Monday Fulham Stuff (20/05/19)...

[WhiteJC]

Blow to Tottenham's transfer plans as PL rivals contact 19-year-old's club over a move

Spurs transfer news: Manchester United hold talks to sign Ryan Sessegnon from Fulham

Sky Sports (h/t Metro) claims that Manchester United have increased their interest in Ryan Sessegnon, and have jumped ahead by opening talks with his club Fulham.

The 19-year-old English sensation did not have a great season in the Premier League with the Cottagers as they were relegated after just one season.


Ryan Sessegnon

Sessegnon struggled playing under three different managers but has several admirers for his services.

The report claims that Tottenham have been long-term admirers of the 19-year-old while RB Leipzig, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus are also interested in the English youngster.

The youngster managed two goals and six assists in a disappointing campaign and the Cottagers will look to bounce back from the Championship next season.

Spurs still in the race, thanks to Sessegnon's demands

The Evening Standard (h/t Metro) adds that Sessegnon prefers joining Tottenham and wants to stay in London.

The youngster wants to work under Mauricio Pochettino and the report adds that Spurs wanted to wait after the Champions League final to speak with Fulham, but they might have to act quickly to sign the youngster up.

Tottenham face Liverpool in an all-English Champions League final, and Pochettino would be looking at picking up his first trophy at the club.

Beating Liverpool won't be easy but we can certainly give any team a run for their money in a one-off game.



https://tothelaneandback.com/2019/05/19/blow-to-tottenhams-transfer-plans-as-pl-rivals-contact-19-year-olds-club-over-a-move/

[WhiteJC]

Manchester United fans are keen making an approach for Fulham's Sessegnon

Manchester United have made initial contact with Fulham about signing Ryan Sessegnon, according to a report from Sky Sports on Friday.

The outlet say that the Red Devils are the first interested party to make their move for the teenage prospect, with Tottenham and Juventus also keen on signing him up.

Having made 120 career appearances for the Cottagers at the age of just 19, he is a player with enormous potential who can add serious depth to United's left flank next season.

With the versatility to feature both as a wing-back or as an attacking winger, he could provide back-up for both Luke Shaw and Anthony Martial.

Fulham are heading back to the Championship and Sky Sports reckon the player is not keen to return to the second-tier, so this looks like the transfer window he will finally be on the move and plenty of United fans are eager to make sure Old Trafford is his destination.



https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league/manchester-united/manchester-united-fans-are-keen-making-an-approach-for-fulhams-sessegnon

[WhiteJC]

Fulham player keen on return to former side, but club chief isn't totally convinced

Fotomac report Fulham player Ryan Babel is keen on a return to Besiktas but the Turkish club's president Fikret Orman isn't totally convinced about bringing back his former player.

It's reported the Dutch winger wants to play in Turkey again and his former club Besiktas is a possibility.

Babel joined Fulham from Besiktas during the last transfer window, but was unable to prevent the London club's relegation from the Premier League.

However, Orman isn't too keen for a reunion and Fotomac say the Turkish club's president would only consider the signing if Babel accepts terms similar to what he had last time, which isn't thought likely.

After Fulham's relegation to the Championship Babel has been linked with a move back to the Super Lig, with Galatasaray said to be keen on the Netherlands international.

Premier League clubs Norwich City and Newcastle United are also reportedly interested.

The former Liverpool player scored 5 goals for Fulham on his Premier League return.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-player-keen-return-club-chief-isnt-totally-convinced/

[WhiteJC]

Rondon, Mitrovic, Caballero - how Manuel Pellegrini's summer rebuild at West Ham could look

It's set to be a relatively busy summer in east London for Manuel Pellegrini

Manuel Pellegrini always keeps his cards close to his chest but in the weeks leading up to the end of the season began to let the cat out of the bag that West Ham need new faces.

The Chilean manager brought in nine for the first team last summer at a cost of £89.5m, including smashing the club's transfer record twice on Issa Diop and then on Felipe Anderson later in the window - both of them went on to enjoy solid debut seasons in the Premier League.

But the manager has continually hinted at "improving" ahead of the window and he has his targets in sight, some are more attainable than others. Captain Mark Noble believes the same as it has been reported he has urged the club to start looking at younger players this window.

That has been Pellegrini and director of football Mario Husillos' mantra so far, sign younger players on smaller wages but take the hit on paying more in transfer fees for them. But, they will have a better sell on value later down the line.

So it seems strange then that one player heavily linked with West Ham in recent days, Salomon Rondon, is approaching his peak at 29 years of age. The other strongly linked player, Aleksandar Mitrovic, is much more of the profile the club is looking at, aged 24.

Pellegrini has taken a short break since the end of the season seven days ago, spending most of it down in the west country, while the payers have all jetted off for their holidays as well.

So when Pellegrini gets back, what could his summer rebuild and refresh look like? We take a look at each area of the pitch and how it could be affected.

Goalkeepers

Lukasz Fabianski is the undisputed number one at the club and that is without question - he was a deserved Hammer of the Year recipient for 2018/19 and goes into the next campaign as the first choice stopper.

Number two keeper Adrian is set to be released when his contract expires on July 1 so the Hammers need a back up stopper. The club don't think either Nathan Trott or Joseph Anang are quite up to the task yet of being a Premier League backup.

The Hammers have been linked with a move for Neil Etheridge but spending a supposed £10m on a backup keeper is nonsense. They will more likely look at the free agent market for an experienced keeper to sign for a year, the name Willy Caballero - who worked with Pellegrini at Manchester City and Malaga - has been mentioned. He's set to be released by Chelsea this summer.

Also, on the cheaper side of the spectrum, one of Burnley duo Tom Heaton or Nick Pope. But come the end of the window and the start of next season, there will be a new name on the bench occupying the keeper spot.

Defence

Pellegrini found his number one centre back partnership in Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena and that should be the one that lines up for the first game of the new season on August 10 (barring injuries of course). He has found his right back as well in Ryan Fredericks who should keep Pablo Zabaleta out for opening day.

There is still a question at left back as Pellegrini chooses between Arthur Masuaku and Aaron Cresswell. Left back was a problem area all of last season and there was plenty of talk of the manager signing a new one in the summer window but football.london understands that the boss has put that to the backburner, mainly thanks to Masuaku's excellent form towards the end of the season.

The Hammers are still looking for a centre back this summer but again, it's not as big a priority as it is signing to strengthen other areas. Alaves defender Guillermo Maripan is still on the list of targets. But Winston Reid is set to get a chance to prove himself in pre-season and with Angelo Ogbonna on the books too, a new centre back might not arrive.

Midfield

A new defensive midfielder is certainly on the cards as the Hammers are expected to let Pedro Obiang leave this summer and he needs to be replaced, providing his value to the club is met. Carlos Sanchez has suffered a serious knee injury and only has one year left on his contract and obviously, the first choice in that position is the outstanding Declan Rice.

The rest of the midfield is fairly well stacked with Robert Snodgrass, Mark Noble, Manuel Lanzini and Jack Wilshere in situ. Plus, the manager is expected to give some of his youngsters more opportunities so that means the likes of Joe Powell and Conor Coventry.

In terms of potential new arrivals, the names Gary Medel and Jonjo Shelvey simply won't go away, while the Hammers have also been linked with Newcastle midfielder Isaac Hayden as well. Pellegrini's refresh this summer will likely see a new midfielder added to the ranks as Samir Nasri won't be returning too, but which new face that is is anyone's guess right now.

Attack

This is the area that the manager and Husillos are looking at the most as they are expected to lose up to three of the current crop of frontmen on the books in east London.

Andy Carroll is being released on July 1 along with keeper Adrian, while Javier Hernandez and Lucas Perez are both expected to be allowed to leave should the club receive the right offer. That leaves just one striker - Marko Arnautovic.

The Austrian is expected to stay at the club having settled his differences following the China shenanigans in January but he needs some new teammates up front him by the sounds of it. West Ham have gone cold on Maxi Gomez after realising they couldn't get him as cheap as they would have wanted.


Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham shoots under pressure from Seamus Coleman of Everton (Image: Christopher Lee/Getty Images)

So the new names mentioned are Salomon Rondon, who is available for £16.5m and the other is Aleksandar Mitrovic, whose release value isn't yet clear but it'll be more than Rondon's you'd imagine. Another name in the frame is perennially linked Port strike Moussa Marega.

Pellegrini will probably want some Premier League experience to Rondon and Mitrovic certainly fit the bill. Whether he can get - or afford - both is certainly up for debate and very unlikely. It's feasible to think that one might arrive while a more cheaper alternative will also be sought later in the window.

The rest of the attack, Anderson has got the left win spot completely sewn up while Michail Antonio has also improved drastically, having likely been sold this summer had he not towards the end of the season.

How could the bench look?

We're expecting a new back up goalkeeper so that'll be a new name, plus Zabaleta is likely to be first choice on the bench (if that is even a thing) after a penning a new one-year contract extension. The left back who doesn't start will also be on there so either Masuaku or Cresswell.

A central midfielder, likely Carlos Sanchez, will be on there too plus one of the centre backs who doesn't start and finally, a striker.

So, how could West Ham potentially look next season if we put reality aside for a moment?

(4-1-3-2) Fabianski; Fredericks, Diop, Balbuena, Masuaku; Rice; Noble, Anderson, Lanzini; Arnautovic, Mitrovic.

Subs: Caballero, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Sanchez, Zabaleta, Rondon, Diangana.



https://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/transfer-news/rondon-mitrovic-caballero-how-manuel-16298145

[WhiteJC]

Calum Chambers: I'll forever be grateful for the support from the Fulham fans

Calum Chambers has admitted he'll always be grateful for the support the Fulham fans showed him this season, despite the club's eventual relegation.

Fulham finished the Premier League season on 26 points, 10 shy of safety from relegation. Even that flatters them a bit, as nine of those points came from wins after they were already down, with the pressure off.

Despite a terrible season from the side in general, Arsenal loanee Chambers did pretty well overall, and he earned a lot of praise from the Fulham fans as a result. The supporters regularly took to the 24-year-old's Twitter page to thank him for being one of few who gave their all until the end. Chambers was clearly grateful for that.

"I wanted to commit fully when I came here and give it absolutely everything," he said. "I would definitely say that's what I've done here, given everything on the pitch. Obviously, I'm gutted that we got relegated, and I think every player should be. A club like this belongs in the Premier League.

"I think the thing that will stick with me the most is the fans. From the start I had, the reaction they've given me since then, since I started playing midfield, has been pretty amazing, to be honest. The support I've seen them give me has been fantastic and I'll forever be grateful for that."

Chambers ended up making 33 appearances for Fulham throughout the season, most of which were in midfield. Despite joining The Cottagers as a centre-back, they clearly felt they could get more out of him in the middle, and in fairness, his performances were much better there.

The issue is that Arsenal don't really need Chambers in the middle. If anything, the Gunners have too many defensive/deep-lying midfielders at the moment, with Granit Xhaka, Lucas Torreira, Matteo Guendouzi, Mohamed Elneny and the returning Krystian Bielik all competing for one or two spots.

Given the Englishman didn't spend much of the season developing his game at centre-back, it seems unlikely he's going to slot in there for Arsenal either. Whilst this loan was good for Chambers individually and should have boosted his market value a bit, it may still end up being the end of his career as a Gunner. We'll have to wait and see.



http://dailycannon.com/2019/05/calum-chambers-ill-forever-be-grateful-for-the-support-from-the-fulham-fans/

[WhiteJC]

Everton Eyeing A Move For 11 Goal Premier League Striker: He Would Be A Smart Addition

According to Sky Sports, Everton are interested in securing the services of Aleksandar Mitrovic this summer. The Serbian international has emerged as a top target for Marco Silva following Fulham's relegation from the Premier League in the 2018/19 campaign.

The report claims that Mitrovic is keen to play in the Premier League next season, despite Fulham's initial wish to keep hold of the striker. This could pave the way for him to join Everton, who are prepared to undergo a squad overhaul this summer.
Everton's apparent lack of attacking options

Everton have enjoyed a promising debut campaign under Silva this term. But, they are still lacking reliable attacking options that could help them push for the top-four next season. Star forward Cenk Tosun has struggled to make an impression in the first-team. The Turkish international featured in a little over 1,000 minutes of league football. He also faces an uncertain future at the club, with a return to Besiktas reportedly on the cards.

Dominic-Calvert Lewin impressed in the second half of the campaign. However, the youngster could only muster six league goals. As a result, the Toffees appeared over-reliant on the services of Richarlison in terms of attacking productivity.

As for Ademola Lookman, he has been a tad unlucky not to receive enough faith from the manager. The 21-year-old has featured in just over 600 minutes of Premier League football this season. Hence, the addition of a new attacker could be imperative if Everton are to make a push for a Champions League spot next season.

Where can Mitrovic fit in?

Mitrovic has impressed the onlookers with his excellent hold-up play and aerial prowess this season. The Serbian has also notched up 11 goals, which is almost one-third of what Fulham as a whole managed this entire campaign.

It is doubtful that Mitrovic will thrive in Silva's highly tactical setup at the Merseyside. But, he offers the physical presence in the final third that could help him open up spaces for the likes of Richarlison, Bernard and Gylfi Sigurdsson. Hence, he will be able to add another dimension to the Everton attack.

Mitrovic's aerial prowess will also aid him to score more goals for an Everton side, who boast the services of two overlapping fullbacks in Lucas Digne and Seamus Coleman. Digne, in particular, has been one of the most impressive fullbacks in the league this term. And the Frenchman is more than capable of whipping in crosses for the 1.87m frame of Mitrovic.

Therefore, the Toffees should make a move for the Fulham striker as they look to bolster their attacking department. However, it will be interesting to see how much they will have to fork out for the Serbian international.



https://the4thofficial.net/2019/05/everton-eyeing-a-move-for-11-goal-premier-league-striker-he-would-be-a-smart-addition/

[WhiteJC]

Tottenham signing this 27-year-old marquee signing from London rivals would be an immensely shrewd move

Tottenham Opinion: Why Spurs should sign Jean-Michael Seri this summer?

According to March's report in Football.London, Jean-Michael Seri will leave Fulham in the summer transfer window.

The Ivorian, 27, was the marquee signing of Fulham's massive overhaul last summer when he joined from OGC Nice. Though he has shown glimpses of the quality he possesses, Seri has had a largely unimpressive campaign in a struggling Fulham side that got relegated from the Premier League.

Following relegation, the Cottagers are braced for a number of offers for their prized assets. Seri is one of the prized assets keen to leave Craven Cottage as he has little desire to play in the Championship, the report adds.

That being said, Tottenham should reignite their interest and hand Seri a Premier League lifeline next season.

Tottenham were interested in signing Seri back in July 2018, but the midfielder snubbed Mauricio Pochettino's side for Fulham. Despite the Ivorian failing to live up to the expectations at Fulham, his quality is undeniable and Spurs must pry him away to north London.

Mauricio Pochettino let Mousa Dembele move to China in January and is yet to fill the void he has left in central midfield. With frequent injuries to Victor Wanyama, Harry Winks and Dele Alli, Spurs need someone to fit in central midfield besides Moussa Sissoko, who has had an excellent 2018/19 campaign for Pochettino's side.

Seri would not only bring quality but add depth as well to the Tottenham squad. Regarded as a technically-gifted and tactically-versatile midfielder, the Ivorian is comfortable in defensive, central and attacking roles in the centre of the park. He is an excellent tackler and dictates the tempo of the game with his passing and distribution skills.

The 27-year-old is also full of tricks when dribbling with the ball and can score a few goals from long range. A good reader of the game, Seri possesses the qualities to disrupt the opposition's rhythm and quickly initiate a counter-attack from the base of the midfield.

Due to his versatility, energy and passing range, the ex-Nice ace will be a welcome addition for Pochettino's side. Seri didn't set the world alight in his debut Premier League season, but in Pochettino's high-pressing, free-flowing system, he certainly can make a big impression.

Verdict
A player of Seri's quality and experience will undoubtedly improve Tottenham's midfield options in the future. The Ivory Coast international's acquisition will help Spurs make a statement of intent ahead of the 2019/20 Premier League campaign.



https://www.mediareferee.com/2019/05/19/tottenham-signing-this-27-year-old-marquee-signing-from-london-rivals-would-be-an-immensely-shrewd-move/

[MikeW]

Some interesting observations in this article.  Seri seems to possess a lot of talents that somehow we didn't see this past season?

[snarks]

I think Seri is a class player, just a square peg in a round hole in Fulham's system.

[Bill2]

I think it is Seri's manager trying to drum up interest. Didn't see anything from him to suggest he was better than he looked.

[filham]

Sess. and Seri to Spurs sounds interesting but Spurs would be looking for a discount for buying two players at the same time.

[Matt10]

Seri has premier league experience now. Considering how much we go on about its importance all the time - he's got what teams are looking for. As long as the system fits him to be back in the dropped off playmaking role versus destroyer CDM that Ranieri wanted him to play.

[YankeeJim]

Reading the comments about Babel made me wonder why he would prefer Turkey over the Championship. Is the Turkish League anywhere near the level of the other European leagues? Is it a better league than the Championship?

[Sting of the North]

Reading the comments about Babel made me wonder why he would prefer Turkey over the Championship. Is the Turkish League anywhere near the level of the other European leagues? Is it a better league than the Championship?

I wouldn't be surprised if the top clubs in Turkey can pay a lot, and I also think the top clubs are better than Championship clubs (although I concede that I may very well be wrong on both those points). In any case, they have huge passionate fan bases, and may also provide the opportunity to play in Europe.