Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 25/04/23...

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Sources: Major update on Tottenham potentially appointing Silva as talks intensify

Fulham are set to intensify contract talks with manager Marco Silva amid interest from Tottenham, sources have told Football Insider.

Spurs are searching for a new boss to take over for the 2023-24 campaign and have been linked with Silva – but are yet to take a concrete interest in the 45-year-old.

The former Everton and Watford manager is out of contract at Fulham in June 2024.

All parties are happy with the progress made at Craven Cottage in their first season back in the Premier League.

Silva wants continued backing in the transfer market this summer as he plots a fight for European football again in the 2023-24 campaign.

Sources with knowledge of the situation have revealed that talks will intensify at the end of the current season – with Fulham hopeful of tying him down to a long-term deal

The Cottagers sit ninth in the Premier League after they were cut adrift of the fight for European football in recent weeks.

Silva took over at Fulham in July 2021 and masterminded promotion to the top flight as champions in the 2021-22 campaign.

His previous spells in the Premier League have ended badly – with his first job in England leading to the relegation of Hull in 2017.

The ex-Sporting CP boss was also sacked at Watford and Everton despite achieving an eighth-place finish in his first season with the Toffees.

Silva served a two-match ban earlier this month after clashing with officials during Fulham's FA Cup loss against Man United.

The Cottagers face high-flying Aston Villa on Wednesday (26 April) with the chance to re-enter the fight for a top-seven finish.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-major-update-on-tottenham-potentially-appointing-silva-as-talks-intensify/

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Fulham predicted XI to face Aston Villa as Marco Silva handed boost

Latest Aston Villa news from BirminghamLive as we take a look at Fulham's predicted XI ahead of Premier League clash

Aston Villa are back in action tonight (7:45pm) when they take on Fulham at Villa Park.

Unai Emery's side shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Brentford last time out, as their five game winning run came to an end. But a victory will see them leapfrog Tottenham in fifth place.

As for the visitors, who sit ninth, a win would close the gap to eighth-placed Brighton. Heading into the clash, they will be without striker Aleksandar Mitrovic after he was handed an eight-game ban earlier this month.

With that said, BirminghamLive takes a look at the line-up Marco Silva may opt for at Villa Park...

The Portuguese boss will continue to rely on Bernd Leno between the sticks, and is likely to keep a backline of four that has worked well in the last games. Tosin Adarabioyo will be partnered with Tim Ream in the heart of defence, while Kenny Tete and Antonee Robinson will feature out wide.

Harrison Reed and Joao Palhinha will link in midfield, along with Harry Wilson and Willian on the wings. Bobby Decordova-Reid could be named as a substitute, following the return of Daniel James, who was ineligible to feature against his parent club, Leeds United.

He is expected to lead the line along with Andreas Pereira.

Fulham predicted XI: Leno, Tete, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson, Reed, Palhinha, Wilson, Pereira, Willian, James.



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/fulham-predicted-xi-face-aston-26777308

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Robin Olsen worry emerges ahead of Aston Villa v Fulham after Unai Emery shares Emi Martinez update

We're delighted to welcome former Aston Villa full-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist. Each week he'll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at Villa Park...

Alan Hutton admits he was a bit worried when Robin Olsen came off the bench on Saturday when Aston Villa drew 1-1 with Brentford in West London.

Olsen, 33, replaced Emi Martinez at half-time because the Argentina World Cup winner had to go off because he'd been suffering with illness.

Ahead of Villa's next game, which is against Fulham at Villa Park on Tuesday night (25 April), Unai Emery has said that he's hopeful that Martinez will have recovered in time to start in goals again [BirminghamLive].

If he isn't, Olsen would be expected to start in goals to make his fifth Premier League appearance of the season.

Hutton wasn't too impressed with the Swedish goalkeeper's performance at Brentford but he does have sympathy for the rarely-seen Scandinavian.

"I must admit it got a little bit nervy when Brentford went through," Hutton told Villa News.

"You need to let them off a little bit sometimes. He's not played a lot of football and sometimes his timing can be a little bit off.

"I think there was a header and he just got there but he almost brought the Brentford boy down.

"He did make some decent saves but Martinez, for me, is a cut above.

"But I do feel sorry for goalkeepers because literally, they can hardly be used all season and then get thrown in at certain stages and they're expected to be an absolute world-beater.

"I do feel for Olsen a little bit but Martinez is an outstanding goalkeeper".

Olsen conceded four goals when he came off the bench in Villa's defeat at Newcastle in October and he also conceded to Ivan Toney at the weekend in the 1-1 draw with Brentford.

In the two games he's started, he's conceded three in a 3-1 loss to Liverpool and kept a clean sheet in a 2-0 win away at Tottenham.



https://www.astonvillanews.co.uk/2023/04/25/robin-olsen-worry-emerges-ahead-of-aston-villa-v-fulham-after-unai-emery-shares-emi-martinez-update/

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Tottenham ready to swoop for £20m midfield star wanted by Chelsea and Man Utd

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing the Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha at the end of the season.

A report from Football Insider claims that they will face competition from Chelsea and Manchester United for the 27-year-old Portuguese international.

Palhinha joined Fulham at the start of the season from Sporting CP and he has established himself as a key player for the London club. He has been a regular starter for them and his performances have impressed a number of Premier League clubs.

Fulham paid £20 million for the midfielder at the start of the season, and they are likely to demand a premium if the likes of Tottenham come calling in the summer.

It is no secret that Spurs need to add more depth and quality to their midfield and Palhinha would be a superb acquisition. He could partner the likes of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Roderigo Bentancur in the middle of the park. The two players have been overused this season because of the lack of options and Palhinha's arrival will allow Tottenham to shuffle their squad at times.

The 27-year-old is well-settled in the Premier League and he could make an immediate impact next season.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are expected to lose players like Mateo Kovačić, and N'Golo Kanté in the summer. While Kanté will be a free agent, Kovačić is reportedly eyeing up a new experience.

Manchester United will also have to find a quality partner for Casemiro in their midfield.

The likes of Chelsea and Manchester United have more financial resources compared to Tottenham and it remains to be seen how the North London giants beat them to the Portuguese international's services.



https://theboyhotspur.com/tottenham-ready-to-swoop-for-20m-midfield-star-wanted-by-chelsea-and-man-utd/