Monday Fulham Stuff - 14/06/21...

[WhiteJC]

One of Our Own: Jay Stansfield

Celebrating our dynamite academy in Youth Development Week

Another example of an academy product tipped to have a big future in the game is prolific forward, Jay Stansfield.

Son of the late, great, former City striker, Adam Stansfield, Jay certainly did the family name proud with his rise through the ECFC Academy, where his reputation for hard work and an eye for goal indicated a bright future from the start.

Having joined the Exeter youth set-up as an under-9s player in 2010, the coaches held high hopes for the young attacker and, in the 2018/19 season - after guiding the under-16s Floodlit Cup glory, and helping the under-18s reach the EFL Youth Alliance Cup final - City supporters got excited that Jay may adorn the number nine shirt for the Grecians much like his father did.

However, in August 2019, Exeter reluctantly received an offer from Fulham for their first-year scholar which saw they young forward make his way to Craven Cottage. The marksman settled quickly and didn't take long to get used to his new surroundings.

After enjoying a fruitful pre-season for the Londoner's' youth side, Jay netted five goals in his first four league games for his new team in the under-18s Premier League. Jay's goalscoring record continued at an impressive rate, finishing with a total of 26 goals in 18 appearances in the 2019/20 campaign across all competitions, making Fulham fans sit up and take notice of their new star.

That season, however, wasn't just about youth football for Jay. His form was so strong that he began to gain admirers on a national level, and in November 2019, the striker was called up by England under-18s for their matches against Russia, Norway and Czech Republic.

Jay was also involved with the Cottagers' first-team matters later on in the season, and, on the 4th January 2020, he made his first-team debut in Fulham's FA Cup third-round match against Aston Villa. Jay also appeared as a substitute in their Championship draw with Charlton Athletic a few weeks later.

This season, however, Jay has found things much tougher as an ankle injury severely hampered his progress, and left him on the side-lines from October to January. To date he has played nine times in this year's U18s Premier League, scoring five goals, but, has also racked up five Under-23s appearances when fit.

In a recent interview with Fulham's website, Jay announced he found things difficult during his time in the treatment room, however, has objectives that include being involved with the under-23s on a more regular basis, and hopes he can grab a few more appearances for the first-team in the near future.



https://www.exetercityfc.co.uk/news/2021/june/oooo-jay-stansfield/

[WhiteJC]

Revealed: The latest update on Ademola Lookman's switch to Nigeria

The 23-year-old could be the latest player born in England to switch international allegiance to the three-time African champions

Ademola Lookman's potential international switch to Nigeria is not done despite the reports saying otherwise.

Lookman was born in England and has represented the Three Lions at the youth level, including the U20 World Cup, which he won in 2017.

However, he also qualifies to represent Nigeria through his parents, and he's interested in playing for the Super Eagles at the international level.

There were reports that the RB Leipzig star had completed his international switch last week, but that's not the case as Lookman does not have a Nigerian passport yet.

The former Everton player needs a Nigerian passport before applying to FIFA. It remains to be seen if he would speed up the application process with the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup taking place next year.

Meanwhile, Lookman's club future is also up in the air. The youngster spent this year on loan at Fulham from Leipzig, but the Cottagers announced they wouldn't be taking up the option to sign him permanently.

Trabzonspor have reportedly signified an interest in his services but the Turkish club are only interested in taking him on loan.

Lookman's contract with Leipzig does not expire until 2024.



https://soccernet.ng/2021/06/revealed-the-latest-update-on-ademola-lookmans-switch-to-nigeria.html

[WhiteJC]

Sheffield United know what it would cost to reunite Aleksandar Mitrovic with Slavisa Jokanovic

Sheffield United fans have been hoping the appointment of the ex-Fulham manager would lead to a dream reunion with his former striker

It was the most unlikely transfer of the summer, but it did not stop Sheffield United fans from dreaming the appointment of Slavisa Jokanovic would lead to a dream reunion with his former striker Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Blades fans were quick to send the Mitrovic transfer message when United announced Jokanovic as their new manager last month, appointing the former Fulham and Watford boss on a three-year contract.

Hopes are high that he can lead United back to the Premier League, having enjoyed promotion from the Championship twice before.

A big part of Fulham's promotion under Jokanovic, the Serbian scored 12 goals in 17 matches as they finished the season in fine form, beating Aston Villa in the play-off final.

He also fired Fulham back to the Premier League in 2020, finding the net 26 times and his pedigree at that level is undeniable.

However, Mitrovic did not feature much under Scott Parker last season, making just 13 Premier League starts.

Reports claim the 26-year-old wants out of Craven Cottage, but having paid Newcastle £22m for his services he is not leaving on the cheap.

Russian side Dynamo Moscow have tested the water in the last 48 hours with a £16m bid but that has been rejected.

Mitrovic, a Serbian legend already with 41 goals in 64 appearances for his country, is a big fan of Jokanovic.

"It's bad news for me," he said after the new Blades boss was sacked as Fulham manager.

"Since everyone knows what impact he had on me and on my career in the previous 18 months. He did a lot for my career.

"We spoke yesterday, and he comforted me more than I did him.

"I was very, very sorry and I think everyone at the club is very disappointed, because of everything he gave to the club."

With seven strikers already, it was always a pipe dream from fans that he would come to Bramall Lane next season.

And news that Fulham want more than the £16m Moscow have offered is proof that, for now, the perfect reunion is not going to happen with United not looking to spend that type of money on a single player following relegation.

It would take some big-money departures and several strikers leaving for United to be able to entertain such an option.

But should United get promoted to the Premier League next season....?




https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/sheffield-united-know-what-would-20805417

[WhiteJC]

3 replacements that Fulham need to consider as big-money bid arrives for 26-y/o

Like any side who suffer relegation, Fulham could be set for a busy summer which includes a battle to keep hold of key men.

Unsurprisingly, one player who is already attracting attention is Aleksandar Mitrovic. Whilst the Serbian international endured a tough season in the Premier League last time out, he still has a good reputation in the game.

And, Dynamo Moscow are one club who are keen to do a deal for the target man, with reports emerging over the past few days revealing that they have had a £16m offer rejected for Mitrovic.

The Cottagers will justifiably feel that fee is too low, but if bigger offers arrive then it could be difficult to keep the ex-Newcastle man, so they must already be thinking about potential replacements.

Here we look at THREE who must be on their radar if the number nine departs...

Kieffer Moore

We know that Mitrovic excels with his back to goal and his physicality makes him the ideal focal point for the Londoners.

So, if the club want someone with similar attributes in that sense, then they should consider Kieffer Moore. The Wales international, who scored the Dragons goal in their Euro 2020 opener, has come off the back of an amazing season with Cardiff City.

The Bluebirds financial situation means they won't be able to resist a decent offer and Moore could be the man to fire Fulham to promotion, like Mitrovic has previously.

Daryl Dike

This would be an ambitious move because the American international has Premier League suitors but the prospect of being the main man at Craven Cottage could appeal.

A spell on loan with Barnsley last season showed exactly what the youngster is all about. Physically he is ridiculously strong and he is also intelligent with his movement, technically sound and, most importantly, capable of scoring goals.

He would command a decent fee but in the long-term it could look a shrewd move as Dike's potential is huge.

Adam Armstrong

Fulham don't have to go for a physical number nine though and with Scott Parker using Ivan Cavaleiro centrally for much of last season, there would be merits to signing a more mobile attacker who can run in behind.

If that's the sort of player they want, then Blackburn's Adam Armstrong fits the bill.

A return of 28 goals in 40 games last season shows he almost guarantees goals at this level, so he could be the prolific striker the team need in Mitrovic's absence.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/3-replacements-that-fulham-need-to-consider-as-big-money-bid-arrives-for-26-y-o/

[WhiteJC]

2 pros and 2 cons to Leeds United swooping for £9million-rated midfielder this summer

Leeds United are interest in the signing of Fulham midfielder Harrison Reed, a report from The Daily Mail has claimed.

Reed initially joined Fulham on loan from Southampton in the summer of 2019, making his move permanent a year later after helping the Cottagers win promotion from the Championship.

But with Fulham having suffered an immediate relegation from the Premier League last season, Reed – who is valued at £9million by Transfermarkt – looks set to be a man in demand this summer.

According to this latest update, Leeds are one of several top-flight clubs who are interested in a move for the 26-year-old over the coming months.

So what impact could it have on Leeds if they were to complete a deal for Reed this summer.

Here, we've taken a look at two pros and two cons to Leeds completing the signing of the midfielder.

Pro: Cover for Phillips
One obvious benefit of the potential arrival of Reed at Elland Road, is the cover it would provide for Kalvin Phillips.

The England international has been outstanding in the centre of the pitch for Marcelo Bielsa's side in recent years, but they have noticeably struggled much more when Phillips has been absent for one reason or another.

Signing Reed however, would provide Leeds with an experienced central midfield alternative to Phillips, who proved last season that he is more than capable of competing at Premier League level, which would go some way to easing the concerns they might have about injuries of suspensions for Phillips.

Con: Game time frustration
While bringing in Reed would provide cover for Phillips, it could also leave Marcelo Bielsa with something of a selection headache.

It has long since been established that Phillips will perform that holding midfield role in front of the back four by himself, freeing up Leeds to use four attacking midfielders behind the centre forward.

That means that generally, Phillips and Reed would find themselves competing for a single place in the centre of the park, and with the ability of the pair meaning neither will want to play second fiddle to the other, it will leave Bielsa with something of a juggling act to perform to avoid any behind the scenes frustrations from one of the pair.

Pro: Reed's versatility
While most naturally and traditionally a central midfielder, Reed is a player who can also fill roles in other areas of the pitch.

The 26-year-old has previously shown that is capable playing in a number of positions, perhaps most notably in the full-backs areas, and that could certainly be useful for Leeds.

With the Whites lacking strength in depth in certain areas of the pitch, having a player available such as Reed who can step in in more than one area of the pitch would be a big help to the Whites, and go some way to ensuring they can cope with absences in certain positions.

Con: He could be expensive
Despite Fulham's relegation from the Premier League, it still seems as though Reed is unlikely to be a cheap signing for Leeds.

The Cottagers are said to be battling to keep their best players – of which Reed is one – and with three years remaining on his current contract at Craven Cottage, plus the option to extend by a further 12 months, Fulham are not under any pressure to sell Reed any time soon.

Add to that the fact that interest from elsewhere in Reed means that there is the prospect of a bidding war for the midfielder, and you feel Leeds will have to be careful not to price themselves out of other important that they will need to do this summer, in their pursuit of the midfielder.



https://www.leedsallover.com/2-pros-and-2-cons-to-leeds-united-swooping-for-9million-rated-midfielder-this-summer/

[WhiteJC]

Opinion: Fulham's transfer decision on 26-y/o is a surprising one given recent other transfer developments at Craven Cottage

Fulham forward Aleksandar Mitrović has emerged as a transfer target for Premier League side West Ham United ahead of the 2021/22 campaign, according to The Sun.

The forward struggled for consistent game time with the Cottagers in the 2020/21 season, as he made just 13 league starts for the London-based side.

Mitrovic played an important role in Fulham's promotion-winning campaign in the 2019/20 season, as he netted 26 goals in 41 appearances for Scott Parker's side.

But this season has been different for the Serbian international, with Mitrovic making 31 appearances in all competitions for Fulham, and he was often kept behind Josh Maja in the pecking order at Craven Cottage.

It was a frustrating league campaign for Fulham though, as they were relegated back into the Championship after just one year back in the top flight, as they finished 18th in the Premier League table.

The Sun have claimed that Russian side Dynamo Moscow have seen a bid of £16million rejected by Fulham, who they are believed to be keen on keeping at Craven Cottage ahead of the new league campaign, which is set to get under way in August.

Fulham already have some strong options available to them heading into the new season, and it certainly has come as a surprise to see them reject that sizeable offer from Dynamo Moscow.

But you would imagine that Mitrovic could be tempted by a move to West Ham United this summer, especially if they can offer him regular game time in the near future.

The Hammers already have a strong option available to them in attack in Michail Antonio, and it'll be interesting to see whether David Moyes' side are to further their interest in landing Mitrovic's signature.

The cost of being relegated from the Premier League is always a hefty one for any club, and seeing the £16million bid rejected by Fulham will be an eye-opener for some of the Fulham supporters.

Those funds could have proven useful this summer, as they could have been used to strengthen other areas of the Fulham squad this summer. We've already seen the likes of Harrison Reed and Tosin Adarabioyo linked with a summer departure, and if they were to depart, then the hefty funds from a potential sale of Mitrovic could have been handy for Scott Parker's side.

It'll be interesting to see whether the Cottagers can fend off any further interest from West Ham and Dynamo Moscow this summer, as they target promotion back into the Premier League at the first time of asking.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/opinion-fulhams-transfer-decision-on-26-y-o-is-a-surprising-one-given-recent-other-transfer-developments-at-craven-cottage/

[WhiteJC]

West Ham United Keeping A Keen Eye On This Fulham Striker: What Will He Bring To East London?

In a recent report, The Sun has mentioned that West Ham United are keeping a keen eye on Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic this summer. It is believed that the Hammers boss David Moyes is a big admirer of the Serbian marksman's talents ahead of a potential move in this off-season (via The Sun).

Mitrovic's Lacklustre Season At Craven Cottage

The Smederevo-born frontman endured an underwhelming season with the Cottagers as he struggled to find consistency in terms of his goal-scoring in the Premier League. Mitrovic registered just four goals and four assists in 31 matches for the London outfit in the previous campaign across various competitions.

The 26-year-old failed to find the cutting edge in the final third based on his average of 2.2 shots, 0.9 key passes and 0.3 dribbles per game in the English top-flight. He also needs to improve his accuracy when distributing the ball after making 73.5% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).

At 26, Mitrovic is still waiting to prove his worth at the highest level. However, he could flourish playing in West Ham head coach David Moyes' system as he will have more creative players around him and could serve as an ideal deputy to Michail Antonio at the London Stadium. Mitrovic's current contract at Craven Cottage is set to expire in the summer of 2024, so it won't be easy for the Hammers to sign him this summer.

What Will The Serbia International Bring To The London Stadium?

Mitrovic can use his powerful 1.89m frame to dominate the opposition centre-backs in the air which makes him a good target man up top. He is an aerial threat from indirect set-pieces and also packs a lot of venom with his shot attempts.

However, the 64-time Serbia international struggled to be productive in the 2020-21 Premier League campaign, so he might be a risky acquisition for West Ham to consider this summer. He can also give away the ball cheaply at times which can sometimes make him a liability on the field.

Mitrovic could be a potent weapon for Moyes to utilise off the bench due to his aerial prowess. Plus, he will also bring some bite and steel to the East London club's frontline that might help them compete across all competitions in the coming seasons. With all things considered, Moyes should consider engineering a cut-price move to land Mitrovic ahead of the new season.



https://the4thofficial.net/2021/06/west-ham-united-keeping-a-keen-eye-on-mitrovic/

[WhiteJC]

Exclusive: Fry claims Fulham threw Parker under the bus

Barry Fry believes that Fulham set Scott Parker up to fail with their lack of investment ahead of their return to the Premier League.

The manager is 40, making him a relatively young boss in the top-flight, and he could not keep the club in the top division.

Fulham ultimately finished the campaign 18th, winning just five of their 38 games.

They took a total of 28 points from those fixtures and finished the season 11 points behind 17th-placed Burnley.

Still, Fry believes that Parker had little chance of keeping the Cottagers up because of their inability to back him.

Indeed, per Transfermarkt, Fulham spent just £33.5m last summer, with their most expensive signing being Anthony Knockaert, who arrived from Brighton at a fee of just over £10m.

The last time they were preparing for a Premier League season, Fulham spent over £100m, though they were again relegated.

Speaking exclusively to This Is Futbol, Fry expressed his sympathies for Parker and the way the board treated him, while lauding the effort he put in.

He said: "The owners made a statement last time they got promotion, I don't know what he spent, £100m or whatever he spent, but they came straight down, and he wasn't going to spend the money again.

"I think they threw Scott under the bus, I don't think they gave him a cat in hell's chance, and fair credit to Scott, he put up a hell of a fight."



https://thisisfutbol.com/2021/06/blogs/premier-league/fulham/exclusive-fry-claims-fulham-threw-parker-under-the-bus/

[filham]

OK we are all looking for a couple of spectacular new signings in attack to set us up for a promotion run but how exciting it would be to see young Jay Stansfield break into the first team. Hard to remember when we had a young home grown attacking talent in our line up but make no mistake we would benefit more by a youngster coming into the team rather than the risky big money signing.

Our last hope of a really good young attacking player was Patrick Roberts but he followed the big money and then faded away.

[blingo]

OK we are all looking for a couple of spectacular new signings in attack to set us up for a promotion run but how exciting it would be to see young Jay Stansfield break into the first team. Hard to remember when we had a young home grown attacking talent in our line up but make no mistake we would benefit more by a youngster coming into the team rather than the risky big money signing.

Our last hope of a really good young attacking player was Patrick Roberts but he followed the big money and then faded away.

Correct Mr Filham. I also believe we will massively regret it if we sell Mitrovic.

[ToodlesMcToot]

OK we are all looking for a couple of spectacular new signings in attack to set us up for a promotion run but how exciting it would be to see young Jay Stansfield break into the first team. Hard to remember when we had a young home grown attacking talent in our line up but make no mistake we would benefit more by a youngster coming into the team rather than the risky big money signing.

Our last hope of a really good young attacking player was Patrick Roberts but he followed the big money and then faded away.

Correct Mr Filham. I also believe we will massively regret it if we sell Mitrovic.

W/ regard to Mitro, that all would come down to Parker staying or going, no? Or have the rumors of the rift between the two been debunked?

[Bracken White]

Playing someone like Stansfield alongside Mitrovic would be of real benefit to both.
Mitro loves those little quick passes in & around the box, & we have not played in a way to compliment this with an out & out 2nd Striker.
Fully agree with both the above suggestions - we should most certainly keep Mitrovic .... if he favours staying.

[Jim©]

Stansfield ended the season playing in the 10 role, just in behind the main striker (Biereth) and set a good number of goals up for him too.