Monday Fulham Stuff - 05/10/20...

[WhiteJC]

Fulham reportedly most likely destination for Loftus-Cheek & William Saliba

Fulham struggling
As we head into the first international break of the season, things really aren't looking good for Fulham.

With four games played of the 2020/21 Premier League season, the newly-promoted outfit are dead bottom of the league.

Scott Parker's side are yet to even pick up a single point this term, losing all four of their outings.

And though it is only a small sample size, Fulham do look to have major problems at both ends of the pitch.

At the back, Fulham have been leaking goals for fun, conceding 11 goals in their first four ties of the Premier League season.

And up top, barring Aleksandar Mitrovic, Fulham have very little attacking threat, showcased by the fact they have scored just three times this term.

Loftus-Cheek & Saliba to Fulham?
So, with deadline day in full swing, the Fulham faithful are probably hoping to see a few fresh faces come through the door.

And according to several reports emerging on Monday, Fulham could still welcome reinforcements at both ends of the pitch.

First up, it has been claimed that Fulham is the most likely destination for William Saliba, who can depart Arsenal on loan:

Looks like Fulham is the most likely destination for William Saliba, who can leave #AFC on loan.

There's still time today but there's currently not much optimism that a deal will be done with Leverkusen for Sead Kolasinac.

— Sam Dean (@SamJDean) October 5, 2020

A similar report also emerged regarding Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Fulham:

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https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/transfers/fulham-reportedly-most-likely-destination-for-loftus-cheek-william-saliba/

[WhiteJC]

Report: Southampton and West Ham won't pay target's £150k-a-week wages, PL rival may pounce

Southampton and West Ham United appear to have been priced out of a deal for Ruben Loftus-Cheek with the Chelsea midfielder now open to joining Fulham instead, according to Goal.

The ten-time England international may be available on loan but his mammoth wages more than make up for a lack of transfer fee.

Loftus-Cheek takes home a staggering £150,000 a week at Stamford Bridge.

And with Chelsea determined to make any interested suitor pay the vast majority if not all of his wages, the likes of West Ham and Southampton appear to be looking elsewhere.

Goal reports neither the Saints nor the Hammers are willing to pay £150,000 a week for Loftus-Cheek.

It's never a great look, after all, to make a loanee your highest earner.

Fulham are understandably a tad desperate after losing all four of their Premier League games since returning to the big time.

But it remains to be seen whether they are capable of stumping up £600,000 every month for a powerhouse playmaker who, for all his quality, has suffered from so many injuries throughout his stop-start career.

Goal adds that Loftus-Cheek is open to making the short trip across west London to Craven Cottage.   

Meanwhile The Telegraph (Live blog, 11.15am) reports another London-based youngster could be about to strengthen Scott Parker's squad with Arsenal willing to let £27 million centre-back William Saliba depart on a short-term basis.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/10/05/report-southampton-and-west-ham-wont-pay-targets-150k-a-week-wages-pl-rival-may-pounce/

[WhiteJC]

Defender arrived in London 'in the afternoon' to undergo medical ahead of Fulham move – Paid loan with no option to buy

Earlier on Monday, we covered news from Italy regarding the transfer of Joachim Andersen to Fulham.

The Dane was the subject of a late bid from the Cottagers in their attempts to bolster their defence, with a €1m loan being paid.

That's all Fulham will be losing from their wallet, however, as L'Equipe are reporting there will be no option to buy in the deal, meaning Andersen will return to Lyon once the season is over.

They add the Ligue 1 side will be free of the player's wages during the spell, thus leaving the Premier League side to take care of that.

It's added Andersen arrived in London 'in the afternoon' to undergo his medicals, and if given the green light after them, 'he will play at Fulham this season, where he hopes to relaunch himself'.

The 24-year-old had only arrived at Lyon last summer for a fee of £21.6m, but failed to impress in his first season there and fell down the pecking order under Rudi Garcia.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/defender-arrived-london-afternoon-undergo-medical-ahead-fulham-move-paid-loan-no-option-buy/

[filham]

Loftus Cheek on £150,000 a week , unbelievable. Leave him at Chelsea and let them be guilty of paying such a wage.
It really is time for a wage cap.

[WhiteJC]

Fulham eye swoop for Arsenal man, as Gabriel plays role in Arteta U-turn

Fulham is the "most likely destination" for Arsenal defender William Saliba after Gunners boss Mikel Arteta sanctioned his exit on loan, according to reports.

Saliba signed for Arsenal in the summer of 2019 under the stewardship of former manager Unai Emery.

He then re-joined Saint Etienne last season and returned to north London with the aim of making an impact at his new club.

Indeed the Daily Express claims Arteta initially had similar hopes, wanting the centre-back fight for game time as his defensive rebuild took shape.

However Saliba did not feature in the squad for Thursday's Carabao Cup clash with Liverpool. Arteta explained that the Frenchman needs another year of "transition".

The Express claims that fellow recent arrival Gabriel Magalhaes had an impact on Arteta's thinking. The Brazilian has made a fantastic impact at Arsenal so far, which reportedly caused his manager to re-consider Saliba's future.

As such, The Telegraph claims that Fulham are the most likely side to benefit from his availability.

The Cottagers have had a woeful start to the season, conceding 100 goals in four Premier League games. Manager Scott Parker changed his back four against Wolves on Sunday, but their opponents still dominated.

Indeed Fulham's owner, Tony Kahn, controversially took to Twitter to explain his desire to bring new defenders in.

Kahn wrote: "I apologize to Fulham supporters for our performance tonight [against Aston Villa].

"We've looked to add centre-backs since Wembley, I'm sorry we haven't yet as 2 got COVID + we lost a Free we thought was close + had another issue with a 4th CB.

"I promise players in + better efforts from this squad."

Fulham targeting swoop for Chelsea star
Meanwhile, Fulham are also considering a late swoop for Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

The England international has fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge, playing only 61 minutes in all competitions this term.

However he will have been buoyed by fellow midfielder Ross Barkley's Aston Villa debut on Sunday, after the 26-year-old also left Chelsea on loan.

And Loftus-Cheek could get a similar move away before Monday's transfer deadline.



https://www.teamtalk.com/news/fulham-swoop-william-saliba-gabriel-arteta-u-turn

[WhiteJC]

Fulham only club in running to sign Barcelona defender Todibo?

Fulham are the only club in the running to sign Barcelona defender Jean-Clair Todibo, according to a report.

The 20-year-old has struggled for minutes since joining from Toulouse in 2019 and spent the second half of last season on loan with Schalke 04.

Todibo's future is believed to be directly entwined with Barca's hopes of re-signing Eric Garcia from Manchester City, with the Catalans needing to free up space.

However, Le 10 Sport reports that interest in the France Under-20s international has diminished ahead of Monday evening's transfer deadline.

Everton had previously showed an interest but are said to be out of the running after bringing in Ben Godfrey from Norwich City.

Fulham could yet make a move, it is claimed, although a loan bid for Man City's Tosin Adarabioyo seems a more plausible option at this late stage of the window.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-city/transfer-talk/news/fulham-only-club-in-running-to-sign-barcelonas-todibo_417343.html

[WhiteJC]

Fulham Pushing To Sign Nigerian Center Back, Who Has Spent 18 Years At Man City

English Premier League basement team Fulham are pushing to sign Nigerian center back Tosin Adarabioyo few hours before the close of the summer transfer window.

According to The Sun UK, the Cottagers are closing in on Adarabioyo in a deal that could see Manchester City pocket in the region of eight million pounds.

The former England youth international had attracted interest from Everton, Brighton & Hove and West Ham in this window but Fulham are in pole position for his signature.

He joined Manchester City eighteen years ago, at the age of five, and has played 8 matches for the first team of the Citizens since making his professional debut against Chelsea in February 2016.

Fulham are openly in the market for defensive reinforcements after conceding eleven goals in the new season and failing to win any of their four matches in the top-flight.

Adarabioyo is eager to play in the top-flight of English football after tasting action in the Championship during back-to-back loan spells with West Brom and Blackburn Rovers.

Fulham have brought in Nigerian duo Ola Aina and Ademola Lookman on season-long loan deals from Torino and RB Leipzig respectively in the summer transfer window.

Igho Kingsley



https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=37615