Will Fulham make Anthony Knockhaert's move from Brighton Permanent?

[Friendsoffulham]

Anthony Knockaert says it was tough leaving Albion fans

Anthony Knockaert has revealed he found it tough adapting to life away from his adoring Albion public.

The on-loan French winger says his season on loan to Fulham has so far been "mixed".

And he reckons getting used to life away from the Seagulls, where he was the "darling" of the fans, might be the reason.

Fulham are third in the Championship with the season on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Knockaert joined the Cottagers on loan last summer and will almost certainly convert that into a permanent deal.

He believes that could yet be on the Premier League stage on which he shone occasionally - but arguably not often enough – with Albion.

But he is very honest when discussing what he has added to Fulham so far.

The winger said: "If I am honest with myself, personally I have had quite a mixed season.

"Was it down to the adaptation to the club?

"It has been a big change because I came from Brighton, where I was a little bit the darling of the supporters.

"I had always been loved from the first day there.

"I had some extraordinary times in that town and with that club.

"For me, that was the club where I have enjoyed the best moments of my life up to now.

"It was hard for me to realise I was leaving Brighton and arriving in a new environment.

"I'll be honest, I've not had the best season of my career.

"But I have brought what I can because, you know me well, I am someone who never cheats on the pitch.

"In terms of desire and determination, I have always brought my best.

"In terms of stats and performances, it has not been the best season I have had."

Knockaert now lives in Wimbledon and made the short trips to support both Albion's under-21s when they visited the Dons and the seniors when they were at Chelsea.

He has started 24 league games for Fulham and come off the bench in a further nine, scoring three goals and adding four assists.

The 28-year-old Frenchman told beIN Sports in France: "Collectively we have had a quite an average season given the squad we have.

"When the season was ended (for now), for me we should have been top with the squad we have.

"When you look at the players, on paper it's mind-blowing but we have been really inconsistent.

"If I could give you a word for our season, it would be 'inconsistent'.

"There have been periods when we have won three matches in a row and then, boom! We lose three.

"It has been full of highs and lows but we are still there.

"We are third and there are nine matches left.

"We are six points off second and we still have got to go to Leeds and West Brom.

"They are big matches and we are in the race.

"We would rather play matches like that - and play them away from home. They will have the pressure on them to get a result and we were already prepared to go into the play-offs."

https://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/18444345.anthony-knockaert-says-tough-leaving-albion-fans/?ref=twtrec

[filham]

Friends who are Brighton fans saying there are strong rumours we are about to make the signing of AK permanent for £15 million.

I bet the Brighton fans are hoping that rumour spreads to the Fulham boardroom. Who is going to tell them it will be blocked by us fans who think the price is ridiculous.

[Southcoastffc]

The title of the thread is "Will Fulham....." not "Should Fulham ....."  We will. The loan deal was structured accordingly and we tried to finalise it in the last window but Brighton declined to play ball.

I'm a bit confused because you've said up the thread that it's a "done deal", but then you've said here that we tried to finalise it in January. If it hasn't been finalised, how is it a done deal?

The arrangement is for an end of season acquisition, we tried to bring it forward.

[@jolslover]

About 90% sure we will sign Knockaert permanent - would I based on what we've seen probably not but I do think we've not seen the best off him

[ByTheRiver]

I'm a little on the fence with this one. Based purely on performances this season and price, I would pass. However, I do think he has a lot more in him and could be a very useful guaranteed starter on form (and step up to Prem if/when we go up). I also think that the lack of form is not down to a lack of effort or wanting to do well.

I suppose it depends on two things:

1.The terms of the original deal. I get the feeling like most that it has already been agreed that it was a loan to buy. It was simply shifting the outlay until the end of the season when we had hopefully been promoted and whether the purchase was dependent on promotion or whether it was agreed to take place at a set date regardless.

2. How much (if any) money is left for other transfers in areas that need strengthening.

One thing I liked was in that recent interview where he feels we have massively underacheived with the squad we have and should be top. 'blows his mind, looking at the team'. I wonder if a lot of the incomings were sold on that sort of dialogue and this season was kind of 'come in, waltz your way to the title, get yourself a medal, be in the Prem next year'. Maybe..

[Jims Dentist]

Friends who are Brighton fans saying there are strong rumours we are about to make the signing of AK permanent for £15 million.

Hopefully just speculation.
We paid over the odds for Cav( also allegedly £15m)
If we go ahead with the deal muted above it would be suicidal from a team and  FFP perpective.
Knocky has been largely ineffective this season and doesn't now make our first eleven too often.
Heads should roll if this deal happens.