Friday Fulham Stuff - 26/08/22...

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Fulham seeking Harry Wilson repeat with Ainsley Maitland-Niles transfer

Fulham are looking to bolster their squad by raiding a Premier League giant...

What's the word?

According to Ryan Taylor, writing for the Express, Arsenal are expected to offload Ainsley Maitland-Niles before the window closes.

Marco Silva is hoping to capitalise on this but faces stern competition from West Ham United and AFC Bournemouth.

The versatile Englishman has just one year left on his £48k-per-week deal, so the Gunners are looking to make any money they can before he leaves for free.

It could be a Wilson repeat

Having managed to secure the abilities of Harry Wilson from Liverpool just last summer, a £12m fee seems like a great piece of business for a special British talent.

In this potential Maitland-Niles deal, Silva could snatch another British winger with bags of ability, and a versatility that is of paramount importance to boosting out a squad.

The Welshman was instrumental in the Cottager's Championship title win, scoring ten and assisting an astounding 20 goals in just 41 appearances. Although he had impressed in spells for Bournemouth, his move to Craven Cottage has seen his career explode.

Perhaps Maitland-Niles could do similarly, adding goals and assists in a fixed position rather than being forced to be the utility man as he was at the Emirates and for AS Roma.

It is clear that Mikel Arteta only viewed him as this, as despite labelling him a "huge talent", he continued by claiming that "he's versatile enough to adapt to almost any position on the pitch."

At the age of just 24, he should be pushing for minutes in his favoured position, to prove whether he truly is good enough to shine at this level.

He would bring a wealth of experience to Fulham, having featured 87 times in the Premier League and even in European competitions.

Whilst Wilson came with some of this experience, Maitland-Niles' far dwarfs that and suggests that he too could be a big hit.

The two are completely different players, but both could have massive impacts on the club in completely different ways. It could mark another masterstroke in the market for Silva.



https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-fc-transfer-rumours/fulham-maitland-niles-target-future-silva-wilson-premier-league-gossip

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Reiss Nelson injury latest as Arsenal winger ruled out to face Fulham

The 22-year-old is yet to to play a single minute of Premier League football for the Gunners this season and is expected to remain out for at least another month with a serious injury

Arsenal continued their perfect start to the season with a 3-0 victory at Bournemouth last weekend, as Mikel Arteta's side became the only team to record maximum points from their opening three games of the campaign.

The Gunners were finally able to welcome back summer signing Fabio Vieira from injury for the trip to the south coast, albeit as an unused substitute, but Reiss Nelson remains the only player to be sidelined through injury ahead of Saturday's clash with Fulham.

Here is all you need to know about the current state of play at the Emirates Stadium as well as Nelson's expected return date.

Nelson, 22, would have been hoping to make a real impact on the first team this season after returning from his loan spell at Dutch outfit Feyenoord in the last campaign, where he recorded four goals and seven assists across all competitions.

The 22-year-old helped the Rotterdam-based side finish third in the Eredivisie and reach the final of the inaugural Europa Conference League as he showcased his talents and proved just how much he can still offer Arteta.

Things began positively for the youngster this summer. Nelson featured in all but one of Arsenal's seven pre-season friendlies, starting in three of those games and scoring his side's third goal in their 3-1 victory over Orlando City during their tour of the United States.

Nelson was then named on the bench for Arsenal's season opener at Crystal Palace three weeks ago, but was left out of the squad completely for the 4-2 victory over Leicester City in their first home game of the campaign a week later.

On August 12, Arteta confirmed that the 22-year-old had picked up an injury prior to the game, saying: "He felt something in training. We scanned it, and the doctor came with some bad news. It's a muscular injury, and hopefully, he will be back soon."

Nelson subsequently missed last weekend's trip to the south coast to face Bournemouth and is now also expected to remain absent for Saturday's London derby with Fulham, although an exact time frame for his return has not yet been given.



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/arsenal-injury-round-up-reiss-27821580

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PL2 Clash Available To Watch On FFCtv

Our Under-21s' PL2 clash with Manchester United on Friday evening will be shown live on FFCtv.

The stream is available for paid subscribers only, with Jamie Reid providing commentary.

Steve Wigley's side have picked up two wins and a draw so far, while our opponents are still looking for their first league win after a tricky start.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/august/24/PL2-Clash-Available-On-FFCtv/

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Sources: Euro club set sights on signing Fulham star Anthony Knockaert

Bordeaux have set their sights on signing Fulham winger Anthony Knockaert, sources have told Football Insider.

The 30-year-old has fallen out of favour at Craven Cottage after suffering with numerous injury problems during the 2021-22 campaign.

The winger is not in Marco Silva's long-term plans and the club are happy to let him leave before the window shuts.

Bordeaux are keen to bring Knockaert back to his native France.

However, the Ligue 1 club need to offload players first to make room in their squad.

Knockhaert has entered the final 12 months of his contract at Craven Cottage but there is the option to extend the deal by a further year.

The left-footer has not been included in any of Fulham's matchday squads this season.

The wide-man last featured for the Cottagers on 5 February – an FA Cup tie against Man City.

Fulham signed Knockhaert from Brighton in a £10million deal in July 2020 following a successful loan spell at the club.

The winger has contributed four goals and six assists in 56 appearances across all competitions for the Londoners.

Marco Silva's side have made an impressive start to the 2022-23 league campaign.

They remain unbeaten in the Premier League after draws with Liverpool and Wolves and victory over Brentford.

The newly-promoted side have made seven signings so far this summer.

Joao Palhinha, Issa Diop, Andreas Pereira, Kevin Mbabu, Bernd Leno, Manor Solomon and Shane Duffy have come through the door.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-euro-club-set-sights-on-signing-fulham-star-anthony-knockaert/

[WhiteJC]

Andreas: Fulham Friends

There may be a strong Brazilian contingent in the Arsenal camp, but Andreas Pereira says his only friends on Saturday will be wearing black and white.

The three Gabriels – Paulista, Martinelli and Jesus – have all started each of the Gunners' matches this season, but Andreas is hoping to get one over on his compatriots at the Emirates.

"I played with Gabriel Paulista at Valencia, Gabriel Jesus I played with for the national team of Brazil, so it will be good to see them," he explained.

"I'm sure before the game we'll be friends, but during the game my only friends are Fulham friends!

"We'll do everything we can on the pitch to get the points, then after the game we can have a hug and speak with each other."

The London derby pits two of the Premier League's unbeaten sides against each other, with Arsenal the one team in the division with a 100 per cent record.

"They've started very well," Andreas admitted. "We've watched all of their games, we know they're in a very good place, they're feeling good, they're confident.

"We know it's going to be a difficult game and we have to be at our best, we have to be very compact.

"We know that now they're one of the best teams in the league, so we're going to make it a good game, make it as difficult for them as possible, and try to steal away some points from them."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2022/august/25/andreas-fulham-friends/

[WhiteJC]

How Marco Silva made Fulham harder to beat

Three games might be a small sample size, but nobody expected Fulham to be heading to the Emirates Stadium this weekend still unbeaten on their Premier League return. The playful song of praise that begins by registering our rage at Scott Parker acclaims his successor Marco Silva as 'a genius' and the ten-a-penny pundits protested that was premature after the Whites' record-breaking Championship campaign. The true test would arrive among England's elite, especially as Silva has failed in the top flight before, they said. The fixture computer wasn't kind – handing his side a first assignment against Liverpool, a trip to Wolves and a derby day with the hysterical hounds of Hounslow, who are apparently still in vogue as loveable minnows punching well above their weight.

Judged by a five point return from those three fixtures, Silva has passed his first exam with flying colours. The Portuguese perfectionist won't be celebrating just yet – as football is littered with examples of flash in pans who fade alarmingly – especially after the meek midweek malfunction at Crawley, but those demanding Motspur Park drills have delivered an encouraging start to life back in the big time. What is most impressive about Fulham's re-acclimatisation to top flight football is that Silva has surprised everyone whilst both retaining faith with many of the club's promotion heroes and battling an injury crisis which robbed him of vital offensive weapons.

It is now fashionable to applaud Aleksandar Mitrovic as a penalty box predator who can play a bit. Perhaps we should just forget about everyone who told us the Serbian goalscoring sensation would be utterly useless at English football's top table and ascribe their ignorance of his previous exploits at this level and an enduring international excellence as caused by the stifling summer heat? As the man himself freely admitted following his match-winning header against Brentford, he wisely pays no attention to whatever's written about him. Arguably Silva's most significant achievement is establishing Mitrovic as Fulham's number nine again after Parker's perplexing preference for Ivan Cavaleiro. The Smederevo-born striker has won more aerial duels than anyone else in the top flight, registered more shots on target than Bournemouth's entire squad and sits joint top of the division's scoring charts. As Sky Germany's Uli Hebel exclaimed in exceptional commentary after the Serb had settled last Saturday's derby:

    "Scott Parker couldn't find a way to play him. Marco Silva finds ways to find him".

Second to Mitrovic's magnificence is the way Fulham's rearguard has coped with almost everything thrown at them to date. The defence – until last week – was completely unchanged from the one that started last season in the Championship. Three members of that back four (Tim Ream, thought far too ancient to play again in the top flight, 17, Antonee Robinson 14 and Kenny Tete 13) have made more interceptions than anyone else so far in the league. The other, Tosin Adarabioyo, has successfully completed the most headed clearances of anybody in August. Marek Rodak's harsh demotion in favour of summer acquisition from Arsenal, Bernd Leno, probably had more to do with the German's superior sweeper-keeper ability than any failings in the Slovakian's showings. The bottom line is that this improvement has everything to do with hard graft on the training ground rather than buying in new players – and if the performances of Shane Duffy and Issa Diop in Sussex on Tuesday are anything to go, they may be waiting a while for a first league start.

Integral to Fulham's fabulous disruption of opposition midfielders has been the tenacity and energy of Harrison Reed alongside Joao Palhinha in the engine room. That visibly vexed Liverpool in the early stages of a contest that contextualised the soft centre in Jurgen Klopp's side others have also exploited, but it kept the Whites competitive at Molineux despite the scorching temperatures and contributed to the electric start that overwhelmed the Bees. Reed was an underrated Premier League performer in his first campaign at the Cottage as a permanent addition following his successful loan from Southampton, but he has added shuttling runs from deep to his repertoire under Silva, with his most telling contribution by seizing the loose ball on the edge of the box that preceded Kevin Mbabu's telling cross in the last minute last weekend. Palhinha could well be the signing of the summer – being both high quality destroyer and set piece pest simultaneously – who adds oodles of quality to this team through his mere presence.

Andreas Periera was not a signing that united Fulham's fanbase in glee, but the Brazilian has proved pivotal in two respects. He leads the press at a pace that rivalled the eagerness of the departed Fabio Carvalho, which is absolutely vital at this level, but he possesses both an ability to dribble directly through defences with the ball at his feet and a delivish delivery from set pieces. Silva's shifting of him into the right wing role late on against Brentford was a tactical tweak – together with the introduction of Mbabu – that broke the Bees as it allowed the class of Tom Cairney to take care of the ball in those frenetic final stages when the visitors, emboldened by Ivan Toney's equaliser, believed they might snatch all three points. How wrong they were.

Much of Fulham's approach play and defensive display stems from the work ethic of their wingers, something encapsulated by the revitalisation of Neeskens Kebano since Silva and Luis Boa Morte took over last summer. It is no coincidence that the Congolese wide man has delivered the most consistent football of his six years in SW6 after being afforded regular football. That the Cottagers coped so comfortably in his absence during the derby was down to how teenager Jay Stansfield stepped up so impressively, with Bobby Decordova-Reid – another unsung hero who has been unfailing in his excellence at this level – profiting from the youngster's presence of mind in the penalty area within the first minute. The loss of Harry Wilson and then Manor Solomon could have been devastating, but instead it has offered others a platform from which to prove their worth.

Arguably Fulham's sternest test comes on Saturday night at Arsenal, where the Whites have never won. Our best memories at either Highbury or the Emirates have been too very differing draws: the first almost exclusively down to Edwin van der Sar's excellence and, the second inspired by the likes of Alex Kacaniklic, Bryan Ruiz and Dimitar Berbatov, before Mark Schwarzer's superb stoppage-time penalty save from the current Gunners' boss Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard's side feel frightening in the forward areas, possess the Premier League's only 100% record after winning their first three league games for the first time in nearly two decades, and appear irresistible. But Fulham will travel to north London full of confidence and with a game plan. It may not work this weekend, but the Whites are already making plenty of people eat their words.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2022/08/how-marco-silva-made-fulham-harder-to-beat/

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Arsenal must be alert to aerial threat of Mitrovic

Adrian Clarke explains why Fulham striker can rise to the occasion again on Saturday
Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 4.

Aleksandar Mitrovic (FUL)
Any doubts over whether Mitrovic has the attributes to thrive as a Premier League striker, should have been quickly dispelled following his outstanding start to the campaign for Fulham.

The 27-year-old scored a record 43 times in the Championship last term and has begun 2022/23 in style, with three goals in as many matches.

Having put away a pair of far post headers against Liverpool and Brentford, upcoming opponents Arsenal  will be extremely wary of the Serbian's threat at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Aerial threat
Mitrovic scored a brilliant late header to hand Fulham a 3-2 win at home to west London rivals Brentford last week.

Throughout that match, he was a constant menace, registering eight shots over the course of 90 minutes.

Mitrovic's goal v Brentford

That winning moment. 🔥#FFC pic.twitter.com/m1aDlSwtR3

— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 20, 2022

In general play, Mitrovic likes to move into space between the opposition right-back and central defender.

He often makes runs into that area and from crosses, he tries to isolate full-backs at the far post, where he is often unstoppable in the air.

Left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko could be a target in this regard, so Arsenal must always make sure Mitrovic is picked up by one of their bigger defenders.

Premier League forwards compared

Aerial duels won		Touches in opp. box
Mitrovic	22	Jesus	29
Toney	15	Mitrovic	23
Havertz	13	Salah, Zaha	22

Total shots		Headed shots
Mitrovic	15	Mitrovic	7
Toney	13	Kane	5
Haaland	11	Rodrigo, Soucek	4

Mitrovic's early season statistics tell the story of a centre forward that belongs in the top-flight.

Averaging five shots per match, he has had more efforts than anybody else in the Premier League until this point.

That total includes two more headed shots than the next closest player, Harry Kane.

Mitrovic does not win every headed duel by any means, but he has still come out on top in 22 of them so far, which is seven more than Brentford's Ivan Toney in second.

Fulham's tactical approach this season revolves around fast breaks from turnovers and crosses, where they look to find the 6ft 2in Mitrovic as quickly as possible.

Getting on the end of wide deliveries or receiving passes inside the area, he is second only to Arsenal's Gabriel Jesus for touches in the opposition box.

Style change
Fulham made the second highest number of successful passes in last season's second tier, but head coach Marco Silva has changed the tactical direction of his side.

Aware that keeping the ball for longer periods will be sufficiently more testing at Premier League level, he has worked hard on transforming the Cottagers into a counter-attacking team.

Speed of attacks & passing sequence comparison

Direct speed of attacks		Fewest passes per sequence		Fewest successful passes
FUL	2.02m/sec	FUL	2.2	FUL	635
LEE	1.92m/sec	NFO	2.47	NFO	723
TOT	1.75m/sec	SOU	2.55	NEW	794

After three rounds of matches, no side has made fewer successful passes than Fulham, who also average only 2.2 passes per sequence.

Their focus has switched to feverish industry out of possession and transitional attacks.

Turning defence into attack in the blink of an eye, Fulham's 'Direct Speed' of 2.02m/seconds makes them the fastest, most direct team in the division at breaking towards the opponent's goal.

Add this to Mitrovic's aerial threat and Arsenal could have their hands very full.



https://www.premierleague.com/news/2758886

[WhiteJC]

Talking Tactics: Is Fulham Where Arteta Changes Up Arsenal's Winning Formula

3 games played, 9 goals scored, 3 successful debuts, at least 2 catchy new songs, and maximum points. That is the tally so far for a cruising Arsenal, and while the most bullish of fans are already stealthily adjusting their pre-season predictions upwards, the team prepares for what promises to be a tricky afternoon against Fulham.

Much of the excitement around Arsenal has centered around the way Arteta's side has been able to build play, and how successful they have been at sustaining attacks with an increased technical level throughout the team. Debutants Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and William Saliba have been important in enabling that improvement, but the work being done in both full-back roles has been pivotal.

To say that Zinchenko "inverts" into midfield may be an understatement, as the nominal left-back was often seen receiving passes from his center-backs close to Partey, relieving pressure from the latter and distributing or carrying the ball forward himself. Arsenal's 3rd most frequent pass combination (18) was Gabriel Magalhaes to Zinchenko.

Arsenal's 2-3-5 attacking shape, that features Benjamin White (now starting at right-back) and Zinchenko often forming a midfield 3 alongside Thomas Partey, is only made possible thanks to the on-ball prowess of their two full-backs. Those two players are seen as crucial elements in possession, capable not only of starting attacks from deep but also sustaining them with their passing ability. Both White and Zinchenko were among Arsenal's Top 5 passers against Bournemouth, with numbers mirroring those of more traditional midfielders.

Zinchenko and White's "inversions" also play an important role in stopping transitions. When the ball is lost in the attacking third, they are optimally placed to press the opponents and win the ball back, creating a shield in front of the back 2. Nobody had more ball recoveries at the Vitality Stadium than Zinchenko who, tied with Partey, managed 10. The StatsZone map below illustrates the zones that those recoveries took place in, with many coming in the "inside" areas on the left side of the pitch. One tackle was even made in the right-back zone.

Ben White's recovery map, while less crowded, follows a similar trend on the opposite side.



In being heavily involved in both the build-up and in defensive transitions, White and Zinchenko alleviate much of the burden placed on Thomas Partey, and go a long way in solving one of the perennial problems of playing with a single pivot. Much like Man City's years ago, Arsenal's full-backs should stop being perceived as traditional "full-backs". The more accurate "behind-the-ball build-up maestros and transition stoppers", has less of a ring to it.

Arteta's winning formula in the first 3 games of the season has taken Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table. The brand of football has been exciting, and no team has managed to score more goals. The control exhibited in games has in turn limited the number of chances conceded, particularly against Bournemouth, but the type of test against Fulham will be a different one.

Mitrovic is undoubtedly Fulham's star player, and he has started this campaign in fine form after having broken the Championship goalscoring record with 43 goals in 44 games last season. While a competent footballer, the main threat he carries is aerial, and he has developed a tendency of scoring goals by attacking the far post. 4 of his 8 shots in Fulham's last game against Brentford, including their dramatic late winner, were headers. He climbed above Mbeumo at the back post to power home a header from a deep right-sided cross in the 92nd minute, and clinched the 3-2 win over their West London rivals. Mitrovic scored a similar goal against Liverpool in their opening day draw, when he jumped above Trent Alexander-Arnold at the back post to meet a Kenny Tete cross for the opener. Targeting the back post with crosses for their Serbian target-man to attack is a clear tactic for Marco Silva's side, and one that could pay dividends against Arsenal.

While faultless in possession and well-suited to defending in transition, White and especially Zinchenko can be targeted aerially. White's experience at center-back and his sense of positioning and anticipation make him a more than capable aerial defender, but with Tomiyasu now fully fit, Arteta may have a decision to make. Perhaps not as silky a passer as his English counterpart, Tomiyasu remains incredibly valuable in build-up. Where he does excel however, is in aerial duels. Last season, the Japan international placed in the 98th percentile for aerials won compared to all full-backs in the league. At 6ft1, he uses his physicality to win duels all over the pitch, but can be especially adept at defending his box. When in the team, Tomiyasu brought a sense of serenity to the young backline. Against the in-form Mitrovic, his back-post defending could be invaluable.

Fulham have already created 2 goals for their star striker that have come from right-sided crosses to the left far post, but Mitrovic has a habit of popping up all over the box to find the best space to attack. Zinchenko, who Arteta just last week labelled "a natural midfielder playing at left-back", could also be targeted on the other side of Arsenal's defense. Whether a fully-fit Kieran Tierney slots in is another decision for Arteta to make, but the more robust Gabriel and Granit Xhaka will nevertheless need to be vigilant and provide plenty of support to whoever is marking the back post. Against Brentford last week, new signing Joao Palhinha also scored a header from a corner kick.

Given the very potent aerial danger posed by Fulham, an argument can be made for Tomiyasu returning to the side at left-back with White remaining on the right. Tomiyasu played in that position towards the end of last season. An unlikely choice, given that Arsenal finally possess two fully-fit and top-quality left-backs, but that would certainly be the most suited defensive line to defend against Mitrovic's threat.

Arsenal finally have a plethora of defensive options to chose from, all with different skillsets that suit different game states and scenarios. Some options highlight Arsenal's own strengths, while other may be more tailored to neutralizing an opponent's strength. Crucially, all of them are top-quality players for the manager to choose from. Will Arteta persist with what has brought success so far, or look to nullify Fulham and in the process allow for some rotation?



https://youaremyarsenal.com/arsenal-fulham-premier-league-2022-2023-talking-tactics/?cn-reloaded=1

[WhiteJC]

Man Utd given food for thought as unwanted duo could follow star with "point to prove"

Manchester United are keen to offload some of their fringe players before the summer transfer window deadline on September 1, but doing so is fraught with difficulties

The form of Andreas Pereira could make Manchester United think twice about their desire to offload Aaron Wan-Bissaka and James Garner before the transfer window closes.

United have been focusing on signing players this summer, with Erik ten Hag desperate to strengthen his squad for his debut season in charge. They have brought in Tyrell Malacia, Christian Eriksen, Lisandro Martinez and Casemiro so far, with a deal for Ajax forward Antony the priority in the final week.

But football director John Murtough and chief executive Richard Arnold are also charged with getting rid of the deadwood. United still have quite a large squad with several players remaining at their Carrington training ground, despite not being a part of Ten Hag's plans.

United have managed to offload some players in this category, like Alex Telles and Eric Bailly, who have joined Sevilla and Marseille on loan respectively, but there remains plenty of work to do. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and James Garner appear the most likely players to follow them in the remainder of the window.

Wan-Bissaka has lost his place in the starting line-up to Diogo Dalot and has been linked with former club Crystal Palace, while Garner is strongly linked with Everton, among other Premier League sides, following a successful 18 months on loan with Nottingham Forest. Moving them on may appear a canny move, but the upturn in form of Pereira at Fulham shows how quickly things can turn around.

The Brazilian midfielder joined Fulham in a £10million deal from United this summer after failing to make an impact at Old Trafford, instead spending time on loan at Granada, Valencia, Lazio and Flamengo. Just three games in at Fulham he already looks a different player, with his performance in Fulham's 2-2 draw against Liverpool on the opening day of the season particularly eye-catching.

"He is a player I wanted to get because he's a player I knew really well," Fulham manager Marco Silva told Sky Sports. "I know his qualities on the ball, off the ball, set pieces, everything. He's a really good player and he was really hungry to have this type of challenge as well, at a club that trusts him and with people around him who trust him and want to get the best from him.


Andreas Pereira has made a bright start at Fulham ( Image: Andrew Kearns/Getty Images)

"I think he is a player who has something to prove but has the quality to do it. For me, it is so important when a player has the quality for me to get the best from them. It has been a good start for him but I think there is much more to come. He has the quality to do even more."

Wan-Bissaka joined United in a £50m move from Palace back in 2019 but has quickly fallen out of favour under the new coaching staff. Garner came through the United academy, but despite a brilliant loan spell at Forest and involvement in pre-season is reportedly being pushed towards the exit, with a £14m move to Everton mooted.

United certainly need to thin out their squad so that Ten Hag has a select group to work with, but Pereira's renaissance shows the difficulty attached to doing so.



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/man-utd-transfers-unwanted-duo-27831311

[WhiteJC]

Released Fulham man to sign for Hull City on a free transfer

Former Fulham man closing in on new move

Hull City are reportedly poised to sign Cyrus Christie on a free transfer following his departure from Fulham.

The right-back was released by the Cottagers at the end of last season and has since been weighing up his options as a free agent.

Christie, 29, spent time on loan last term in the Championship at Swansea City.

Reporter Will Unwin has claimed on Twitter that he is now 'set' to move to the MKM Stadium (see tweet below):

Cyrus Christie is signing for Hull City on a free transfer, I am told

— Will Unwin (@Will_Unwin) August 25, 2022

The Republic of Ireland international will link up with former Fulham teammate Jean Michael Seri in East Yorkshire.

Fulham spell
Fulham swooped to sign the full-back back in 2018 and he went on to play 63 times for the London club in all competitions, chipping in with two goals.

He helped the Cottagers win promotion in his first year and again in 2020 before slipping down the pecking order.

Christie spent the 2020/21 campaign on loan at Nottingham Forest and played 44 times for the Reds before switching to Swansea last term.

He then went on to play 23 times for Russell Martin's side before being shown the door by Fulham on his return to Craven Cottage.

Hull will now become his home and they are currently 6th in the second tier table.



https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/fulham/hull-city-to-snap-up-defender-after-fulham-exit-3819406

[WhiteJC]

Sky: Tottenham in talks with Fulham and Lazio over loan for Sergio Reguilon

It's the last week of the window, and the rubber is hitting the road.

We're within a week of the summer transfer window closing, and that means that it's do or die time for a few Tottenham Hotspur players that are linked with departures, permanent or temporary, from the club. One of the biggest question marks revolves around the status of Sergio Reguilon, who is out of Antonio Conte's plans. Reguilon has been pretty open about desiring a return to Spain, but the links have been few and far between since a proposed move to Sevilla collapsed last month.

But now it looks like Reguilon might have a couple of options. Gianluca DiMarzio broke news yesterday that Spurs are in talks with Lazio about a potential loan, and today Sky Sports' Tom Barclay suggested that Fulham are also now interested in loaning out Reggie for the season.

First, Lazio — DiMarzio wrote on his website that the Serie A club was looking at Reguilon as an option, but that any deal would be complicated, and Spurs would need to subsidize the majority of Reggie's weekly wages in order for a deal to go through. Maurizio Sarri likes Reguilon and sees him as competition at the left back position, but the article states that Reggie's in no hurry to leave Spurs and might wait to make a decision until January.

Meanwhile, there's this from Sky Sports' Tom Barlcay:

Tottenham are in negotiations with Lazio over the loan of Sergio Reguilon, with an option to buy, as per reports in Italy

— Tom Barclay (@TomBarclay_) August 25, 2022

That's all there really is on this particular rumor — just the tweet. This would be a bit weird, as Fulham already have a pretty good player in Jedi Robinson at that position, but Fulham are also one of the clubs most frequently tipped to be relegated this season so Reguilon could be viewed as rotation and competition for Robinson in a bid to stay in the Premier League longer than a season.

This all follows up on the news from a couple days ago that hinted that Nottingham Forest might also be interested in Reguilon (along with Japhet Tanganga, and, apparently, every other Premier League caliber player with a pulse).

I don't know what it all means, but it does appear that there's finally some interest in Reggie, even if it's only temporary. If I had to guess, I'd say that it does look likely that Reguilon is going to be heading SOMEWHERE on loan this summer, as it's clear he won't be getting much if any game time at Spurs under Conte. This one could go down to the wire.



https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2022/8/25/23321460/tottenham-hotspur-transfer-news-rumors-sergio-reguilon-loan-lazio-fulham

[WhiteJC]

Fulham join the race to sign Tottenham star on loan

Fulham have entered the race to sign Tottenham left-back Sergio Reguilon on a season-long loan deal.

Reguilon has fallen down the pecking order at Tottenham after the emergence of Ryan Sessegnon and the recent signing of Ivan Perisic.

The Spaniard stands little chance of breaking into the starting eleven at Tottenham as it stands, so a move away from the club could be the right step in his development.

Now, according to journalist Tom Barclay in the tweet below, Fulham have joined Lazio in the race to sign him on loan.

Reguilon showed at times last season that he's a capable Premier League player, but with Tottenham now in the Champions League and looking to push on, reinforcements were necessary.

The Spanish defender may have been a backup to Perisic, but Sessegnon has developed over the last few months and has found himself starting in the Premier League at times this season.

If Fulham can secure Reguilon on loan, it would be a shrewd bit of business, as he's shown glimpses of ability during his time in England, but is maybe not at the level Tottenham are hoping for.



https://www.caughtoffside.com/2022/08/25/fulham-join-the-race-to-sign-tottenham-star-on-loan/

[WhiteJC]

Games for the Weekend 27/08...
For our second derby game of the season we visit Arsenal for a 17:30 kick-off

Arsenal have had an impressive start with 3 wins and this will be the toughest test for us so far however, after the Brentford game I think that we're in a good place to take on the "in form" team.
I sure that Leno will start and that he'll have something to prove against his old team, Mitro will want to keep his goal tally on the up, to score against the league leaders would silence even more of his doubters?
Mbabu's couple of substitute appearances has lead to some excellent crosses for Mitro, I think he deserves a start.

Our record against Arsenal, 2 wins, 10 losses and 5 draws, if we get anything out of this game then the team confidence will be sky high.

My team, assuming no injuries...

COYW's

Games of Interest...
Saturday 27th
Brentford v Everton
Chelsea v Leicester
Liverpool v Bournemouth
Man City v Palace
Arsenal v Fulham

Sunday 28th
Villa v West Ham
Forest v Spurs

come on over to the forum and join in the conversation...
https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=36.0



http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=2312

[WhiteJC]

Arsenal v Fulham – Predicted XI

Arsenal welcome Fulham to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening in round four of the 2022/23 Premier League season.

Off the back of a comprehensive 3-0 win over Bournemouth last time out, The Gunners have made a blistering start to the new campaign where they have nine points from a possible nine and currently sit top of the standings with the only remaining 100% record in the division.

Arsenal now prepare for their second London derby of the season off the back of a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on matchday one.

Here is the team we think Mikel Arteta will field for Fulham's visit:

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Predicted Line-up:
In goal, Aaron Ramsdale has recorded two clean sheets in the opening three matches and despite some shaky moments in that time, the 24-year-old is expected to feature between the sticks.

In front of Ramsdale has been a near-impenetrable duo of Gabriel and William Saliba who recently opened his Arsenal account with a lovely strike and both men are expected to take their place in the heart of the defence, flanked either side by Oleksandr Zinchencko and Ben White.

Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey have excellently shielded Arsenal's defensive unit so far and it would be a huge surprise if either of them gets dropped to the bench for this one.

However, the attacking selection is not so straightforward as the availability of Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe now leaves Arteta with a call to make in the number 10 role but off the back of a double against Bournemouth, Arenal skipper Martin Odegaard is the favourite to feature once again.

Bukayo Saka still awaits his first goal of the season but the England international is on course to start for the fourth game in a row at right-wing with Gabriel Martinelli heavily fancied to start on the opposite flank.

Both men will be joined up front by Gabriel Jesus, who has made a fantastic start to life in North London with five direct goal contributions so far.

How Arsenal could line up against Fulham




https://goonertalk.com/2022/08/25/arsenal-v-fulham-predicted-xi/

[WhiteJC]

Jason Denayer could be Joachim Andersen 2.0 for Fulham

Fulham have been linked with Jason Denayer recently and the free agent could prove to be the next Joachim Andersen in Marco Silva's side.

Recent reports have suggested that Fulham could look to bring in the Belgian centre-back, who is available on a free transfer after leaving Olympique Lyon earlier in the summer.

The former Manchester City man enjoyed the most fruitful spell of his career thus far in France, making 139 appearances for Les Gones, in which he contributed eight goals and three assists.

Denayer has experience of Premier League football, having featured 27 times for Sunderland during a loan spell in the 2016/17 season and could return to the top flight a much better player than the one who left Manchester City for Lyon in 2018.

Last season saw the 27-year-old defender make just 15 appearances in Ligue 1 for Lyon, so it is easy to see why he left the club on a free transfer, but Fulham could be the ones to benefit.

Should he arrive at Craven Cottage, he could prove to be another Andersen, with the Danish defender becoming a fan favourite at the club during the 2020/21 Premier League season despite relegation from the top flight.

The centre-back, who joined Fulham on loan from Lyon, looked a cut above in the Cottagers' side and was ranked by WhoScored as their fourth-best performer across the season of those to make at least 10 starts.

He has since gone on to establish himself as a solid centre-back in the Premier League with Crystal Palace, with his physicality and passing ability evident in his performances for the Eagles.

Andersen's former coach Svend Graversen spoke highly of the defender's passing ability to The Athletic, saying:

"He was the leader in defence — I put him at centre-back but he was normally a midfielder. You could see the calmness on the ball, his awareness, especially the space in front of him in the defence was very good."

Denayer could emulate this in Fulham's side should he make the move to Craven Cottage, as FBref ranks him in the top percentile for pass completion when compared to other centre-backs.

Even as a youngster, Denayer's ability on the ball as a defender was evident, as former Belgium boss Marc Wilmots testified.

He said: "Always calm. I've never seen him nervous; he has a lot of confidence and there will be someone with experience standing next to him."

Therefore, the similarities between Andersen and Denayer are clear to see and considering he is available on a free transfer, it is surely a no-brainer for Silva to bring him to Craven Cottage.



https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-fc-news/jason-denayer-joachim-andersen-fulham-ffc-marco-silva

[WhiteJC]

Fulham: Collins believes club will get Kluivert before the end of the window

The Athletic's Jack Collins recently revealed his confidence in Fulham securing the signing of top summer target Justin Kluivert before the window shuts, despite reports suggesting negotiations have stalled.

After bolstering their midfield and defence by securing deals for the likes of Joao Palhinha, Andreas Pereira and Issa Diop, the club are now turning its attention to their attack, with links to the likes of Willian and Neal Maupay.

However, their top target is someone Premier League fans will know the name of, but may not have seen too much of before, in Kluivert. The son of Dutch legend Patrick Kluivert, currently with Roma, has spent his football career across the continent and has now been linked with a move to England.

However, Foot Mercato has claimed Roma are demanding a €4m (£3.4m) loan fee as well as an obligation to buy agreement worth €10m (£8.4m).

During the most recent Fulhamish podcast, Collins claimed he is hopeful of the side's chances to sign the 23-year-old, as he has recently turned down a move to Ligue 1 side Nice – where he spent time on loan last season – among other clubs in Europe in favour of the Cottagers.

Collins said: "The rumours last week were that Kluivert has turned down Nice, he wants to come to the Premier League; he wants to come to Fulham. He wants to join Marco Silva's project.

"So 1) that's encouraging, and 2) I think Roma will have to come back to the table, because otherwise, they're going to be left short this season, especially competing on numerous fronts with Europa League football.

"So I would be surprised if that one doesn't at least have another go, but I think that one will happen."

TIF Thoughts on Kluivert to Fulham...
Kluivert could be a great pickup for the west London side, as he is still young and has played for some top clubs in Europe including Roma, Ajax, Nice and RB Leipzig, so adding a player with this kind of experience at such a young age could only help their chances of Premier League survival.

The Dutch youngster is still a raw product, but after picking up six goals and seven assists in all competitions for Nice last season, he has shown he can put the ball in the net while creating for his teammates.

While it appears there are sticking points in what is good deal overall for both clubs, getting this over the line could be integral for the Cottagers, and forking out for a player of Kluivert's potential could be worthwhile as he is still young enough to cash in on if it doesn't work out.



https://thisisfutbol.com/2022/08/blogs/premier-league/fulham/fulham-peter-collins-justin-kluivert-roma-loan-deal-transfer-rumour/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham: Cottagers favourites to sign Neal Maupay

Fulham are the 'likeliest destination' for Brighton and Hove Albion striker Neal Maupay this summer, according to The Athletic journalist Andy Naylor.

The Lowdown: Three-horse race
The Frenchman will be out of contract at the Amex next summer, meaning that this is the last opportunity for the Seagulls to cash in on their star striker.

The 26-year-old was all set to join fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest earlier in the window, but a move to the City Ground stalled, with Everton and Fulham jumping at the chance to make contact.

The Athletic had reported that Marco Silva's side are in advanced talks to sign the forward, and it appears that Craven Cottage is the place he'll be heading before September 1.

The Latest: Fulham favourites for Maupay
aking to Twitter on Wednesday, Naylor confirmed that whilst Fulham are yet to finalise a deal for Maupay, they are now firm favourites to land him. He wrote:

"Fulham haven't agreed a fee yet with Brighton for Neal Maupay, but they remain the likeliest destination for the French forward, as revealed by colleague @David_Ornstein. He isn't in the squad tonight at Forest Green Rovers."

The Verdict: Double trouble
Fulham signing Maupay would be a massive coup as he is the perfect profile of player that Silva needs to maintain his squad's top-flight status.

The former Brentford man, dubbed 'excellent' and a 'driving force' by sports journalist Josh Bunting, has scored 91 goals during his senior career and has plenty of experience at this level, having made 102 appearances in the Premier League, via Transfermarkt.

Silva has the chance to create a wonderful new partnership by putting Maupay up alongside Aleksandar Mitrovic, with their combination of goalscoring prowess and a bit of a mean streak sure to wreak havoc up front.



https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/fulham-fc-news/fulham-neal-maupay-brighton-latest-transfer-news-rumours-updates/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham in talks to sign Layvin Kurzawa

Premier League newcomers Fulham are in negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain for Layvin Kurzawa

According to Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, Fulham are in talks with French giants Paris Saint-Germain for left-back Layvin Kurzawa.

The Bleus star came through the ranks at AS Monaco before moving to the Parc des Princes in 2015. He has since enjoyed a steady number of appearances, playing in 153 games for the club across all competitions. During that time, he scored 14 goals and assisted 23 more.

Kurzawa fell down the pecking order during Mauricio Pochettino's reign, and the arrival of Christophe Galtier has done him no favours either. He has played just once for PSG since the kickoff of the 2021/22 campaign, and the chances of that improving look remote.

An exit is on the cards, and with the summer transfer window set to close in a few days, things appear to be picking up speed. PSG are currently in negotiations with Fulham regarding a permanent deal for the 29-year-old Frenchman.

Cottagers boss, Marco Silva has already given his assent for the player, and both clubs will now continue to talk to each other in the coming days. Hopefully, a deal will be agreed upon as a transfer will benefit all parties. PSG get rid of a player not in their plans while Fulham land a left-back who is proven at the top level.

With the World Cup coming up, the opportunity to garner regular playtime at Craven Cottage could also give the 29-year-old an outside chance of making Didier Deschamps' France squad. Fulham already have Antonee Robinson and Joe Bryan in their ranks, but Kurzawa is an automatic upgrade and will take the quality of Silva's side up a major notch.

Good in defence and solid going forward, Kurzawa is an all-action player capable of thriving at both ends of the pitch. He is also good in the air and has the physicality to compete in the Premier League. Landing him would be a steal for a side such as Fulham and give them a real shot at staying in the top flight come the end of the 2022/23 campaign.



http://www.thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2022/08/26/fulham-in-talks-to-sign-layvin-kurzawa/

[WhiteJC]

Everton In Advanced Talks To Beat Fulham To Attacker

Everton are close to beating Fulham to the signature of Brighton attacker Neal Maupay, according to Sky Sports.

Maupay is keen to move on from Brighton before the transfer window slams shut and several sides have shown interest in landing him.

The Frenchman is wanted by Fulham, who have been pushing to take him to Craven Cottage, but now Everton are in pole position.

The Toffees are in advanced talks with Brighton to get a deal for Maupay over the line.

It is suggested that Everton are hopeful that an agreement can be reached with the Seagulls for Maupay to make the move to Goodison Park.

There does though remain work to be done in the negotiations between the two clubs, with no final agreement reached.

Frank Lampard has been clear about Everton's need to add attacking options before the transfer window slams shut next week.

Everton have been linked with a number of players, including Blackburn Rovers' Ben Brereton Diaz and Southampton's Che Adams.



https://insidefutbol.com/2022/08/25/everton-in-advanced-talks-to-beat-fulham-to-attacker/575552/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham and Lazio are in talks to sign Tottenham left-back Sergio Reguilon on loan with the Serie A side having the option to buy... as the Spaniard searches for game-time after losing his place under Antonio Conte

    Tottenham defender Sergio Reguilon could be on his way to Fulham or Lazio
    Both sides are in talks with Spurs over a season-long loan deal for the left-back
    Reguilon has fallen out of favour with Antonio Conte and needs more minutes

Fulham and Lazio are in talks with Tottenham Hotspur over a loan move for Sergio Reguilon.

The Spanish defender arrived in 2019 as a high-profile signing from Real Madrid but has failed to live up to expectations in north London and has found himself out of favour with boss Antonio Conte this season.

Ryan Sessegnon and new signing Ivan Perisic are both ahead of him in the pecking order and his future at Spurs looks hugely uncertain.


Tottenham left-back Sergio Reguilon is being targeted by Fulham and Lazio, with both clubs in talks over a loan deal


Fulham boss Marcos Silva is looking for more cover at left-back to keep his side in the top fligh

Lazio's bid for Reguilon would include an option to make the loan move permanent - while the Whites are only exploring a loan at this stage.

Reguilon was one of five players deemed surplus to requirements at Spurs this summer.

Tanguy Ndombele has been sent on loan to Napoli, Giovani Lo Celso has joined Villarreal for the season and Steven Bergwijn has signed for Ajax.

He and midfielder Harry Winks - who has been linked with a move to Serie A - are the last two remaining 'deadwood' players who are yet to depart the club.

Reguilon will be well aware that he needs more playing time to have a chance of making Spain's World Cup side in Qatar this year.

Meanwhile, Fulham have also been continuing discussions for PSG's Layvin Kurzawa as they step up the search for a new left-sided defender.

There could be outgoings at Fulham - with Bordeaux keen on winger Anthony Knockaert.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11147607/Fulham-Lazio-talks-sign-Tottenham-left-Sergio-Reguilon-loan.html