Thursday Fulham Stuff - 14/10/20...

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Premier League name linked as QPR defender search continues

QPR have enquired about a move for Fulham's Michael Hector as they search for defensive reinforcements, a report from West London Sport has claimed.

Mark Warburton's side are apparently in the market for a centre back before Friday's deadline, and it seems as though Hector is one of the targets they have identified.

According to the latest reports, QPR have made enquiries about both Hector, and Cardiff's Aden Flint, although it is thought the latter is unlikely to make the move to The Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium.

Hector however, seemingly remains an option, although a number of other as yet unnamed Championship sides also said to have enquired about the Fulham man.

The summer arrivals of the likes of Tosin Adarabioyo and Joachim Andersen looks set to push Hector down the pecking order at Craven Cottage, despite the 28-year-old playing a key role in the club's promotion to the Premier League in the second half of last season, potentially freeing him up for a move.

As things stand, there are still two years remaining on Hector's contract with Fulham, securing his future at the club until the end of the 2021/22 season, with the Cottagers holding the option to extend that deal by a further 12 months.

The Verdict

This could be an excellent signing for QPR.

They are not exactly stacked at centre back at the minute, so it does seem sensible they are looking to add another option in that position, and this looks to be a sensible candidate.

Hector played a key role for Fulham in helping them win promotion last season, and his vast experience in the Championship could certainly make him a useful asset for Mark Warburton's side were he to make this move.

You also feel it is a deal he could be open to if he feels he is not going to get much playing time at Fulham following their recent recruitment drive at centre back, although his contract situation means that Fulham are in a strong position to negotiate, so this deal may not be cheap for QPR.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/premier-league-name-linked-as-qpr-defender-search-continues/

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Government want BT Sport to show Everton vs Liverpool for free amid Merseyside lockdown

Football in England will continue to be played behind closed doors until coronavirus infection rates begin to call is the latest warning by Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden

Football fans will be locked out of grounds until the coronavirus infection rates start to fall dramatically – Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has revealed.

And Dowden has called on BT Sport to make the Merseyside derby free to air this weekend to prevent households mixing in Liverpool which was locked down further this week.

The cabinet minister in charge of sport insisted he wants fans back as quickly as possible and understands the "frustration" of supporters – but it won't be this month and could take much longer.

But fans being allowed in to elite games is dependent on infection rates – which has been soaring in the last fortnight – starting to fall.

While pubs and the hospitality trade face another shut down this week in the North where coronavirus is spreading rapidly, the "scientific community" have advised against fans being allowed back.

Dowden was quizzed by the DCMS committee on Wednesday morning and said this morning: "Yes of course I accept people's frustration at the inconsistency there. The simple reason is, we had sports on a path to return to normality. We were one of the first in the world to achieve football back and being played behind closed doors.

"The next phase was pilot games with social distanced spectators in stadia. I desperately wanted that to happen (go further than the pilots).

"Because of where we are with the rapid rise we have not been able to have that. The advice from the scientific community is that we should be imposing restrictions not further easing.

"We were ready to go. They were successful. We were ready to go from Oct 1. We had to pause it because of the rapid expansion of the disease. It is not just the stadium. It is the journey, people want to have something to eat on the way. That's not to say that can't be mitigated.

"We'd be increasing social interaction while imposing further restrictions.

"I want to rapidly return to this decision.We are ready to go when we get the starting gun fired

"We got PL and Championship up and running early on and got money back in the sport because of that."

Dowden was asked about the inconsistency in policy with the London Palladium hosting an indoor talk in with Arsene Wenger but no one allowed into the Emirates Stadium or others.

The Royal Albert Hall is also being allowed to hold an indoor concert for 3,500 people in December, while football fans can't stand outdoors to watch their team.

The O2 arena in London is set to host a concert featuring Squeeze, but the ATP finals tennis tournament is scheduled to be behind closed doors at the same venue next month.

Dowden said: "I don't want to be stopping fans from going into stadiums but the reason we are doing it is for public safety from COVID. We have had to pause it because of where we are with the disease."

Asked about the Mersey derby not being free to air, Dowden said it would be a good gesture to make it free for fans in the city. He said: "If BT were able to do that as a gesture that would be great of course."



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/football-fans-face-long-wait-22843212

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Newcastle dodged a bullet with Ruben Loftus-Cheek transfer snub

According to The Chronicle, Newcastle had to withdraw their interest in Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the summer transfer window.

What's the word?

After initially looking like they could be set for a major spending spree amid speculation of a potential takeover, the Magpies' summer plans were thrown up in the air when that fell through.

In the end, Steve Bruce's side still made some shrewd Premier League-proven signings in the likes of Callum Wilson and Ryan Fraser, and it appears they also wanted to bring in Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea too.

The Chronicle claims that the Tyneside club had "tentative interest" in the midfielder, but that they had to abandon any potential move to due to not being able to shift out fringe players on big wages.
Worse than Longstaff

Whilst Loftus-Cheek may have burst onto the scene, his career since then hasn't quite hit the expectations. The England international has had his fair share of injury problems, with an Achilles tendon rupture in the 2018/2019 campaign keeping him out for almost a year.

The 24-year-old just hasn't been able to take to the field as often as he would have liked, with chances difficult to come by in a stacked Chelsea midfield.

Newcastle already have a talented English midfielder in their ranks with Sean Longstaff, and when you look at the numbers, there's a real argument to be made that Loftus-Cheek is actually far worse than the Magpies' hometown hero.

Last season in the Premier League, Longstaff averaged 1.5 tackles, 1.1 shots and 0.7 key passes per match. Compare that to Loftus-Cheek, who registered no tackles per game, and only 0.6 shots and 0.1 key passes per game.

Despite being described as a "world-class player in the prime of his career" by Fulham owner, Tony Khan, Newcastle have dodged a bullet by not signing him in the summer.



https://www.footballfancast.com/newcastle-united-transfer-rumours/newcastle-ruben-loftus-cheek-chelsea-fulham-transfer-loan-premier-league-sean-longstaff-gossip-rumours-news

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'This would be a real coup' – QPR plot transfer move for Premier League player: 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...

Queens Park Rangers are plotting a move to sign Fulham centre-back Michael Hector on loan, as per the Athletic's Daniel Taylor.

Mark Warburton is seemingly keen to bolster his defensive backlime and has identified Hector as someone who can shore up the R's defence, ahead of Friday's 5pm transfer deadline.

Hector enjoyed an impressive stint at the Cottagers last season and played a key role in securing promotion for Scott Parker's side, however he's being eased out the starting eleven in the Premier League of late so a departure from Craven Cottage is not out of the question.

So, would Hector be a good addition for QPR? Is he needed?

The team here at FLW discuss.....

Toby Wilding

This could be an excellent signing for QPR.

They are not exactly stacked at centre back at the minute, so it does seem sensible they are looking to add another option in that position, and this looks to be a sensible candidate.

Hector played a key role for Fulham in helping them win promotion last season, and his vast experience in the Championship could certainly make him a useful asset for Mark Warburton's side were he to make this move.

You also feel it is a deal he could be open to if he feels he is not going to get much playing time at Fulham following their recent recruitment drive at centre back, although his contract situation means that Fulham are in a strong position to negotiate, so this deal may not be cheap for QPR.

Jacob Potter

This would be an excellent bit of business.

Hector showed that he can adjust quickly to new surroundings whilst with Fulham last season, as he played a key role in their promotion-winning season last term.

I'm surprised that he's been frozen out of the starting XI for the Cottagers in recent matches, and I would have thought he'd be a useful player to have in the Fulham team when called upon.

QPR could certainly benefit from signing a player of his quality, but you do have to question what this means for the likes of Rob Dickie, who has only just signed for the club.

But Dickie could learn a considerable amount from Hector, who is vastly experienced in the Championship.

This would be somewhat of a coup for QPR if they were able to sign Hector on loan for this year's campaign.

Chris Gallagher

What a signing this would be.

I would say that Hector was one of Fulham's best players from January onwards and a key reason for their promotion, as they found a way to win towards the end and it was based on a solid defence – including the play-off final. So, I'm surprised he has been discarded so quickly by Scott Parker, even if he was poor for the opening three Premier League games.

However, there's no doubting his ability to perform at this level and QPR would be getting a top centre-back for the second-tier. He is strong, powerful and capable in possession so it's an absolute no-brainer from the R's perspective.

This would be a real coup if they can finalise it before Friday.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/this-would-be-a-real-coup-qpr-plot-transfer-move-for-premier-league-player-the-verdict/

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Fresh details emerge as Nottingham Forest look to wrap up Anthony Knockaert deal

Nottingham Forest continue to chase a deal to sign Anthony Knockaert from Fulham ahead of Friday's transfer deadline.

Chris Hughton has recently been appointed at the City Ground and has set his sights on securing the service of Knockaert.

As per the Mirror's Live Transfer Blog (14/10, 11:20), Hughton wants to structure a loan-to-buy deal for the winger, as he looks to reshape the attack that he's inherited at the City Ground.

Knockaert on one flank, with Sammy Ameobi or Joe Lolley on the other and Lewis Grabban leading the line, is what the new Forest boss envisages.

Last year, Knockaert was part of the Fulham squad that won promotion to the Premier League.

The 28-year-old scored three goals and registered four assists in 45 appearances for Fulham last season in the Championship, as Scott Parker's side won the play-off final to secure promotion.

Knockaert was a major part of Hughton's squad with Brighton and Hove Albion too, with the Frenchman helping the Seagulls to promotion in 2016/17.

He bagged 15 goals and registered eight assists that season as Brighton finished runners-up to Newcastle United.

The winger then helped the Seagulls establish themselves in the top-flight with Hughton.

The Verdict 

This type of deal is proving to be hugely popular in the Championship and Fulham originally signed Knockaert on this type of deal last summer.

Whether they will be open to it now remains to be seen, but if they can secure their money back on the 28-year-old in another year, it might be one they look to take.

For Forest, it eases any FFP pressure on them and pushes payment onto another year.

It might well tick a lot of boxes for all parties, but there's a race against time to get it done.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/fresh-details-emerge-as-nottingham-forest-look-to-wrap-up-anthony-knockaert-deal/

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Black History Month: Bobby & Hec

Bobby De Cordova-Reid & Michael Hector give their thoughts and feelings on Black History Month, sharing their experiences through their careers.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/october/Black-History-Month-Bobby-Hec/

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'Right decision': £9m man explains why he rejected Fulham this summer

Timo Baumgartl is convinced that he made the right decision turning down a move to Fulham in order to fight for his stay at PSV Eindhoven, as he told Fox Sports.

The Premier League might be a fair few rungs above the Eredivisie in the footballing ladder, but perhaps the giant German would rather challenge for silverware in a lesser European division than scrap for survival as a small fish in the biggest of ponds.

The £9 million Baumgartl was on the verge of joining Scott Parker's Fulham on the final day of the summer window before the deal collapsed at the eleventh hour.

According to ED, the former Stuttgart youngster felt that sporting success would be easier to come by at a PSV side who are expected to challenge for the title under the gegenpressing specialist Roger Schmidt at the Phillips Stadium.

And, a week later, Baumgartl has finally explained his stance.

"I told the club that I would fly to London one day to watch (Fulham)," he said.

"(But) if you see the differences between PSV and Fulham, this was the right decision for me.

"The club did a lot to bring me to Fulham, but if the feeling is not right. I am not ready to leave PSV yet. I want to achieve something here."

Fulham can at least console themselves with the deadline day arrivals of Tosin Adarabioyo and Joachim Andersen from Manchester City and Lyon respectively, while Terence Kongolo could also join before Friday.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2020/10/14/right-decision-9m-man-explains-why-he-rejected-fulham-this-summer/

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Charlton Athletic considering swoop for Fulham striker

Charlton Athletic are considering a loan move for Fulham striker Timmy Abraham, according to journalist Alan Nixon on Twitter (see tweet below).

The Addicks are weighing up a swoop for the youngster as they look to boost their attacking options.

Lee Bowyer's side are expected to be busy up until the transfer deadline on Friday as they look to add the finishing touches to their squad.

Abraham, who is 19 years old, has emerged on their radar alongside Liverpool winger Ben Woodburn, as covered by The72.

The London-born forward is the brother of Chelsea and England star Tammy Abraham and was actually on the books at Charlton's academy before switching to Fulham in 2017.

He could now be on his way back to the Valley over the coming days if they decide to make a move for him.

Abraham has never made a senior appearance for the Cottagers and was loaned out to League One side Bristol Rovers in January. He made four appearances for the Pirates during the second-half of last season before the campaign was halted in March.

He may now return to the third tier to get some more game time under his belt. His chances of getting into Fulham's senior side are very slim in the Premier League and a loan move back to his former club Charlton would be beneficial to his development.



https://the72.co.uk/196657/charlton-athletic-considering-swoop-for-fulham-striker/

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Nottingham Forest remain interested in Fulham winger

Fulham winger Anthony Knockaert is still attracting interest from Nottingham Forest according to The Mirror.

New manager Chris Hughton is still keen to bring Knockaert to the City Ground before the transfer window for EFL clubs closes on Friday at 5pm.

Fulham only signed the winger on a permanent basis in the summer as they splashed the cash to bring him to the club from Brighton and Hove Albion.

However, Forest are keen to recruit Knockaert on a loan-to-buy deal to add to the other competition they have on the wing in the shape of Sammy Ameobi and Joe Lolley.

The 28-year-old scored three goals and registered four assists in 45 appearances for Fulham last season in the Championship as Scott Parker's side beat Brentford to win the play-off final to secure promotion.

Knockaert has plenty of experience at Championship level having also helped Brighton to promotion a few seasons ago and could be a real marquee signing if Hughton manages to capture his target.

Forest are having to be cautious financially due to FFP and the recent constraints due to the Coronavirus but signing him initially on loan would be a wise move.

The winger has failed to make an impact for Fulham so far in the Premier League and hasn't featured as much as he would have liked but whether he would be willing to step back down to the Championship remains to be seen.

The London club may also want to keep one of their prized assets and although he hasn't hit the ground running there is no doubting his quality on his day.



https://the72.co.uk/196669/nottingham-forest-remain-interested-in-fulham-winger/

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Terence Kongolo can plug Fulham's left-centre-back gap

Centre-back signings are like busses at Fulham, you wait for ages for one, then loads come along at once.

The Whites signed two centre-halves on deadline day in the shape of Joachim Andersen and Tosin Adarabioyo, but it seems as though their defensive spending spree isn't over yet.

Indeed, the Cottagers finally look set to sign Terence Kongolo on a permanent transfer after months of speculation, and while the Whites have already signed two centre-backs, Kongolo plugs a gap that had previously been ignored.

Fulham need a left-footed centre-back to step in for Tim Ream, who has proven already this season that he isn't up to scratch in this division, with the Whites conceding eight goals in the three games he's started.

Having a left-footer at the back is so important to Fulham due to how much they like to play out from the back, with Ream averaging 62 passes per game this season, so having a player comfortable playing with his left-foot at that left-sided centre-back spot is vital.

It will be even more important if the Whites' recent switch to five-at-the-back becomes a permanent fixture of Scott Parker's tactical set-up, where Kongolo will be pushed even wider than he would in a traditional back four, meaning that his ability to play with his left is even more vital.

Parker seems to love playing with a left-footer at the back, and Kongolo will allow him to continue with that strategy, acting as an alternative to Ream, who has been defensively suspect on more than one occasion this season.

This is the perfect profile of signing for Fulham as it plugs a gap that had previously been ignored, but whether or not the £7.2m-rated man is the perfect man to come in and help out this leaky defence remains to be seen.



https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-fc-transfer-rumours/terence-kongolo-can-plug-fulhams-left-centre-back-gap

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Report: Nottingham Forest remain in the hunt for Anthony Knockaert

The Mirror are reporting that Nottingham Forest remain keen to sign Fulham winger Anthony Knockaert before Friday's domestic transfer deadline.

Chris Hughton has worked with the French forward before, getting some strong performances out of him as Brighton won promotion to the Premier League.

Knockaert only recently made his loan move from Brighton to Fulham permanently, although he hasn't featured in the Premier League under Scott Parker this season.

During the 2016/17 campaign, the former France under-20 international lit up the second-tier, scoring 15 goals and registering nine assists under Hughton's management.

Knockaert is paid £35,000-a-week at Craven Cottage and it seems likely that Forest will want Fulham to help with that salary if he is to check-in at the City Ground.

Last season, he joined the West Londoners on loan but struggled for consistency in Parker's team, scoring four times and registering five assists.

Fulham's promotion has bumped Knockaert down the pecking order and it would make sense for them to let him leave on loan before Friday.

Forest boss Hughton will be desperate to add a winger to his ranks, with the squad extremely short out wide.

Joe Lolley has struggled for fitness, with Sammy Ameobi and the relatively raw Alex Mighten the other options.

Having a proven option like Knockaert would help Forest as they look to arrest a run of four straight Championship defeats.

Hughton has already confessed that he will have the final say on transfers and signing someone with the pedigree of Knockaert could prove a coup.

Whether a deal can be struck before Friday's deadline remains to be seen but one way or another, Forest will hope to have at least one winger through the door to bolster the squad.



https://www.nottinghamforest.news/2020/10/14/report-nottingham-forest-remain-in-the-hunt-for-anthony-knockaert/

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Fulham to sign Terence Kongolo from Huddersfield

Fulham are expected to complete the signing of defender Terence Kongolo from Huddersfield on Thursday in a deal worth up to £7 million including add-ons, reveal David Ornstein and Peter Rutzler.

The initial fee is understood to be in the region of £4 million and the 26-year-old Netherlands international completed a medical on Wednesday.

Kongolo departs Huddersfield two years after becoming their club-record signing in an £18 million move from Monaco.

Is he fit?
The Athletic understands Kongolo has completed a medical, despite suffering a season-ending foot injury in February that meant he only made one appearance in his loan spell at Fulham after joining in January.

That injury, suffered after just nine minutes in a match against Blackburn, meant Kongolo underwent surgery and had metalwork put in his foot.

Earlier in the window, Kongolo came close to securing a move to Craven Cottage only for the deal to fall through at a very late stage.

This time, however, it appears that there have been no such hiccups and the deal should be completed tomorrow.

Was he Fulham's first choice in this position?
Kongolo was certainly among Fulham's top centre-back priorities this summer, underlined by their earlier move to sign him.

He had evidently made a sufficient impression on both the club and Scott Parker to warrant their continued interest.

The Dutch international, who can play at either left-back or centre-back, only featured in 11 matches for Huddersfield following the club's relegation to the Championship in 2019.

Fulham have already bolstered the centre-half position, signing two new central defenders on deadline day in Joachim Andersen and Tosin Adarabioyo.

The club struggled in their opening fixtures defensively, conceding 11 goals from their first four matches, and have moved again to bring in reinforcements to plug their frailties.

Are Fulham now overloaded in defence?
Kongolo's arrival does now leave a surplus of defenders, with Tim Ream, Michael Hector, Maxime Le Marchand and Denis Odoi all options at the heart of defence in addition to the new arrivals.

It won't be possible to offer game-time to all of them, so departures before Friday's domestic deadline seem very likely.

Who else have Fulham signed since promotion?
Fulham have had a busy transfer window.

Scott Parker's side completed late loan moves for Ademola Lookman, Andersen and Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Mario Lemina, Alphonse Areola and Ola Aina arrived on short-term deals earlier in the window.

They have, meanwhile, completed permanent transfers for Anthony Knockaert, Antonee Robinson, Harrison Reed, Kenny Tete and Adarabioyo.



https://theathletic.com/news/fulham-to-sign-terence-kongolo-from-huddersfield/VlgKsIu35PBU?source=rss

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Terence Kongolo: Fulham close in on signing of Huddersfield defender

Netherlands international was on loan at Craven Cottage in January but suffered broken foot

Huddersfield defender Terence Kongolo is set to join Fulham

Fulham are finalising a deal to re-sign defender Terence Kongolo from Huddersfield.

Manager Scott Parker has been keen to strengthen his defence following a poor start to life back in the Premier League.

Defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Joachim Andersen joined Fulham on Deadline Day from Manchester City and Lyon respectively.

But Parker has moved once again to bolster his options, with announcement on Kongolo's arrival expected in the next 24 hours.

The 26-year-old joined Fulham on loan in January, but suffered a broken foot and returned to Huddersfield after making just one appearance for the Cottagers.

Kongolo began his career in his native Netherlands with Feyenoord and made over 130 appearances for the club before moving to Monaco and then to Huddersfield.

He made 45 Premier League appearances for Huddersfield during their two-season stint in the top-flight.

Kongolo has been capped at every level for the Netherlands and has made four appearances for the senior team.



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11681/12104221/terence-kongolo-fulham-close-in-on-signing-of-huddersfield-defender

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PREMIER LEAGUE STATEMENT - 14.10.2020

All 20 Premier League clubs today unanimously agreed that Project Big Picture will not be endorsed or pursued by the Premier League, or The FA.

Further, Premier League Shareholders agreed to work together as a 20-club collective on a strategic plan for the future structures and financing of English football, consulting with all stakeholders to ensure a vibrant, competitive and sustainable football pyramid. Clubs will work collaboratively, in an open and transparent process, focusing on competition structure, calendar, governance and financial sustainability. This project has the full support of The FA and will include engagement with all relevant stakeholders including fans, Government and, of course, the EFL.

Also at today's meeting it was agreed to make available a rescue package which aims to ensure that League One and League Two clubs will not go out of business as a result of the financial impact of COVID-19 and be able to complete the 2020/21 season.

League One and League Two clubs rely more heavily on matchday revenue and have fewer resources at their disposal than Championship or Premier League clubs and are therefore more at risk, especially at a time when fans are excluded from attending matches.  This offer will consist of grants and interest-free loans totalling a further £50 million on top of the £27.2m solidarity payments already advanced to League One and League Two this year, making a total of £77.2m. Discussions will also continue with the EFL regarding Championship clubs' financial needs. This addresses Government concerns about lower league clubs' financial fragility.

Football is not the same without attending fans and the football economy is unsustainable without them. The Premier League and all our clubs remain committed to the safe return of fans as soon as possible.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/october/Premier-League-Statement-14-10-2020/

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Fulham close to signing Terence Kongolo for £3m from Huddersfield as Scott Parker seeks to bolster his defence with Holland international

    Fulham want to bring in Huddersfield's Terence Kongolo for defensive stability
    The Holland international defender could be available for just £3million
    Kongolo was on loan at Fulham last year and failed a medical at Sheffield United

Fulham are expected to complete a deal for Huddersfield defender Terence Kongolo for around £3million on Thursday.

The 26-year old saw a proposed move to Sheffield United break down owing to concerns over his medical.

The defender broke a bone in his foot while on loan at Fulham early in the year and it required metal work being inserted. 


Fulham are keen to bring in centre-back Terence Kongolo, who was on loan at them last season


The 26-year-old is available for £3million, having joined Huddersfield Town for £18m in 2018

That had to be removed before he could play again and Sheffield United were unsure about taking a chance on the Dutchman's fitness.

Fulham are now exploring a deal and will conduct their own medical examination before deciding whether to push through a deal before Friday's deadline.

The fee is understood to be around £3m for the Holland international who signed for Huddersfield in 2018 for £18m.

Overall, Kongolo - who can also play at left-back - has made 60 appearances in all competitions for the Terriers, scoring once. 


Kongolo was set to join Sheffield United earlier this summer but failed a Blades medical



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8841653/Fulham-close-signing-defender-Terence-Kongolo-Huddersfield-3m.html

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Bobby: Mood Is Bright

One might assume a side with four defeats from four would be suffering from low morale, but Bobby De Cordova-Reid insists it's quite the opposite in the Fulham camp.

"To be fair, the mood's bright, the mood is very good and the energy is up there," he said ahead of Sunday's trip to Sheffield United. "We all know what we need to do.

"The Manager knows what the task is, we all know what the task is, and we've got to keep on pushing towards that.

"It's been disappointing results-wise, but there have been positives to take from a few of the games and if we can build on those then I'm sure we'll be alright."

The Blades are another side also searching for their first points of the campaign, but De Cordova-Reid is still well aware of the threats they will pose at Bramall Lane.

"I think it's going to be a hard game," he stated. "They're a tough team to beat, they're very resilient in defending, and they can nick a goal.

"It will be a very interesting one. They had a great season last year and they were very solid in what they were doing.

"If we can take something from them, it would be that; being solid as a unit and being hard to break down.

"It will be a decent test for us and one that we're relishing."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2020/october/Bobby-Mood-Is-Bright/

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Terence Kongolo's Fulham transfer to be sealed as Huddersfield Town prepare for double exit

The Dutchman has been expected to leave the Terriers throughout the summer and now looks set to head back to Craven Cottage in a permanent switch to Scott Parker's Fulham

Terence Kongolo looks set to complete his long-awaited move to Fulham in a permanent transfer.

The Athletic report that Kongolo completed a medical on Wednesday and is set to finalise a move worth up to £7m, of which around £4m is payable up front.

That means Huddersfield Town should soon see two players finally head to the exit after a long summer of speculation, with Karlan Grant also looking set to secure a move to West Bromwich Albion after a deal with the Baggies was finally agreed on Wednesday.

Despite being Town's record signing Kongolo was surplus to requirements at the John Smith's Stadium with Carlos Corberan's squad well-stocked with defensive options and the club looking to trim their wage bill, which Kongolo will be right towards the very top of.

Sheffield United launched a rival bid for Kongolo two weeks ago but are believed to have quickly ended their interest after having doubts over Kongolo's recovery from a broken foot he suffered during his loan spell at Fulham earlier this year.

His permanent move to the Cottagers also looked to have gone cold after sources had indicated it had got close to completion, with Scott Parker turning to Manchester City's Tosin Adarabioyo on last Mondays intra-Premier League deadline day

However, Town released footage last week showing the Dutch international back on the training pitch at their PPG Canalside training facility, jogging and playing the ball with both feet with no evident discomfort or difficulty.

It is unclear whether Kongolo's injury played a part in Fulham initially seeming to walk away from the deal, or whether the apparent good progress in his recovery played a part in reviving their interest.

The imminent departures of Grant and Kongolo should allow Town to assess their final move(s) in the summer transfer window before the 5pm deadline on Friday.

We understand a direct replacement for Grant to play wide in the front three would ideally be on the cards for the Terriers.

Any new additions would join Danny Ward, Joel Pereira, Pipa, Carel Eiting and Naby Sarr as new faces at the John Smith's Stadium.



https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/terence-kongolo-transfer-sealed-huddersfield-19106005

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Ex-Rotherham and Fulham man can be part of a prolific Portsmouth side - even if he's not a regular goalscorer
Kenny Jackett insists Ryan Williams can be part of a prolific Pompey team – even if he's not on the scoresheet regularly.

The Australia international caught the eye when starting in wins over Burton and Southend earlier this month.

However, he was surprisingly dropped for last weekend's 2-1 defeat of MK Dons. Instead, Ronan Curtis came back into the line-up following his two-goal salvo against the Shrimpers.

Williams was guilty of missing decent chances in his two previous games from the outset.

The former Fulham man hasn't been as ruthless in the final third as fellow wingers Curtis and Marcus Harness since returning to Fratton Park in June 2019.

Last season, Williams bagged three goals in 36 games and is yet to net this term. Over the same period, Harness and Curtis have notched 14 and 17 times respectively.

But Jackett feels the ex-Barnsley man's pace going forward, coupled with his work ethic off the ball, mean he can be part of a successful formula.

When asked if adding goals is Williams' next challenge, the Pompey boss said: 'Yes, of course but he can certainly be part of a winning formula and a winning formula that scores a lot of goals.

'You do need a balance of the team. Ryan works hard and he's quick – people don't like playing against him because he has pace.

'He's also very good at winning the ball back so those things do contribute to you winning games.

'Ryan has played well and gives everything that he's got in every game. He makes a good impact off the bench as well.

'He's trained hard and I've been pleased with his contributions.'

Jackett's rotated his wingers in recent matches, with Michael Jacobs starting on the left and Curtis on the right against MK Dons.

The Pompey manager is hoping to settle down his forwards, however.

He added: 'We do want to settle the team down if we can. In early games, we haven't been as cohesive as we can.

'At Burton, we felt it was a good performance and, in terms of rotating players, we will see.

'In the end, you do want a side to get into a rhythm, know their jobs and, perhaps most importantly, produce winning perfomances.'

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https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/sport/football/portsmouth-fc/ex-rotherham-and-fulham-man-can-be-part-prolific-portsmouth-side-even-if-hes-not-regular-goalscorer-3003665

[WhiteJC]

How Fulham could look after domestic deadline day

Fulham were one of the most active teams in the country on international deadline day, and with just days to go in the domestic window it once again looks as though there will be a flurry of activity at Craven Cottage – and you can understand why.

The London outfit sit bottom of the Premier League after four games, and there is certainly room for improvement in a number of key areas. Luckily it seems as though the higher-ups at the club are well aware of these issues as the transfer links are coming thick and fast.

Here's how we think Fulham may line-up after the domestic deadline.

Interestingly, we've tipped Fulham to stick with a back four for now, but with Scott Parker experimenting with a back five in recent weeks, don't be too surprised to see that switch at some point.

The defence looks slightly different from what we have seen so far this season, but one thing that remains the same is Alphonse Areola retaining his spot between the sticks.

We have tipped Antonee Robinson to usurp Joe Bryan at left-back, while Terence Kongolo could take Tim Ream's spot at centre-back after it was reported that he was having a medical.

Joachim Andersen links up with former Lyon teammate Kenny Tete to make up the rest of the back four.

The midfield pivot we've selected features Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa and Harrison Reed playing in the deeper roles, but don't discount Mario Lemina, Tom Cairney or Jean-Michael Seri getting chances in the near future.

Going forward there's a completely new look. We've tipped the Whites to land Said Benrahma after they were linked with a move by David Ornstein just hours before West Ham's swoop was rumoured to be on the rocks, while Ademola Lookman and Ruben Loftus-Cheek also earn starting roles.

There are no prizes for guessing who starts up front as Aleksandar Mitrovic spearheads the attack.

Unfortunately, incomings aren't the only thing expected at Craven Cottage in the coming days.

Indeed, there is no space in our team for either Michael Hector or Anthony Knockaert with QPR and Nottingham Forest both attempting to broker loan deals before the deadline, and we're building our XI with those deals in mind.



https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-fc-transfer-rumours/fulham-news-transfers-team-news

[RaySmith]

Are Fulham still in with a shout for Benrahma? - heard  he was going to West Ham for 30 million.

It would be great if we did get him.