Monday Fulham Stuff - 12/06/23...

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West Ham's Plan to Snag Joao Palhinha
West Ham Sets Sights on Joao Palhinha

The Hammers' Quest for Excellence
West Ham's illustrious pursuit for excellence is apparent as they set their sights on Fulham's gem, Joao Palhinha. The highly talented 27-year-old Portuguese international is being lined up as the successor to Declan Rice, who is anticipated to bid adieu to the Hammers.

David Moyes, whose tenure with West Ham seems fortified post their Conference League final triumph, is a vehement admirer of Palhinha. Palhinha's release clause at Fulham, where he landed in a £20 million deal last summer, has caught the Hammers' attention.

The Premier League Tussle for Palhinha
Interestingly, earlier this year, Palhinha found himself linked with the Premier League giants Manchester United and Liverpool. Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool's manager, had reportedly kept an eye on a Portuguese troika, should Jude Bellingham not have been an option. "The Reds shortlisted Palhinha, as well as Wolves pair Matheus Nunes and Ruben Neves as they look to bolster their ageing midfield, although they've now completed the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton," reports talkSPORT.

The East London Calling
However, the spotlight is now on West Ham as they gear up for a dramatic bid. After a commendable season with 35 league appearances, Palhinha's price tag isn't meagre. Nevertheless, West Ham's financial arsenal will be bolstered through the expected proceeds from Rice's departure.

Hammers' owner David Sullivan exclusively revealed to talkSPORT: "Rice would leave the club this summer the day after their Europa Conference League win." Reportedly, West Ham aspires to ignite a bidding frenzy which could rake in £120 million, with Arsenal emerging as the frontrunners.

With the war chest at their disposal, West Ham seems poised to make an audacious swoop to convince Palhinha to trade the West London greens for the spirited East London claret and blues.




https://eplindex.com/89654/west-hams-plan-to-snag-joao-palhinha.html

[WhiteJC]

Kieran's Fulham summer shortlist: Number 10s
Attacking midfielders

Marco Silva is looking for reinforcements in the number ten role with Andreas Pereira looking likely to miss the start of the new season as he recovers from his broken ankle. Tom Cairney filled in admirably in the final weeks of the season, but the skipper is probably more suited to the deeper midfield role, which is also where January acquisition Sasa Lukic has slotted in. Luke Harris has made a handful of senior appearances and it is no surprise that the Whites have been linked with several number tens, including a mooted loan return for Fabio Carvalho.

Christoph Baumgartner

Age: 23
Nationality: Austrian
Position: Attacking midfielder/striker
Club: Hoffenheim
Value: £17.5m.

The Austrian international is rumoured to have a £27.4m release clause in his Hoffenheim contract, which RB Leipzig are reportedly keen on activating. Last season was Baumgartner's most successful Bundesliga campaign in terms of goalscoring – he found the net seven times and added three assists – as the Sinsheim side finished three points clear of the drop zone. Speculation in Germany suggests the 23 year-old, who scored the goal that took Austria to the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time at Euro 2020 two years ago, may chose this summer to move on after five years with Die Kraichgauer.

Playing style:
* Loves a dribble
* Hits lofted passes
* Cuts inside regularly
* Commits frequent fouls

Strengths:
+ Headed attempts
+ Finishing

Weaknesses:
– Passing

Ludovic Blas
Age: 25
Nationality: French
Position: Central midfielder; attacking midfielder; striker
Club: Nantes
Value: £15.5m

The fleet-footed Frenchman was linked with a move to West Ham last summer and could certainly shine in the Premier League. Versatile enough to play in a conventional central midfield role, out on the left flank, as a number ten or a striker, Blas is supremely technically-gifted and would have the energy to lead Fulham's high press like Pereira does. He has scored 45 goals – and added nineteen assists – in 159 games since joining Nantes from Guingamp in 2019. He scored the winning goal from the spot against Nice as La Maison Jaune lifted the Coup de France in 2022.

Playing style:
* Plays lofted, long balls
* Loves to drift inside
* Dribbles regularly
* Shoots from long range
* Wins frequent fouls

Strengths:
+ Long shots

Weaknesses:
– Aerial ability
– Tackling

Thiago Almada
Age: 22
Nationality: Argentinian
Position: Attacking midfielder
Club: Atlanta United
Value: £17m.

The Argentinian attacking midfielder has been scouted regularly by a host of European sides since moving to the MLS from Velez Stansfield for a league-record fee last February. Almada, who won the World Cup in Qatar, has been in sensational form for Atlanta, scoring seven goals and making seven more in fifteen MLS appearances this term. The 22 year-old has been lauded as the best MLS player ever and his intelligence both with and without the play would surely see him thrive in England.

Playing style:
* Plays long balls
* Loves to run with the ball at his feet
* Roams inside regularly
* Lays the ball off to team-mates
* Doesn't dive into tackles

Strengths:
+ Through balls
+ Key passes
+ Dribbling
+ Long shots
+ Passing
+ Holding on to the ball
+ Taking set-pieces

Weaknesses:
– Aerial ability
– Defensive contribution
– Tackling

Oscar

Age: 31
Nationality: Brazilian
Position: Attacking midfielder
Club: Shanghai Port
Value: £6.5m

Fulham had successful last season by bringing a Brazilian veteran who once plied their trade at Stamford Bridge back to the Premier League, so could we reunited Willian with Oscar this summer? Many respected observers felt he had taken the Chinese cash too early when it was announced the gifted Brazilian playmaker had agreed to join Shanghai Port for an Asian transfer record £67m in December 2021. Oscar is only 31 and still possesses that those sensational dribbling skills and a strong first touch – and could be up for a last hurrah in England.

Playing style:

* Plays lofted, long balls
* Leads lightning counter attacks
* Consistent crosser
* Loves to dribble

Strengths:

+ Through balls
+ Key passes
+ Set-piece expert
+ Passing
+ Long shots
+ Finishing
+ Dribbling
+ Crossing

Weaknesses:

Weaknesses;

– Tackling

Charles de Ketelaere

Age: 22
Nationality: Belgian,
Club: AC Milan
Position: Attacking midfielder; right winger; striker
Value: £22.5m

The terrifically talented Belgian attacking midfielder has been linked with a move to the Premier League after enduring a testing first year in Italy. de Ketelaere arrived at AC Milan with expectations sky high after winning three titles in a row with Club Brugge, but he failed to score and registered a solitary assist in 32 appearances for the Rossoneri. Recent Italian reports suggest de Ketelaere's shocking season was one of the reasons for the departure of technical director Paolo Maldini and the bright Belgian could be on the move permanently or on loan after playing in the European under-21 championships.

He is available for a loan move with Premier League clubs such as Burnley are interested in him.

Playing style:

* Loves to run with the play at his feet
* Hits lofted balls
* Cuts inside often

* Likes to cut inside

Strengths:

+ Dribbling
+ Key passes
+ Keeping possession

Weaknesses;

– No significant weaknesses




https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/06/kierans-fulham-summer-shortlist-number-10s/

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West Ham face paying £50-60m for transfer of "perfect replacement" for Declan Rice

West Ham United reportedly face paying £50-60million for the transfer of Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha this summer.

According to a report from Football Insider, the Hammers see Palhinha as the "perfect replacement" for club captain Declan Rice, who continues to be linked strongly with a move to Arsenal.

Palhinha has been hugely impressive with Fulham in recent times, and it could be smart business by West Ham to reinvest whatever money they make from Rice's sale in the Portugal international.

Although Fulham finished above West Ham last season, Palhinha may well be tempted by the prospect of a move to the London Stadium, where he'd get the chance to play in the Europa League.

West Ham are also a bigger name and have been more of an ever-present in the Premier League than Fulham, who tend to be something of a yo-yo club with a number of relegations and promotions in decades gone by.

Rice won't be easy to replace if he does leave, but he's sure to command a huge transfer fee, which could mean £50-60m for Palhinha ends up looking like decent business.



https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/06/11/west-ham-eye-joao-palhinha-transfer-to-replace-declan-rice/

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Fulham youngsters shine in England U18 thriller
Three Fulham youngsters made telling contributions as England's under 18s won a five-goal thriller against Australia this afternoon at the Lisbon International Tournament.

Head coach Neil Ryan rang the changes after the Young Lions rescued a late draw against Norway in their tournament opener. Striker Aaron Loupalo-Bi started the Norwegian game but came off the bench for the final half hour today, whilst winger Lemar Gordon and midfielder Chibby Nwoko – second half substitutes against the Norwegians – started. The Fulham pair posed problems for the Australian defence and England took a two-goal lead through a well-taken brace from Crystal Palace forward Zach Marsh.

The Socceroos fought back to go in level at half time as Max Caputo brought them back into the contest before Marcus Younis levelled matters. Ryan turned to his bench and England scored another late goal – this time through Watford striker Adrian Blake in the final minute of normal time – to clinch a breathless victory. England round off their tournament against hosts Portugal on Tuesday night.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/06/fulham-youngsters-shine-in-england-u18-thriller/

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Fulham Football Director posts tweet responding to West Ham reportedly trying to sign Joao Palhinha

Fulham's Director of Football Tony Khan has posted a tweet responding to West Ham reportedly trying to sign Joao Palhinha this summer.

Joao Palhinha is believed to be on the radar of West Ham ahead of the summer transfer window.

The East London outfit are believed to be ready to pay £40 million for the 27-year-old midfielder, although Fulham allegedly want closer to £50 million.

Hammers boss David Moyes will be desperate to bolster his central midfield ranks at the London Stadium this summer, with Declan Rice set to depart.

Palhinha is an option for West Ham, and talkSPORT suggested that he has a release clause inserted into his current contract at Craven Cottage.

However, it appears as though that is not in fact the case...

Fulham Football Director posts tweet responding to West Ham reportedly trying to sign Joao Palhinha
The son of Fulham owner Shadid Khan – Tony, has taken to Twitter in response to the claims that Palhinha has a release clause in his contract:

There is no release clause. https://t.co/DIY8t1LQCR

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) June 10, 2023

So the question now is whether or not the Hammers will be prepared to pay what Fulham are demanding for the Portugal international.

I believe that £50 million is way too much money for the Fulham midfielder – he'll be 28 next month after all.

Should Fulham be prepared to sell Joao Palhinha for around £35 million, or £40 million at a push, then West Ham should consider it.

Any more than that though and Moyes should just move on to other transfer targets.




https://www.hammers.news/transfer-news/fulham-football-director-posts-tweet-responding-to-west-ham-reportedly-trying-to-sign-joao-palhinha/

[WhiteJC]

The curious case of Joao Palhinha's disappearing release clause
The summer months are tough for tabloid hacks. They used to able to run transfer stories all year round before pesky transfer windows got in the way. Back in the Fleet Street era, they only had a few sports pages to fill with tips on who had rejected a new contract, which club was after a new striker and who had fallen out with their gaffer. That was a stiff ask on a slow news day, but when the physical papers were joined by websites, 24-hour television channels and social media, the chase for content became both a marathon and a sprint.

In the slow days of the close season, before the English transfer window officially opens and players are even back at their clubs for pre-season, the transfer tipsters due to outdo one another. These days the top Twitter accounts are household names in their own right and the terminally online fan accounts badger the likes of David Ornstein, now at the Athletic, and Lyall Thomas – not immune to mistakes – for constant updates. Chlo has already alluded to our 'Silly Season' column, instigated nearly twenty years ago by my co-founder Nick Bylund in an attempt to try and offer a fact-checking service for Fulham fans who were fretting over the loss of the club's key players.

The nonsense reached a crescendo in 2005 when Luis Boa Morte seemed to linked with a move away from Craven Cottage every day. Boa Morte was already a bona fide legend in SW6 before he scored the winner against Jose Mourinho's runaway Premier League leaders having dropped a division to play a key part in delivering the Whites to the top flight, but his continued insistence that he wasn't interested in joining Newcastle mattered little to the red tops. Enterprising Fulham fans launched an online petition to remind the Portuguese winger how loved he was and Boa Morte not only agreed a new deal but became Chris Coleman's captain.

The point to this historical tale is that being right doesn't really matter to the modern journalist. Being first with a believable new rumour is what counts. That must be the only way of describing what happened with Joao Palhinha this weekend. Every objective observer recognised what the Portuguese midfielder brought to Marco Silva's engine room within weeks of the former Sporting schemer swapping Lisbon for London. The Cottage regulars revelled in how the newly promoted side had enticed Palhinha, a Primeira Liga winner with Europa League and Champions League pedigree, to the banks of the Thames for a scarcely believable £17m. It took the television talking heads until just before the break for the World Cup, when Gary Neville eulogised about high prince of tackling's tenacity as Fulham more than matched Manchester United, to cotton on.

The rumours rolled in about leading English sides tracking Palhinha. Wolves were upset that they missed the boat – believing they had first dibs on all the Iberian talent thanks to Fosun's tie-up with super agent Jorge Mendes. Jurgen Klopp was hankering after a Portuguese trio in the event that Liverpool, who had felt the fell force of Palhinha's power on the opening weekend, couldn't lure Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund. And, of course, Manchester United were interested after Neville had insisted Palhinha was the best midfielder on the field even after Alejandro Garnacho's injury-time winter winner at the Cottage.

Fulham have always had to sell some of their brightest talents in order to make ends meet once Mohamed Al Fayed deduced that he wasn't going to turn his sleeping giant by the river into the Manchester United of the South. Chris Coleman meant it when he declared that Louis Saha would leave for Old Trafford 'over my dead body,' but the Frenchman eventually completed a big-money move to the Theatre of Dreams having been tapped up by the Red Devils. Edwin van der Sar followed the French forward – crucially after signing a new contract after five years at Fulham – whilst Sean Davis, Boa Morte, Steed Malbranque, Mousa Dembele, Clint Dempsey, Patrick Roberts, Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho all left for pastures new with varying degrees of success.

But the picture has changed somewhat with how well Marco Silva's managed to do on their return to the top flight last term. Fulham punched well above their weight to finish in the top half and, having learned their lessons from the spending splurge of 2018 that has now dropped off the FFP balance sheet, are in a strong position when it comes to keeping their key players. In Palhinha's case, the dominant defensive midfielder has another four years to run on his Craven Cottage contract – with Fulham holding an option to extend it by a further twelve months should they wish to.

In six months of excited chatter about where Palhinha might play next – which conveniently ignored the player's delight at being reunited with Silva, who guided him through the Sporting youth ranks when he was in charge at the Estádio José Alvalade – there was no discussion of a minimum fee release clause until TalkSPORT invented one yesterday. The accuracy of their reporting was also undermined by the fact that they failed to spell Palhinha's name correctly. It is quite common for new signings to insist on relegation release clauses when joining sides who, like Fulham, have a history of going down, but the social media inspired storm that followed the radio station's insistence that sources had disclosed that a clause would allow West Ham to sign their top target was a revelation to Fulham's hierarchy and the player's representatives.

Talksport had already played their part as an extension of West Ham's communications channels by allowing David Sullivan to try and start a bidding war for Declan Rice in the aftermath of the Hammers' Europa Conference League triumph in Prague last week. It appears that Arsenal are the only serious takers for the Irish international turned England midfielder par excellence as he plots his next month away from the London Stadium. Jacob Steinberg, a West Ham fan at the Guardian, claimed the board would back David Moyes to fund a £50m purchase of Palhinha and the Daily Mail breezily reported that the Irons were confident of concluding a quick deal for the Premier League's leading tackler.

Where had all this conviction come from all of a sudden? Out of the clear blue sky. Palhinha had definitively told Eleven Sports in an interview in Portuguese last week that he was very happy at Craven Cottage and wanted to continue progressing with Fulham. Perhaps the media just felt Fulham would fall into line when West Ham came calling? If so, the football journalism world – dominated by Hammers' fans – had clearly forgotten that Fulham finished comfortably above Moyes' men last term or they just didn't care.

It took a tweet from Fulham's vice chairman – and director of football – Tony Khan last night to expose the fiction behind Talksport's 'sources', although their chief football correspondent Alex Crook appeared on the network afterwards trying to tell us that he had better information that the son of the Whites' owner. This tale is typical of the modern football world: a barely credible rumour that get thousands of retweets even after it has been shown to demonstrably untrue.

What do we do in this situation? Ideally, I'd be enjoying the sunshine this weekend rather than fretting over whether Palhinha will be pulling on a white shirt come August, but I vowed to the fanatical Fulham fan Danny Fullbrook that I'd continue this website after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer if only to do the job he relished: calling out ill-informed nonsense from people who didn't care about London's oldest professional football club. It's a tiring job, but someone has to do it.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/06/the-curious-case-of-joao-palhinhas-disappearing-release-clause/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham keen on Everton's Gray

Demarai Gray has emerged as possible target for Fulham.
According to Sky Sports News, the Cottagers are keen on the 26-year-old and coule captalise on the latest period of transition at Everton as Sean Dyche contemplates his first moves in the transfer market as the Blues' boss.

They report that Fulham have inquired about his availability as Marco Silva plots a second season in the top flight following promotion a year ago.

Gray is entering the final year of the contract he signed in the summer of 2021 when he arrived for just £1.7m from Bayer Levekusen but Everton have an option to extend that term by a further 12 months.

Dyche will, no doubt, have made attacking reinforcements his top priority this summer given Dominic Calvert-Lewin's ongoing injury problems and Neal Maupay's struggles settling in at Goodison Park.

Gray was the team's second-top goalscorer in all competitions this past season with six with his last goal coming from the penalty spot at Nottingham Forest in a 2-2 draw in early March.



https://www.toffeeweb.com/season/22-23/rumour-mill/43611.html

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West Ham face double blow as Aston Villa look to hijack move for Declan Rice replacement

West Ham are facing a tough situation, as Arsenal's move for Declan Rice is progressing well and Aston Villa having identified ideal replacement Joao Palhinha as a top target.

That Rice is sure to move on from the Hammers this summer is obviously not ideal for them. Indeed, he's been their best player for the past few seasons, hence interest in him from Arsenal and the like.

Given West Ham finished just six points clear of relegation this season, losing their best player will cause some problems. However, they're not going to stand in his way, having "promised him he could go".

Negotiations appear to be progressing well regarding his move to the Emirates. Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has detailed how talks in recent days have been 'positive'.

The Hammers will want to consolidate for Rice heading out of the door by snaring a good replacement. It's been reported of late that Fulham's Palhinha is one of the men they're most keen on.

That's since been reinforced by transfer insider Pete O'Rourke, but their potential move is in jeopardy.

Indeed, the insider told Football Insider that while the Hammers are keen on the Premier League's top tackler from last season – who will cost between £50-60million – so are Aston Villa, among 'several clubs'.

Villa have already added Youri Tielemans to the midfield that contains Boubacar Kamara, Douglas Luiz, John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey, and adding a solid defensive-minded player like Palhinha would round out that midfield very nicely.

Villa's pull may be greater than West Ham's, given they finished seven places above them in the league. The Villans' seventh-placed finish secured Europa Conference League football for next season, but the Hammers' triumph in that same competition means they'll be playing Europa League football.

They'll also likely have a lot of money to burn from the sale of Rice. It's suggested he'll command upwards of £90million, so they should easily be able to snare Palhinha and have some left over.

As such, while it would be act as a double blow if they lost Rice and then lost out on Palhinha, they won't be too concerned yet, knowing that while Villa are a side on the up, they've got their own benefits to offer the star.



https://www.football365.com/news/west-ham-face-double-blow-aston-villa-hijack-move-declan-rice-replacement

[WhiteJC]

West Ham United learn asking price for Joao Palhinha
West Ham United have been informed that they will have to pay around £50 to 60 million for the services of Joao Palhinha.

According to Football Insider, West Ham United are keen on acquiring the services of Joao Palhinha. The 27-year-old has made quite a name for himself after a sensational first season in England. His performances have attracted a lot of attention and there could be a bidding war for his services.

Palhinha joined the Cottagers ahead of the 2022-23 season from Sporting CP for a fee of around £20 million. The Portuguese international has gone from strength to strength since arriving in England. He has had a sensational debut season in the Premier League.

The former Sporting midfielder was amongst the best defensive midfielders in the 2022-23 season. And, his exceptional performances throughout the season have made him a highly sought-after player heading into the transfer window.

The 27-year-old midfielder has a contract that runs until the summer of 2027 and Fulham's priority is to keep him at the club for another season. However, they are aware of the amount of interest in him and won't mind letting him leave for a fee of around £50 to 60 million as it will be quite a profitable piece of business for them.

Meanwhile, Chelsea and Liverpool are two of the clubs that have kept a close eye on the Portuguese international. The Merseyside club are eyeing a midfielder overhaul and have him on their radar.

While the Blues are looking for a potential cover for N'Golo Kante who has struggled with injuries. And, might even part ways with the club given the interest from Saudi Pro League.

Both the clubs admire the 27-year-old defensive midfielder but he is not their first priority. Meanwhile, West Ham United is one of the clubs who are desperate to have him in their ranks.

The Hammers are all set to lose out on their skipper Declan Rice who has decided to move on and join a bigger club. With Rice parting ways with the club, there is a huge void in the centre of the park. And, West Ham are looking for a potential replacement.

Meanwhile, people at the club believe Palhinha is the perfect replacement for the 24-year-old England International. And, they are keen on having him in their ranks. However, with Fulham demanding around £50 to 60 million, it will be interesting to see if Hammers are willing to meet the asking price.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/06/12/west-ham-united-learn-asking-price-for-joao-palhinha/

[WhiteJC]

Liverpool and Arsenal dealt transfer blow as owner speaks out on release clause

Liverpool and Arsenal and West Ham could all be impacted by Fulham's stance over sought-after midfielder Joao Palhinha, who enjoyed a brilliant debut campaign in London

Fulham are determined to hold onto Joao Palhinha this summer, with club chief Tony Khan rubbishing rumours that the star midfielder has a release clause in his contract.

Palhinha joined Fulham in a £20million transfer from Sporting back in July last year and he has proven to be an inspired piece of the business. The 27-year-old was one of the most consistent players in the Premier League last season, finishing way clear at the top of the tackle count in the top flight.

 He made 40 appearances in all competitions and is already attracting attention from elsewhere, with Liverpool and West Ham among those interested. The Daily Mail have described Jurgen Klopp's side as the 'most serious suitors', with midfielders of huge importance this summer because James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita are leaving.

The Hammers are also keeping tabs on him, with David Moyes eyeing the Portugal international as a potential replacement for Declan Rice, who is expected to leave this summer. Rice is keen on moving to Arsenal and The Guardian says the club will back Moyes in the transfer market to find a top-quality replacement.

 Rice is ready to reject Bayern Munich to join Mikel Arteta's side in a deal which could cost around £95m, but it could be delayed if West Ham can't find a replacement. And it looks as though Fulham will play hardball with any club who comes calling for Palhinha when the transfer window opens on Wednesday.

Responding to an article from talkSPORT which claimed Palhinha had a release clause in his Fulham deal, which could be triggered by West Ham, vice-chairman Khan wrote on Twitter: "There is no release clause".

Transfers often end up in chains during windows, with one requiring another to come off before it will be signed off. Arsenal will be hoping that isn't the case with their pursuit of Rice, who is Mikel Arteta's top target.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have already completed the signing of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton, but they need more bodies in midfield. Their interest in Palhinha has been growing since March and Klopp spoke glowingly of the Fulham midfielder back in May after a narrow 1-0 win over Marco Silva's side.



https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/liverpool-arsenal-transfer-blow-fulham-30210071

[WhiteJC]

Fulham Rumour Round-Up: Fred, Gray, Wimmer

Cam's back for the first instalment of our silly season transfer round-up. Who on this list takes your fancy?

Brace yourself, silly season's rocked up again and it's gonna be busy. Very, very busy. Our timelines have been inundated with transfer talk, Fulham secured their Premier League status for another season much earlier than forecast and as a result, the rumours started earlier than usual. We've been linked with Olivier Giroud in recent months, Hakim Ziyech has been mooted in the same sentence as Fulham as well as Reiss Nelson amongst others but as there's far too many to recap, we'll begin with the most recent scoops and go from there.

Each week, we'll condense the latest into bitesize morsels; there'll be plenty to digest over the coming weeks but our eyes are peeled, we've an ear to the ground and we're forever refreshing the apps for breaking news, solid or tenuous. Will we invest in the next best Joao Palhinha? Will we unearth an unknown gem for pennies? The fun and the sagas are so nearly upon us and we cannot wait for Marco Silva to get stuck in.

Fred – Manchester United
You may have noticed a snap of Silva chatting with Manchester United midfielder, Fred, after the Red Devils' 2-1 victory over the Fulham on the final day of the season and, well, there's no smoke without fire. Fred has one year outstanding on his current contract at Old Trafford, he's been touted for a potential switch to Craven Cottage this summer and when he was quizzed about his future following United's FA Cup Final defeat on June 3rd, he responded (via Metro): "I still don't know, I have to talk with my family, I still have one year left in my contract here."

During the Whites' encounter with United, Fred expertly set-up his team's second of the afternoon and he was a nuisance throughout. A Brazil international, Fred, 30, would presumably feel at home in SW6 as the squad's blessed with fellow Brazilians, as well as Portuguese-speaking members, and it's thought his relationship with Andreas Pereira is also great. Needless to add, but if we somehow manage to pull this off, it would be a massive marker of intent as Fred would definitely upgrade our engine room.

Demarai Gray – Everton
Demarai Gray is entering the final year of his contract at Everton and subject to a Sky Sports report, Fulham are supposedly eyeing up the Toffees winger, however there is an option for the 26-year-old to extend his stay on Merseyside until 2025. Let go by German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen in 2021 for just £1.7m, Gray's form for Everton hasn't been glowing by any means but he is a player that can cause issues when he's focused.

Formerly of Leicester City, the energetic attacker's familiar with the pressures of Premier League football and as Everton narrowly avoided the drop last season, he contributed four goals and one assist in 33 outings. This is a return that, in my opinion, would double in a better-drilled team such as Fulham and if we could snag him at a cut price, I'd have no qualms or reservations whatsoever.

Alassane Plea – Borussia Monchengladbach
A trio of London-based clubs – as per Foot Mercato – are said to be tracking wantaway Borussia Monchengladbach striker Alassane Plea. The French publication believes that West Ham United, Crystal Palace and indeed Fulham are in the running for the 30-year-old, who is apparently unhappy with his positional role at the Bundesliga outfit. He's been at Borussia Park since 2018 when he was purchased for €23m from OGC Nice.

Daniel Farke's deployed Plea out wide, however the one-time France international prefers to play through the middle as a central focal point up top. Subsequently, his form waned towards the back end of the season but two goals and 13 assists in 31 appearances in all competitions isn't a horrendous offering by any means. Plea's clearly productive, if he's utilised to his strengths he could promise even more success in front of the target although I'm not convinced he'd want to warm the bench in Aleksandar Mitrovic's shadow.

Igor – Fiorentina
Fiorentina manager Vincenzo Italiano slammed his own central defender, Igor, after the Serie A side fell to a 2-1 loss at the hands of West Ham in the UEFA Conference League Final and according to TUTTOmercatoWeb, Fulham and Leicester City are keeping tabs on the Brazilian defender's immediate future. The Italian outlet states that Viola are not willing to extend Igor's contract – which runs out in June 2024 – and out of the Whites and the Foxes, the Premier League team is in the ascendency for his signature.

Igor may have been somewhat at fault as Jarrod Bowen netted the winner for the Hammers on 7 June, but the defender's dependability's distinct. He's been on Fiorentina's books since 2021 and he's racked up 110 outings until now. Last season, Italiano got more than 3,100 minutes out of the 25-year-old and as his side reached a major European final as well as an 8th-placed finish, I'd say Igor contributions were justifiable, even if he blundered when it really mattered.

Patrick Wimmer – VfL Wolfsburg
Sourced close to Football Insider have informed the publication that there's strong interest from Fulham for VfL Wolfsburg's creative winger Patrick Wimmer. The Austria representative's form was excellent for the German side last term, he provided 8 assists for his teammates alongside four goals of his own and he isn't shy of committing his marker either.

Wimmer, 22, is fearlessly direct, he operates predominately along the right but he is capable of playing across the final third. Versatility is vital in the modern era of the game, formations and responsibilities are everchanging and Wimmer fits the bill as a possible addition to Silva's selection. Wolfsburg lured Wimmer from Armenia Bielefeld last summer for just £5m and given his impressive development at the Volkswagen-Arena, he won't depart as cheaply if he is to do so.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-06-12-fulham-rumour-round-up-fred-gray-wimmer/

[Stevieboy]

I wonder what part of "There is no release clause." these chancers dont understand!!