Saturday Fulham Stuff - 23/07/22...

[WhiteJC]

Fulham could now re-sign 28-year-old former player instead of £11m man

Sergio Rico could return to the Premier League for a second spell at Fulham with the goalkeeper not part of Christophe Galtier's Paris Saint-Germain plans, as reported by The Times.

The Cottagers have already tried to sign one experienced shot-stopper from the Ligue 1 champions this season. And, in a rather odd twist of fate, missing out on Alphonse Areola could see Fulham turn to another familiar face.

Rica, a one-time Spain international, spent the 2018/19 season on loan at Fulham. And while the 28-year-old might not have made quite the same impression as Areola did during the 2020/21 campaign, the former Sevilla glovesman would still represent an immediate upgrade on both Marek Rodak and Paulo Gazzaniga.

Rico, like so many other members of the Paris Saint-Germain, has been placed on the transfer list by new head coach Galtier. Gini Wijnaldum, Mauro Icardi, Julian Draxler, Layvin Kurzawa are reportedly available too. Ditto Ander Herrera and even homegrown central defender Presnel Kimpempe.

Could Fulham bring Sergio Rico back?

The Times add that Fulham, like they did four years ago, would prefer to sign Rico on loan. It remains to be seen whether Les Parisiens are willing to play ball. Rico's contract expires in 2024, and you get the feeling PSG would welcome a permanent departure.

And the fact that Fulham appear to have turned to the 6ft 5ins giant this late in the window certainly suggests that Rico was far from the top of Silva's summer wishlist.

The Cottagers held talks with Thomas Strakosha before a deal fell through. Strakosha is now plying his trade down the road at Brentford. Fulham were also keen on Nick Pope before Newcastle United won the race for the Burnley talisman.

Bernd Leno of Arsenal is currently the number one target. But The Gunners' reluctance to budge on an £11 million asking price has Fulham considering other options.

"Fulham are trying hard to get Bernd," Joannis Koukoutrigas, Leno's agent, told BILD five weeks ago.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/07/22/fulham-could-now-re-sign-28-year-old-former-player-instead-of-11m-man/

[WhiteJC]

Stoke reportedly in driving seat to snap up former Fulham man

Stoke City have been placed in the driving seat in the race for Alfie Mawson with reports suggesting that the Potters are the current favourites to sign him after his release from Fulham

Mawson is a good defender on his day but has had a bit of bad luck with things like injuries, which has hampered his rhythm in recent years and certainly during his time at Fulham.

Before moving to Craven Cottage, though, it was clear he was a defender with lots of quality – showing that at the likes of Swansea during their time in the Premier League – and so if whoever can get him can keep him fit and playing often, they'll feel as though they have a good signing on their hands.

Indeed, as per Ian Baker, several sides have been interested in the defender but it is the Potters who are currently leading the chase:

The Verdict

Stoke could probably do with at least one more centre-half this summer before the window shuts and in Mawson you've got a player that knows the division well, knows what it's like to compete at the sharp end of the table and comes without a price-tag.

He's a good player, and one that could be a hit at Stoke if he does move there in the coming weeks.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/stoke-reportedly-in-driving-seat-to-snap-up-former-fulham-man/

[WhiteJC]

Ticket prices – informing the debate

A quick (well slow actually) trawl through the twenty Premier League clubs' ticketing pages reveals a dizzying array of prices, categories and memberships. They range from elegant simplicity like Everton, with their 'every seat the same price for every game' model (unless they choose to drop them!) to Manchester United's 'click a seat and see what you get' offering.

Some clubs are completely up front with their prices and category allocations for the whole season so that non-season ticket holders can plan ahead, whilst others leak them out in dribs and drabs. To be fair, over half so far have announced all of their prices, and most of those have provided the category allocations.

And prices range enormously, with fellow promoted club Bournemouth's £32 'behind the goal' ticket for every match so far looking like the best adult offering.

Of course, no two grounds are the same from the point of view of sightlines, distance from pitch, premium seats and a whole host of other factors, so it can be hard to fully disect a ticketing model when you're not a regular attender. Nonetheless, we've had a go.

The table below shows what we've been able to find out so far about ticketing in the rest of the Premier League. As far as Fulham is concerned, three games have been announced so far. We know that Liverpool is a category A+ game and have assumed that the Brentford and Brighton matches are B and C respectively, although the Club don't formally announce these. So, if this assumption is correct, we still don't know what a category A game looks like.


Adult Premier League ticket price ranges

On the left, we show which clubs have already announced their ticket prices and if so, which categories matches fall into.

Then we assess the adult ticket prices in each category for 'behind the goal' and 'non-premium side' seats. This latter category is difficult. One club's premium is another club's bog-standard. As a rule of thumb, we've tended to ignore the most expensive central seats in the main side stand(s). At Fulham, this means not counting the £90 category A+ seats in blocks E, EL, F and FL (there aren't many of these anyway) but we have included the £100 Riverside seats because, although Fulham would say they are 'premium', location-wise you could easily be right by the corner flag.

We can't 100% guarantee that we've spotted every nuance of every stadium, and for those clubs we've so far been unable to find information for we have put out feelers to our fellow Trusts for help.

We'll keep this table up to date and hope it helps you better understand the Premier League ticketing landscape. We will also use this data alongside returns from our fan survey to continue to make a positive case for fair prices for all Fulham fans.



https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2022/07/ticket-prices-informing-the-debate/

[WhiteJC]

Ticket Exchange Now Available

Following a short period of down time, the Club wishes to advise supporters that the official ticket exchange service is once again available.

Season Ticket Holders who are unable to attend the opening fixture against Liverpool can now make their ticket available for other supporters to purchase on the Club's official Ticket Exchange.

For information on how to list your seat and how to buy tickets through the ticket exchange please click here.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/july/22/ticket-exchange-now-available/

[WhiteJC]

Watford hold talks with former Fulham defender

Watford have held talks with Cyrus Christie over a possible move this summer.

According to The Athletic, the Hornets are seeking to add homegrown talent to Rob Edwards' squad, in particular at right back.

Christie is currently available as a free agent having departed from Fulham at the end of last season.

The full back spent the second half of the previous campaign with Swansea City, where he showed he is still more than capable of competing at Championship level.

The Irish international played 23 times in the league for Russell Martin's squad, helping the side to a 15th place finish.

In that time, he contributed three goals and four assists playing as a wing back.

Christie has previous experience playing for the Cottagers, as well as the likes of Nottingham Forest, Middlesbrough, Derby County and Coventry City.

The 29-year old has also been capped 30-times in international level and his performances for the South Wales club even earned him a call-up during the recent summer international break.

Watford are looking to secure new signings ahead of the upcoming campaign, which gets underway next week, with Watford set to face Sheffield United on August 1.

The Verdict

Christie would be a very solid signing for Watford, especially in a bid to add to their homegrown talent pool.

The full back has shown he is still a good squad option to have for a top Championship side.

His performances for Swansea were impressive and should earn him a move this summer.

At 29, he also still has a few more years left in the tank and, as a free agent, should also be a relatively low financial hit to bring in which makes this an overall worthwhile signing if it goes through.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/watford-hold-talks-with-former-fulham-defender/

[WhiteJC]

Kevin Mbabu agrees personal terms with Fulham

Fulham are reportedly on the verge of signing 27-year-old VfL Wolfsburg defender Kevin Mbabu on a deal worth €5.5 million.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Fulham are closing in on the capture of Kevin Mbabu. They have reached a total agreement with Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg over the Swiss international, with the Premier League outfit expected to fork out around €5.5 million including add-ons and sell-on clauses.

Fulham have a personal agreement with Mbabu as well, and the move is only subject to a medical in London. The deal could be officiated in the coming days, making the the 27-year-old the club's third major signing of the summer.

Mbabu will join a list including Portuguese international Joao Palhinha and former Manchester United playmaker Andreas Pereira. With the two midfielders already in the bag, it appears Fulham coach Marco Silva had been keen on shoring up his options in the defensive unit ahead of the new season.

The Cottagers have had to deal with the exit of Neco Williams at the end of the 2021/22 campaign. The former Liverpool defender was one of the breakout stars at Fulham last season and although the Londoners tried their best to sign the Welshman, the player ultimately opted to join Nottingham Forest.

It has compelled Fulham to look elsewhere in the market, with Kevin Mbabu emerging as the desired option. The VfL Wolfsburg starlet has experience of playing in the Premier League, having donned the Newcastle United kit for a few years, before eventually moving elsewhere.

During his time in the Bundesliga and the Swiss Super League, Mbabu has earned a solid reputation for his athleticism out wide, coupled with his attacking quality. Although his role in the Wolfsburg side has dwindled following the breakthrough of Ridle Baku, the 27-year-old certainly has the quality to prove himself in the Premier League.

From a sporting perspective, Mbabu could compete with Kenny Tete in a bid to become the first-choice right-back for Fulham next season. His athleticism and work ethic out wide should make him an ideal fit in Marco Silva's tactical philosophy, although the Swiss international must improve on his technical game.

Wolfsburg, meanwhile, won't be fazed by the departure of Mbabu, who was merely a fringe player in the Bundesliga outfit, serving as an understudy for Baku. And with Niko Kovac taking charge ahead of the new season, we can expect a lot more variety in Die Wolfe's game next season.



http://www.thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2022/07/22/kevin-mbabu-agrees-personal-terms-with-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

Player 'debating between' Fulham and another club – 'Had all the tickets' for move elsewhere

Barcelona goalkeeper Neto is 'debating between' Fulham and Napoli after a move to Celta Vigo fell by the wayside.

That's according to Faro de Vigo, who explain the situation today and how Barcelona's dithering has caused him to end up pointed elsewhere.

They explain that Neto 'had all the tickets' to move to Celta Vigo, who were eyeing him as a replacement for Rubén Blanco.

However, Barcelona's reluctance to resolve his situation at the Camp Nou led to that becoming unlikely.

It's explained that Barca are trying to negotiate the termination of the Brazilian's contract, while the goalkeeper is demanding to be paid the full year he has remaining on his deal.

This delayed the process, so Celta turned their attention elsewhere. In the meantime, new teams, Fulham and Napoli, became 'interested' in his signature.

Celta Vigo have now almost completely ruled out a move and are working on other options, and Neto is now 'debating' whether to play in Italy or England.

The 'curious thing' is that if Barcelona had been more diligent in their negotiations, it is likely that the goalkeeper would have ended up at Celta Vigo.

Instead, he's now deciding between Fulham and Napoli, with offers seemingly on the table from both sides.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-debating-fulham-another-club-tickets-move-elsewhere/

[WhiteJC]

Preview: Estoril Praia vs. Fulham - prediction, team news, lineups

Fulham conclude their pre-season tour of Portugal with a friendly against Primeira Liga outfit Estoril Praia.

While the Cottagers have endured a mixed period on their travels, Estoril head into this game off the back of a heavy defeat to another Premier League team.

Match preview
Fulham's pre-season has been somewhat of a slow burner, their only first-team activity thus far being in the Algarve Cup.

The newly-promoted Premier League side posted a good win against Nice with penalties from Neeskens Kebano and Harry Wilson proving to be the difference.

However, a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Benfica followed 24 hours later, leaving Marco Silva to question where his side are at as they enter the final phases of their schedule.

On a positive note, Joao Palhinha and Andreas Pereira are both eye-catching additions for the midfield, the pair effectively replacing the outgoing Jean Michael Seri and Fabio Carvalho.

Nevertheless, more additions are sure to follow over the coming weeks as the West Londoners prepare for their opener with Liverpool by playing Estoril and Villarreal.

Silva initially made his name in the Estoril dugout, winning Portugal's second tier back in 2011-12 before eventually getting the opportunity to manage Sporting Lisbon.

After a three-year absence, Estoril were back in the top flight last season, emerging as the surprise package of the campaign as they finished in ninth position in Primeira Liga.

Hopes are high that they can achieve a similar standing this time around, perhaps even higher, but a 4-1 reverse to Brighton & Hove Albion in their most recent outing has highlighted that there is much work ahead.

New head coach Nelson Verissimo, who ended last season as caretaker manager of Benfica, has been busy in the transfer market, one of the notable additions being that of teenager Goncalo Esteves who was given game time in the league with Sporting Lisbon during 2021-22.

Estoril Praia Club Friendlies 1 form:

    W    L

Fulham Club Friendlies 1 form:

    W    L

Team News
Fulham's starting lineup could be similar to the team which succumbed tamely to Benfica last week.

Palhinha and Pereira both started that contest and will be hoping to help their side deliver a much better performance.

Of those who started among the replacements, Antonee Robinson, Harrison Reed and Kebano are the players most likely to earn a recall.

Estoril's first XI against Brighton was not made public, but Verissimo will most likely look to name his strongest side for this contest.

Fellow new signings Rodrigo Martins, Tiago Araujo, Titouan Thomas, Pedro Alvaro and Fran Pereira will all be hoping to make an impression alongside Esteves.

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Gazzaniga; Tete, Adarabioyo, Ream, Bryan; Palhinha, Cairney; Wilson, Pereira, Reid; Mitrovic

We say: Estoril Praia 0-2 Fulham

Neither team will be feeling particularly confident given the manner of their most recent defeats. However, we cannot back against the Cottagers, who should have more than enough quality to get back to winning ways.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/fulham/preview/preview-estoril-vs-fulham-prediction-team-news-lineups_490654.html?cQx=NN&newsnow

[WhiteJC]

Neto mulling Fulham move

Barcelona's Brazilian goalkeeper Neto is deciding whether to join Fulham or Napoli after his heavily-trailed move to Celta Vigo fell through, according to reports from Spain.

The 33 year-old had been expected to become Rubén Blanco's replacement at Celta, but Barcelona's refusal to pay up the final year of his current contract due to their financial situation scuppered that deal. Celta Vigo have now moved on to other targets, according to Faro de Vigo, which leaves the Brazilian international pondering whether to ply his trade in the Premier League or Serie A.

Neto, who made his professional debut aged nineteen for Athletico Paranaense after coming through the Cruzeiro youth set up, has already spent seven years in Italy with Fiorentina and Juventus. He was largely second choice in Serie A but starred in his two years with Valencia before joining Barcelona in 2019. Neto, a silver medallist at the London 2012 Olympics, has won a single senior cap for his country and has 21 senior appearances in three seasons at the Camp Nou.

Fulham are keen to add depth to their goalkeeping resources ahead of their return to the top flight and remain in discussions with Arsenal over their wantaway German international Bernd Leno. The Whites were linked with another loan for Sergio Rico yesterday – with Marco Silva apparently unconvinced by Marek Rodak's Premier League credentials.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/07/neto-mulling-fulham-move/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham hoping to close signing 'in next few hours' – Negotiating with agents, have player 'as a priority'

Fulham hope to 'close a deal' for Barcelona goalkeeper Neto 'in the next few hours' after making him a priority signing.

That's according to Sport, who back up reports that Marco Silva's side have made a move for the Brazilian stopper.

Earlier today, we covered a report from Spain that stated Neto was choosing between Fulham and Napoli, having seen a potential move to Celta Vigo fall by the wayside.

Sport now back that up, stating that Barcelona are close to finding a solution for the goalkeeper this summer.

Their plan is to place him at a new club this week or early next week, and Neto has 'several offers on the table' as the Catalans are willing to release him on a free to save his wages.

Neto's agents have already met with Mateu Alemany and given the green light to some of the operations underway.

Fulham are one of the clubs 'negotiating with the goalkeeper's agents' to try and reach an agreement, but Neto would prefer to go to Napoli, and that is why he is waiting.

They, though, have several candidates on their list, and if the Italians don't make a move, then 'he could go to Fulham immediately'.

The newly promoted side 'have him as a priority' and hope to close a deal 'in the next few hours' to make him their first-choice goalkeeper.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-hoping-close-signing-next-hours-negotiating-agents-player-priority/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham and Arsenal still can't agree on £11m transfer

Fulham and Arsenal are still yet to reach an agreement on the transfer of Bernd Leno, with the Cottagers still hoping to bring the price down.

Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sport Germany reports that Arsenal are still yet to reach an agreement over the transfer of Bernd Leno to Fulham.

For Fulham's part, they're still hoping Arsenal reduce their asking price. Leno is ready to complete the deal as soon as the clubs agree, but for now, the situation remains open-ended.

Plettenberg previously wrote that Leno had agreed personal terms with Fulham on a three-year deal with an option for a fourth.

Arsenal have been asking for around £11m, with negotiations ongoing, but that's apparently "too much".

From an Arsenal point of view, £11m really doesn't seem like too much. Leno is a very good goalkeeper and Fulham are a Premier League side, they should be able to afford the transfer.

German outlet Bild claimed Arsenal's decision not to name Leno in their squad to face FC Nurnberg was because they didn't want to risk an injury jeopardising the goalkeeper's transfer.

It's notable that he's still yet to make an appearance since then, sitting out for games against Everton and Orlando City.

Leno wants the Fulham move to try and get regular football ahead of the World Cup, with the newly-promoted side able to offer him a starting role.



https://dailycannon.com/2022/07/fulham-arsenal-leno-agreement/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham linked with new name as Marco Silva eyes new additions

The latest Fulham news on Friday.

Fulham are said to be interested in Genk defender Jhon Lucumi.

The Cottagers are in the hunt for more signings following their promotion from the Championship.

Lucumi, 24, has been a standout player in the Belgian top flight over the past few years.

According to Colombian journalist Pipe Sierra, Marco Silva's side are keen on him along with fellow Premier League club AFC Bournemouth.

Who is Lucumi?

Lucimi is a Colombia international with four caps to his name.

He started his career in his native country with Deportivo Cali before making the move over to Europe in 2018 as a youngster to join Genk.

The centre-back has since been a key player for the Belgian giants and has made 134 appearances in all competitions, with his most notable achievement for them to date being the league title in 2019.

His contract expires next summer meaning his side risk losing him for free in June 2023 unless they cash in on him now or in January.

Fulham could see him as someone to add more competition and depth to their defensive ranks as they gear up for a tough campaign ahead.

Other Fulham news

Full-back Cyrus Christie, who was released by the Cottagers in late June, is in talks over a move to Watford according to The Athletic.



https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/fulham/fulham-linked-with-new-name-as-marco-silva-eyes-new-additions-3779348

[WhiteJC]

Former boss is 'amazed' Fulham or Norwich didn't sign £3m man

Former Preston North End coach Frankie McAvoy is 'amazed' Fulham or Norwich City didn't take a punt on Ben Davies before his £3 million move to Rangers, speaking to The Athletic.

One wonders how Davies will look back on that strange 18 month spell at Anfield.

On one hand, the former Southport and York City man will always be able to say that he tested himself against the likes of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino; Training alongside some of the most feared forwards in world football.

On the other, there will be a nagging sense of frustration surrounding the fact that Davies bid farewell to life at Liverpool having failed to play even a single minute of first-team football under Jurgen Klopp.

Ben Davies leaves Liverpool for Rangers

Rangers paid an initial £3 million to bring the former Celtic target to Glasgow this week. And McAvoy, who worked with Davies at Deepdale, is surprised that the Gers didn't face considerably more competition for a commanding, left-footed centre-half who accumulated plenty of admirers from both sides of the border during his Preston heyday. 

"I'm amazed that a Premier League side or a top Championship side haven't gone for him," says McAvoy, who now works as an academy director at Heart of Midlothian. "Like Norwich or even a Fulham or a Bournemouth,

"If we're talking about the modern defender who can play, then he is perfect for Rangers. You get defenders who can ping it. But Ben can see gaps and break lines by whipping it into the forwards.

"He can bring the ball out (from the back) comfortably too. When teams are sitting in, like they do against the Old Firm, that can be a big asset. He can drive forward and open teams up."

Rangers move on from Calvin Bassey

Davies is likely to slot in alongside Connor Goldson in Giovanni van Bronckhorst's backline. And while the 26-year-old can play at left-back, it seems that Besiktas' Ridvan Yilmaz – a more natural replacement for the departed Calvin Bassey out wide – will join him at Ibrox in the coming days.

"I don't think he'll have been brought in with left-back in mind," adds McAvoy. "But I'm intrigued to see what Van Bronckhorst does with him.

"He reads the game and covers the ground brilliantly. With the full-backs getting high up the pitch, he has the turn of pace to cover.

"Ben, (John) Souttar and Goldson have the makings of a nicely-balanced defence as both the guys on either side can step in and play — and can run too."



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/07/22/former-boss-is-amazed-fulham-or-norwich-didnt-sign-3m-man/

[WhiteJC]

Posh U18s welcome Fulham FC in their second pre-season fixture on Saturday morning.

Peterborough United under 18s continue their pre-season preparations on Saturday morning (11:30am) as they welcome Fulham FC U18s to the idverde Training Ground, with manager Jamal Campbell-Ryce looking at the positives ahead of the game with a number of players unavailable.

Campbell-Ryce will be without Bayley McCann, who has been selected for the Northern Ireland U18s squad to face Manchester United next week, while Janos Bodnar is set to be part of the first team squad for their double-header tomorrow against Scunthorpe and Hull City.

A handful of U15s and U16s players were involved in last weekend's pre-season fixture against Luton Town and some of them could feature once again against Fulham FC. Harry Titchmarsh and Gabriel Overton are also set to return for the U18s.

Campbell-Ryce said ahead of the game: "We are going to be quite light on numbers, but they're plenty of positives heading into the game. We will have Harry Titchmarsh and Gabriel Overton back available, who are going to be big players for us and also for the U21s this season. Plus, we will have a couple of U15s and U16s with us tomorrow and continue to give them some minutes at this level, but want to try and keep it to the under 18s as much as we can. So, there are a lot of things we can look forward to tomorrow despite the number of players available to us."



https://www.theposh.com/news/under-18s-face-fulham-test

[WhiteJC]

Fulham eye Sergio Rico loan deal

Fulham are interested in signing Sergio Rico on loan, as they consider alternatives to primary target Bernd Leno.

According to Sky Sports' Dharmesh Sheth, Fulham are set to switch their attention towards Paris Saint-Germain's Sergio Rico to solve their goalkeeping problems. Arsenal star Bernd Leno remains Marco Silva's primary target, but the two clubs remain apart in their valuations of the German.

Fulham are in the middle of one of the most important transfer windows in recent years, as they plan to put together a squad capable of enduring the challenge of the Premier League. The Cottagers suffered relegation the last time they played in the top flight.

Fulham manager Marco Silva also wants to prove a point after his failure during his time at Everton previously. The idea is to bring in players capable of strengthening this Championship winning squad.

One of Silva's priorities has been to bring in a new goalkeeper to shore up the last line of defence. Alphonse Areola was a target for the Cottagers before he signed permanently with West Ham United, where he spent the previous season on loan.

Bernd Leno remains Silva's primary target, with the Cottagers holding talks with Arsenal to understand the particulars of the transfer. So far, the deal has not gone through as both clubs have not been able to agree on a fee.

Despite reports emerging about Leno agreeing to personal terms with Fulham, the Cottagers are yet to make a substantial offer to Arsenal's liking. The Gunners are demanding around £11 million, which is deemed excessive by the Cottagers as things stand.

Hence the interest in Rico has materialised, as Fulham could explore the possibility of finalising a deal. The Cottagers are interested in signing the PSG keeper on loan for the season.

The Spaniard has two years left on his deal, which could tempt the French champions to cash in and sell him outright. Whether PSG will allow the Spaniard to leave temporarily remains to be seen, but his chances of playing even sporadic football at the club next season are remote.

After making just one senior appearance for PSG in the first half of the 2021/22 season, Rico was loaned out to Mallorca, where he played 14 times in La Liga. The keeper has featured in the Premier League before, incidentally with Fulham during the 2018/19 season, appearing 29 times and keeping five clean sheets. Whether a return to Craven Cottage materialises remains to be seen.



http://www.thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2022/07/23/fulham-eye-sergio-rico-loan-deal/