-amended

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Fulham closing in with efforts to sign Spanish goalkeeper, two offers made

According to a claim in the Turkish media, Fulham are close to signing Besiktas goalkeeper Fabri.

The West London club have been busy in the transfer window this week with the signing of Nice midfielder Jean-Michael Seri, and Fulham's new signing could be joined by the Spanish keeper.

Aspor journalist Aykut Ince reports Fulham made an initial bid of €3.5m for Fabri which was instantly rejected by Besiktas as they initially valued him at €8m. It's claimed the Premier League side came in with a second offer of €4.5m and following talks the Turkish side are now prepared to accept €6m, although it's not stated Fulham have offered that.

It's reported Fulham's interest in Fabri has come about because their goalkeeping coach Jose Sambade was previously at Besiktas.

The 30 year old has been Besiktas' first choice since arriving in Istanbul in 2016 from Deportvio La Coruna, making 34 Turkish Super Lig appearances last season.

Fabri is contracted to the Turkish side until next summer.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-close-agreement-sign-spanish-goalkeeper-two-offers-made/

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Exclusive JD Oxford Street Event

Celebrate the release of Fulham's 18/19 Home & Away Kits with an exclusive instore player event at JD Sports Oxford Street!

First Team players Tom Cairney, Tim Ream and Ryan Sessegnon will be in attendance, alongside Academy stars Steven Sessegnon and Marlon Fossey.

Free to attend for Whites fans, enjoy a live Q&A session, hosted by Snapchat Star Stevo The Madman,  before having the chance to get your pictures taken and new shirt signed by the boys.

With live entertainment from DJ Specs Gonzales and JD Sports very own event hosts, make sure you don't miss out on this exclusive opportunity.
When

Friday 13th July, 3pm - 4pm
Where

JD Sports Oxford Street - 197-203 Oxford St, Soho, London W1D 2LE

Supporters can get their hands on Fulham's new 18/19 Home and Away Kits at JD Sports' flagship store this Friday, as well as online or instore at the Fulham Stadium Store today.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2018/july/12/jd-sports-event

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Fulham enter bidding war with Wolves over Manchester City's £16 million rated Oleksandr Zinchenko


Oleksandr Zinchenko has returned to pre-season training at Manchester City Credit: Matt McNulty - Manchester City

Fulham have secured a major coup with the capture of Jean Michael Seri and are ready to rival Wolves in their £16m pursuit of Manchester City's Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Slavisa Jokanovic, the Fulham manager, has issued a huge statement of intent with the £25m club record signing of Ivory Coast international Seri from Nice.

Seri has also been trailed by Chelsea and Barcelona but the midfielder has opted to join last season's Championship play-off winners after passing a medical on Tuesday.

Fulham are now considering a bid for Zinchenko as Jokanovic strengthens his squad for the Premier League.

Zinchenko, 21, is a target for Wolves and Jorge Mendes, the agent assisting the West Midlands club, has been in negotiations with City over a potential deal.


Jean Seri has been bought by Fulham for £25 million  Credit: Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates

Wolves have been discussing a £16m deal but Fulham are weighing up a higher offer for the versatile left-footed player, with Jokanovic also likely to offer him a place in his preferred position of midfield. Though Fulham have also signed Nice defender Maxime Le Marchand, the club remain interested in Zinchenko.

Jokanovic is also working on deals for Newcastle striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, who played a major role for the club in their route to promotion via the play-offs.

Jokanovic is also in negotiations over a new contract after his achievements at Craven Cottage.



https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/07/12/fulham-enter-bidding-war-wolves-manchester-citys-16-million/

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Fulham: Who is Maxime Le Marchand?
RealSport look at what the newest Fulham signing can offer the Premier League's newest member.

This summer, Fulham have strengthened their squad with the transfers of Jean Michel-Seri and Maxime Le Marchand both from Nice.

The name of the former is well-known in the football world, targetted by Barcelona and Arsenal last season.

Le Merchand's signing is more mysterious, though, and his move will understandably be overshadowed by the Ivorian, who cost a lion's share of the £30 million package deal for the pair.

Nevertheless, he is a decent signing for a team aiming to bolster their defence ahead of a Premier League comeback.

RealSport have looked at what Fulham fans can expect from the Frenchman.

A versatile defender
Le Marchand is an experienced defender who could play as a centre back or a left-back. However, he started off his career as a midfielder playing in the prestigious Rennes academy.

Having been shifted in the youth ranks towards the left side of the pitch, the 28-year-old featured as a left winger as well as in the left-back role. Expect him to offer support for Fulham's offensive line and cooperate well with the club's young star Ryan Sessegnon.

Le Marchand found some regular playing time in Le Havre, a side he joined on loan in 2008, and moved to permanently the season after. In the end, he played for Le Havre 173 times and even wore the captain armband before moving to Nice.

During his three years at Nice, he was deployed as a centre-back or a full-back, providing versatility and a range of defensive options to the coach Slavisa Jokanovic in the wake of uncertainty over Tomas Kalas' future.

Although Le Marchand's first touch may cause Fulham problems on the Premier League level, he is a defender who reads the game well and excels in ball interception. He also can hold on to the ball and start an offensive action with a precise pass towards the middle of the pitch.

Le Marchand perhaps doesn't pose much danger from set pieces as his goal-scoring record isn't impressive: he's only managed to net seven goals in his career. However, the 28-year-old seems to be a decent defensive signing for a team that struggled with keeping a clean sheet at the beginning of last season.

Experienced in Europe
Perhaps the most valuable for Fulham might be Le Marchand's European football pedigree.

The Frenchman was a part of the Nice team who came third in Ligue 1 in the 2016/17 season and played in the Europa League. In his only appearance in Europe, against Krasnodar, he scored a goal securing a win for his team.

Last season, La Marchand featured regularly for Nice in the European cups. In two qualifying Champions League rounds, he helped Nice knock out Ajax before losing to Napoli.

Nice played then in the Europa League group stage with Lazio, Vitesse and Zulte Waregem and reached the Round of 32. La Marchand played in five games in the competition.

With Fulham's offensive potential, Jokanovic seemingly decided that his team's defensive line is the formation that needs a reshuffle ahead of the Premier League challenge and brought in a defensive-minded midfielder and a versatile defender.

Although maybe not as glamorous as Jean-Michel Seri, La Marchand is a solid signing for a newly-promoted Premier League side and should bring stability and experience into the team.



https://realsport101.com/news/sports/football/fulham-who-is-maxime-le-marchand/

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Fulham set to bid for Zinchenko
by Dan on July 12, 2018

Fulham are ready to join the race to sign Manchester City youngster Oleksandr Zinchenko, according to a Daily Telegraph report this afternoon.

Championship winners Wolverhampton Wanderers are believed to have had a bid of around £16m accepted by the Premier League champions, whilst Newcastle have also registered their interest in signing the 21 year-old. The Telegraph claims that Fulham are ready to offer a higher up front offer, with Slavisa Jokanovic prepared to play the Ukrainian international in his preferred midfield position.

Zinchenko, who has largely been used as a wing-back by City boss Pep Guardiola, has made just sixteen first-team appearances since moving to the Etihad Stadium from Ufa for around £1.7,m in July 2016. He has also spent time on loan at PSV Eindhoven and has a host of admirers across Europe. Zinchenko, the youngest scorer of an international goal in Ukrainian football yesterday, is keen to play regular football and is understood to be waiting on the outcome of a discussion with Manchester City over their plans for him during the coming season.

The move for Zinchenko is yet another signal of Fulham's ambitions as they plot their return to the Premier League following their defeat of Aston Villa in the Championship play-off final. The Cottagers sprung a major surprise in spending a rumoured £25m to complete a deal for Nice's highly-rated Ivorian midfielder Jean-Michael Serri this morning and also brought in defender Maxime Le Marchand from the French club.

The Telegraph also reports that contract talks between Jokanovic, who has been in charge at Craven Cottage since December 2015, and Fulham are progressing well.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/07/fulham-set-to-bid-for-zinchenko/

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Fulham linked with swoop for Spanish goalkeeper
by Dan on July 12, 2018

Fulham are in talks with Besiktas about signing their goalkeeper Fabri, according to various reports from Turkey.

The Premier League new boys' summer spending burst into life their morning when they announced the double signing of Jean-Michael Seri and Maxime Le Marchand from Nice. The Turkish press claim that Fulham are now close to signing Spanish custodian Fabri, having had two initial approaches rejected by Besiktas, after agreeing a fee of around £7m.

The 30 year-old has been firmly established as Besiktas' first-choice goalkeeper since joining the Turkish giants from Deportivo La Coruna in July 2016. Fabri, capped at youth level by Spain, helped Beskitas win the Turkish title in his first season in Istanbul and made 36 league appearances as they finished fourth last season, claiming a Europa League spot. The experienced goalkeeper had previously made 51 appearances in two spells with Deportivo having also played for Vallodolid, Recreativo and Real Betis in Spain.

It is believed that Fulham's approach for Fabri came about because the club's current goalkeeping coach Jose Sambede was formerly on the coaching staff at Besiktas. With David Button heavily linked to a move to Brighton over the past month, Fulham are rumoured to be searching for an experienced goalkeeper to compete with academy graduate Marcus Bettinelli ahead of their return to the top flight next month. Former Newcastle United goalkeeper Tim Krul has also reportedly been lined up as a potential signing, according to press reports.



http://hammyend.com/index.php/2018/07/fulham-linked-with-swoop-for-spanish-goalkeeper/

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Fulham Have Got A Real Gem In Jean-Michael Seri

Fulham have not wasted anytime in bringing in a top class reinforcement as they prepare for life in the Premier League, after spending the last four years away from the English top flight.

In signing Jean-Michael Seri, The Cottagers have managed to bring in a midfielder with superb pedigree.

During the last twelve months the Ivorian has been linked with moves to Barcelona, Liverpool, PSG, Manchester United and Chelsea. Supposedly Barca had gone as far as agreeing a deal with OGC Nice for the player last summer before getting cold feet at the last minute and pulling out of the transfer.

Yet it's Fulham that have finally taken the plunge and signed the player on a four deal, for a reported fee of £25m.

Seri told his new club's website that he can't wait to get started:

    "I'm delighted to be here, it's a new adventure that starts for me and I'm hoping it will all go well."

The South London side are getting a player who has been described as the 'African Xavi'.

The Spanish maestro once said of Jean-Michael:

    "He is fantastic. He has what they call the Barca DNA. No doubt."

High praise indeed.

Seri was a huge influence at Nice and he helped guide the Cote d'Azur club to their third placed finish in Ligue 1 in 2017. During that term he scored seven goals and created nine assists.

In the last campaign, he scored two and created five in the French top tier. He managed over 90% in the passing success rate charts and Fulham will see keeping the ball as a vital way of keeping the ball out of their own net next season.

Predominantly he's a deep-laying playmaker and as you'd expect he has great vision, possesses a terrific passing range and likes to dictate the tempo of the game. Seri is all about creating chances for his team and he's got a keen eye for doing just that! The twenty-six year old is also an excellent set-piece taker.

He's not as strong on the defensive side of things, Jean-Michael won't win you many tackles or headers but he does get around the pitch and harry opponents into making mistakes. Plus let's not forget that he's more of a creative spark rather than being a midfield destroyer.

So why would such a talent choose Fulham? It's not 2001 after all (when Fulham regularly raided Ligue 1 for stars).

Well all the talk of big interest failed to materialise into concrete bids or getting Seri to sign on the dotted line. You simply can't wait for ever.

Fulham returning to the Premier League and being in London will have probably helped him make the decision. He'll also join the newly promoted side, knowing he can go straight into the starting eleven and make an impact. If he shines in the English top flight with them, then maybe then the bigger clubs will make serious offers.

The move shows you how foreign players treat the Premier League as a competition that they're desperate to play in.

I really believe that Fulham have managed to bring in a top star in Jean-Michael Seri and I hope the Ivory Coast international can prove himself at Craven Cottage and show what a talent he really is!



http://www.thefootyblog.net/2018/07/12/fulham-have-got-a-real-gem-in-jean-michael-seri/

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New signings will make football sit up and notice Fulham - but there's still work to be done

The arrivals of Jean Michael-Seri and Maxime Le Marchand have been greeted with much excitement, but Dan Crawford insists there's still work to be done

The lack of arrivals at Motspur Park have caused some consternation over the past few weeks with Fulham preparing to return to the Premier League, but the news this morning that the Whites have managed to sign both Jean Michael Seri and Maxime Le Marchand comes as a serious statement of intent ahead of the new campaign.

The transfer window is always hyped to the maximum - so avoiding some of the speculation is vital if you want to retain a semblance of sanity, but the fact that Fulham, a newly-promoted club, have been able to secure the signing of Seri is worth celebrating.

Here is a player who has been one of the most creative and consistent performers in Ligue 1 over the past couple of years and came close to joining Barcelona last summer.

If you believe the rumour mill, he was on the radar of the likes of Chelsea and Napoli over the past few weeks - so to tempt him to Craven Cottage is a real achievement.

His capture could be comparable to when Jean Tigana brought Edwin van der Sar to Fulham from Juventus back in 2001: a signing that makes the football world sit up and take notice.

Seri, with his vision, technical ability and eye for a defence-splitting pass, should flourish in Slavisa Jokanovic's possession-based, attacking system.

The prospect of the Ivorian international lining up alongside Fulham's Wembley hero, Tom Cairney - recently secured on a long-term contract in another bit of impressive summer business by the club - is mouthwatering.


Jean Michael Seri celebrates after scoring (Image: YANN COATSALIOU/AFP/Getty Images)

It remains to be seen whether Jokanovic will reshape his preferred system to ensure Fulham are competitive in the Premier League, but those two certainly have the ability to unlock the tightest of top flight defences.

The arrival of Maxime Le Marchand will be less widely heralded, but is just as important.

Fulham's defence is definitely in need of reinforcements and the Nice defender's versatility could be crucial. Equally at home as a left-sided ball-playing centre back or at full back, Le Marchand should fit comfortably into Jokanovic's system and could slot in alongside Tim Ream at the heart of the defence.


Angers midfielder Prince Oniangue (L) vies with Nice's French defender Maxime Le Marchand (R) (Image: JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER/AFP/Getty Images)

With Denis Odoi, who played at centre halve for much of the second half of the season, missing against Crystal Palace through suspension, Le Marchand has a real opportunity to stake a claim for a first-team spot over the coming weeks.

Having helped Nice finish just outside the European places last season, he certainly has the pedigree and appears a shrewd acquisition.

The excitement at making these two signings shouldn't mask the work that still needs to be done, especially given that the transfer window closes earlier this year.


Jean Michael Seri in action against Monaco (Image: YANN COATSALIOU/AFP/Getty Images)

The first team still has very obvious gaps at left back - particularly if Jokanovic wants to play Ryan Sessegnon further forward, right wing and centre forward, although that spot could soon be taken by Aleksandar Mitrovic.

There are still concerns about the depth of quality in the squad for the serious challenge ahead, with arguably more strength required in terms of a goalkeeper, centre half, striker and some serious cover for Cairney needed.

I don't doubt that the Fulham hierarchy are aware of the size of the task - and, given his history, Jokanovic won't be shy about letting them know, either. This morning's moves are an encouraging start - and show that Fulham's stock is on the rise.

Dan Crawford is the editor of hammyend.com and on the board of the Fulham Supporters' Trust



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/new-signings-make-football-sit-14899670

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Cottage Talk Extra: Breaking News Analysis
Take a listen to a podcast that focuses on Fulham Football Club.

In this episode, we analyzed the signings for Fulham of Jean Michael Seri and Maxime Le Marchand. We also talked about some speculation with the club at the end of the show. Co-host for this episode was Yannis Tjanetis.

You can also listen to the show on Friends Of Fulham.

to listen to the podcast follow the link....
https://cottagersconfidential.sbnation.com/2018/7/12/17565264/cottage-talk-extra-breaking-news-analysis

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Why Jean-Michael Seri won't be another Dimitar Berbatov at Fulham

The 26-year-old arrives at Fulham in a club-record deal, but he won't be an expensive mistake at Craven Cottage

It's the year 2000. Fulham are on their way to their first promotion to the top flight in 33 years and chairman Mohamed Al-Fayed is singing.

"We're not Real Madrid. We're not Barcelona. We are Fulham!"

So went the chorus to Colin and the Cottagers not-so-smash hit, "We're not Real Madrid," featuring Al-Fayed on vocals. Of course.

The fans were given an airing during a home game against Grimsby that November. David Hamilton, then announcer at Craven Cottage, asked fans if they wanted to hear the song again. In the words of the NME: "A resounding barrage of boos and chants of 'No! No! No!" was the answer.

To be fair to Jean Michael Seri, Fulham's new signing from Nice, he might not want to hear it either.

That he's not at Barcelona and instead at Fulham is a sore subject, after a move to his 'dream club' fell through last summer.

It does indicate the size of the coup pulled off by Fulham to bring the 26-year-old central midfielder in, with higher profile clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea circling too this time round.

Seri becomes the club's record signing at a cool £25million, and is the highest profile arrival since Dimitar Berbatov moved to Craven Cottage on deadline day six years ago - but that did not go well.


Jean Michel Seri (C) celebrates with his teammates after scoring (Image: YANN COATSALIOU/AFP/Getty Images)

"Keep calm and pass me the ball" was the famous message revealed by the Bulgarian back on Boxing Day in 2012, after scoring against Southampton.

A bit of fun on the face of it perhaps but as former goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer suggested on talkSPORT last year, Berbatov wasn't a team player.

"He just didn't really talk to anyone. You'd walk into a room and he'd be sitting there and he wouldn't lift his head. You'd go 'Morning Dimi' and he'd just grunt at you. He never ever opened up, you could never find out more about him."

Schwarzer went on: "We had a lot of discussions with the manager about it and he was completely protective and in the end we weren't allowed to bring it up again. Big Martin Jol wouldn't allow it."

Whether it was for the team spirit in the dressing room or for the on-pitch adjustments needed to accommodate him, Berbatov was a luxury Fulham could not afford.

What use is it after all to build a team around a 30-year-old striker who never really looked like he wanted to be there? Signing Berbatov was part of the short-term thinking which got the club relegated in 2014, not to mention Seri's predecessor as Fulham's record signing that year, Kostas Mitroglou.

No fan can kid themselves that Seri has always dreamed of playing for the club but unlike Berbatov's time in SW6, this has all the ingredients to work out well for all parties involved. In Seri, Fulham get a luxury player that suits them.

Signing him was part of the short-term thinking which got the club relegated in 2014. What use is it after all to build a team around a 30-year-old striker who never really looked like he wanted to be there?

A statement of intent for a start, its timing too is advantageous to Director of Football Operations Tony Khan. With just under a month left in the window, it's difficult to argue against Fulham not becoming a more attractive proposition with the Seri signing when trying to persuade others to join.

Add that to the dominance in possession which characterised Fulham under Slavisa Jokanovic in the Championship and it should make for a smoother on-pitch transition for Seri too, even if adapting to the longer periods without the ball will be one of the biggest challenges next season.

Only PSG though had more possession than Nice in each of the past two Ligue 1 seasons, with Seri impressing in the first of those as one of the division's top creators.

His form suffered after the move to Barcelona fell through last summer with the Ivorian devastated. Speak to those in France that saw him play and they'll tell you how niggling injuries and the added burden of European football didn't help either.

The latter won't be a problem at Fulham, with Seri on the face of it most likely to become a guaranteed starter in Stefan Johansen's stead in the midfield three. Captain Tom Cairney starts when fit whilst Kevin McDonald, an important dressing room figure, becomes that little bit more crucial at the base of midfield, particularly given how physically imposing he is.

Seri, at five foot six, is not.

Settling in should be aided with ex-Nice team-mate Maxime Le Marchand arriving at the same time too. That the Fulham squad already boasts French speakers in Floyd Ayité and Aboubakar Kamara can only help.

Most importantly for Seri himself, it's a chance to shine on a big stage in the form of the Premier League, particularly given the fact that he will be one of the men next season. Should all go to plan for him, don't expect the club to stand in his way in a year or two if he wants to move on.

He joins a club with momentum behind them too following promotion in the playoff final back in May but Fulham know their place in the food chain. Recouping the club record fee they've paid for him and a quite bit more down the line is the sort of longer term thinking that just wasn't happening when Berbatov was signed.

A question mark lingers over whether he really has got over that failed move to Catalunya but time will tell soon enough. He follows the trend of Steed Malbranque and Steve Marlet who both also made the move from Ligue 1 to Fulham the last time the club were promoted in 2001.

Malbranque proved a success, Marlet one of the most expensive flops in the club's history.

Even if fans went from shouting "Steeeeeed" in to "Greeeeeed" when he made off for Tottenham, Seri will want to be viewed more like the former when he departs Craven Cottage.



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/jean-michael-seri-wont-another-14900969

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham's signing of Jean Michael Seri will be coup of the summer

Fulham have pulled off one of the shock signings of the summer, as Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri has joined the club for a record fee. The Guardian report that the fee is in the region of £25 million and that he has signed a four-year contract at Craven Cottage.

Over the past 12 months, the 26-year-old has been linked with Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and Arsenal to name but three other interested clubs. Meanwhile, he came close to signing for Barcelona last summer.

It is a major coup for Fulham to sign the Ivorian, as they are a recently promoted club who haven't been in the Premier League since 2014.

However, there is clear ambition among the ownership and this could be the first of several ambitious arrivals, as they attempt to establish themselves as a top division force once more.

Their location and style of play make them an appealing option for players, as shown by Seri's decision to move to Craven Cottage.

Nice have been one of the most exciting teams in watch in Ligue 1 during recent seasons and they have managed to develop a host of exciting players.

Seri is regarded as one of the best to play in red and blue, as he has been at the heart of a team that has played attacking football and qualified for the Champions League. Although they didn't reach the group stages, it was a huge achievement to get to the play-off round.

The 26-year-old is very much a modern-day central midfielder capable of excelling at a number of roles. He covers a lot of ground for his team and is always looking to improve himself as a player.

    "Jean Michael arrives with Premier League qualities as well as great promise for the future, which is why he has been at the very top of our target list for a long time."

– Tony Khan, on Jean Michael Seri.

Although he is primarily used as a box-to-box midfielder, he can be used in both deeper and more advanced positions. His pass accuracy rarely dips beneath 90% as he is comfortable on the ball in tight spaces. That said, he isn't conservative in possession as he looks to break down opposition defences.

Last season, he averaged 2.1 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per game, which underline the quality he has in the transition phase. During the last three seasons, he has contributed 12 goals and 20 assists in Ligue 1.

There have been few better midfielders during that period and he is now ready to test himself in a better division. He was perhaps less impressive during the 2017/18 campaign, but he may have remained with Nice for one year too many.

This is a marquee signing that sends a signal of intent to the rest of the division. Fulham are not in the Premier League to make up the numbers and they are prepared to spend big to establish themselves as a force. Seri is a player that is good enough to play in the Champions League and he will be the star attraction at Craven Cottage next season.

Slavisa Jokanovic and Tony Khan must now make further additions to provide the team with more quality players. It is worth noting that Fulham came up through the play-offs and one player, regardless of his quality, isn't enough to transform them into a Premier League team.

The club will realise that and Seri could be the first of many eye-catching signings made this summer.



https://tbrfootball.com/fulham-seri-coup/

[WhiteJC]

 
Signing of the summer? Here's why Fulham fans must be excited about their £17.7m star signing

Why signing Jean-Michael Seri is a huge statement of intent from Fulham

Newly-promoted Premier League side Fulham have completed one of the most surprising transfers of the summer. As per reports, the Cottagers have signed midfielder Jean-Michael Seri from French Ligue 1 side OGC Nice for £17.7m. 

The Ivory Coast international, who was being chased by a horde of clubs across Europe, including Fulham's London rivals, Arsenal and Chelsea.

Why signing Jean-Michael Seri is a huge statement of intent from Fulham

Newly-promoted Premier League side Fulham have completed one of the most surprising transfers of the summer. As per reports, the Cottagers have signed midfielder Jean-Michael Seri from French Ligue 1 side OGC Nice for £17.7m. 

The Ivory Coast international, who was being chased by a horde of clubs across Europe, including Fulham's London rivals, Arsenal and Chelsea.

The 26-year-old midfielder was on Nice's books since 2015, having joined from Portuguese outfit Pacos Ferreira. Since then, he went from strength-to-strength during his time in France. Seri made 123 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit in all competitions, scoring 12 goals and setting up 26 more in the process. 

The Ivorian was integral to their successes in the 2016/17 campaign as they finished third in the French top division and qualified for the UEFA Champions League as well. Seri enjoyed yet another solid campaign last time out, as he netted twice and chalked up 10 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions, establishing himself as a consistent performer for the French outfit. 

Seri can play anywhere in the middle of the park, be it as a holding midfielder or as a traditional No.8. He can also play as an advanced No.10 if required, meaning he would add immense value to Fulham next season.

The Ivorian has the talent and the ability to control the game from deeper areas with his range of passing. As seen from the last couple of seasons, he can also contribute with goals and assists in huge numbers as well. 

Seri is an effective operator in the box-to-box midfield role and has the vision to unlock defences while possessing great dribbling abilities as well. Add to that his exceptional set-piece delivery, and Fulham have a classy midfielder who could prove to be the ideal partner for the brilliant Tom Cairney. 

Seri has what it takes to shine on the biggest stage. And Fulham have made a huge statement of intent by acquiring his signature ahead of other suitors.



https://soccersouls.com/2018/07/13/signing-of-the-summer-heres-why-fulham-fans-must-be-excited-about-their-17-7m-star-signing/

[WhiteJC]

 
Fulham signings Jean Michael Seri and Maxime Le Marchand train with new team-mates for the first time

    Jean Michael Seri and Maxime Le Marchand both joined Fulham from Nice
    The pair were quickly put to work as they trained with the squad at Motspur Park
    Scott Parker, who has returned to the club as a coach, was also in attendance

New Fulham signings Jean Michael Seri and Maxime Le Marchand trained with the club for the first time on Thursday after arriving for a combined deal worth more than £30million.

Fulham pulled off a significant coup by signing Ivory Coast midfielder Seri from Nice, while Le Marchand, who can play as a centre back, at left back or as a defensive-midfielder, also joined from the French club.

The pair were put through their paces immediately as they undertook a training session with the rest of Slavisa Jokanovic's squad at Mostpur Park.


New Fulham signing Jean Michael Seri (far right) trains with the squad after joining from Nice


The versatile Maxime Le Marchand (far left) also trained having completed his move to the club


Scott Parker (right) attended the session having returned to Fulham as a first-team coach

Fulham are eager to make an impact upon their return to the Premier League and the acquisition of Seri, who produced some hugely impressive performances for Nice, should help them to fulfill that objective.

Scott Parker was also present at the training session having returned to the club as a first-team coach having previously been in charge of Tottenham's U18 side. Parker made 128 appearances for Fulham as a player between 2013 and 2017.

There has been a major departure from Fulham this summer, with right back Ryan Fredericks joining West Ham on a free transfer, but Jokanovic has a strong squad at his disposal.


Seri (right) talks to new team-mate Neeskens Kebano during the training session


Ivory Coast international Seri adjusts to his new surroundings after joining Fulham


Seri watches on during the training session  as Fulham prepare for the new season

Among the players involved in Thursday's session was Ryan Sessegnon, who was crowned the Championship player of the season last campaign having played a pivotal part in Fulham's promotion push.

Fulham commenced their pre-season programme with a 4-2 victory over Crawley Town last weekend and take on Reading in their next game on Saturday.

The Cottagers' Premier League campaign gets underway on August 11 when they host Crystal Palace. 


Le Marchand is given instructions by his manager Slavisa Jokanovic during the training session


Fulham players, including Ryan Sessegnon (centre) were put through their paces


Tim Ream and Sessegnon look focused during the training session at Motspur Park


Jokanovic looks to get his message across to his players ahead of the new campaign


Seri and Le Marchand were both unveiled by Fulham before they took part in training



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5948067/New-Fulham-signings-Jean-Michael-Seri-Maxime-Le-Marchand-train-team-time.html

[WhiteJC]

 
Aleksandar Mitrovic represents great value for toothless Crystal Palace

Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is expected to leave the club this summer after failing to impress under Rafa Benitez, and a recent report from The Northern Echo suggests he could be set to re-sign for Fulham this summer.

According to the report, Fulham are set to table a formal offer for Mitrovic when the striker returns from his post-World Cup break. The 23-year-old has fallen out of favour at St James' Park in recent years, but he resurrected his stuttering career in emphatic fashion by firing home 12 goals from just 17 appearances for Fulham on their way to promotion success in the play-offs.

With his willingness to run in behind Mitrovic was a constant menace for defenders in the second-tier and his record in-front of goal clearly speaks for itself. Whether or not he can replicate that form in the Premier League remains to be seen, but the form he demonstrated at Fulham suggests he is more than up to the task.

With that in mind and considering Crystal Palace are short of quality options at centre-forward, Roy Hodgson would be wise to join the race for his signature this summer.

Although Palace ultimately beat the drop last season, it was clear from their results that they relied too heavily on Wilfried Zaha for attacking inspiration, so the acquisition of attacking talent must be the priority for Hodgson this summer.

Christian Benteke's blunt attacking performances were a genuine cause for concern during the previous campaign, but with no real competition for a starting berth Hodgson was forced to stand by the struggling forward.

However, that simply has to change this summer and the signing of Mitrovic could prove to be a masterstroke from Hodgson. At just 23-years-of-age there's no doubt that the Serbia international has plenty of improving left to do, and the flashes of brilliance he has shown in his career so far suggests he could become a fantastic Premier League striker in the years to come.

Mitrovic would offer the Eagles plenty of mobility in the final-third, a physical presence to disrupt defenders and a clinical instinct in the penalty area.

It has been suggested that Mitrovic would cost around £20 million, and if that does indeed prove to be the case then Palace should have no qualms about parting with a figure which would ultimately prove to be a snip of his true value.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league/aleksandar-mitrovic-represents-great-value-for-toothless-crystal-palace/