Monday Fulham Stuff - 24/08/20...

[WhiteJC]

Fulham join the race to sign QPR attacker Eberechi Eze

According to Sky Sports News, Fulham have joined a long list of Premier League clubs in the race to sign Queens Park Rangers attacker Eberechi Eze.

The 22-year-old enjoyed an impressive 2019/2020 season with the Hoops in the Championship where he registered 14 goals and eight assists from 46 appearances.

His progress has attracted interest from the likes of Newcastle United, West Ham United, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace, and the Cottagers have now entered the race.

Earlier this month, Palace saw their £12m bid rejected for the versatile attacker and the Hoops are understood to demand at least £20m to consider his sale.

So far, no club has been willing to match the asking price, but it is reported that Steve Parker's side are the most likely team to meet the valuation for the forward.

The Cottagers spent more than £100m during their previous stint in the Premier League where they brought in a number of high-profile players from foreign leagues.

However, that failed to work out for them as there was a lack of cohesion in the lineup and they were relegated to the Championship without much of a fight.

The emphasis this time around remains on keeping the core of the promoted squad together and the focus could lie on the purchase of domestic players.

Antonee Robinson has already been a quality addition to the squad and Eze could be another shrewd signing for the Cottagers ahead of the new season.

The forward has impressive dribbling ability and his workrate and goalscoring contributions will certainly boost the club's prospects of staying clear of the relegation battle.

Of course, he will face a stiffer test with the upgrade to Premier League football, but should improve the creativity in the team, which was heavily reliant on Aleksandar Mitrovic for goals last term.

The Serbian netted 26 times for the Cottagers in the Championship last season and no other player reached double figures. Captain Tom Cairney was the second highest scorer with just eight goals.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com



https://sportslens.com/fulham-join-the-race-to-sign-qpr-attacker-eberechi-eze/309265/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham preparing £15m offer for QPR attacker as Rs consider potential cash plus player exchange

Newly promoted Fulham are readying a £15 million offer for Queens Park Rangers attacker Eberechi Eze, with the Rs open to a move and potentially wanting one or two players from the Premier League club as part of any deal, according to The Sun.

Eze has been subject of heavy interest already during the transfer window, with the 22-year-old having enjoyed an impressive campaign with QPR in the Championship last term contributing an impressive tally of 14 goals and eight assists for Mark Warburton's side.

Fulham will be in need of adding to their squad following their promotion to the Premier League, with Scott Parker having already managed to bring in Antonee Robinson from Wigan Athletic – and Eze could be exactly the sort of player needed to help boost their chances of surviving in the top-flight.

It is thought that Fulham's board are ready to back Parker with the funds needed to get Eze from QPR, with a £15 million bid being prepared – and the Rs would be willing to sell the 22-year-old for the right price, while they could be further tempted into allowing him to leave were one or two players included in any deal.

The verdict

It seems almost inevitable at this stage that Eze will leave QPR at some point during the course of the transfer window, but understandably the Rs are wanting to hold out for the best possible price for the attacker who is amongst the brightest prospects in the Championship.

A bid of £15 million seems to be a reasonable starting point by Fulham, but you would imagine that QPR will likely want to push that price higher and there are advantages for them with other clubs also in the race to sign him.

Eze would of course be almost impossible for QPR to replace this summer, and so were they to manage to get one or two quality players from Fulham as part of any deal it could prove to be a very wise move for Warburton's side, who would also then be able to invest some of the cash on further additions also.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-preparing-15m-offer-for-qpr-attacker-as-rs-consider-potential-cash-plus-player-exchange/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham and QPR £5m apart in valuation of 14-goal starlet with bid said near

QPR's attacking midfielder is definitely a wanted man. Not only are Leeds United and Spurs said to hold a degree of interest in him, now Fulham are said to be waiting in the wings and preparing to battle fellow Londoners Crystal Palace to land the exciting 22-year-old according to Alan Nixon writing in The Sun.

Eze started out in football as a youth player at Arsenal, leaving them in a free transfer in 2011 for a three-year stint at Fulham and their youth set-up. From there it was a January 2014 move to Reading, a July 2014 move to Millwall's Under-18s following that. He finally came to QPR and their Under-23s via an August 2016 free deal from the Lions.

The two-cap England Under-21 international has blossomed at Loftus Road. Since making his breakthrough into the first-team set-up, Eze has gone on to make 112 appearances for QPR, scoring 20 goals and creating 13 assists. It is this season that has made interested suitors sit up and take interest.

Now THe Sun's Nixon writes that QPR have a fight on their hands to keep a hold on to their talented 22-year-old. After a season where the youngster has impressed with 14 goals and 8 assists in an ever-present 46-game Championship campaign, it isn't hard to see why.

Nixon writes that the Cottagers boss Scott Parker "is ready to bid £15 million" for the exciting talents of Eze, Fulham bouncing back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. That offer will trump the £12m offered by Crystal Palace – an offer that was turned down by QPR.

If Fulham do offer the reported £15m, that is a bid that sets them £5m shy of the £20m valuation that QPR have placed on Eze's head – a figure that has kept the likes of Leeds United, West Ham and Spurs at bay.



https://the72.co.uk/188136/fulham-and-qpr-5m-apart-in-valuation-of-14-goal-starlet-with-bid-said-near/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham have made 'formal offer' for player – Loan deal plus compulsory purchase proposed

Fulham have made an official bid for Benfica youngster Florentino Luis, but the Portuguese club's demands could hold up any deal.

Record report that the Cottagers, who are looking to bolster their squad this summer after securing promotion to the Premier League, are keen on the 21-year-old.

They have made a 'formal offer' for him, proposing a loan with a 'compulsory purchase' option included at the end of it because they 'believe in his potential'.

That has been signified by Fulham coach Scott Parker travelling to Lisbon to 'help with the charm operation' having made it clear the midfielder is one of their priorities for next season.

Their will to get a deal done might not be enough, though, because Benfica are only willing to negotiate a deal at €40m as their intention is to make the player difficult to sign.

They've already seen a bid from AC Milan, who offered €3m for a loan with a compulsory purchase clause of €30m, but those negotiations have not progressed.

New Benfica boss Jorge Jesus has already told the 20-year-old he plans to use him next season but the player wants to move and his agent, Bruno Carvalho, is working on an exit.

Indeed, the player is 'looking forward' to moving and would welcome a switch to the Premier League, although it's not clear if he feels the same about the prospect of playing for Fulham.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-formal-proposal-benfica-florentino-luis-transfer/

[WhiteJC]

2 pros and 2 cons to QPR sealing defender in Ebere Eze to Fulham deal

Queens Park Rangers are said to be considering a player-plus-cash deal with Fulham for Ebere Eze, with Alfie Mawson heading the other way.

Any and every club has been linked with the QPR this pre-season. From Crystal Palace to West Ham, to Leeds United and more. But Fulham have emerged as surprise candidates to land the 22-year-old.

It comes after Scott Parker steered Fulham to a second play-off victory in just three years, beating Brentford at Wembley. Now as they look to avoid an immediate relegation, they're hoping to land Eze in a £15 million deal.

Part of that deal could see Mawson go the other way. It's expected that Mawson would only be going on-loan to QPR – although the permanent transfer isn't being ruled out.

Here's two pros, and two cons of QPR securing Mawson as part of the Eze deal:

Pro: Potential for permanent deal
Mawson came under some scrutiny from Fulham fans last season. In the first-half of the campaign he was a first-choice at the back but in the second, he lost his place to Michael Hector.

Hector's arrival saw Mawson – who also struggled with injury after New Year – relegated to the bench. After the January FA Cup win over Aston Villa, Mawson would only play a further two minutes of football for Fulham.

Parker then could be willing to 'give' Mawson to QPR, as part of the impending deal for Eze. Rumours suggest that Mawson's wage expectations would exceed that of QPR's allowance but with Mark Warburton desperate for a defensive addition, he could be willing to 'break the bank' for Mawson.

What's more is that an initial loan deal for Mawson, with the option for a permanent deal in the future, would allow QPR a chance to utilise Mawson before making a decision – this could be the way forward for QPR in this particular deal.

Con: Will Fulham get the better deal out of this?
QPR have so far stood firm on their £20 million valuation of Eze. They've seen bids come in from Crystal Palace which were firmly rejected by the board, as they fell well short of QPR's asking price.

For once then, QPR seem to be holding out in the transfer market, rather than jumping at the first offer to come in. It's a sign of the times at QPR, but should Fulham get Eze for £15 million, and QPR get Mawson for just a season, then would that really be beneficial to QPR?

No doubt, they need a defender. But Warburton is a manager who likes to have young players in his starting line-up, and the 26-year-old Mawson would be nothing more than a stop-gap until QPR find themselves in the market for a centre-back this time next year, only with £5 million less than intended in the transfer kitty.

There'd likely have to be add-ons on top of the £15 million offer, and that's still with Mawson completing a season-long loan at QPR – if the club were to cave into the pressure of their West London rivals now, it won't sit too well with fans.

Pro: Funding for the next generation of R's
Only two players have left QPR in deals worth over £10 million – Chris Samba in the 2013/14 season, and Loic Remy the following. QPR then stand to break a new transfer record with the inevitable sale of Eze this summer.

With £20 million the asking price, it would almost double the amount that they received from Chelsea for Remy. A club notoriously indebted in recent times as well, they've since emerged from that unprecedented season as a club with funding.

The signing of Lyndon Dykes pays homage to the good work done by all at the club in recent years, and the possibility of a £20 million boost for the sale of Eze could see QPR prevail as a club – once again – with money to spend.

Although QPR have made some poor signings of late, they've made some good ones too – Eze for one, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ilias Chair and Ryan Manning to name a few – so with the potential 'Eze millions' on the horizon, fans will be looking forward to seeing what, or who the club brings in with it.

Con: Is Mawson really the man to solve QPR's defensive woes?
QPR might just have enough firepower to ease the departure of Eze, but last season they proved to be one of the worst defensive outfits in the division. Despite scoring 67 across the season, QPR conceded 76 – the 2nd-worst record in the league, only behind bottom-club Hull City.

Defence then was always going to be the main area of concern for Warburton going into the pre-season. So far though, he's signed two midfielders and a striker, with Grant Hall having left and Toni Leistner also looking at the exit.

Yoann Barbet and Conor Masterson are the sole options at centre-back for QPR, and whilst Mawson would be a strong addition, is he really going to be the man to solve QPR's defensive struggles?

He's not played in over six months. He's proved inconsistent with injuries and form and furthermore, if he were to join only for a season, would he really be that motivated? A player once regarded as the 'next best English defender' trying to salvage his dwindling career on-loan at QPR? It's an interesting deal nonetheless, and expect Fulham to get the ball moving this week.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/2-pros-and-2-cons-to-qpr-sealing-defender-in-ebere-eze-to-fulham-deal/

[WhiteJC]

Boss hints Eze deal is close as West Ham, Fulham and Crystal Palace eye QPR star

It seems a question of when rather than if Ebere Eze will leave QPR after he was left out for their pre-season friendly against AFC Wimbledon.

Eze was not included for Saturday's game at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium, where the hosts won 3-0.

And Rangers boss Mark Warburton admitted the decision was made because of the interest being shown in the 22-year-old forward.

His omission came after West London Sport reported that Fulham were ready to make an offer, joining West Ham and Crystal Palace in the pursuit of Eze.

And The Sun on Sunday have since declared that Fulham are set to table a £15m bid for the exciting youngster.

As interest in Eze hots up, Warburton decided it was in everyone's interest for him not to play this weekend.

"There's interest. That's not a secret. Everyone knows what's going on," Warburton told West London Sport.

"I felt it was best for him not to be involved. It was my decision.

"It was my choice and everyone was in agreement that it was the right thing to do.

"There's so much going on and he's a young guy and he's dealing with the outside interest and pressure exceedingly well. He deserves a lot of credit for that.

"He's a QPR player and he'll be with us training on Monday as far as I'm aware."

Saturday's friendly was on of only two QPR have scheduled before the start of the season.

It was therefore an important match in terms of his players increasing their fitness levels, so the decision not to play Eze surely would suggest Rangers do not think he will still be with them by the time the new campaign starts.



https://londonfootballnews.co.uk/west-ham/boss-hints-eze-deal-is-close-as-west-ham-fulham-and-crystal-palace-eye-qpr-star/

[WhiteJC]

Phil Hay: Fulham star mentioned as player Leeds potentially want to sign

The Athletic journalist Phil Hay has revealed that Fulham's Joe Bryan is a left-back who Leeds United could try to sign this summer.

The former Yorkshire Evening Post journalist was asked on Sunday whether Leeds are in pursuit of any left-backs at the moment.

Writing on his personal Twitter account, Hay replied: "Joe Bryan was mentioned to me earlier in the window (and [Antonee] Robinson has now gone to Fulham) but it doesn't look as if Leeds have pursued that yet."

Leeds do have plenty of players who can play at left-back.

Stuart Dallas was perhaps the stand-out player in that role last season while Ezgjan Alioski, Barry Douglas and Leif Davis can also play on the left-hand side of the defence.

However, out of those, Douglas is the only natural left-back with a good amount of senior experience and Dallas could be seen more as a utility player by Marcelo Bielsa next season due to his impressive versatility.

Bryan is an out-and-out left-back.

Last season he made 49 appearances in all competitions for Fulham, scoring three goals in the process.

Two of those goals came in the Championship play-off final win against Brentford at Wembley while the former Bristol City left-back also assisted eight goals in total for the Cottagers.

The London Evening Standard said after that display that Bryan "has not quite hit the heights expected of him" at Craven Cottage.

He struggled in the Premier League with them as they were relegated in 2018/19 with his attack-minded style perhaps more suited to a top-end Championship club than a team in the Premier League that's aim is to stay up.

But, Bielsa relies on attack-minded full-backs – it wouldn't be his style of play if he opted for full-backs who are more defensively sound.

Is Bryan going to be a better option at left-back than Dallas? It's really hard to say but one thing is for sure and that is that Bielsa will improve the 26-year-old leaps and bounds if Leeds do follow up on that initial interest in him.



https://motleedsnews.com/news/phil-hay-fulham-star-mentioned-as-player-leeds-potentially-want-to-sign/

[WhiteJC]

West Ham United Facing Fulham & Crystal Palace Competition For English Midfielder: Right Fit For Moyes?

West London Sport has recently claimed that West Ham United are facing fierce competition for Queens Park Rangers midfielder Eberechi Eze this summer. The Hammers will have battle it out with Fulham and Crystal Palace in pursuit of the English playmaker during this summer transfer window (via West London Sport).

Eze's Sensational Rise At The English Capital
The 22-year-old was in fine form at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium in the previous campaign as he put in a series of eye-catching displays as a vital component of the QPR attack. Eze ended up making 48 appearances for the London outfit last season, finding the back of the net on 14 occasions and securing eight assists across all fronts.

The former Arsenal player showed his true worth by averaging 1.2 tackles, 0.5 interceptions, 2.2 shots, 1.8 key passes, 3.0 dribbles and 1.2 crosses per 90 minutes in the EFL Championship. He even managed to spread the ball well across the field efficiently after completing 86.5% of his attempted passes in the second tier of England (stats via whoscored).

The England Under-21 international has experienced a remarkable rise at White City but might fancy his chances of receiving regular first-team starts in the Premier League next season as so many top-flight clubs are hoping to land him in this off-season.

What Will The English Whizkid Bring To The Table?
Eze is a fast and agile midfielder who has made a habit of completing some dangerous dribbles in and around the opponent's penalty box. He has got great energy and is not afraid to produce a tireless display in the opposition half for the benefit of his teammates. More importantly, the English prospect has managed to turn himself into a prolific goal-getter and a consistent assist-maker in the Championship. However, one can argue whether he can replicate such numbers in the Premier League if he takes the step up to compete at the highest level in the upcoming campaign.

Is Eze The Right Fit For The Hammers?
West Ham boss David Moyes currently has Jarrod Bowen, Felipe Anderson, Manuel Lanzini, Robert Snodgrass and Pablo Fornals as his attacking midfield options at East London. The Hammers head coach has even preferred to deploy Mark Noble in a number ten role. To some extent, the West Ham captain passed the test with flying colours as he set-up numerous goal-scoring chances for his team that eventually helped them steer clear of the dreaded drop zone in the latter stages of the 2019-20 campaign.

However, an injection of quality is what the London club are in dire need of at the moment, which makes Eze a decent option for Moyes to consider before the start of the new season. The QPR attacker will be an ideal fit for West Ham as he has all the qualities needed to gradually become a success story at the London Stadium in the years to come. However, Moyes would need to be patient with his development. Otherwise, it won't make sense for him to recruit someone as inexperienced as Eze because he might require some time to settle into life in the English top-flight.



https://the4thofficial.net/2020/08/west-ham-united-facing-fulham-crystal-palace-competition-for-english-midfielder-right-fit-for-moyes/

[WhiteJC]

Leeds United Yet To Pursue Linked Left-Back

Leeds United have yet to make a move to sign Joe Bryan from Fulham, despite the defender being mooted as a target, according to The Athletic.

The Whites have been tipped to bring in a left-back over the course of the transfer window, with a number of options linked with the club.

Fulham left-back Bryan was mooted as a potential target for Leeds earlier in the transfer window, but the club have yet to make any move to take him to Elland Road.

The Cottagers recently signed another left-back in the shape of Antonee Robinson from Wigan Athletic.

And they could be prepared to move Bryan on if offered an acceptable deal.

The former Bristol City star helped Fulham to win promotion to the Premier League last season and is now shaping up for a campaign of top flight football.

Bryan, who will turn 27 years old next month, clocked a total of 49 appearances for Fulham over the course of last season.

He turned out in both his side's Championship meetings with Leeds last term, allowing the Whites to take a close look at him.

The full-back has another two years on his Fulham deal.



https://insidefutbol.com/2020/08/23/leeds-united-yet-to-pursue-linked-left-back/469007/

[filham]

Am I reading the above notes on Eze right, he was in our youth set up for three years?
So we are prepared to pay the Ha Has £15m for a player we rejected as a youngster , it seems other clubs are doing quite well out of the Fulham Academy.

[WokingFFC]

Am I reading the above notes on Eze right, he was in our youth set up for three years?
So we are prepared to pay the Ha Has £15m for a player we rejected as a youngster , it seems other clubs are doing quite well out of the Fulham Academy.

I believe he was in Millwall youth academy 2014–2016   

[Stoneleigh Loyalist]

This is not the only fan site where there have been knocks at us letting Eze go as a youngster.
In turn he was also rejected by Reading and Milwall after us so he must have been a later developer