Thursday fulham Stuff - 17/06/21...

[WhiteJC]

Fulham remain 'in the running' to sign 28-goal striker – West Ham hold 'longest term interest'

Norwich City and Southampton were both reported to be 'leading' the race to sign Blackburn Rovers' Adam Armstrong yesterday.

The Blackburn Rovers man netted a stunning 28 goals in 40 Championship outings last season, including seven in the final three games of the season.

He's been linked with a clutch of Premier League clubs throughout the campaign but yesterday, Football Insider reported that both Norwich City and Southampton were leading the race to sign the 24-year-old.

Now though, a report from Lancashire Telegraph claims that Fulham remain 'in the running' as they face uncertainty over the future of striker Aleksandar Mitrovic, having previously been linked with Armstrong, and with West Ham holding the 'longest term interest'.

But the same report goes on to mention how Rovers 'ideally' want closer to £20million for the striker rather than the £15million that Football Insider claimed, with Newcastle United's having a sell-on clause on their former striker which weakens Rovers 'bargaining power'.

Blackburn though are yet to receive any incoming bids for Armstrong.

Thoughts?
Armstrong would obviously be an amazing addition at Craven Cottage and more than worthy replacement for Mitrovic should he depart.

Following their relegation though it seems unlikely that he'd opt for them over a move to say Norwich or Southampton, or even West Ham should they become front-runners once again.

He looks ready to make that step up now and Blackburn can expect to a healthy payday, with a move now looking inevitable. Tony Mowbray though will want things finalised sooner rather than later so he can work on bringing in a replacement.



https://the72.co.uk/239242/fulham-remain-in-the-running-to-sign-28-goal-striker-west-ham-hold-longest-term-interest/

[WhiteJC]

Exclusive: Fry drops verdict on Parker to Bournemouth

Peterborough United Director of Football Barry Fry insists that Scott Parker will only join Bournemouth if he is convinced the club want to win promotion this season.

The Fulham boss has been heavily linked with a potential move to their Championship rivals following the Cottagers' relegation to the second-tier.

The Daily Telegraph has reported that Parker is expected to leave Fulham this week and Bournemouth are subsequently set to approach him to become their new manager, with The Athletic reporting on Tuesday it looks likely to happen.

The report claims that the Cherries want a manager who is experienced at winning promotion to replace Jonathan Woodgate after the club failed in the play-offs this term.

Bournemouth finished sixth in the Championship and were beaten by Brentford in the semi-finals of the play-offs, losing 3-2 on aggregate, as the Bees went on to Wembley and beat Swansea City to seal their promotion.

Fry believes that Parker will only move if he knows he is going into a club with ambitions of automatic promotion, with the ex-Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United midfielder having guided Fulham into the Premier League in 2019/20 via the play-offs.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, Fry said: "Scott would want a club in the Championship that's going to have a right go at going up. He wants to go up again."



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/bournemouth-transfer-rumours/exclusive-fry-drops-verdict-on-parker-to-bournemouth-e148/

[WhiteJC]

West Brom want Henan Jianye manager Javier Pereira

West Brom are considering appointing Henan Jianye manager Javier Pereira as their new boss, according to TEAMtalk.

Fulham are also keen on the Spaniard who held talks with Sheffield United before the Blades went for Slavisa Jokanovic [TEAMtalk].

West Brom CEO Xu Ke appears to have been tasked with appointing the Baggies' next manager after Luke Dowling left his role as the club's sporting and technical director this week and he has identified Pereira as an option for the job.

Good fit?

Fulham's former Assistant Director of Football Operations has proven himself in the Chinese Super League since joining Jianye, miraculously keeping them up after four wins and two draws in the recent relegation play-off.

That feat appears to have caught the eyes of West Brom owner Guochuan Lai and Ke, and Pereira is also said to be keen on returning to England [TEAMtalk].

The 55-year-old was assistant manager at Fulham and Watford between 2014 and 2018, while he also held a similar position at Levante and Valladolid.

His first major stint as a manager has gone pretty well, but whether he is capable of the task at the Hawthorns is up for debate.

We need someone who knows what Premier League promotion entails, and Chris Wilder is an ideal option.

Lai is not keen, though, with Pereira looking like the new favourite man for the job.

This is a huge gamble, and we can only hope he performs a miracle if he is appointed as Baggies boss.

Pereira's experience as a sporting director could prove to be a huge advantage in the transfer dealings, though, and we could be replacing both Dowling and Sam Allardyce in one man.



https://www.westbromnews.co.uk/2021/06/16/west-brom-want-henan-jianye-manager-javier-pereira/

[WhiteJC]

Birmingham City locked in transfer tussle with Fulham for potential agreement with 10-goal forward

Birmingham City are believed to have enquired into the availability of Sheffield Wednesday forward Josh Windass according to The Star.

The 27-year-old caught the eye with some strong performances for the Owls in the 2020/21 season, although his efforts weren't quite enough to see them avoid relegation into the third tier of English football.

Windass netted ten goals and was on hand to provide six assists in 44 appearances for Darren Moore's side, and it appears as though those impressive showings haven't gone unnoticed heading into the summer.

Fulham are believed to have reaffirmed their interest in signing Windass, although they're said to be waiting on the future of manager Scott Parker before making any transfer decisions ahead of their return to the Championship.

But Birmingham City are the latest club to eye a move for the Sheffield Wednesday forward, who has a year remaining on his current contract at Hillsborough.

However, it remains to be seen as to whether Sheffield Wednesday will be able to hold onto him for much longer, with a number of clubs seemingly eyeing a move for the forward.

The Blues finished 18th in the Championship table, after picking up some much-needed positive results in the second half of the 2020/21 season, as Lee Bowyer guided them clear of the relegation zone relatively swiftly.

The Verdict:

This could turn out to be a really smart signing by the Blues ahead of the new Championship season.

Windass has shown that he can perform to a high standard at this level in the past, and it wouldn't be fair to pass too much judgement on his performances last season, as Sheffield Wednesday as a collective were nowhere near good enough to avoid relegation into League One.

You would imagine that he'll be keen to play at the highest possible level ahead of the new league campaign, and a move to Birmingham could present him with a step up from the level he's currently at.

It wouldn't come as a surprise to see Windass depart this summer, as he's one of the few Sheffield Wednesday players to come away with any credit to their name from the 2020/21 season.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/birmingham-city-locked-in-transfer-tussle-with-fulham-for-potential-agreement-with-10-goal-forward/

[WhiteJC]

Attacking re-shuffle? – 2 transfer developments we could see emerge at Fulham in the next few weeks

There's a real element of uncertainty over Fulham at the moment as we wait and see just who is going to be at the club for next season, both in terms of manager and playing staff.

The Cottagers are heading back to the Championship and, though they have the quality to achieve an immediate promotion next season, they need to start putting plans in place for pre-season and then August.

So far this summer, it's been pretty unclear as to whether Scott Parker is going to be in charge and, naturally, that has had an impact on summer targets as we don't know who could be coming in to help the squad or, indeed, leave it.

Here, though, we're taking a look at two developments that could play out in the coming weeks...

Aleksandar Mitrovic's future is decided
We're in another will he, won't he leave situation with Aleksandar Mitrovic this summer and all could be made clearer in the next few weeks.

Scott Parker is being heavily linked with an exit right now and Football League World understands that if the manager goes, the Serbian might well be open to staying at Craven Cottage.

If Parker stays, though, the striker wants to leave the club as they do not see eye-to-eye and so things could all play out very soon now.

Fulham need further attacking reinforcements anyway, and Mitrovic's potential exit will only increase that need.

Harrison Reed departs
Harrison Reed is another Fulham player whose future remains a little bit up in the air at the moment.

He'd certainly be a regular next year for the Lilywhites in the Championship but there are rumours suggesting the likes of Leeds United are interested in offering him a swift return to the Premier League this summer.

Of course, we'll have to see if anything comes of such talk but he is a good player in the middle of the park and one Fulham would surely like to keep, if they possibly can.

Money could well talk, though, and we'll have to see what happens if a firm offer is made for him.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/attacking-re-shuffle-2-transfer-developments-we-could-see-emerge-at-fulham-in-the-next-few-weeks/

[WhiteJC]

Sources: Parker to quit Fulham and join Bournemouth in next 48 hours

Scott Parker is set to quit as Fulham manager and join Bournemouth in the next 48 hours, Football Insider understands.

The 40-year-old's two-year spell at Craven Cottage will end following the club's relegation from the Premier League last month.

A source at the Vitality Stadium has told Football Insider that Bournemouth have a deal in place for Parker to take over as manager and confirmation is expected within days.

Parker was appointed Fulham manager in February 2019 with the club fighting for Premier League survival.

He could not save Cottagers from the drop that year but he brought them back to the English top flight in his first full season in charge.

The 2019-20 promotion campaign earned Parker a new three-year deal at Craven Cottage in September of last year.

However, his side struggled upon their return to the Premier League and finished 18th last season, 11 points from safety.

In total, Parker won 37 of the 107 matches he took charge of at a points-per-game average of 1.30.

Bournemouth are on the hunt for a new manager as Jonathan Woodgate was only placed in temporary charge until the end of the season after Jason Tindall's sacking in February.

The Cherries narrowly missed out on promotion via the play-offs in the 2020-21 campaign and will be aiming to go one better next season.

As revealed by Football Insider on 5 May, Spurs made behind-the-scenes moves to assess Parker's interest in becoming their new manager.

However, Tottenham are now closing in on the appointment of ex-Roma boss Paul Fonseca.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-parker-to-quit-fulham-and-join-bournemouth-in-next-48-hours/

[WhiteJC]

Scott Parker set to leave Fulham

Fulham manager Scott Parker looks increasingly likely to leave Craven Cottage this summer.

What's the talk?

That's according to a report by The Telegraph, who claim that the 40-year-old looks on course to leave the Cottagers later this week, with fellow Championship side Bournemouth thought to be lining up a move to appoint him as Jonathan Woodgate's replacement at the Vitality Stadium.

It is reported that Parker has been in talks with Shahid and Tony Khan regarding his position as the Fulham manager, with negotiations regarding his departure set to accelerate over the coming days before his exit is confirmed, which will potentially be by mutual consent.

According to The Telegraph, there has been friction between the former Fulham midfielder and the club's hierarchy, with this being a primary factor as to why Shahid and Tony Khan are prepared to allow the 40-year-old to leave.

Big mistake

While it is true that Parker ultimately failed to keep his side in the Premier League last season, the former England international's record in the Championship should be more than enough incentive for the Fulham bosses to do all they can to ensure the 40-year-old remains at the club this summer, rather than facilitating his departure.

Indeed, in the club's 2019/20 promotion-winning campaign, Parker led his team to 23 wins, 12 draws and 11 losses, narrowly missing out on automatic promotion by just two points.

However, the Cottagers then went on to secure a return to the top-flight regardless of their fourth-place finish in the second tier, defeating Brentford 2-1 AET in the play-off final.

Furthermore, despite Fulham's aforementioned relegation last season, the former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder earned a considerable amount of praise from some of the biggest names in the game for the style of football Fulham were playing in the top flight, with the likes of Marcelo Bielsa, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp all complimenting the Cottagers boss, with Klopp stating his belief that the 40-year-old had his team playing "exceptional" football.

As such, the argument can be made that Shahid and Tony Khan's decision to allow the 40-year-old to leave the club this summer will be a catastrophic mistake, as they will not only be waving goodbye to a manager with a track record of securing an immediate return to the Premier League, but they look likely to be strengthening a direct rival for promotion in the shape of Bournemouth – both factors that will undoubtedly leave Fulham fans devastated.



https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-fc-transfer-rumours/fulham-manager-news-transfer-news-scott-parker-bournemouth-shahid-khan-tony-khan-the-championship

[WhiteJC]

Birmingham City, Fulham eyeing Josh Windass – Price tag? Reported wages? What can he offer?

Both Birmingham City and Fulham have been linked with Sheffield Wednesday's Josh Windass.

Windass, 27, is attracting a lot of interest going into the summer. The Sheffield Wednesday man is contracted to the club beyond this month but Sheffield Star have reported that Birmingham City have 'enquired' about the striker, with Fulham also interested.

He notched nine goals in his 41 Championship outings last season, with many of them coming towards the end to give the owls a chance of survival on the final day of the season.

Now though, he could be nearing a Championship move as Wednesday drop down into League One. Here we take a deeper look at the move...

What is the reported price tag?

No price tag has been reported for Windass' potential exit from Sheffield Wednesday. In the past though, the striker joined Wigan Athletic from Rangers in a £2.5million move, with his later move to Hillsborough being for an undisclosed fee.

Given Sheffield Wednesday's ongoing financial situation as well, it's unclear whether they night ramp up the prices of their prize assets like Windass or accept a lower offer as to get cash in this summer.

What is Windass' reported salary?

Windass is actually one of the lesser-paid names at Sheffield Wednesday. According to Salary Sport, he brings in a still respectable £8,100-a-week.

What can he offer to Birmingham City and Fulham?

Windass played a variety of attacking roles in the Championship season just gone.

He can play as a lone striker or up front in a pair, even dropping deeper to play in a no.10 or a wider role at times too. That kind of versatility is vital in the Championship but ideally, Windass wants to be playing up front with someone alongside him.

He's a very dynamic forward with pace, power and a good strike too – as well as being able to play a number of roles he can score a variety of goals too.

He'd be a fine addition to any Championship side going into the 2021/22 campaign and expect the race to heat up as we delve into the summer months.



https://the72.co.uk/239297/birmingham-city-fulham-eyeing-windass-deal-price-tag-reported-wages-what-can-he-offer/

[WhiteJC]

Scott Parker reportedly 'set to leave Fulham' this week

SCOTT Parker is "set to leave Fulham later this week" according to a report in the Telegraph.

Parker has been in charge of the Cottagers since February 2019, overseeing two relegations from the Premier League and a promotion via the Championship play-offs.

Fulham finished 18th in the top-flight last season, with Parker now said to be coming to the end of his time at the west London outfit.

The Telegraph claim Parker's departure is expected to be confirmed "over the next few days, possibly by mutual consent".

The report goes on to say that Cherries are "poised to offer Parker a quick return to management".

Cherries are looking their finalise their managerial team for next season, with Jonathan Woodgate's short-term deal as head coach set to expire in June.

The process has taken longer than the board initially anticipated, but the club have been in deep negotiations with more than one potential candidate.

Woodgate arrived at Cherries in February, quickly replacing outgoing boss Jason Tindall, initially on an interim basis.

But he was unable to guide the club back to the Premier League at the first time of asking, losing in the play-off semi-finals against Brentford.



https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/sport/19373137.scott-parker-reportedly-set-leave-fulham-week/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham should move for Steve Cooper

With recent reports suggesting that Scott Parker's time as Fulham manager could be coming to an end in the next few days, there is one potential replacement for the 40-year-old who could carry on the former England international's work at Craven Cottage.

According to a report by The Telegraph, the relationship between Parker and both Shahid and Tony Khan has rather considerably broken down following Fulham's relegation to the Championship last season, with the club's hierarchy having been in talks with the young manager regarding his position at the club this week.

As a result of these talks, it is expected that Parker will leave the club in the coming days, possibly by mutual consent, with the 40-year-old thought to be in the running to take over from Jonathan Woodgate at Fulham's promotion rivals Bournemouth.

And, with the Cottagers looking increasingly likely to be on a hunt for a new manager of their own in the not so distant future, there is one standout candidate who could well be Parker's perfect successor at Craven Cottage – Steve Cooper.

Following a season in which Graham Potter had led his Swansea City side to a 10th place finish in the 2018/19 Championship campaign, the appointment of a coach whose only previous experience in management had been with the Liverpool and England youth sides may not filled many of the Swansea fans with confidence.

However, the 41-year-old quickly put any doubt about his managerial capabilities to bed, with the Welsh side going on to enjoy a remarkable, and rather unexpected, season under the previously unknown coach – winning 18, drawing 16 and losing 12 of their 46 Championship fixtures in Cooper's debut season, subsequently securing a sixth-place finish.

And, although the Swans would eventually lose 3-2 on aggregate to a much-fancied Brentford side in the play-off semi-finals, there were clear signs of improvement made by the club under their new manager – not only in league position but also tactically, with Swansea conceding just eight goals from set-pieces, down from 24 under Potter in the year prior.

The following season, Cooper defied expectations once again, with Swansea winning 23, drawing 11 and losing 12 of their 46 Championship fixtures, this time finishing the season in fourth place with 80 points – 10 more than the previous year.

Their performances in the play-offs also improved, defeating Barnsley 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-final, before – extremely unfortunately – meeting Thomas Frank's Brentford once more in the final – a game that Swansea would ultimately lose 2-1.

Away from the pitch, Cooper has also gained a reputation for being extremely adept in developing young players – something no doubt helped by the fact the 41-year-old won the U17 World Cup with England – so much so that Premier League sides now offer Swansea the opportunity to loan their youth prospects before making them available to the wider market.

As such, it would very much appear as if the appointment of the man whom Andre Ayew dubbed a "quality" manager at Fulham would not only bring the very real chance of securing an immediate return to the Premier League, but also the potential of developing a young, exciting and attacking side that could well stay in the top flight for longer than Parker managed – leading us to believe that Cooper should very much be top of Khan's shortlist this summer.



https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-fc-news/fulham-transfer-manager-news-scott-parker-steve-cooper-shahid-khan-tony-khan-swansea-city-the-championship

[WhiteJC]

Premier League Clubs Linked with Tosin Adarabioyo: Good option for Arsenal?

Tosin Adarabioyo is the subject of interest for many Premier League clubs and becomes a good wildcard option for top-six sides struggling with transfer funds.

There are sure to be many huge transfer stories popping up as Euro 2020 and Copa America are taking place this summer.

But while that is going on, clubs are already being linked with big transfer moves. One of the names to watch over the coming weeks is definitely Tosin Adarabioyo.

With Fulham's relegation, there are rumors that Adarabioyo has a release clause of just £10 million in his contract with the club.

That is a steal for Premier League clubs who are looking to bring in a young defender who still has loads of potential.

It will make Tosin Adarabioyo one of the hottest young names to follow during this summer transfer window.

Who is Tosin Adarabioyo?
Tosin Adarabioyo is a 23-year-old central defender who plays for Fulham. The former Manchester City starlet has turned himself into a proven Premier League defender since moving away from the Manchester club.

It has taken some time, but he is starting to realize the immense potential that he possesses.

Adarabioyo is a 6 foot 5-inch towering defender, but that is not his only quality. Growing up through City's academy, he also learned to play with the ball at his feet.

Considering everything that is asked of defenders in modern football, it is almost considered a requirement that defenders have great ball skills to go along with their defensive skills. These qualities make Adarabioyo a worthy addition to any Premier League club.

Who is being linked with Tosin Adarabioyo?
There are sure to be many clubs linked with Tosin Adarabioyo, both in the Premier League and abroad. But the two clubs that have been linked with him the most are Arsenal and Newcastle.

Most of the reports circulating list both of the clubs as potential landing spots, even though he is a realistically affordable target for the majority of the Premier League.

Arsenal could use an upgrade in defense as they look to put together a much stronger season next year. Word has it that they are prepared to listen to offers for William Saliba, with him not in Mikel Arteta's future plans.

Newcastle will have similar ambitions as they look to improve upon a mid-table finish last season.

With the rumored £10 million release clause, both teams could do a lot worse than bringing in Tosin Adarabioyo this summer.



https://thetopflight.com/2021/06/16/premier-league-clubs-linked-tosin-adarabioyo-arsenal/

[WhiteJC]

Cardiff City and Fulham keen on Premier League defender – Bournemouth previously linked

Fulham and Cardiff City are both interested in Tottenham Hotspur defender Cameron Carter-Vickers, according to SBI Soccer (via Wales Online).

Fulham are looking to bolster their options this summer following their relegation from the Premier League and have identified Cameron Carter-Vickers as a potential new signing.

They will be hoping to bounce back to the top tier at the first time of asking and the American has plenty of experience in the Championship following loan spells with the likes of Sheffield United, Ipswich Town, Swansea City, Stoke City, Luton Town and most recently Bournemouth.

Similarly, Cardiff City will be looking to go one better than last season and achieve a place in the top six of the division. Sean Morrison and Aden Flint formed a strong partnership at the heart of Bluebirds defence, but Carter-Vickers could provide vital added stability.

However, both Fulham and Cardiff do face competition from Premier League side Newcastle United. The prospect of playing regularly in the top flight may be a selling point in the future of Carter-Vickers, one that the two Championship sides can't offer next season.

The Magpies are in pole position according to the original report with Spurs holding out for a bid of £10 million this summer. The eight-time United States international has one year remaining on his current contract at the North London side and it is believed they are willing to listen to offers this summer.

The club's valuation could price out Cardiff and Fulham, who would presumably prefer a loan deal or cut price deal instead of having to pay out an eight-figure sum. Bournemouth were previously linked to the defender having had him on loan at the Vitality Stadium last season, although it is unlikely they could also match the £10 million asking price.



https://the72.co.uk/239368/cardiff-city-and-fulham-keen-on-premier-league-defender-bournemouth-previously-linked/

[blingo]

I don't understand how there can be any assumptions right now over who we are or are not interested in, considering SP's imminent departure. Surely no one will be bought until a new manager is appointed. In saying that, Boy Wonder lives in his own bubble where he know just about everything about nothing. So I wouldn't be surprised if he just went out and bought whoever is top of the rankings on his laptop.

[Woolly Mammoth]

Does Scott Parker know he is going because there is plenty of speculation and paper talk but so far just gossip.

[blingo]

Does Scott Parker know he is going because there is plenty of speculation and paper talk but so far just gossip.

Hard to think that there is no smoke without fire, but fair comment on it all being rumour, just as who we are interested in is.

[filham]

How long will TK allow this manager situation to continue. We partly blamed our poor performance last season on a short close season and lack of preparation time resulting from Covid and the play offs.
Now the effective preparation time is going to be short due to deliberations about next season's manager.

[AnotherVicHalomLoveChild]

How long will TK allow this manager situation to continue. We partly blamed our poor performance last season on a short close season and lack of preparation time resulting from Covid and the play offs.
Now the effective preparation time is going to be short due to deliberations about next season's manager.

So true!
You might also add the same comments even IF Parker stays.
After 2 successive promotions then relegations blaming all & sundry for reasons why we failed so dismally both times we appear to have learned nothing about avoiding the same old pitfalls.
If we are looking @ signing anyone @ present, who in their right minds knowing the uncertainties regarding the manger, the set up etc would be daft enough to sign for us? If they actually did then they are probably the wrong sort of player anyway. 
You couldn't make it up (apart from it being dear old Fulham of course!) Which is part of the reason we love the club.

[The Rock]

Does Scott Parker know he is going because there is plenty of speculation and paper talk but so far just gossip.

Hard to think that there is no smoke without fire, but fair comment on it all being rumour, just as who we are interested in is.

It is a considerable amount of smoke. Can all the red tops/tabloids be 100% wrong in all these reports? That would be a considerable amount of egg on face.