Saturday Fulham Stuff - 01/06/19...

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Report: Aston Villa interested in Bournemouth's Harry Arter

Aston Villa, Fulham and Stoke City are reportedly interested in signing Harry Arter from Bournemouth.

According to The Irish Independent, Aston Villa, Fulham and Stoke City are interested in signing Harry Arter from Bournemouth in the summer transfer window.

It has been reported that Arter wants to leave Bournemouth on a permanent basis this summer after spending the 2018-19 campaign on loan at Cardiff City.

The report has also claimed that the Cherries could let go of the Republic of Ireland international for a "relatively modest transfer fee".

The Irish Independent has claimed of interest in the 29-year-old from Villa, Fulham and Stoke.

"While a move to link-up with his brother-in-law Scott Parker at Championship side Fulham would be attractive for Arter, he is also keen to explore the prospect of remaining in the Premier League by moving to newly promoted Aston Villa," adds the report in The Irish Independent.

While Fulham and Stoke will play in the Championship next season, Villa will feature in the Premier League during the 2019-20 campaign.

Arter - who earns £40,000 per week as salary, according to Spotrac.com - is a good midfielder, and his experience in the Premier League will come in handy for the Villans.

According to WhoScored, Arter made 24 starts and one substitute appearance in the Premier League for Cardiff this season, providing one assist in the process.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/05/31/report-aston-villa-interested-in-bournemouths-harry-arter/

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Report: Aston Villa want 29-year-old international to bolster midfield
Harry Arter is set to leave Bournemouth this summer.

Aston Villa are thought to be involved in a three-way fight to sign Republic of Ireland international Harry Arter, according to the Irish Independent.

The 29-year-old is also attracting interest from Championship duo Fulham and Stoke City following Bournemouth's decision to permanently offload.

Arter spent a season on loan at Cardiff City during 2018/19, playing 25 games as the club were relegated despite a campaign where they challenged fiercely.

A switch to Fulham is perhaps most intriguing. Scott Parker, the newly appointed manager of the Cottagers, is Arter's brother-in-law and that could prove an attractive proposition.

The chance to stay in the Premier League with Villa could prove too much of an incentive, however. Dean Smith's men reached the top-flight after defeating Derby County on Monday in the Play-Off Final.

Arter has been a class act for Bournemouth. After nearly ten years at the club he will be able to depart this summer should he find himself a new club.

TBR Verdict
Arter showed at Cardiff City that he is capable of playing in the Premier League.

Although the Bluebirds couldn't avoid the drop, Arter didn't disgrace himself and it is no surprise he has suitors vying for his services.

It looks as though Villa and Fulham will have the edge over Stoke when it comes to securing his signature.

If Arter was to arrive at Villa Park he would represent a significant upgrade on his countryman Glenn Whelan. The veteran could well depart in the summer after playing well during the club's promotion-winning campaign.

Whoever lands Arter will see their midfield ranks bolstered significantly and other clubs might yet emerge as his availability becomes common knowledge.



https://tbrfootball.com/aston-villa-harry-arter/

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Stoke City and Fulham interested in AFC Bournemouth midfielder

Stoke City and Fulham are both interested in signing AFC Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arter.

Newly promoted Premier League side Aston Villa have also been credited with an interest, as per a report by the Irish Independent.

Arter spent last season on loan in the top flight with Cardiff City and is set to leave Bournemouth on a permanent deal now.

The Republic of Ireland international has played for Bournemouth since 2010 and has been a key player for them during his time there, playing over 250 games.

The 29-year-old midfielder started his career at Charlton Athletic but only ever made one appearance for the Addicks as a youngster in the Championship. Instead, Arter had loan spells in non-league at Staines Town and Welling United before leaving Charlton on a permanent basis to join Woking.

Arter impressed as he spent a single season in the Conference South for Woking and was snapped up by Bournemouth in 2010, when they were in League One. He then helped the Cherries get from the third tier to the Premier League and became a fans' favourite there.

Fulham are in the hunt for new signings this summer that can help them gain immediate return to the Premier League next season. Their boss, Scott Parker, has identified Arter as an ideal signing.

Stoke have promotion aspirations of their own and are busy at the moment as Nathan Jones looks to put his own stamp on the Potters.



https://the72.co.uk/133237/stoke-city-and-fulham-interested-in-afc-bournemouth-midfielder/

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Spurs reportedly close to completing deal to sign Sessegnon

Tottenham Hotspur have essentially completed the signing of Fulham star Ryan Sessegnon, according to Football Insider.

What's the word?

The Cottagers full-back-turned-winger has been heavily linked with a move away from Craven Cottage this summer following the club's relegation to the Championship.

Despite their abysmal season, Sessegnon's stock remains high; he played 38 games in all competitions, scoring twice and providing six assists.

And the report claims that Spurs are close to finalising their deal to bring in the teenager, with a £20million-plus fee set to be agreed. Football Insider state that discussions continue "over the structure of the deal".

With chairman Daniel Levy keen to back manager Mauricio Pochettino after their top-four finish in the Premier League and their journey to the Champions League final, he is also attempting to negotiate the signing of Real Betis midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.

Spurs, of course, have not signed a player since January 2018, when Lucas Moura joined the club from PSG.

Pochettino's words heeded

Spurs are right to make a splash in this summer's transfer market.

Pochettino has repeatedly emphasised the need for the club to operate differently, having reached the final year of a five-year project.

Sessegnon is not likely to be the headline signing of the transfer window if the rumours about Lo Celso are true but, even so, this is a signing that adds depth to the squad.

Indeed, he is young enough to have another two decades within the game ahead of him; Pochettino could well turn him into a star.

Regardless, this is a positive sign for Spurs fans that the club are being so proactive and attempting to actively add to their squad.

A new signing announcement does not feel too far off...



https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league/tottenham/spurs-reportedly-close-to-completing-deal-to-sign-sessegnon

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Aston Villa, Fulham & Norwich now battling to sign £20m-rated NUFC man – Reports

According to the Birmingham Mail, Aston Villa have joined Fulham and Norwich in the race to sign Dwight Gayle this summer.

Gayle bagged 24 goals at the Hawthorns over the 2018/19 season, but West Brom have already ruled themselves out of the running to re-sign him, with them stating they are no longer able to afford 'Premier League wages' after failing to gain promotion back to the top flight.

That may have ended our hopes of involving Gayle in a potential part-exchange for Salomon Rondon (although a £16.5m release clause still exists), however there seems to be several clubs who are keen to sign him.

A £20m asking price has been touted, although I have my doubts about us being able to fetch that much for a striker nearing his 30's who's only proven in the second tier!

Over the past few weeks we've seen Fulham linked with a move via the Evening Standard, Norwich City credited with interest via the Daily Mail, and it's now being reported in the Midlands that newly-promoted Aston Villa want the 28-year-old.

It's said that Gayle wants to test himself in the Premier League once again after well and truly conquering the Championship in recent years (he was almost 50 goals in his last two seasons in the second tier), so that suggests Villa and Norwich may have the edge over Fulham here if their interest is in fact genuine.



http://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2019/05/31/aston-villa-fulham-norwich-now-battling-to-sign-20m-rated-nufc-man-reports/

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100 Greatest LUFC Players - No.8 Allan Clarke

8) Allan Clarke (1969–1978)

Country: England | DOB: 31/07/1946 | Position: Forward | Apps: 364 | Goals: 151


Allan "Sniffer" Clarke joined Walsall as an apprentice in 1961, turning professional on 12th August 1963. He began scoring goals regularly and was voted Walsall's Player of the Year by the supporters in 1964-65, when he top-scored with twenty-three League goals. He finished top scorer again in 1965-66, netting another twenty-three goals even though he was sold to Fulham well before the end of the season. He had scored forty-one League goals in seventy-two games when First Division Fulham signed him in March 1966 for £35,000.

While at Fulham he picked up five England Under-Twenty-Three Caps and he burst onto the International scene with a four-goal blast past a bewildered and shell-shocked Wales at Molineux in an 8-0 landslide on 12th October 1966. His second followed almost a year later at Boothferry Park, when he teamed up for the first time with Mick Jones to pilot England to a 3-0 win over Austria and his third came at the end of that month on 31st May 1967 as England were held to a 0-0 draw by Greece in Athens. Three days later he picked up his fourth cap in a 1-1 draw with Bulgaria in Sofia and on the 7th June 1967 he scored in a 3-1 win over Turkey in Ankara to make it five goals in five games.

In just over two years at Craven Cottage he had scored forty-five League goals in eighty-six games while playing in a very mediocre team, before he joined Leicester City for a record £150,000 in June 1968. He picked up his sixth and final Under-Twenty-Three cap in a 4-0 win over Portugal at Highfield Road, Coventry when he got two of the goals to take his tally to seven from six games. Once again he had joined a struggling team but once again he proved his ability to score goals from nothing with remarkable consistency, and Don Revie had already noted his ability when he caused his defenders trouble when in opposition.

However, it was a "Man of the Match" display for the Foxes in their 1968-69 FA Cup Final loss to Manchester City, which coincided with their relegation, that prompted the Leeds Manager to break the club transfer record and pay £165,000 to bring him to Leeds, in July 1969, and so add the final piece to his jig-saw puzzle of making Leeds, freshly crowned Champions of England, the best team in Europe. His time at Leicester had seen him score twelve League goals in thirty-six games and the man they called "Sniffer" was united with Mick Jones to make the strongest spearhead in the Football League. "Sniffer" Clarke's instinctive nose for goals won scores of games for Leeds.

Sometimes criticised for a lack of work-rate but when it came to goal-poaching, he was devastating. His partnership with Mick Jones was one which few clubs have bettered. He made his debut in the Charity Shield against Manchester City at Elland Road on 2nd August 1969, in what was to become the legendary Leeds team; Sprake, Reaney, Cooper, Bremner, Charlton, Hunter, Madeley, Clarke, Jones, Giles and Gray, with Lorimer, on this occasion, substitute. He was the final piece in the jigsaw, the jewel in the crown.

In his first League game, he immediately became a fans' favourite, scoring once in United's 3-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur in front of a crowd of 35,000 at Elland Road on 9th August 1969. Possibly the deadliest goal scoring career that Leeds United fans have ever seen was about to begin. In his first season with the club, Clarke and Leeds were on course for the treble. The European Cup, the FA Cup and the First Division Title were all on the Leeds agenda for the vast majority of the season, and they came very close to achieving their target, but fell so cruelly short of all three goal due to the small squad all clubs had in those days, Leeds just eventually burned, and fatigue took its toll on the club's players. FA rules of the time restricted each team to a squad of twenty players, and Leeds took part in sixty-three games that season. Clarke had top-scored with twenty-six goals.

But the season was not over for Clarke, on 11th June 1970 he made his full England debut, as the only previously uncapped player in England's vital World Cup Group "C" qualifying match against Czechoslovakia at Guadalajara. With England needing to win to stay in the competition, Clarke lined up with his Leeds team-mates Terry Cooper and Jack Charlton and it was he who took the vital English penalty, when other more experienced players would not, and with ice-cool precision hit the back of the net to give England the win they needed. It was his only appearance of the tournament.

He led the Leeds scorers for the second successive season in 1970/1971 with twenty-three goals, missing only three of United's fifty-nine games in a season when they lifted the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup on 2nd June 1971, at the end of another long and arduous season, in which Clarke had not had a break since his debut in the Charity Shield game, almost two years earlier. Arsenal won the title by one point, in what was the most controversial title race of the 1970's. However, United still had something to cheer as they beat Juventus in the Inter-City Fairs Cup on away goals, and Clarke scored at Elland Road for United in that Final, but, yet again United had falling short of their potential.

The 1971-72 season saw Clarke write himself indelibly into United folklore and their History, when his renowned diving header against Arsenal in the FA Cup Final win over Arsenal at Wembley on 6th May 1972, became a goal all United supporters, young and old could relate to. Mick Jones got to behind Arsenal full-back Bob McNab, crossed the ball towards the edge of the penalty area where Clarke, ran onto the ball, diving in the air, meeting it perfectly and sending it into the bottom corner. Clarke also hit the bar in that game, and played a major part in some virtuoso performances that season, as Leeds turned in some outstanding performances of football brilliance to the delight of television audiences.

But Leeds were once again robbed of the title. After playing a gruelling FA Cup Final in front of 100,000 people and millions worldwide, Leeds were forced to play Wolverhampton Wanderers away on the following Monday to win the title. Lacking the services of an injured Mick Jones, a fatigued United lost 2-1 to Wolves at Molineux, which just a draw would have given them, the second half to the "Double". Clarke had not been as prolific as in previous seasons and Peter Lorimer had top scored, with Clarke collecting fifteen.

1972-73 was another season of disappointment for Leeds and for Clarke, as Leeds dropped to third in the League and provided one of the all-time FA Cup shocks when they were beaten 1-0 at Wembley in the Final by Second Division Sunderland. The disappointment did not stop there as United lost in the Final of the European Cup-Winners' Cup, with AC Milan, with the help of a biased and bought referee, winning 1-0 over a depleted United, with Clarke and several others unavailable. He was top in the Leeds goal scorers list, for the third time, with twenty-six goals. From the ashes of the 1972-73 season rose the phoenix that saw United go twenty-nine games undefeated in the 1973-74 season that gave Clarke his only Football League Championship medal and second to Mick Jones as United's top goal scorer with sixteen goals.

1972-73 was another season of disappointment for Leeds and for Clarke, as Leeds dropped to third in the League and provided one of the all-time FA Cup shocks when they were beaten 1-0 at Wembley in the Final by Second Division Sunderland. The disappointment did not stop there as United lost in the Final of the European Cup-Winners' Cup, with AC Milan, with the help of a biased and bought referee, winning 1-0 over a depleted United, with Clarke and several others unavailable. He was top in the Leeds goal scorers list, for the third time, with twenty-six goals. From the ashes of the 1972-73 season rose the phoenix that saw United go twenty-nine games undefeated in the 1973-74 season that gave Clarke his only Football League Championship medal and second to Mick Jones as United's top goal scorer with sixteen goals.

The 1974-75 season saw United struggle after the departure of Don Revie and the forty-four days of disaster that was the reign of Brian Clough, before Jimmy Armfield was able to salvage something from the ruins by leading United to the European Cup Final in Paris, and finish ninth in the League. Once again United were denied in a European Final by some dubious decisions by a referee, with Clarke being the subject of a clear penalty as he was scythed down from behind by Beckenbauer in the act of scoring. He again led the Leeds scorers for the fourth time with twenty-two goals and he added his fourteenth England cap to his collection.

Clarke was second to Duncan McKenzie in United's scoring list with thirteen goals as Leeds consolidated in fifth position of the First Division in 1975-76, and he added his two final England caps to bring his collection to sixteen with appearances in the European Cup qualifiers against Czechoslovakia and Portugal. 1974-75 saw United in tenth spot as Joe Jordan topped the scorers for United with Clarke getting seven, as injuries started to punctuate his career. In his final season at Leeds injuries again took their toll as Leeds finished ninth and Hankin led their scorers with Clarke scoring just four from nine starts and two games from the bench.

He joined Barnsley as Player-Manager in June 1978 for £45,000 and got them promoted from Division Four at his first attempt in 1978-79, scoring twelve times in thirty-four games. The Oakwell crowds increased as their confidence in the Tykes grew. Clarke invested wisely in new players, but in general would have been disappointed in finishing eleventh as he contributed three goals in thirteen games before he hung up his boots in September 1980. In the 1980-81 season his team came together and promotion to the Second Division was achieved, but Clarke was not there to see it as he had returned to Elland Road to take over from Jimmy Adamson as Manager on 16th September 1980 and took his Coach Barry Murphy and Chief Scout Martin Wilkinson with him, leaving Norman Hunter to become Player-Manager and ensure their promotion.

United had been in decline for several seasons and Clarke managed to stabilise a team that had won only one of its first nine games of the 1980-81 season and by working on the defence turned around their fortunes to ensure a creditable ninth spot in the final table. However, despite the disastrous purchase of Peter Barnes, it was a lack of goals that caused his downfall as he acquired Frank Worthington just a little too late for his nine goals to prevent the club's relegation to the Second Division at season's end and Clarke fell on his sword on 25th June 1982. After further management spells at Scunthorpe United, Barnsley he retired in 1990.



http://www.motforum.com/article.php?page=37668

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Nottingham Forest urged to target Middlesbrough star Britt Assombalonga despite interest from Fulham and Sheffield United
There is plenty of interest in his signature

Nottingham Forest legend Kenny Burns has urged Martin O'Neill to look at re-signing Britt Assombalonga.

The striker has been linked with a move away from Middlesbrough this summer after Bristol City investigated signing the player in January.

Whilst the Robins do not look likely to renew their interest this summer, other clubs are said to be interested.

Fulham and Sheffield United are both said to be keen on the player, who fell a little out of favour at the Riverside this season.

Forest legend Burns now says a City Ground return would be a dream scenario for the player.

Writing in his column for Nottinghamshire Live , Burns said: "Personally, I was always a big fan of Britt when he was at Nottingham Forest and his goal record speaks for itself - he's been missed.

"Yes, the rest of his game might not be that great, but he puts the ball in the net when he gets a chance and that's what you want from your strikers.



https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/nottingham-forest-urged-target-middlesbrough-2928266

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Africa Cup of Nations Call-

Four Fulham players could appear at the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in June.

André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Jean Michaël Seri, Ibrahima Cissé and Marcelo Djalo have all been named in their respective nations' provisional squads for the tournament.

Anguissa and Seri have been regulars in the heart of midfield for Cameroon and Ivory Coast for some time now, and the pair will both fancy their chances of having a strong tournament as they compete with favourites Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Egypt for the trophy.

Cissé is a recent addition to the Guinea setup having switched his allegiance from Belgium last year, and he scored on just his second appearance for his country in a 2-0 qualifying win over Rwanda in October.

Marcelo Djalo was born in Barcelona but is eligible for Guinea-Bissau through his father, and the centre-back will be keen to make his international debut in Egypt this summer.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/may/31/africa-cup-of-nations-call-ups

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Report claims Aston Villa, Fulham and Stoke City are interested in AFC Bournemouth midfielder Harry Arte

CHERRIES midfielder Harry Arter is attracting interest from Aston Villa, Fulham and Stoke City, according to the Irish Independent.

The publication claims Republic of Ireland international Arter is involved in a "transfer tug-of-war" between the three clubs.

The report suggests while a permanent move to join brother-in-law Scott Parker at Championship side Fulham would be "attractive" for the 29-year-old, he is also interested in exploring the possibility of staying in the Premier League with a switch to Aston Villa.

According to the newspaper, the Potters have "expressed a strong interest" in Arter after his season-long loan spell with Cardiff.

The Sidcup-born talent, who joined the Dorset club from non-league Woking for £4,000 in June 2010, signed a fresh four-year deal with Cherries in July 2017 - keeping him contracted at Vitality Stadium until at least the summer of 2021.

Last month, boss Eddie Howe said talks would be held with Arter about his future.

"I'll sit down with Harry and have a conversation with him and see what we do. I think it's going to be a two-way process," said Howe.

"I think he's done a really good job for Cardiff this year, so let's wait and see."



https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/17676388.report-claims-aston-villa-fulham-and-stoke-city-are-interested-in-afc-bournemouth-midfielder-harry-arter/

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TAYLOR BELIEVES WEST HAM MUST TARGET MITROVIC

Former West Ham United midfielder Matt Taylor believes that the club should target Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic this summer.

The Serbian forward performed well for Scott Parker's side throughout last season but his efforts proved to be of no avail, as the London club suffered relegation to the Championship.

Mitrovic arrived at Fulham on a permanent deal from Newcastle United last summer, and following his drop back down to the second tier of English football, West Ham have been encouraged to ensure that he is playing Premier League football next term.

Matt Taylor, speaking exclusively to 888sport, said:

I think Mitrovic has done extremely well. Is he someone who West Ham could be in the market for? I think so. He's a striker who has proven his worth for a team that has struggled this season.
Location wise he is already based in London. Can they get him? I don't know, but the clubs will have done their work now for the past six months determining who is available and who fits into the parameters of their wage structure.
If you're looking for someone to step into the void that Andy Carroll has left, Mitrovic seems like a really good fit for me.
Manuel Pellegrini could be on the lookout to strengthen their attacking options this summer. Andy Carroll will leave the club following the expiration of his contract, while Marko Arnautovic, Lucas Perez and Javier Hernandez all struggled to convince last season.

Read the full 888sport interview with Matt Taylor and his thoughts on why the Hammers should be aiming for Europe.



https://readwestham.com/2019/05/31/taylor-believes-west-ham-must-target-mitrovic/

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Fulham play down star striker links

Fulham have played down rumours of Aleksandar Mitrovic joining Everton according to Talksport.

There is bound to be plenty of interest in the Serbian striker with the relegated Londoners desperate to retain the services of their star man.

Everton and West Ham are both said to be monitoring Mitrovic's situation with Fulham prepared to receive interest but are said to be reluctant to sell.

Although he endured a poor end to the season, Mitrovic scored an impressive 11 goals although this wasn't enough to prevent Fulham getting relegated to the Championship as they finished 10 points behind 17th placed Brighton.

Mitrovic joined Fulham from Newcastle in a £22million move but the 24 year old is said to want to play Premier League football next season hinting that he would consider a move.

Fulham manager Scott Parker reiterated the club's desire to keep their main man: "It will be vitally important really, he's a top-class centre-forward. "I know what the owners think, I know their ambition and certainly it is going to be a challenge. "He's a top-drawer centre-forward but at the same time I think that this football club will be doing everything they can to keep a player like Alek."

With Fulham looking to mount a serious challenge for promotion next season in trying to make an immediate return to the Premier League it will be imperative that they manage to keep the Serbian.

He is strong, holds the ball up well and is a main source of goals for the Cottagers and losing him would provide a huge blow for them.



https://the72.co.uk/133267/fulham-play-down-star-striker-links/

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THIS TWO-POINT TRANSFER PLAN COULD GIVE FULHAM A DIRECT ROUTE BACK TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE

It is safe to say that Fulham fans will be returning to the Championship with the bitter taste of disappointment still lingering after a shoddy Premier League effort.

The South London side arrived back in the top-flight with a crop of exciting young players with relegation looking pretty unlikely.

But relegation happened and happened rather emphatically, with Scott Parker's side relegated with more than a month remaining of the season.

Now the question will undoubtedly be: where do they go from here?

With a host of highly paid stars now on their books, Fulham face a conundrum over what to do in the summer transfer window and how best to build for another promotion push.

One player who will have attracted a lot of attention is Aleksandar Mitrovic. The Serbian became a crucial player during Slavisa Jokanovic's promotion win and continued to prove himself in the Premier League as well.

But as important as he may have been, cashing in on the highly-rated forward may just be the best move possible for Parker and co. as it would allow them to strengthen significantly elsewhere.

Having signed Mitrovic for just under £20million a year ago, it is likely that Fulham will recoup at the very least the same fee.

That money should be plowed straight back into the playing squad with a big chunk going on one player in particular: Dwight Gayle.

The Newcastle United man spent the season on loan with West Brom but with his future at St. James's Park looking uncertain, a permanent move away is very much on the cards.

The Evening Standard have already reported that Fulham have an interest in bringing in the deadly marksman if their current striking star departs – so it might be best for everyone if he does.

When it comes to the Championship, there is no more reliable a goalscorer than Dwight Gayle.

Last season saw him frequently carry the Baggies' attack, racking up 23 goals in 39 league games as well as eight assists, taking his second-tier total to 59 in 100.

Whilst Mitrovic's total of 16 in 42 is far from awful, Fulham's focus must be on making an immediate return to the Premier League.

Cashing in on the Serbian and bringing in Gayle would be an excellent place to start.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/this-two-point-transfer-plan-could-give-fulham-a-direct-route-back-to-the-premier-league/