Saturday Fulham Stuff - 10/06/23...

[WhiteJC]

Fulham confirm Wembley hero Bryan is leaving

Fulham have confirmed that Joe Bryan is leaving the club.

The left-back's contract expires this summer and he will move on as a free agent.

His two extra-time goals against Brentford in the 2020 Championship play-off final took Fulham to the Premier League – one of two promotions he won with the Whites.

Bryan, 29, has made 117 appearances for Fulham but has been out of the first-team picture for some time and spent last season on loan with French side Nice.

He said: "Five years ago I joined Fulham, and got the opportunity to live out my childhood dream.

"I look back on the five years of promotions, relegations, goals, mistakes, in the team, out the team, all these different things, all these ups and downs of a football career, with real fondness.

"It's not always easy – like I say, there were ups and downs – but that's life. Life's difficult sometimes, and great other times.

"I'm just proud and grateful for the opportunity to play for the club. I think that's my resounding memory from here.

"I've met some of the greatest people that I know in football at the club. It's a place where I will always feel welcome, and I will always look back on fondly."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-confirm-wembley-hero-bryan-is-leaving

[WhiteJC]

Liverpool: 20 y/o 'doesn't fit Klopp's system' at Anfield
Despite impressing on a number of occasions, the attacking midfielder just doesn't suit Jurgen Klopp's system.

Liverpool youngster Fabio Carvalho just doesn't fit the system at Anfield, claims RedMenTV host, Ste Hoare.

The 20-year-old joined the Reds last summer and after initially impressing early on this season, things haven't quite gone to plan.

In fact, he's played just eight Premier League minutes in 2023, and that could be down to Jurgen Klopp's tactics.

What's the latest on Fabio Carvalho's future at Liverpool?
The former Fulham midfielder has been linked with a move away from Anfield, but the club are only prepared to let him go out on loan, recently rejecting a £10m bid from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig.

With the arrival of Alexis Mac Allister, and reports suggesting Liverpool are pursuing several midfielders, there's going to be plenty of competition in the middle of the park for the club, and it seems Carvalho won't fit into plans this season.

A number of Premier League sides, including his former club Fulham are interested in taking the Portuguese youngster on loan, with several offers currently on the table, but it remains to be seen where he'll end up.

What has Ste Hoare said about Fabio Carvalho and Liverpool?
Despite Carvalho's struggles at Liverpool this season, Hoare believes it's not down to talent, but a lack of fit in Klopp's system that has caused the £16m-rated midfielder problems this year.

Speaking to Football FanCast, the RedMenTV host said:

"It's mad because Liverpool tried so hard to sign Carvalho. They beat so many teams, they paid more than they needed to make sure they got him.

"They really liked what they saw and by all accounts, he is a good player, he just doesn't fit the system."

How did Fabio Carvalho perform this season compared to last year?
While making the move from Fulham and Championship football, to one of the Premier League's biggest sides in Liverpool was always going to be tough, Carvalho's spell in Merseyside has seen his game time and output drop drastically.

Across the board, the 20-year-old's statistical numbers have all decreased this year, which is hardly a surprise given his lack of regular minutes.

Last year, the midfielder completed 1.2 dribbles per game for Fulham, seeing that number drop dramatically to 0.2 per game for Klopp's men this season, whilst his WhoScored average rating dropped from 7.11 at Fulham to 6.37 for the Reds, and he went from completing 1.7 key passes per game at Craven Cottage, to a measly 0.1 this campaign.

At 20 years old, there's still plenty of time for Carvalho, who is sponsored by Nike, to turn his Liverpool career around and a spell out on loan may be the catalyst in that, but if he doesn't fit the system now, who's to say he will when he comes back.



https://www.footballfancast.com/liverpool-fabio-carvalho-leipzig-transfer-verdict-premier-league-gossip/

[WhiteJC]

West Ham: Hammers interested in Joao Palhinha
With Declan Rice set to leave West Ham in the summer, could Fulham's Joao Palhinha fill that void?

West Ham Unitedare wasting no time at all following their victory in the Europa Conference League final against Italian outfit Fiorentina.

The fans and players might be basking in the glory of the club's first major trophy for 43 years, but the east London club are already looking to make moves in the summer transfer window.

Following their victory, club chairman David Sullivan confirmed that Declan Rice would be leaving the club and that they 'had to get a replacement - or several replacements' to fill the void he will inevitably leave.

The club have a list of targets for the coming window, including Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips, Southampton's James Ward Prowse and Leicester City's Harvey Barnes, but it is Fulham's Joao Palhinha that is the club's primary target, per Mail Online.

What's the latest on Joao Palhinha?
According to the publication, the Hammers are confident that they will be able to tempt him to make the switch to the London Stadium, even with the Cottagers having paid the £20m fee to bring the Brazilian to west London only last year.

Despite it being just his first season of Premier League football, the Fulham powerhouse has been the side's most important midfielder, notching up an impressive 147 tackles across the season.

His addition to the side has seen Marco Silva's men finish in the top half of the table in 10th place - a seriously impressive achievement when many were expecting the newly promoted team to go straight back down.

Earlier in the season, Sky Sports pundit and commentator Gary Neville described the Lisbon-born midfielder as "fantastic" on his show The Overlap.

However, his obvious quality might cause issues for the Irons, as they aren't the only ones admiring Fulham's star man.

At the end of April, Football Insider reported that Tottenham Hotspur were about to 'line up' an offer for the player. Even worse for David Moyes' men was the news that Chelsea and Manchester United were also 'ready to launch moves' for the Portugal international.

Would Joao Palhinha be a good signing for West Ham?
If it is true that Rice has all but left the club, then bringing in the services of a player like Palhinha would be excellent business for West Ham.

The former Sporting CP star has received rave reviews for his performances this year, with Steve Sidwell saying: "He has been absolutely sensational this season."

Rio Ferdinand is also a fan, saying: "You need someone like that in front of you as a defender."

Meanwhile, according to WhoScored, the 6 foot 3 all-action midfielder has averaged a respectable rating of 6.93 across his 35 Premier League games this season.

His underlying stats are seriously impressive as well - as per to FBref, who have compared him to players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, Palhinha, unsurprisingly, sits in the top 1% for tackles per 90, which no doubt led to his engine room partner Harrison Reed to describe him as a "tackling machine" back in April.

The £50k-per-week machine also ranks within the top 8% for aerial duals won and the top 12% for clearances per 90.

It's entirely plausible to think that if he were to be placed within a better team, then we would also see some of his other numbers start to improve.

If West Ham can get this deal done, it is surely a no-brainer, especially the need to replace Moyes' leading talisman with someone suitable and perhaps Palhinha's aforementioned returns and experience in the English top-flight make him that man indeed.



https://www.footballfancast.com/west-ham-transfers-rumours-joao-palhinha-gossip-news-rice/

[WhiteJC]

Kieran's Fulham summer shortlist: Goalkeepers
With summer of rumours already underway, Kieran has compiled a comprehensive collection of possible additions to the Fulham squad. He starts with the goalkeepers he'd like to see Fulham sign ...

Bernd Leno was one of the signings of the summer and must be in the running to be Fulham's player of the season. But, with doubts about the future of Marek Rodak after the Slovakian international was demoted to second choice again after helping the Whites win promotion and Paolo Gazzaniga making his loan move to Girona permanently, the Cottagers should be in the market for a back-up goalkeeper. George Wickens could be promoted to second choice, but it would make more sense to offer him a loan opportunity somewhere and sign a keeper with the ability to cover for our German international should he get injured. I'm sure the Fulham scouting and recruitment network is on the case but I've identified three options, who would fit with Marco Silva's philosophy and be excited by the chance of coming to Craven Cottage.

Etienne Green

Age: 22
Nationality: English.
Club: St Etienne
Value: £4.3m

The England under-21 international has long been talked about as a leading goalkeeper of the future and he shot to prominence by saving a spot-kick against Nîmes on his Saint Etienne debut. The Colchester-born custodian has fallen out of favour under Laurent Batlles and was rumoured to seeking pastures new during January. Green could be one to invest in and potentially loan out for a season.

Playing style:
– A sweeper keeper who is comfortable with the ball at his feet
– Likes to punch the ball

Strengths;
+ Consistent in concentration and a good communicator

Weaknesses;
– Questionable under crosses and a chequered disciplinary record after being sent off against Le Havre and Pau

Bento

Age: 24
Nationality: Brazilian
Club: Athletico Paranaense
Value: £6m

Statement:
The Brazilian is regarded as a future international keeper and widely loved by his team as well as the fans.

Play style;
* Likes to make himself big in front of the strikers.+ Concentration
+ Reflexes
+ Penalty saver
+ Bravery
+ Positioning
+ Agility
+ Composure

Fulham have been active in the South American market since Silva arrived in SW6 and Bento, tipped as a future Brazilian international since his teens, would be an intriguing signing. He's adored by Furacão fans having graduated from the Athletico Paranese academy after signing at thirteen and made a hundred first-team appearances. Fulham would have to see off plenty of suitors for the two-time state championship winner who starred as Athletico won the Copa Sudamericana in 2021, but this strikes me as a shrewd signing.

Playing style:
* Makes himself big to pull off crucial saves.

Strengths;
+ Concentration
+ Reflexes
+ Penalty saver
+ Bravery
+ Positioning
+ Agility
+ Composure

Weakness;
– Long passing.

Anthony Patterson

Age: 23
Nationality: English
Club: Sunderland.
Value: £5m.

We saw plenty of Patterson last season. The Newcastle-upon-Tyne native made a series of excellent saves as Sunderland drew a pulsating Cup tie at Craven Cottage in January and acquitted himself well in the replay too. He enjoyed an outstanding season as the Black Cats reached the Championship play-offs and was rewarded with a call-up to the England under-21 squad. Fulham would have to part with a substantial fee to sign the 23 year-old after he put pen to paper on a four-year deal at the Stadium of Light and you can be sure plenty of scouts have submitted favourable reports about him.

Playing style:

* An imposing goalkeeper who is tough to beat in one-on-ones

Strengths:

+ Concentration
+ Shot-stopping
+ Handling

Weaknesses;

– Collecting crosses
– Distribution
– Communication



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/06/kierans-fulham-summer-shortlist-goalkeepers/

[WhiteJC]

Demarai Gray: Fulham keen on Everton forward

Everton forward Demarai Gray is wanted by Fulham this summer; the forward has only a year left on his current deal at Goodison Park, although he does have the option of another 12 months

Fulham are interested in signing Everton forward Demarai Gray.

The West London club have inquired about his potential availability this summer. Other clubs are also keen on the 26-year-old.

Gray is about to enter the final year of his contract at Goodison Park. There is an option to extend it until 2025, however.

Everton's stance regarding Gray's future at the club is unknown at this stage.

Gray was signed from Bayer Leverkusen for just £1.7m in 2021 and last season, one in which the team's battle to avoid relegation to the Championship went all the way down to the final game, he contributed six goals and one assist in 36 matches in all competitions.



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12899837/demarai-gray-fulham-keen-on-everton-forward

[Stevieboy]

Spurs threatened with legal action over 'not fair' transfer pursuit which involves Premier League rival

Spurs have been warned not to pursue a deal to sign Shakhtar Donetsk winger Manor Solomon on a free transfer after his impressive loan spell with Fulham.

Solomon has emerged as a possible target for Spurs this summer after scoring four goals in 19 Premier League appearances for Fulham this season, starting only four of those games.

Fulham are hopeful of extending the Israel international's stay at Craven Cottage but the player's situation has been complicated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Solomon has a year remaining on his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk but FIFA regulations allowed him to unilaterally suspend it due to the Russo-Ukraine war, with Fulham capitalising by bringing him in for a season.

FIFA have controversially extended that ruling, allowing Solomon to play for a club outside of Ukraine for another season before his Shakhtar deal expires in summer 2024, essentially robbing them of any prospective transfer fee.

With Spurs reportedly exploring the option of signing Solomon, Shakhtar chief executive Sergei Palkin has threatened legal action.

"I contacted Solomon and his agent and invited him back to our club," Palkin told ESPN.

"I said 'you can play all the games in Champions League, you will be in the starting eleven' but he doesn't want to move and I believe he will stay in England.

"Finally, where he will go, I don't know. In any case, if you go to Tottenham, we will deal with Tottenham in court in this case. Everything comes to a simple situation: it sounds like unjust enrichment.

"Can you imagine, we pay big money for this player and finally Tottenham receives him for free? It is not fair in respect of our club. We will definitely go to court and we will fight for ourselves.

"I would like to send a message to those clubs who are trying to sign our players without paying a transfer fee: Shakhtar will file claims for unjust enrichment against players or clubs who have enriched themselves and benefitted by obtaining a financial advantage.

"We believe these clubs who enrich themselves at Shakhtar's expense will be obliged to pay restitutions. Those clubs should understand what they do when they decide to sign our players."

Arsenal have been advised to sign Solomon themselves but the player's murky contract situation, as well as Shakhtar's stance, may put off prospective suitors.



https://www.football365.com/news/spurs-threatened-with-legal-action-not-fair-transfer-pursuit-solomon-fulham

Surely it should be FIFA who they have a problem with, its not us setting the rules!!

[btffc]

Spurs threatened with legal action over 'not fair' transfer pursuit which involves Premier League rival

Spurs have been warned not to pursue a deal to sign Shakhtar Donetsk winger Manor Solomon on a free transfer after his impressive loan spell with Fulham.

Solomon has emerged as a possible target for Spurs this summer after scoring four goals in 19 Premier League appearances for Fulham this season, starting only four of those games.

Fulham are hopeful of extending the Israel international's stay at Craven Cottage but the player's situation has been complicated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Solomon has a year remaining on his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk but FIFA regulations allowed him to unilaterally suspend it due to the Russo-Ukraine war, with Fulham capitalising by bringing him in for a season.

FIFA have controversially extended that ruling, allowing Solomon to play for a club outside of Ukraine for another season before his Shakhtar deal expires in summer 2024, essentially robbing them of any prospective transfer fee.

With Spurs reportedly exploring the option of signing Solomon, Shakhtar chief executive Sergei Palkin has threatened legal action.

"I contacted Solomon and his agent and invited him back to our club," Palkin told ESPN.

"I said 'you can play all the games in Champions League, you will be in the starting eleven' but he doesn't want to move and I believe he will stay in England.

"Finally, where he will go, I don't know. In any case, if you go to Tottenham, we will deal with Tottenham in court in this case. Everything comes to a simple situation: it sounds like unjust enrichment.

"Can you imagine, we pay big money for this player and finally Tottenham receives him for free? It is not fair in respect of our club. We will definitely go to court and we will fight for ourselves.

"I would like to send a message to those clubs who are trying to sign our players without paying a transfer fee: Shakhtar will file claims for unjust enrichment against players or clubs who have enriched themselves and benefitted by obtaining a financial advantage.

"We believe these clubs who enrich themselves at Shakhtar's expense will be obliged to pay restitutions. Those clubs should understand what they do when they decide to sign our players."

Arsenal have been advised to sign Solomon themselves but the player's murky contract situation, as well as Shakhtar's stance, may put off prospective suitors.



https://www.football365.com/news/spurs-threatened-with-legal-action-not-fair-transfer-pursuit-solomon-fulham

Surely it should be FIFA who they have a problem with, its not us setting the rules!!

Believe they have already filed a lawsuit against FIFA about it. They are just threatening to sue clubs in addition now too.

[Thailand Mick]

Spurs threatened with legal action over 'not fair' transfer pursuit which involves Premier League rival

Spurs have been warned not to pursue a deal to sign Shakhtar Donetsk winger Manor Solomon on a free transfer after his impressive loan spell with Fulham.

Solomon has emerged as a possible target for Spurs this summer after scoring four goals in 19 Premier League appearances for Fulham this season, starting only four of those games.

Fulham are hopeful of extending the Israel international's stay at Craven Cottage but the player's situation has been complicated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Solomon has a year remaining on his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk but FIFA regulations allowed him to unilaterally suspend it due to the Russo-Ukraine war, with Fulham capitalising by bringing him in for a season.

FIFA have controversially extended that ruling, allowing Solomon to play for a club outside of Ukraine for another season before his Shakhtar deal expires in summer 2024, essentially robbing them of any prospective transfer fee.

With Spurs reportedly exploring the option of signing Solomon, Shakhtar chief executive Sergei Palkin has threatened legal action.

"I contacted Solomon and his agent and invited him back to our club," Palkin told ESPN.

"I said 'you can play all the games in Champions League, you will be in the starting eleven' but he doesn't want to move and I believe he will stay in England.

"Finally, where he will go, I don't know. In any case, if you go to Tottenham, we will deal with Tottenham in court in this case. Everything comes to a simple situation: it sounds like unjust enrichment.

"Can you imagine, we pay big money for this player and finally Tottenham receives him for free? It is not fair in respect of our club. We will definitely go to court and we will fight for ourselves.

"I would like to send a message to those clubs who are trying to sign our players without paying a transfer fee: Shakhtar will file claims for unjust enrichment against players or clubs who have enriched themselves and benefitted by obtaining a financial advantage.

"We believe these clubs who enrich themselves at Shakhtar's expense will be obliged to pay restitutions. Those clubs should understand what they do when they decide to sign our players."

Arsenal have been advised to sign Solomon themselves but the player's murky contract situation, as well as Shakhtar's stance, may put off prospective suitors.



https://www.football365.com/news/spurs-threatened-with-legal-action-not-fair-transfer-pursuit-solomon-fulham

If Fulham do decide to keep Solomon I hope they do the honorable thing and pay the 7 million fee they agreed,they will easily make money on this transfer if he decides to leave in the near future.