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Thursday Fulham Stuff - 18/07/19...

Started by WhiteJC, July 18, 2019, 07:58:54 AM

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WhiteJC

Barnsley Tickets On Sale

Tickets for Fulham's season opener away to Barnsley are now on sale to Season Ticket Holders and Members.

The Whites kick-off their 2019/20 Sky Bet Championship campaign at Oakwell on Saturday 3rd August.

Tickets are priced at £28 for adults, £20 for concessions, and from £5-10 for juniors. Fans can purchase up to four tickets each, with the fixture moving to General Sale on Monday 22nd July.

Oakwell has been a happy hunting ground for the Whites in recent times, winning each of our previous Championship encounters there – including a memorable late triumph on our last visit 18 months ago.

So make sure you're in Barnsley in a few week's time, as Scott Parker's boys look to begin the season in style. Buy online, in person from the Ticket Office, or over the phone on 0203 871 0810.



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/july/17/barnsley-tickets-on-sale

WhiteJC

 Jean Michael Seri close to Fulham exit for Galatasaray
The Turkish club confirmed they are in negotiations with Fulham over a loan move with an option to buy.

Jean Michel Seri looks set for a move to Galatasaray on a loan deal after just one season at Fulham.

Sky Sports News sources were told earlier on Wednesday the two clubs were in negotiations, and Galatasaray released a statement confirming their interest in the 27-year-old midfielder.

The statement read: "Official negotiations with the footballer and Fulham FC have started for the temporary transfer of professional footballer Jean Michael Seri to our club."

Napoli, Roma and AC Milan have also been linked with the Ivory Coast international, who signed for Fulham from Nice last summer following their promotion to the Premier League.

But Seri endured a difficult season, registering just three assists and one goal in 32 Premier League appearances.

Since their relegation to the Championship, Fulham have signed Martell Taylor-Crossdale following the expiry of his Chelsea contract and brought in Wolves winger Ivan Cavaleiro on a season-long loan.

Fulham are also in talks to sign Bristol City midfielder Callum O'Dowda, Sky Sports News understands, while Aleksandar Mitrovic signed a five-year contract extension earlier in July.


Aleksandar Mitrovic has committed his future to Fulham



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/11764861/jean-michael-seri-close-to-fulham-exit-for-galatasaray

WhiteJC

Claim club have agreement to sign Fulham player, flying over for medical in coming days

According to TRT Spor, Galatasaray have an agreement to sign Fulham midfielder Jean Michael Seri on a season long loan deal.

The 27 year old is expected to arrive in Istanbul in the coming days to have a medical and then join up with the Turkish champions.

Galatasaray have been linked with a move for the Fulham man in recent weeks and they are in the market for midfielders after Fernando and Badou Ndiaye left the club this month.

A Spor also say the transfer is now likely to happen and they report Galatasaray manager Fatih Terim is happy with the possible arrival of the Fulham player.

After Fulham's relegation from the Premier League last season, Seri is expected to leave the London club. The Ivory Coast international has also been linked with a move to Italy but it seems from these latest Turkish reports it's looking likely he will be heading to Istanbul.

Previous reports from Turkey said the Super Lig club will pay a €1.5m loan fee to Fulham for Seri, although today's reports don't have any information on this.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/claim-club-agreement-sign-fulham-player-flying-medical-coming-days/


WhiteJC

Fulham looks a good fit for Callum O'Dowda but could yet be a twist in this transfer tale

Irishman could be on his way to Craven Cottage but nothing set in stone


Callum O'Dowda signs autographs at Hallen AFC

Callum O'Dowda remains in the US with Bristol City and a move elsewhere will not happen this week until the squad returns to the UK.

However, thereafter it remains to be seen if the Cottagers can match a price tag set at £8m for the Irishman.

Or whether as the end of the window draws nearer whether the Robins may have to reduce their demands with just 12 months on O'Dowda's deal and the threat of leaving for nothing in a year's time growing stronger.

Of course, City fans have been here before, holding on to attacking midfielder Luke Williams until January before accepting a cursory amount that sent the 2014-15 double-winning star to QPR.

On that occasion, the Bristol City board and owner Steve Lansdown got their hands burnt: Freeman left for much less than his value and with that in mind there will surely be some compromise on price that will see O'Dowda leave for a pretty penny - but not the huge sums bandied around already.

A fee of around £4-5m might sound more realistic and would be palatable for a side furnished with Premier League parachute payments.

And indeed Fulham and Scott Parker looks a good fit for O'Dowda. The west London side brought in a winger at the weekend - Ivan Cavaleiro - from Wolves in one piece of astute business, and have kept hold of star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.

It remains to be seen if they still want another winger - but having lost German international Andre Schurrle and Dutch winger Ryan Babel and with doubts over Ryan Sessegnon's future at the club, more wide players are needed.

Joe Bryan is already there and City and Fulham have successfully done business of later: over Bryan, Cauley Woodrow and even young Aron Davies a few years ago.

They were reports yesterday that O'Dowda's father had started following Fulham social media accounts but that appears premature.

And indeed according to our sources the Robins have not yet given up hope of retaining the talented Irishman.

According to one source close to the situation referring to the possibility of a new deal: "Don't rule it out".

However the odds are on a move taking place - and Bristol City may find the funds useful as they look to recruit quality players this summer themselves.



https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/fulham-looks-good-fit-callum-3100576

WhiteJC

Portugal – a learning experience for Parker's Fulham

By returning to the 4-3-3 formation popularised in our last successful Championship seasons, Scott Parker's Fulham already has signs of taking shape. With Bettinelli in goal, a back four of Cyrus Christie, Denis Odoi, Alfie Mawson and Joe Bryan, the return of Kevin McDonald, Stefan Johansen and Tom Cairney as a midfield trio plus Aboubakar Kamara and Neeskens Kebano either side of Aleksander Mitrovic, the shape of the team was familiar to that from Slavisa Jokanovic's promotion campaign.

Up against Champions' League quarter finalists Porto last night, Fulham were strikingly more aggressive in their wing play and that was evident from the first couple of minutes. Neeskens Kebano, lively in his cameo against Burnley last week, burst past Argentina international Renzo Saravia and sent in a teasing cross that was just over Aleksandar Mitrovic, but would have fallen beautifully had someone taken a gamble beyond him. Getting the ball out wide is obviously a key Parker mantra, as evidenced by frequent switches of play that were often orchestrated by captain Tom Cairney.

Fulham seemed to be much quicker trying to get the ball to goal than in the Jokanovic era and that ties in with trying to feed the wingers with longer balls and force the opposition defence to shuffle from one side to the next. Porto, as expected, were excellently coached and their starting eleven contained the wily Pepe in central defence and two players in Alex Telles and Danilo Pereira who are of phenomenally high quality. Understandably against opponents of such calibre, Fulham did struggle to create much of note; their best chance of the 90 was Aboubakar Kamara's eager running nicking the ball from Porto's left back with only Ivan Marcano attempting to recover and the keeper to beat, Kamara dragged his shot wide of the far post. The vigorous press from the French forward was promising to see as he returns to the Fulham fold but the finish required a little more poise – the creation of that opportunity was all him and he deserves credit for that.

Defensively, there were a few worries. Off the ball we lined up in a 4-1-4-1 but we really saw why Kevin McDonald was seldom used in the Premier League. The midfield was easy to play through and the players in the back four will take criticism for that strangely. I love Kevin McDonald as a guy, and what he has done for the club, but you can not deny his lack of any athletic ability and he just appeared sluggish for the full duration of the game. For the Porto goal, it is him who loses possession for Porto to transition quickly creating a 4-v-4 against the Fulham defence. If I gave you two guesses on which Fulham non-defender was closest to our box by the moment Otavio's bicycle kick hits the back of the net, I'd be fairly certain that wouldn't guess correctly in Aboubakar Kamara. There was a Porto attack that finished in a Shoya Nakajima shot from just outside the area where McDonald is late to the tackle and the pass is beyond him before he's dangled a leg out but Fulham's two closest players to the defence? Neeskens Kebano and Aboubakar Kamara. You can sit there and talk about how we need to sign defenders but with the midfield defending that pedestrian and easy to play through, it'd be a waste of money either way.

It may sound like I'm going over the top, for a pre-season friendly in the middle of July against Champions League opposition but we need to learn from these games, need to evaluate because this could become evident come game time. Just watch the highlights on the club website and take note of every Porto attack – look where the midfield is, what chance does a back four have when they are so vulnerable so frequently? You defend as a team, but a lot of the time it looked like we were playing a 4-0-6.

All in all, it seemed a valuable trip to Portugal. From getting the players in shape in the sun to the team building activities like 'quiz night' and 'golf night.' Scott Parker said in his post-Porto interview that they sat the squad down at the start of the trip to talk about their mindset and ambitions for the coming season and Tony Khan has been open in saying he wants automatic promotion this year. We've had a good start to the summer with the contract extensions of both Tom Cairney and Aleksandar Mitrovic plus attracting Ivan Cavaleiro to the club but there's still work to be done on and off the pitch to make the aim for promotion a reality and this Porto fixture gave us an opportunity to assess where we are, what to expect on the football pitch and what needs to improve.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2019/07/portugal-a-learning-experience-for-parkers-fulham/

WhiteJC

Tottenham Hotspur need to secure a deal for Ryan Sessegnon now

Tottenham Hotspur are set to sell Danny Rose and reportedly want to replace him with Ryan Sessegnon.

Tottenham Hotspur have absolutely no excuse if Ryan Sessegnon is not at White Hart Lane soon.

The Telegraph has reported that Danny Rose is set to be left off Tottenham's pre-season tour, in what looks like a huge decision by Mauricio Pochettino.

Rose's exit from Tottenham now looks almost inevitable, with Spurs looking to get £25 million for the left-back.

The decision has not gone down well, and it is clearly a risk for Spurs.

Rose looked to be getting back to his best towards the end of last season and, on his day, he is still a very accomplished Premier League left-back.

There is logic in Tottenham's decision though. Rose is 29, and if they can raise the fee that they want for the England international it could still be a smart move.

What Tottenham must now do is ensure that Ryan Sessegnon is snapped up.

Spurs have been chasing Sessegnon for well over a year now. They know Fulham's asking price, they have an indication that the player wants to play for Mauricio Pochettino (the Guardian), and it is clearly a transfer that the Tottenham boss wants.

With Rose heading out the door, Sessegnon could have a key role to play at Tottenham, and it is crucial that he is given time with his new teammates before the new season starts.

Spurs may have to pay slightly more to get Sessegnon now, rather than at the end of the window, but that is a small price to pay in the grand scheme of things.

Spurs need to give Sessegnon the best possible opportunity to make a success of his time at White Hart Lane if he is to be Rose's successor, and it will be crucial to give him pre-season to adapt.

It would be massively unfair on the 19-year-old, who is valued at £40 million (Sky), if Tottenham signed him at the last minute and threw him straight in their first-team.

And if Spurs are so adamant on selling Rose, then they simply have to ensure Sessegnon is a Tottenham player in the very near future.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/07/17/tottenham-hotspur-need-to-secure-a-deal-for-ryan-sessegnon-now/


WhiteJC

Braga B 1-1 Fulham U23s

Fulham Under-23s were thrown straight in to their pre-season preparations as Braga 'B' posed a stern test on the Northern coast of Portugal.

The Under-23s are also joined by the Under-18s who face a different set of tests in the coming five days, including Famalicao Under-19s later in the day.

The teams played out a 1-1 draw as Martell Taylor-Crossdale opened his scoring account in a Fulham shirt.

Braga came at the Young Fulham side with aggression and pace on the counter attack, which took some time for adjustment. The trialist in the Fulham goal making a few strong saves.

Sonny Hilton almost gave his side the lead as he cut back inside and forced a low save as Fulham dominated the shot count for large parts of the first half. Soon after the restart Braga did find the breakthrough after a knock down at the far post was diverted into the roof of the net.

A host of changes saw the tide turn in Fulham's favour with the new combination of Cameron Thompson and Taylor-Crossdale providing a new edge. Jonathon Page snuck around the back only for his header to be cleared off the line in the best chance of the second half.

The new frontman showed his instinctive edge levelling the scores late on. Hilton poked a ball into the channel for Taylor-Crossdale to fire home a first-time finish ten minutes from time. Carvalho rattled the crossbar in the dying embers in what was an impressive opening performance.

A good opening test as Fulham now face the formidable challenge of Porto Under-19s on Saturday.

Fulham: Trialist, McAvoy (Page 62'), Tricker, Murphy, Reynolds (Drameh 45'), Davis (Thompson 70'), De Havilland, Hilton, Carvalho, Santos-Clase, Abraham (Taylor-Crossdale 45').

Subs: Taylor-Crossdale, Drameh, Page, Thompson, Stahl



http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2019/july/17/braga-b-vs-fulham-u23s

WhiteJC

Fulham's wanted man closing in on Craven Cottage exit

Fulham midfielder Jean Michael Seri is reportedly close to joining Galatasaray on loan.

Napoli, Roma and AC Milan were all understood to be interested in the 27-year-old but it appears he is set to join the Turkish side.

According to Sky Sports, Fulham are on the verge of agreeing a deal, which would see the midfielder join Galatasaray on loan with an option to buy.

The 27-year-old was a hotly-anticipated signing when he arrived at Craven Cottage last summer but had an underwhelming debut season at the club, scoring only once and providing just three assists in 32 appearances.

Seri was one of the 12 signings made by Fulham in their £100 million spending spree following promotion to the Premier League last summer but looks set to leave after their immediate relegation from the top flight.

The London club have been quiet in the transfer window, with Ivan Cavaleiro's arrival from Wolverhampton Wanderers the only signing made so far.

However, the Lilywhites have signed striker Aleksander Mitrovic to a new five-year contract and keeping him will be a huge boost ahead of their return to the Championship.

Fulham will be hoping to challenge for promotion in their first full season under Scott Parker and begin their Championship campaign against Barnsley on 3rd August.

The Verdict

Following a disappointing season at Craven Cottage, and on the back of Fulham's return to the Championship, Seri always seemed likely to leave the club this summer.

The midfielder is a talented player who was previously close to joining to Barcelona and it is unfortunate he was unable to find his feet at the London club.

It appears Fulham won't receive a full fee for Seri this summer but getting his contract, reported by Sportrac to be £65,000 per week, off the books could clear some space for additions.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulhams-wanted-man-closing-in-on-craven-cottage-exit/

WhiteJC

5 Thoughts: FC Porto 1-0 Fulham

Pre-season losses against Cambridge United and Burnley aside, Scott Parker's men have spent the last week-and-a-half or so sunning it up in Albufeira, Portugal, in preparation for their eagerly-awaited clash with Liga Nos superpower FC Porto.


Sure, the Whites fell to a 1-0 defeat against the Clarets in the Algarve, but this is the game that everyone had their eyes fixed upon. A strong line-up was fielded a few forgotten faces in the mix, and though it wasn't a barnstorming showing by any means, the positives equally stacked up alongside the negatives.

Fulham limited Porto to a solitary strike and could have landed substantial blows of their own. Sérgio Conceição set-up – a Champions League mainstay, lest we forget – is bejewelled with brow-raising talents and starlets that are destined to grace the elite stage of the modern game. Although Scotty P's reassembled collective, jabbed to the final whistle, were jaded, outwitted, but most importantly, resolute. They have European competitions to endure, we have away days in Huddersfield. Bring it on!

Believe in Betts

Marcus Bettinelli, during our successful promotion campaign in the Championship, was an unsung hero and his services between the sticks will be vital to Parker's camp next season. Believe in Betts and we will conquer yet again.

Cast out of the Whites' Premier League starting XI by Sergio Rico in the 2018-19 season, Betts returned to the first-team proper against FC Porto, and until he was replaced by Marek Rodak in the 67th minute, the 27-year-old stopper conducted himself tremendously.

Charging off his line to thwart danger, lobbing himself head first into flailing boots, plummeting to the deck to deflect venomous goal-bound efforts, Bettinelli commanded his 18-yard box supremely. Otavio's acrobatic strike will not taint his outing, but we'll dissect that pivotal moment later. Without question, England's 4th-choice 'keeper is our No.1 heading into the imminent schedule.

Keep Grafting, Kebano

By all accounts, Fulham's warm weather training camp in Albufeira has shunted the entire camp to their limits, and it was noticeable that the majority were suffering as a result of Parker's rigorous regime. Not Neeskens Kebano, though.

Defiant and intent, the versatile attacker roamed the left flank with a vitalised spring in his step. Initiating combinations between Aleksandar Mitrovic and Tom Cairney amongst others, Kebano proved to be a sharp distributor in possession, and once the 27-year-old committed his man after shimmying into advantageous quadrants, he flashed inviting balls into the penalty area. Simplistic channel play it its finest.

Following last season's vapid exploits along the touchlines, how refreshing was it to witness a vastly skilled professional actually express himself? On the pitch, ideally, but once half-time arose, the flamboyant DR Congo international got involved with Fulham's travelling faithful, amplifying his regard as an endeared fan favourite with jocular crowd surfing shenanigans. Top form, lads!

Frail, Flaky Foundations

We're not expecting miracles, but Tuesday night's defeat proved that our defensive line is still shakier than a whippet in heavy snowfall. Remaining composed whilst straining to deny Portugal's most potent outfit takes a hefty amount of steel and determination, but our vulnerabilities outweighed our resolve far too regularly.

As the ball cannoned across the span of our back four, Denis Odoi, Alfie Mawson and co. couldn't competently harness possession in their favour, with innocuous phases being swiped at in a frantic manner. Unable to hold an effective shape, Azuis e Brancos carved through systematically and our rearguard was consistently caught on its heels.

We did tighten up somewhat after the interval, but before the break in particular, the hangover of last season's dismal defensive discipline lingered. Mawson's destined to be our leader at the back, although herding an erratic gaggle of cats is a thankless task, so over the coming weeks before Championship football rocks up, Stuart Gray and his coaching staff will have to consult the basics once more, if they're to relinquish Fulham's permeable tendencies.

Kamara's Eventful Return

Returning from exile having terrorised bewildered defences in the Turkish Super Lig for Yeni Malatyaspor, Aboubakar Kamara's hour-long inclusion comprised peril, abnormal instances of brute strength and, customarily, squandered chances in front of the target. Ah, yes, the wayward prince is home at last.

Shoya Nakajima will need therapy after his mismatched meetings with AK47. The pint-sized Japan international carried possession marvellously until the Whites' bamboozling Frenchman pounded him into the turf like a tent peg at Glastonbury. Each time AK breached Nakajima's proximity, GBH charges were being drafted. Kind of like egging on the bonehead at school to slam dunk the year 7 dweeb into the industrial bins behind the canteen, no?

Moments after the break, Kamara was presented with a prime opportunity to restore parity. Galloping into a fatal position, the 24-year-old striker steadied himself, nominated a corner, and snatched at the ball in a typically haphazard manner. With the goal at his mercy, he'd dragged it wide and the Whites' most clear-cut opportunity was duly wasted. Oh, how we've missed you, Kamara.

Cavaleiro, Future Hero?

Introduced to life in a Fulham jersey at half-time for Kebano, Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Ivan Cavaleiro lit up proceedings with surging escapades, intelligent sequences and flashes of unparalleled superiority. As if we didn't already know it, Cav' is a tireless live wire.

Nuno Esperito Santo's bred a tenacious warrior in the 25-year-old and we'll certainly reap the beneficial rewards of his revered programme at Molineux. Based in SW6 for the year, in a system that's desperate to return to the Premier League, Cavaleiro will shine on a weekly basis.

Cavaleiro, ultimately, will offer the Whites a driven dimension in wider reaches, an assertive impulse that'll blast fullbacks into oblivion. We've all seen first-hand what the Portuguese winger's capable of, but with a new lease of life down by the river, he could take the Championship by storm, and there's nothing I, you or Steve in Barnsley can do about that, other than gaze on in awe.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2019-07-17-5-thoughts-fc-porto-1-0-fulham/


WhiteJC

Fulham could be made to wait on midfielder transfer



No decision will be made on the future of Bristol City midfielder Callum O'Dowda until the club return to the UK from their pre-season tour next week, with the Robins still not ruling out keeping the Irishman at Ashton Gate, The Bristol Post have reported.

O'Dowda is entering the final year of his contract at Bristol City, and with no sign of a new deal to extend his stay at Ashton Gate on the horizon, the midfielder has recently been linked with a departure from the club.

It has been reported by Sky Sports' Transfer Centre (15/07, 18:46)  that Fulham are interested in a move for the 24-year-old, who is reportedly valued at £8million by the Robins.

Any move, however, will have to wait for now, as O'Dowda is currently part of the Bristol City on pre-season tour in the USA, and played a part in the Robins' 2-1 friendly defeat to Championship rivals Derby on Sunday.

It is also possible that the transfer may not happen at all, with the club apparently refusing to rule out the possibility of a new contract for O'Dowda as they look to secure on of their prised assets.

Since joining Bristol City from Oxford in the summer of 2016, O'Dowda has made a total of 102 appearances and scored seven goals in all competitions for the Robins.

The Verdict

This is an interesting one.

You feel that Fulham, with their parachute payments and money received from their time in the Premier League, should be able to afford a move for O'Dowda if they wish to make one.

It also seems as though the midfielder could be tempted to make the move to Craven Cottage, with a new deal at Ashton Gate seemingly unlikely and Fulham's potential to battle for promotion to the Premier League, making them an attractive option for the Irishman.

However, with no decision set to be made for some time yet, you wonder if Fulham may instead decide to pursue other targets, in order to get their business done sooner and give them as much time as possible to prepare for the coming campaign.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-could-be-made-to-wait-on-midfielder-transfer/

WhiteJC

Financial details on Fulham outgoing transfer reported, and stock market informed of move

Galatasaray's new signing Jean Michael Seri is expected to arrive in Istanbul on Friday morning, and from there he'll undergo a medical and complete his move.

According to A Spor, Galatasaray will pay €2m to Fulham for a season-long loan deal and Seri will earn €2.5m during his stay in Turkey.

The Turkish giants have moved quickly to snap the player up, initially being enthused by his desire to leave London after Fulham's relegation to the Championship.

Hurriyet's Galatasaray reporter Ali Naci Kucuk stated Seri told Fulham he wants to play in the Champions League with Galatasaray, and the English club have done their bit to let the transfer happen.

The Turkish giants have also informed the stock market KAP about the Seri's impending transfer as they confirmed they're in talks with Fulham and the player with regards to a temporary move. This is common practice for Galatasaray shortly before a move is completed.

Now Seri has his Istanbul airport welcome to look forward to.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/financial-details-fulham-outgoing-transfer-reported-stock-market-informed-move/

WhiteJC

'The missing piece in the jigsaw' – Fulham eyeing move for four-goal winger: Six Pointer

Fulham have registered their interest in Bristol City winger, Callum O'Dowda according to Sky Sports' Transfer Centre (15th July, 18:46).

The Robins are said to be wanting a fee in the region of £8m for the Irishman though, and it remains to be seen as to whether Scott Parker's side are willing to match their valuation.

In our latest FLW Six Pointer, we look into Fulham's rumoured interest in O'Dowda in more detail.

Firstly, how did O'Dowda perform for Bristol City last season?

"The winger made 20 league starts for Lee Johnson's side last season, but struggled with injuries at times, which will have been frustrating for the 24-year-old.

"He scored four goals and provided his team-mates with four assists, so it's clear to see that he has got something about him, although he'll be keen to find some consistency if he is to move away from Ashton Gate.

"He's not signed a new deal with the Robins, so it seems as though he's got his eye on a move elsewhere which has heightened Fulham's interest in signing him."

Would he be a good signing for Fulham?

"I think this is exactly the type of player that Fulham should be trying to sign before the new season gets underway in August.

"O'Dowda has shown his quality with Bristol City in recent years, and I think he'd fit perfectly into their team, with his direct style of play.

"He's capped at international level as well, which shows that he's highly-rated on the international stage as well, and he'll be hoping further his career with a move to a better placed team than Bristol City in my opinion."

Would O'Dowda be a regular starter for Scott Parker's side?

"If Ryan Sessegnon was to eventually leave for Tottenham, then O'Dowda would be a certain starter.

"Fulham need a player that is going to cause opposition defences problems throughout the season next term, and O'Dowda is a player that would definitely be able to do that.

"The Lilywhites have already signed Ivan Cavaliero on loan for the season, and if they had O'Dowda on the other wing, then they would be a real threat going forward."

Can you see the winger forcing a move to Craven Cottage anytime soon?

"I think it's only a matter of time before he hands in a transfer request.

"He's already rejected three contract offers from Bristol City, and he continues to be linked with a summer exit from Lee Johnson's side.

"O'Dowda is a class above at Bristol City, and is destined for bigger and better things in the future, and that could be with Fulham.

"Scott Parker's side have a real chance of winning promotion straight back into the Premier League next season, and if they signed O'Dowda then it could prove to be the missing piece in the jigsaw."

Is O'Dowda worth the fee being quoted?

"In today's market, he's probably worth that.

"O'Dowda has proven himself to be a useful player to have at this level, and I think Fulham would be getting a player with real quality going forward.

"You have to pay for quality to get into the Premier League, and Fulham will have the funds available to them to sign a player of his calibre.

"It's worth it in the long-term in my opinion."

How should Fulham fans feel about their rumoured interest in the Irishman?

"They'll be hoping this recent report is true.

"O'Dowda is proven in the Championship, and could arguably be playing in the Premier League in the near future in my opinion.

"Fulham need players that know how to perform to the standard of the Championship, and O'Dowda fits that criteria, and they could certainly benefit from having a player of his quality in their side next season."



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/the-missing-piece-in-the-jigsaw-fulham-eyeing-move-for-four-goal-winger-six-pointer/


WhiteJC

Arsenal Are Interested In This Fulham Midfield Ace: A Better Option Than Ceballos For Emery?

According to Calciomercato, Arsenal are among the clubs interested in the services of Jean Michael Seri. The Fulham midfielder has attracted a lot of attention in the transfer market following his side's relegation last season. Galatasaray and AC Milan are also keen on signing the Ivorian. The report further claims that Seri is valued at around €25 million by Fulham.

Seri's mixed season at Fulham

After joining Fulham in a €30 million move from OGC Nice last summer, Seri has had quite an eventful debut campaign in the Premier League. He was a prominent figure in the centre of the pitch, making 32 league appearances, scoring one goal and providing three assists.

From an individual perspective, Seri was quite good in instigating his side's transition and possession play. But, it was a case of lack of collective effort and support from the team that led to Fulham's relegation at the end.

The Ivorian, did, however, struggle to find proper game-time under Scott Parker during the final phase of the campaign. And it's unlikely Seri will have any future at the club with Parker set to remain as the Fulham boss next season.

What can the midfielder bring to the table?

One of the biggest assets Seri has in his locker is his excellent passing range. The 27-year-old is capable of rotating possession at a quick rate. He notably averaged a remarkable pass completion rate of 87% last season.

A central midfielder by trade, he isn't afraid of making driving runs into the final third and thread in useful passes in and around the penalty area.

The Ivorian was, in fact, the most creative player for Fulham last season, delivering 57 key passes in just 32 matches. Aside from that, Seri is known for his versatility as he can also feature as a holding midfielder. And this makes it particularly easy for managers to accomodate him in their midfield units.

Stat courtesy: Whoscored

Should Arsenal make a move for Seri?

Unpopular as it may be, Arsenal should actually consider Seri over Dani Ceballos this summer. The Real Madrid star is regarded as one of Unai Emery's top targets this summer. But, the fact that he struggled at Madrid during his two-year spell at Bernabeu coupled with his lack of experience in the Premier League raises doubts as to whether or not he will be a success at Emirates.

Seri, to that end, has already enjoyed a relatively pleasant season on a personal level. The ex-Nice midfielder is a versatile operator in the middle of the park. And he can provide the technical spark in midfield that could tune in well with Emery's high-octane style of play at Arsenal. Hence, the Gunners should definitely explore the possibility of signing Seri this summer.



https://the4thofficial.net/2019/07/arsenal-are-interested-in-this-fulham-midfield-ace-a-better-option-than-ceballos-for-emery/

WhiteJC

Fulham signing this Championship star for £8m would certainly help them jump back into the PL

Fulham opinion: The Cottagers should snap up Callum O'Dowda

According to a report in the Bristol Post, Fulham are looking to sign Bristol City winger Callum O'Dowda for a fee of £8m to help the West London club get promoted back into the Premier League.

O'Dowda only has another year left on his contract. The report suggests that Leeds United and Nottingham Forest have also shown interest in his signature but are unlikely to continue their interest after the sacking of Martin O'Neil from Forest and the signing of Helder Costa for Leeds.

The 24-year-old is a Republic of Ireland international and made 35 appearances for Bristol City last season. He scored 5 goals and 5 assists in what was a fascinating campaign that saw them very close to finishing in the play-off spots but saw them missing out by 4 points.

Fulham have already shown some of their intentions after signing Aleksandar Mitrovic to a long-term deal and purchasing the likes of Ivan Cavaleiro from Wolves and Martell Taylor-Crossdale in recent days.

Fulham suffered last season in the Premier League despite some heavy investment but they'll have to make intelligent signings as they had to find out the hard way, last season.

It didn't help that there was a lot of managerial turnovers last season, with each manager having a very different style and system.

Slavisa Jokanovic preferred a more attractive brand of football, whereas his short-term successor Claudio Ranieri wanted a more pragmatic style. Neither of which worked for the players.

Fulham found some redemption towards the end of the season with a decent run under Scott Parker, who will be leading them next season.

O'Dowda can play on both flanks but is more deadly on the left cause his crossing ability. He's predominantly left-footed and would work very well alongside Aleksandar Mitrovic, as the Serbian is one of the best strikers in the Championship when it comes to winning attacking aerial duels.

Conclusion

This would also take the pressure off of young Ryan Sessegnon without affecting his game as the young Englishman is capable of playing in various positions.

There's also the possibility that Sessegnon might leave Fulham with other clubs interested in his signature. O'Dowda would be an astute signing.



https://soccersouls.com/fulham-signing-this-championship-star-for-8m-would-certainly-help-them-jump-back-into-the-pl/

WhiteJC

Report: Tottenham's move for Ryan Sessegnon held up by swap demands

Fulham reportedly want a Tottenham player in exchange for Ryan Sessegnon.

According to the London Evening Standard, Tottenham Hotspur's move for Fulham ace Ryan Sessegnon is being held up by demands for a player to be included in the deal.

Spurs have left Danny Rose out of their pre-season squad in order for him to find a new club, and his expected exit will free up a space for a new left-sided player to arrive.

The favourite to arrive would be Fulham ace Sessegnon, especially after their relegation back to the Championship, but a deal for Spurs to sign him has allegedly stalled.

It's claimed that Tottenham's move is being held up, because Fulham are insisting that a Tottenham player heads in the opposite direction.

No names have been mentioned, but midfielder Josh Onomah would make sense, given that he appears to be way down the pecking order under Mauricio Pochettino.

Marcus Edwards would also make some sense, whilst loan moves for Tashan Oakley-Boothe or Cameron Carter-Vickers could be of interest to Fulham too.

As for Sessegnon, he will understandably want a move back to the top flight. He didn't exactly set the Premier League alight last season, but if it's the Championship with Fulham or the Champions League with Spurs, the latter should be more appealing.

With just a year left on his deal, Spurs are in a strong enough position to sign the teenager as it is, without a player being included. Swap deals are notoriously difficult, hence the Sessegnon move being held up, but it may allow Spurs to bring the asking price down – and spent key funds elsewhere.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/07/17/report-tottenhams-move-for-ryan-sessegnon-held-up-by-swap-demand/


WhiteJC

Jean Michael Seri set to join Galatasaray in £1.3m loan deal just 12 months after joining Fulham for club record £25m

    Seri arrived at Craven Cottage in a deal reported to be worth a club-record £25m
    The midfielder failed to shine as Fulham were relegated from the Premier League
    Turkish champions Galatasaray confirmed they had held discussions over deal

Fulham midfielder Jean Michael Seri is poised to join Galatasaray on loan for an initial £1.3m with an option to make the deal permanent.

The Turkish club hope to finalise the signing on Friday.

Seri arrived at Craven Cottage in a deal reported to be worth a club-record £25million last summer but failed to live up to his billing as the club were relegated after only one season in the Premier League.


Fulham's Ivory Coast midfielder Jean Michael Seri (above) is poised to join Galatasaray on loan

The Ivory Coast international made 34 appearances for Fulham over the course of the campaign, having previously caught the eye of some of Europe's biggest clubs during three years with Nice in Ligue 1.

However, he appears unlikely to turn out for Fulham in the Sky Bet Championship after Turkish champions confirmed they had held discussions with the London club and Seri himself.

'Official negotiations with the footballer and Fulham FC have started for the temporary transfer of professional footballer Jean Michael Seri to our club,' read a statement.

Ryan Babel has already moved to Galatasaray following the expiry of his Fulham contract.


Seri failed to shine as Fulham were relegated after only one season in the Premier League



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7258451/Fulham-news-Jean-Michael-Seri-set-join-Galatasaray-1-3m-loan-deal.html

WhiteJC

'He would be an excellent signing' – Fulham hoping to secure deal for 24-y/o midfielder: The Verdict

This article is part of Football League World's 'The Verdict' series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Fulham are interested in signing Bristol City's Callum O'Dowda, with the midfielder entering the final year of his contract at Ashton Gate.

Despite that, Sky Sports are reporting that the Robins are holding out for an £8m fee for the Irish international, who played a key role for Lee Johnson's side last season.

O'Dowda scored five goals and registered the same number of assists as Bristol City just failed to make the play-offs.

However, the report states that the Cottagers are unlikely to pay the initial demands of their Championship rivals, although they will hope a deal can be negotiated in the coming weeks.

So, would O'Dowda be a good signing for Fulham if they could come to an agreement?

Our writers take a look...

George Harbey

"I think he would be an excellent signing for Fulham, given that he is arguably one of the best wide players in the division at present.

"O'Dowda was very good for Bristol City last season, and even though he probably didn't record as many goals and assists as he would have liked, he was still a nightmare for the opposition.

"He's quick, strong and direct, and he has end product which would be beneficial for Aleksandar Mitrovic up top.

"Cavaleiro on one flank and O'Dowda on the other could be one of the most exciting partnerships in the Championship next season."

Toby Wilding

"I can see this being a good signing for Fulham.

"O'Dowda has plenty of experience in the Championship, and has consistently impressed at this level, so he should be able to easily make an impact at Craven Cottage next season.

"He is a player who is capable of making things happen, and with speculation surrounding a number of Fulham's high profile midfield signings from last summer – Jean Michael Seri being the most prevalent – it is a position where the club may need to strengthen between now and the start of the campaign.

"With O'Dowda's contract at Bristol City set to expire next season and no real sign of an extension to that coming, Bristol City may be open to letting the Irishman go this summer in order to avoid losing him for nothing in 12 months time, so this is a deal that Fulham may well be confident about pulling off."

Chris Gallagher

"This would be a very smart signing.

"O'Dowda is someone who has proven himself in the Championship over the years and has a good energy to his game that the Fulham side could benefit from.

"As well as that, he can play in various midfield positions and that versatility can be crucial over the course of what is a long, tough season.

"The Ireland international is only 24-years-old too, so he can be viewed as a long-term investment and he has the potential to improve and he could end up doing well in the Premier League. Given all that, he would be a good addition to Scott Parker's side and could be vital as they look to push for promotion if a deal can be agreed."



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/he-would-be-an-excellent-signing-fulham-hoping-to-secure-deal-for-24-y-o-midfielder-the-verdict/

WhiteJC

Revealed: Tottenham now confident of signing player for £25m next week

Tottenham are confident of signing Ryan Sessegnon from Fulham for a fee of around £25million next week, Football Insider understands.

The Londoners have made progress with their summer-long pursuit of the Cottagers left-winger in recent days as they look the finalise the transfer.

A source with knowledge of Tottenham recruitment has told Football Insider the club are now very hopeful of reaching an agreement with Fulham after extensive talks over the structure of the deal.

The north Londoners are expected to pay around £25million for Sessegnon, although there have been discussions about the possibility of Sessegnon's twin brother Steven being part of a double deal.

The less famed of the 19-year-old twins is a right-back, and could also make the move following the transfer last night of Kieran Trippier to Atletico Madrid.

With Danny Rose also set to be sold by Tottenham in the final three weeks of the window – Football Insider revealed last night that Juventus are lining up a move for him – there could soon be two wide player slots available in Mauricio Pochettino's squad.

Fulham accept they are set to to lose Ryan Sessegnon, who has snubbed their offer of a new contract and has made up his mind to join Tottenham.

He has already accumulated 120 first-team appearances since breaking into the Fulham first team aged 16, and his current deal expires next summer.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/revealed-tottenham-now-confident-of-signing-player-for-25m-next-week/


WhiteJC

Parker's First Signing Of The Summer Offers Hope For A Successful Championship Season For Fulham

With the new season only a matter of weeks away and with Fulham looking to make an instant return to the Premier League after being relegated back in May, the club have announced a signing, the first of Scott Parker's reign as the boss of our fine club.

The BBC, are reporting that Fulham have raided Wolverhampton Wanderers for the Portuguese winger Ivan Cavaleiro.

Initially, the deal is a season-long loan deal for the player with, if things work out smoothly, the club having an option to buy Cavaleiro at the end of the season.

Cavaleiro has experience of a Championship winning campaign having assisted Wolves to the title back in 2018.

Naturally, the winger has uttered all the right words, as reported by the BBC, following his loan deal, remarking:

    "This is a big and respected club in England and through the rest of the world. Fulham has been involved in a European final, so it holds great pedigree.

    "This is a good opportunity for me to grow as a player as well so I'm very happy to be here and I'm excited to be meeting everyone today."


With Aleksandar Mitrovic having agreed to remain at Craven Cottage and having put pen-to-paper on a new deal, sat here in the Vital Fulham editorial chair, I'm hoping that Cavaleiro can provide the pace in attack the departure of Ryan Babel has deprived us of whilst also proving to be the perfect foil for our Serbian striker.

Here's hoping Scott Parker's first signing makes the desired impression and can help Fulham get their season off to a flying start.



https://fulham.vitalfootball.co.uk/parkers-first-signing-of-the-summer-offers-hope-for-a-successful-championship-season-for-fulham/