Tuesday Fulham Stuff (015/01/19)...

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Redevelopment of Fulham FC's Riverside Stand Will Begin in May

Club will continue playing at Craven Cottage throughout two year renovation

Fulham Football Club has confirmed to fans that work on the redevelopment of its riverside stand is set to begin in May.

The renovation is scheduled to start at the end of the current season, and the club hopes that the expansion of the 4,689-seater stand will be complete in time for the 2021/22 season.

The stand is is to be rebuilt with a two-tiered replacement, pictured here, which will see the stadium's capacity increase from 25,700 to close to 30,000.

While the £100 million works are underway, Fulham will continue playing at their Craven Cottage home at a reduced capacity.

Construction company Buckingham Group Contracting has been appointed to lead the process, working closely with architects Populous, on the new stand which will feature a new river wall and creation of a new public riverside walk.

The club has also announced that it will liaise with the Fulham Supporters' Trust (FST) in order to relocate fans whose seats will be affected by the demolition and subsequent temporary closure of the stand.

The trust's chair Tom Greatrex said: "The reiteration of work being scheduled to start at the end of the current season is a hugely positive step."

The planning application for the redevelopment was as follows:

Demolition of the Riverside Stand and partial reconfiguration of the Putney Stand (western end) and Hammersmith Stand (western end), and removal of four floodlight masts; and the development of a new Riverside Stand providing two tiers of seating (creating an overall seating capacity of up to 29,600); a new extended section of riverside walkway; basement; leisure/retail provision for A1, A3, A4, A5, D2 use classes; 9 serviced apartments (Use Class C1); parking; a new river wall; a temporary construction river platform and construction compound; and associated landscaping (including boundary work), lighting (including new and replacement floodlighting) and ground works and all ancillary or incidental works and structures.



http://www.fulhamsw6.com/default.asp?section=info&page=fulhamfc01901.htm

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Director confirms Fulham have agreement to sign January target

Besiktas board member Safak Mahmutyazicioglu has spoken to Haber Global and confirmed Ryan Babel will be signing for Fulham in this transfer window.

Mahmutyazicioglu said Fulham will loan the Besiktas winger until the end of the season and added: "We've agreed on a deal with Fulham for Babel. He will be loaned out for six months for €2m. He also has six months left on his current contract with us. He's also agreed personal terms with the club."

TRT Spor's Besiktas journalist Firat Gunayer  explained the reason behind the loan move: "Fulham loaned him because they want to see how well he will perform in the Premier League. If he impresses, then they will talk with him for a permanent transfer. He has no chance of returning to Besiktas because of the wages."

At the weekend we covered claims from the Turkish media that the Netherlands international had agreed personal terms with Fulham and was close to joining the Premier League club.

It was claimed an announcement of his arrival should be made by Tuesday as Claudio Ranieri looks to bolster his squad before the transfer deadline.

Babel has experience playing in England after his spell with Liverpool, but he failed to make a real impact during the latter stages of his time at Anfield.

The player will become a free agent in the summer despite contract talks with the Istanbul club.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/director-confirms-fulham-agreement-sign-january-target/

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Tottenham injury, suspension list: Team news for Premier League match vs Fulham

Tottenham will wait for swelling to go down on Harry Kane's ankle injury before being able to find out the full extent of it.

Kane suffered the problem in the final stages of Sunday's 1-0 defeat to Manchester United and will be scanned once the injury has settled down.

It is the third successive season that he has sustained an ankle injury, the most recent one keeping him out for a fortnight last March.

"We are worried about that, we try to see [on Monday] and we hope [it is not too bad]," Pochettino said.

"I think it was in the last action, you can see on your cameras it was a clear foul. I don't remember who [was involved], but it was a big hit, a foul.

"In that moment he twists his ankle. We hope it's not a big issue, but if it is, it is a big problem for us."

Meanwhile, Moussa Sissoko suffered a muscle injury during the first half of the defeat at the national stadium.

The Frenchman pulled up as he chased down a ball and was subsequently forced off after failing to run off the injury.

Pochettino added: "For Moussa, it was his groin, a small thing in his groin. We hope it's not a big issue too."

Lucas Moura, Eric Dier, Victor Wanyama and Mousa Dembele are all at varying stages of their respective recoveries, though Dembele is expected to seal a move to China before getting the chance to represent Spurs again.

Dier and Moura are pushing for returns against Fulham, but Wanyama is still yet to return to training.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/tottenham/tottenham-injury-suspension-list-team-news-for-premier-league-match-vs-fulham-a4037776.html

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'We are in deep trouble' - Andre Schurrle admits worry over Fulham's Premier League future

Fulham were beaten 2-1 by Burnley and now sit 19th in the table - five points off safety

Andre Schurrle has admitted that Fulham are in 'deep, deep, deep trouble' and that losing every week is something he's found hard to adapt to.

The German has won the Premier League and World Cup in his career but he is facing relegation from England's top flight square in the face after his side's 2-1 defeat to Burnley, where the opposition had no shots on target but still took all three points.

It sums up Fulham's season so far - they've won just three games following promotion from the Championship last season and a complete overhaul of the squad in the summer that saw £100million spent on 12 new faces and are on their second manager after sacking Slavisa Jokanovic.

But Claudio Ranieri has only managed to win twice since taking over in November and the club are looking for more signings to try and save them from the drop, with Ryan Babel looking like the next man to come to Craven Cottage.

It remains to be seen whether or not January's new signings will be able to get Fulham out of trouble, but Schurrle is one of those few players at the club with Premier League experience although he's never been involved in a relegation scrap - something he admits is proving hard to adapt to.

After the loss to Burnley, he said: "It's very hard to take.

"It was a great start for us. It was exactly how we wanted to play, in behind and try to turn the people but after that there was nothing from us in the first half, and we got under pressure and didn't play any football.


(Image: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

"So, first half it was nothing and second half we just couldn't score.

"It's not easy. I've never been involved in something like this.

"It's not easy to adapt to losing a lot. It's not what I am used to, so I have to put my qualities for the team and try to score a bit more.

'"are deep, deep, deep in trouble. It's not in our own hands, but there is hope and belief."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/we-deep-trouble-andre-schurrle-15673742

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Manchester United want Fosu-Mensah to stay at Fulham

Fulham's talks to send Timothy Fosu-Mensah back to Manchester United has stalled with his parent club unwilling to cooperate.

The Dutch international joined Fulham on loan in the summer but has only made eight appearances for the club. At the weekend, boss Claudio Ranieri confirmed that Fosu-Mensah could return to Manchester United so the club can sign another defender on loan.

However, the Sun are reporting that Manchester United are unwilling to cooperate with Fulham and they want Fosu-Mensah to remain at the London club until the end of the season.

A source from United reportedly told the Sun that Fosu-Mensah "Should learn to deal with adversity and fight for his place."

The 21-year-old is reportedly unhappy with his situation and wants the loan deal to be cut short so that he can move elsewhere.

At the moment there is an impasse from all parties.



http://www.football-oranje.com/manchester-united-want-fosu-mensah-to-stay-at-fulham/

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Club waiting for Fulham to make official offer for defender, will sell to PL club

Fanatik claim Fenerbahce are keen to part ways with Mauricio Isla and are waiting for Fulham to make an official offer for the player.

Last week we covered reports from Turkey that the Premier League side have offered €3m to Fenerbahce via intermediaries but the Istanbul are holding out for €5m.

According to the Turkish newspaper, Fenerbahce are keen to sell Isla as he's unlikely to feature much under Ersun Yanal for the second half of the season.

With the Turkish club looking to raise revenue to bring in reinforcements, the sale of Isla is looking likely and Fulham now have a good chance of signing the Chilean international before the transfer deadline... should the claims of interest be correct.

Fulham have been the worst defensive team in the Premier League this season and their troubles went from bad to worse after scoring two own goals in Saturdays 2-1 defeat to Burnley.

Isla is under contract at Fenerbahce until June 2020.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/club-waiting-fulham-make-official-offer-defender-will-sell-pl-club/

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BBC pundit reveals why he thinks Fulham could 'hold their nerve' and stay up this season

There was a place for Andre Schurrle in Garth Crooks' Team of the Week this week

Garth Crooks believes that having a front line of Andre Schurrle, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ryan Sessegnon means that Fulham could stay up if they keep their nerve this season.

Schurrle scored a wonder goal but his side still slumped to defeat at Turf Moor despite Burnley having no shots on target during the entire game and it's a defeat that sees the side five points off safety in the Premier League.

That goal was enough for the German to earn himself a place in Crooks' Team of the Week, but interestingly the pundit believes that Fulham might have enough to stay up as a result of having him, Mitrovic and Sessegnon in their side.

That said, Schurrle has been hit and miss throughout the course of the campaign while Sessegnon has struggled to adapt from the Championship to the Premier League so far this season.

Mitrovic, meanwhile, has got himself eight goals this season but has only scored one in the past ten matches as Fulham struggle in front of goal.

Crooks, however, believes with these three in the team Fulham can stay up.

That said, Schurrle has been hit and miss throughout the course of the campaign while Sessegnon has struggled to adapt from the Championship to the Premier League so far this season.

Mitrovic, meanwhile, has got himself eight goals this season but has only scored one in the past ten matches as Fulham struggle in front of goal.

Crooks, however, believes with these three in the team Fulham can stay up.

"To take the ball out of the sky with your right boot is one thing - but then to rifle the shot into the roof of the net, all in one movement, is something else entirely. An absolutely magnificent finish.
"With Schurrle, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ryan Sessegnon in the side, Fulham may just have enough to stay up if they can keep their nerve. They've done it before, you know."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/bbc-pundit-reveals-thinks-fulham-15674546

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Report: Floyd Ayite wants to leave Fulham and return to France

Floyd Ayite has not started a single Premier League game since Fulham were promoted and Ligue 1 duo Caen and Bordeaux have been linked.

Like Kevin McDonald and Neeskens Kabano, Floyd Ayite was one of the players most negatively affected by Fulham's £100 million summer splurge.

The 30-year-old forward was a key player as Slavisa Jokanovic led the Cottagers to the Premier League last season, scoring four times in 24 Championship starts.

But Ayite has found first-team minutes hard to come by in the top flight, particularly since Jokanovic was replaced by the veteran Italian Claudio Ranieri.

The former Bastia forward has only made three league appearances under Ranieri, stuck behind Andre Schurrle, Luciano Vietto and co in the pecking order, though he did start the FA Cup third round defeat to Oldham Athletic a week ago.

As a result, France Football claims that Ayite wants to leave Fulham in the January transfer window with a return to France in his sights. Caen are understood to be leading the chase but Ligue 1 rivals Bordeaux are also interested.

And it would be little surprise if Fulham let the Togo international leave, given that he hardly looks like a key part of Ranieri's plans at present.

Ayite has just six months left on his contract at Craven Cottage, though the relegation threatened side have the option to extend it by a further year.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/01/14/do-report-floyd-ayite-wants-to-leave-fulham-and-return-to-france/

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Match Thread – Pochettino Aims To Own A Cottage

Following the disappointing narrow defeat to Manchester United last weekend, Tottenham Hotspur make the short trip across London to face Fulham in our next Premier League fixture.

Heading to Craven Cottage for the game as we look to get back to winning ways against Claudio Ranieri's newish side, the main question on the lips of Spurs fans is 'will Harry Kane be fit' after he limped off in the last one.

Moussa Sissoko also picked up an injury in the game that led to his substitution prior to the halftime break and we are now without Son Heung-Min as he jets off for Asian Cup international action, so there is an element of squeaky bums given the growing injury list once again.

Whatever happens on the injury front, you'd like to think we have enough in the tank regardless to see ourselves past the Cottagers given their poor form and as we look to rack up another three points, we can send them to three defeats on the spin.

Perform like we did last weekend and the points should be in the bag.



https://spurs.vitalfootball.co.uk/match-thread-pochettino-aims-to-own-a-cottage/

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Fulham, Watford and West Ham in race for Frenchman, 'in contact' over transfer, situation ongoing

Two reports from the Italian press link the same Premier League clubs to Sampdoria's Gregorie Defrel today.

Both Tuttosport and Tutto Mercato Web claim that Fulham, Watford and West Ham could be signing the player in the January window.

Starting with Tuttosport, they say that Sampdoria don't plan to sell Defrel in the winter market, but that would change in case he asks to leave the club.

They say the striker is wanted by Atalanta, but the Cottagers, Hornets and Hammers also get a mention due to the recent rumours.

Then website Tutto Mercato Web comes up with a story claiming that Atalanta still depend on a departure to go after the striker.

It's a different situation with the Premier League sides, who have been 'in contact' with Sampdoria.

TMW names the three same English clubs, and points out that Fulham are indeed in the race, despite Claudio Ranieri suggesting otherwise.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-watford-west-ham-race-frenchman-contact-transfer-situation-ongoing/

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Fulham 'do want' defender in January, no official offer made despite previous reports

A week ago, we covered a story in L'Equipe that claimed Fulham, in search of a full-back, had 'sent a first offer' to Bordeaux with regards to signing Youssouf Sabaly.

Said bid was said to have arrived just after New Year's, but we've heard nothing from it since, and there might be a good reason for that.

According to 20 Minutes in France on Sunday, Fulham are yet to actually make an official move for the Senegalese defender, so it's quite hard to accept something that isn't in front of them.

The French outlet do point out the Cottagers 'do want' the full-back, but without a bid, no move can take place.

The journalist writing the story, Clément Carpentier, explained on social media that Bordeaux are currently thinking about what to do with this interest, while the player's side of the story was still a mystery.

The 25-year-old, who came back from an injury just after the start of the season, has been in and out of Bordeaux's first-team this season, making just eight league appearances so far.

He totals 15 in all competitions, as well as two assists, both picked up during the Europa League group stages.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-want-defender-january-no-official-offer-made-despite-previous-reports/

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Chelsea Defenders Loan Spell Hits An Unexpected Snag

Speculation has been growing that our experienced centre-back, Gary Cahill, could be bound for Fulham.

Seemingly, as, we've reported before, Click Here, our West London rivals want the experienced defender to assist in their quest to avoid relegation back to the Championship after just one season in the Premier League.

But a major obstacle has brought the deal to a shuddering halt.

The tabloid publication, the Sun, are reporting that Fulham want Cahill on loan but, as the rules currently stand, are unable to.

The rules stipulate that you can only have two players, in your squad, on loan from Premier League clubs.

Our neighbours already have Callum Chambers (Arsenal) and Timothy Fosu-Mensah (Manchester United) on their books.

The plan was to end Fosu-Mensah's loan spell early, thereby freeing up a loan space.

Unfortunately, Manchester United are refusing to play ball.

Therefore, if Fulham are that keen on acquiring the services of Cahill, they'll have to contemplate a purchase.

Here at Vital Chelsea, we'll sit tight and see what materialises and report back as deemed appropriate.



https://chelsea.vitalfootball.co.uk/chelseas-defenders-loan-spell-hits-an-unexpected-snag/

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Why Fulham signing this veteran Dutchman would be massive step towards PL safety

Why Ryan Babel could get Fulham to Premier League safety

Fulham have had a very underwhelming season by their usual standards. Considering that they spent over £100m on 12 players according to the Evening Standard, the have failed to meet the massive expectations that were placed on this hugely talented side.

Some of the players that were brought in would walk into the starting line-up at most Premier League clubs but as was the case, Slavisa Jokanovic was fired from his job as the manager of this London club. He was immediately replaced by Claudio Ranieri.

Fulham have only managed 2 wins in their last 19 Premier League matches, with those wins coming against fellow strugglers Southampton and Huddersfield Town.

The 3-2 win over the Saints on the 24th of November was the last time that Fulham scored more than one goal in a match in any competition, which must be alarming to Ranieri.

To add to their misery, they recently got knocked out of the FA Cup by League Two side Oldham, who beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage.

Currently at 19th place, they have only scored 20 goals all season and even with a talented squad like the one at Ranieri's disposal, it's quite obvious to see that there is something missing in this team.

While a striker to back up Aleksandar Mitrovic will be their priority, the wing play from the Fulham players hasn't been very good either.

Players like Andre Schurrle and Luciano Vietto have struggled to make an impact. A new experienced winger or striker is needed at Craven Cottage and badly so.

According to reports from the Sun, Fulham are keeping track of former Liverpool winger Ryan Babel. He is currently playing for Turkish outfit Besiktas but his contract runs out at the end of the season. He could be on the verge of a short loan to Fulham until the end of the season.

Still only 32, Ryan Babel will add some much-needed experience to this rather young looking Fulham side. While he is usually deployed as a left-winger, Besiktas have used him as a striker on various occasions and Ranieri can do the same.

He is a good dribbler of the ball and has an extremely controlled first touch in any part of the pitch. While he has lost some pace over the years, Babel is still no slouch and he is also an excellent finisher. He is a tall and athletic player who can also be a threat at delivering or receiving free-kicks.

Fulham were recently embarrassed by Burnley at Turf Moor when two own goals from Fulham in two first-half minutes gave Burnley the 2-1 lead after Schurrle opened the scoring earlier in the game.

The worst part was that Burnley won the game without recording a single shot on target.
All of these factors are screaming that Ryan Babel will be a good signing for the London side and could be key in turning their current fortunes around.



https://soccersouls.com/2019/01/15/why-fulham-signing-this-veteran-dutchman-would-be-massive-step-towards-pl-safety/

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Win-win for all parties – Fulham moving for this two-time Premier League champion would make a world of difference for the struggling Cottagers

Why Danny Drinkwater to Fulham makes sense for both sides and Chelsea

The out of favour Chelsea star has struggled to make an impact since his £35million move last January and now could find himself leaving to join former manager Claudio Ranieri. The Daily Star has reported that the 28-year-old was shown around the Fulham ground in an effort to help him make his decision. Given the state of Fulham's Premier League campaign, it would be a massive boost.

The Cottagers have struggled on their return to the Premier League despite spending a lot of money over the summer, bringing in nearly 11 players. They've conceded the most goals in Premier League by a team within their first 22 games and are on par to break the all-time record.

However, having appointed former Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri, the Craven Cottage side have the right man to lead them to safety. But for the former Chelsea boss to do that, he needs the right players. To that end, a move for Drinkwater does make sense. While two defensive players would be welcome, it's Drinkwater that should add hope to their side.

The former Leicester City man was a key cog in Ranieri's title-winning squad, alongside N'Golo Kante. Despite following the Frenchman to Chelsea, it hasn't worked out. Since making his debut for the Blues, Drinkwater has only managed a mere 23 appearances for Chelsea, which includes one wonder goal against Stoke City last season.

This season, the former Leicester City man has barely made it to the bench, making just one appearance off the bench in the 2-0 loss to Manchester City in the Community Shield.

For a player in his prime, that's a massive waste of talent especially since Drinkwater has won not one but two Premier League titles, including one during his time with Manchester United. This alone makes him a valuable asset to Fulham. Furthermore, his work rate and the fact that Ranieri might once again get the best out of him, simply make it an offer too good to turn down.

Plus, the fact that the 28-year-old doesn't feature in Maurizio Sarri's game plans could enable Fulham to secure a bargain buy on their hands.



https://www.mediareferee.com/2019/01/15/win-win-for-all-parties-fulham-moving-for-this-two-time-premier-league-champion-would-make-a-world-of-difference-for-the-struggling-cottagers/

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Fulham eyeing a transfer swoop for Dutch star: Just what Ranieri needs

According to Dutch site De Telegraaf, Fulham are keen to sign Besiktas attacking midfielder Ryan Babel on loan for the rest of the season.

Babel's contract with the Turkish outfit is due to expire at the end of the season and he hasn't agreed a new deal yet.

Besiktas are reportedly prepared to loan him out and, Fulham have emerged as one of the interested parties to secure his signature.

Ryan Babel: Player Profile
Babel emerged through the youth ranks of Ajax and after his dazzling performances for the Dutch outfit, he was signed by Liverpool in the summer of 2017 for a transfer fee of £11.5m.

However, his spell at the Anfield was an ill-fated one and subsequently, he made a move to Hoffenheim after three-and-a-half inconsistent seasons in the Premier League.

Spells with Ajax, Kasimpasa, Al Ain and Deportivo La Coruna followed before his move to Besiktas in the January transfer window of 2017.

Intriguingly, he has resurrected his career and has become an instrumental figure for Besiktas as well as for the Dutch national side.

Babel scored his career-best 15 goals for his current employers last season and has managed to turn his career around.

Why he'd be a good signing for Fulham
The Cottagers have struggled in the English top division after their promotion from the Championship and have picked up just 14 points from 22 league games so far.

Ranieri's side haven't been able to string a good run of results and remain five points away from safety.

Fulham have been over-reliant on Aleksandar Mitrovic lately to cater to their goal-scoring needs, and signing Babel would add another outlet for goals.

Babel is a versatile forward, as he is capable of plying his trade as a winger as well as a striker, and has shown he is clinical in front of goal in recent seasons.

The 32-year-old is excellent in linking up with his teammates in the final third with his quick passes and vision.

Babel should be able to add guile, attacking flair and freshness to the Fulham attack, and his addition might help the Cottagers in their quest for survival.



https://madaboutepl.net/2019/01/fulham-eyeing-a-transfer-swoop-for-dutch-star-ryan-babel/

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Fulham grabbing the chance to sign this struggling Everton star could work wonders for Ranieri – agreed?

Why Fulham need Cenk Tosun more than any other club in the PL

Fulham have struggled this season, which is a well-known fact. While the Cottagers did spend heavily in the summer, they've still struggled and currently sit 19th in the table, although they are climbing up slowly. Their defensive issues have been broadcast on various post-match shows, and now with Claudio Ranieri's appointment, the club has started improving.

However, even the best managers need help in fighting relegation and as a result, the Daily Mail has reported that Fulham are in the race for Cenk Tosun. The 19th-placed side does have Aleksandar Mitrovic on its books and the Serbian star is the top scorer with 8 goals.

The closest to taking Mitrovic's crown is Andre Schurrle, with the German scoring 6 in 19 appearances. These are not enough and this has been the massive reason for Fulham's downfall.

They need another forward, someone good and tough in front of the goal to help out the Serbian star and Cenk Tosun is just the man to do that. While the Turkish forward has struggled at Everton, his time there hasn't been all that bad, with him struggling only under Marco Silva. He arrived in the January transfer window last season and finished the season with 5 goals in 14 appearances.



That boded well for both Everton and former manager Sam Allardyce but so far under Marco Silva, Tosun has failed to replicate that form. This season, the 27-year-old has made 17 appearances and only managed 2 goals, but it shouldn't deter Fulham.

The former Watford manager prefers not to play with a centre-forward and instead likes someone more mobile, which is why Dominic Calvert-Lewin and even Richarlison have been used up front.

However, Claudio Ranieri predominantly uses a centre-forward and thus it will help Tosun hit his stride once again. The Turkish/German international can clearly find the back of the net and with the help of Ryan Sessegnon and Andre Schurrle on either side, he will become more lethal and thus take the burden off Aleksandar Mitrovic.

The Serbian international has shouldered nearly all the goal-scoring burden so far and needs someone to back him up after January when the fixtures become even tougher. While Ranieri would prefer a striker with pace and agility, maybe he needs another centre-forward off the bench, someone taller, angrier and more aggressive than Mitrovic can be.



https://soccersouls.com/2019/01/15/fulham-grabbing-the-chance-to-sign-this-struggling-everton-star-could-work-wonders-for-ranieri-agreed/

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Fulham transfer news: Claudio Ranieri targets reunion with Leicester ace Danny Simpson

Leicester could be willing to loan Simpson out to the Premier League strugglers this month

Claudio Ranieri wants a Leicester reunion with Danny Simpson to help Fulham 's battle against relegation.

Fulham boss Ranieri led Leicester to the title in 2016 and is desperately looking to strengthen his squad in the January window.

Leicester full back Simpson, 32, could be available to loan this month.

Jonjo Shelvey, meanwhile, has been told he is staying at Newcastle - after interest from Fulham .

The midfielder has been mooted as a potential swap for Tom Cairney, with Benitez a big fans of the Cottagers' playmaker.

West Ham , writes Simon Bird , have also been credited with an interest again, but Benitez wants to keep his squad together, rather than sell.

Shelvey is struggling to be fit for the relegation clash with Cardiff on Saturday.

Asked if he could rule out Shelvey moving, Benitez said: "Yes. The idea is to keep as much as we can."


Fulham are also ken on Jonjo Shelvey from Newcastle (Image: Serena Taylor)



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/fulham-transfer-news-claudio-ranieri-13856293

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Fulham attempt to conclude a deal for Danny Simpson as they eye a reunion between Claudio Ranieri and the Leicester City defender

    Fulham have their eyes set on Leicester City defender Danny Simpson
    He was a key part of Claudio Ranieri's title winning Leicester City team
    It is understood that Simpson is open to linking up with his old boss again

Fulham are trying to conclude a deal for Leicester defender Danny Simpson.

Claudio Ranieri wants to reunite himself with the full-back, who played a key role when the Foxes won the title under the Italian boss.

And Simpson is understood to be open to linking up with his former boss at Craven Cottage.


Fulham are looking for a reunion between Leicester's Danny Simpson and Claudio Ranieri


However, Chelsea defender Gary Cahill is having second thoughts about a move to Fulham

However, Chelsea defender Gary Cahill is having second thoughts about a move to Fulham.

The centre-half is wanted by the Cottagers, who were thought to be front runners to land the former England man.

But Cahill is having reservations about a move across west London.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6591813/Fulham-attempt-conclude-deal-Danny-Simpson.html

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Aleksandr Mitrovic and Aboubakar Kamara 'separated by Fulham team-mates after alleged fight during yoga'

    The pair were reportedly at each other's throats during the team yoga session
    Aboubakar Kamara wrestled the ball off Aleksandr Mitrovic against Huddersfield
    Kamara ended up missing the penalty and Mitrovic saved his blushes that day

Aleksandr Mitrovic and Aboubakar Kamara had to be separated by Fulham team-mates after an alleged fight during a team yoga session.

The pair were reportedly at each other's throats as Mitrovic thought Kamara was rude to the yoga teacher.

This isn't the first time the duo have had a disagreement as they came together when Kamara wrestled the ball off Mitrovic to take a penalty against Huddersfield at the end of December.


Aleksandr Mitrovic and Aboubakar Kamara had to be separated by Fulham team-mates

Kamara ended up missing the penalty and Mitrovic saved his blushes by scoring a stoppage-time winner.

Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri is now ready to get rid of Kamara after being furious with his actions in recent weeks, according to the Sun.

Kamara was left out of Fulham's squad for their 2-1 defeat to Burnley on Saturday.

The 23-year-old was signed in July 2017 from French side Amiens for an undisclosed fee.


The alleged fight started as Mitrovic thought Kamara was rude to the yoga teacher



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6592085/Aleksandr-Mitrovic-Aboubakar-Kamara-separated-Fulham-team-mates-alleged-fight.html

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Fulham's Gary Cahill plans are destroyed by Timothy Fosu-Mensah's loan debacle

Ever since Claudio Ranieri took over at Fulham in November, Timothy Fosu-Mensah has played just 34 minutes of football.

As the January transfer window arrived, it seemed clear that the Manchester United loanee would return to his parent club due to his lack of opportunities in SW6.

But a recent report from the Sun claims Manchester United are refusing to allow Fosu-Mensah to return to Old Trafford, instead insisting he remains at Fulham to fight for his first team place.

The loan debacle surrounding Fosu-Mensah is devastating news for Fulham's transfer plans, throwing the club's rumoured bid for Gary Cahill off course.

As Fulham currently have Calum Chambers on loan from Arsenal in addition to Fosu-Mensah, the Whites have used up their two Premier League loans. Terminating the right back's loan, which was heavily discussed recently, would crucially free up space to bring the Chelsea centre-half in on a short-term basis.

After Alfie Mawson's knee injury and Fulham's continued defensive struggles, obtaining a top-class central defender in January is more pressing than ever.

But in order for Fulham to sign Gary Cahill on loan, Timothy Fosu-Mensah must resolve his situation with Manchester United.

With no clear route back to the first team, United must end the loan standoff and take the 21-year-old back to Old Trafford in order to grant Fosu-Mensah more playing time and help Fulham utilise his loan spot.



https://tbrfootball.com/fulhams-gary-cahill-plans-are-destroyed-by-timothy-fosu-mensahs-loan-debacle/