Saturday Fulham Stuff - 26/09/20...

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Lookman close to Fulham loan deal

Fulham are poised to sign winger Ademola Lookman on a season-long loan deal from RB Leipzig, according to reports in Germany.

German tabloid Bild reports that the newly-promoted Premier League side have agreed to pay RB Leipzig around £1.83m to loan the former England under-21 international for the remainder of this campaign. Leipzig's initial stance that they were only willing to sell the ex-Everton winger appears to have softened after the player indicated that he would like to move on having struggled to replicate his early success in Germany.

Lookman, who was born in Wandsworth and came through the Charlton academy, made just thirteen appearances for Leipzig last season – a stark contrast to his five goals in eleven appearances that convinced the German outfit to pay £16.5m for services. The 22 year-old, who Everton signed for £7.5m from the Addicks in 2017, scored four goals in 48 appearances for the Toffees and is reportedly eager to grasp another opportunity to prove himself in the English top flight.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2020/09/lookman-close-to-fulham-loan-deal/

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Fulham Close In On Target, Player Heading For Medical

RB Leipzig winger Ademola Lookman is on the verge of joining Fulham and will soon be in London to undergo a medical.

Fulham have moved quickly to secure a deal to sign the former Everton winger from the Bundesliga club.

Leipzig have been indicating that they are willing to let him go after he played very little football last season for the German outfit and now he is on his way back to England.

According to German daily Bild, the two clubs have agreed on a loan deal for a fee of €2m and the Lookman is expected to complete the move shortly.

He has been left out of Leipzig's squad for this weekend's game against Bayer Leverkusen and he is on his way to London.

Once he is in England, he will be due for a medical at Fulham and will be a step away from completing a move to the west London club.

It is unclear whether Fulham have secured an option to make the loan move permanent if Lookman impresses in the Premier League.

Leipzig signed him from Everton for €18m but he only played 300 minutes in the league and failed to score a goal last season.



https://insidefutbol.com/2020/09/25/fulham-close-in-on-target-player-heading-for-medical/474302/

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Fulham set to make late push to beat Palace to signing of £20m-rated EFL man

Fulham are reportedly trying to hijack Crystal Palace's move for Brentford winger Said Benrahma.

The Brentford winger has been one of the most exciting players in the Championship over the past two seasons – scoring 28 goals and providing 27 assists.

He was instrumental in helping the Bees make it to the play-off final last season but after they suffered defeat his future has seemed unclear.

Aston Villa, Palace, and West Ham United are among the top-flight clubs linked this summer but it is understood that the Eagles are now in advanced negotiations over signing the player – thought to be valued at £20 million by his club.

According to the Daily Mail, however, Fulham are keen to hijack the deal and have been in contact with Benrahma's advisors to get an update on how his potential move to Palace is progressing.

The west London club may face some difficulties in landing the winger, however, as previous reports indicated that the Bees were reluctant to sell Ollie Watkins – who eventually joined Villa – to their local rivals.

Fulham beat the Bees in the play-off final but have suffered defeat in both of their first two Premier League games.

The Verdict

It would likely be a bitter pill for Brentford fans to swallow if just months after beating them in the play-off final, Fulham signed one of their star men.

That said, if the Cottagers table a superior offer to Palace they may be forced to consider it.

Benrahma has not featured for Thomas Frank's side this season and you feel it's very unlikely he will still be a Bees player come the end of the window.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fulham-set-to-make-late-push-to-beat-palace-to-signing-of-20m-rated-efl-man/

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Matt Targett aiming to pile pressure on old friends when Aston Villa visit Fulham

Villa defender Matt Targett is aiming to pile more pressure on old friends at Fulham on Monday.

Targett spent six months on loan with the Cottagers from Southampton in 2018, playing in the team which beat Steve Bruce's Villa in that year's Championship play-off final.

But his loyalties are now firmly with Villa following a £14million move 12 months later and he is eager to start the current season with back-to-back Premier League wins.

Fulham, who were again promoted through the play-offs in August, have lost their opening two matches back in the top flight with Villa, who narrowly avoided the drop last term, keen to show they can challenge higher up the table.

Targett said: "If you look at games on paper then you target Fulham and say that is a game you want to win. We want to kick on from last season and push further up the league.

"They are a newly promoted team who have had a difficult start so far, losing both of their league games. We want to go there and put more pressure on them.

"I enjoyed my time with Fulham. I speak to a few of the players still and it will be nice to see the old coaches that were there. But on Monday night I want the bragging rights."

Targett claims there is currently a 'feelgood factor' around Bodymoor Heath after a transfer window which has already seen Villa spend more than £75m on new players, while both Jack Grealish and Tyrone Mings have signed new contracts.

Dean Smith's team, who claimed a 1-0 win over Sheffield United in last Monday's Premier League opener, are also through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup following a 3-0 victory at Bristol City on Thursday night.

Targett was one of 12 new signings in the months following the club's promotion last year and believes increased experience, coupled with the new additions, means Villa are well placed to kick on.

The club broke their transfer record with the £28m capture of striker Ollie Watkins from Brentford while goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez has joined from Arsenal in a £20m deal.

Another of the new players, winger Bertrand Traore, marked his debut in Thursday's cup tie with a stunning goal.

"The new signings have been a breath of fresh air and have added that extra bit of quality to the squad," said Targett.

"Jack and Tyrone signing new contracts was massive. It puts out a statement of what the club wants and where it is going.

"There were a lot of new faces last year. If you look at our performances and results after lockdown, we had the extra time together, we knew each other better and we performed better.

"You just have to look at Douglas Luiz's performances when we came back, he was exceptional.

"Having that year together we are only going to grow and get better. If you look at the squad now, the ages of the players, we are all at a good age and we are only going to get stronger the more time we have together.

"With the new faces that have come in, they are at a good age too. There are going to be exciting times ahead, for sure.

"We have to kick on from last season, looking back we know it was a tough year and we need to push on.

"We have not really set targets but we certainly don't want to be anywhere near a relegation battle again."



https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/football/aston-villa/2020/09/25/matt-targett-aiming-to-pile-pressure-on-old-friends-when-aston-villa-visit-fulham/

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Fulham set to seal £1.8m loan signing of Ademola Lookman from RB Leipzig as English youngster searches for regular game-time after struggling in Germany

    Fulham are closing in on a deal to bring Ademola Lookman back to England
    Lookman has struggled in Germany following his £16.5m move from Everton
    The 22-year-old winger made only 13 appearances for RB Leipzig last season

Ademola Lookman is joining Fulham on a season-long loan from Red Bull Leipzig for a £1.8million fee.

The 22-year-old left Everton for Red Bull Leipzig last year in a £16.5m deal but made just 13 appearances last season.

The Bundesliga club are keen for the former England Under-21 winger to go out on loan and build up his confidence with more regular football.


Fulham are closing in on a deal to bring Ademola Lookman back to the Premier League

RB Leipzig sporting director Markus Krosche had earlier confirmed that Lookman could go out on loan.

He told German newspaper Bild: 'We are dealing with this matter, and it's possible that something will happen.

'Ademola hasn't played much, and you need playing time as a young player.'

Bild also claim the Londoner is keen on the switch


The 22-year-old left Everton for RB Leipzig last year in a £16.5million deal but has struggled



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8774483/Fulham-set-seal-1-8m-loan-signing-Ademola-Lookman-RB-Leipzig.html

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Report: Fulham join the race to sign Everton target Jean-Clair Todibo from Barcelona

Fulham are looking to beat Everton to the signature of Barcelona defender Jean-Clair Todibo after opening talks with the La Liga side, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Carlo Ancelotti's Toffees have tracked Todibo closely and the defender has been on the club's shortlist of defensive targets alongside Lille's Gabriel Magalhaes and Chelsea's Fikayo Tomori, who is said to have been be their first choice in recent times.

However, with Chelsea unwilling to let go of the young England International who seems to be in Frank Lampard's long term first-team plans, Everton have now reopened talks to sign Todibo on a season-long loan deal.

But the Spanish side are currently refusing a deal which does not contain an obligation-to-buy clause.

According to fresh reports, Fulham have now joined the race to sign the former Toulouse player on a permanent deal but it's now up to the player to decide on his future, whether he wants to move to Goodison Park or Craven Cottage.

Barcelona are keen to sell the defender in order to buy 19-year-old Spanish defender Eric Garcia from Premier League side Manchester City.

Todibo, who spent the second half of last season on loan to Schalke 04 where he impressed alongside Everton right-back Jonjoe Kenny, joined Barcelona two years ago from Toulouse but has only five appearances for the Catalan club.

The Independent also reported on Friday that while Everton are in talks to sign the Frenchman on loan, Barcelona are rejecting any offer which does not include an obligation-to-buy clause of around £18 million.

According to the report, Barcelona are expected to use the money secured from the deal to fund the moves for Sergino Dest from Ajax and Manchester City's Eric Garcia, who Ronald Koeman is targeting as he continues to rebuild the team at Camp Nou.

It remains to be seen whether Todibo will be a Fulham player before the transfer deadline next month or the Frenchman will be reuniting with right-back Jonjoe Kenny at Goodison Park.



https://sportslens.com/report-fulham-join-the-race-to-sign-everton-target-jean-clair-todibo-from-barcelona/315595/