Friday Fulham Stuff - 23/06/23...

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Report: Premier League defender's contract talks collapse, Spurs want him

Fulham are ready to cash in on defender Tosin Adarabioyo amid interest from London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Fulham's talks to keep Tosin Adarabioyo have completely collapsed as the defender seemingly heads for the exit this summer.

That is according to a report from The London Evening Standard, who claim that talks with Adarabioyo broke down last week.

Fulham are desperate to keep hold of Adarabioyo but the defender doesn't look likely to sign a new deal.

Adarabioyo is out of contract in 2024 and this summer may be Fulham's last chance to secure a decent fee.

Tottenham want to land Adarabioyo as they consider making signings to bolster Ange Postecoglou's back line.

Spurs are far from alone in the race for Adarabioyo though with Rennes and Monaco interested in luring him to France.

Adarabioyo isn't opposed to moving abroad either and will allegedly prioritise 'sporting opportunity' over staying at home for the sake of it.

It may be tricky for Tottenham to sign both Tosin Adarabioyo and Edmond Tapsoba
Adarabioyo is far from the only centre back being linked with Tottenham right now.

Bayer Leverkusen star Edmond Tapsoba appears to be the top target for Spurs but will be very, very expensive.

We are expecting Tottenham to sign multiple centre backs this summer but surely one of them will be left footed.

Eric Dier, Cristian Romero and Tapsoba are all right-footed, just like Adarabioyo.

Ange Postecoglou did use two right-footers on a regular basis at Celtic with Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt featuring regularly.

Postecoglou did though bring in a left-footer in January, landing Yuki Kobayashi from Vissel Kobe.

Maybe Tottenham keep hold of Clement Lenglet or move for another left footer like Hiroki Ito at Stuttgart.

It's just a little hard to imagine Tottenham carrying four right-footed centre backs, even if Adarabioyo's contract situation and homegrown status make him very appealing.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2023/06/22/report-premier-league-defenders-contract-talks-collapse-spurs-want-him/

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Fulham: Imagine Viktor Gyokeres & Fred at Craven Cottage
The Cottagers are not messing around this summer...

Fulham are among the clubs eyeing a move for Coventry City's Viktor Gyökeres, according to Fabrizio Romano, as the forward enters the last year of his contract at the Championship club.

What's the latest on Viktor Gyökeres to Fulham?
A whole host of Premier League clubs are interested in signing Gyökeres this summer, with the Cottagers, as well as Wolverhampton Wanderers, and West Ham United, all "ready to push" for a move, as per the Italian transfer guru.

"Coventry owner, asking for huge amount with just 1 year left on contract," Romano added.

A fee of around £20m has been touted regularly in the past few months, which is likely the very minimum that the Sky Blues would look for in order to simply start negotiations this summer.

Meanwhile, the London outfit are also looking to sign Manchester United midfielder Fred this summer, according to Jason Burt of The Telegraph.

He would also cost the Cottagers £20m, as per the report, as Marco Silva looks to build a side capable of maintaining their place in the Premier League's top half.

Could Fred and Viktor Gyökeres take Fulham up a level?
Seemingly gone are the days of Fulham fans being forced to endure disappointing summers of transfer deals that will leave them bound for yet another relegation from England's top flight.

These are better days under Silva and, with that, a summer of exciting transfer rumours about players ready to take Fulham up a level.

The fact that the London club are in a position to realistically sign both Fred and Gyökeres this summer should be celebrated. It's a sign that they have stepped things up a gear or two. It would be a statement of intent if both players ended up at the club this summer.

Just the thought of Gyökeres and Aleksandar Mitrovic's partnership should send shivers down the spine of near enough every Premier League defender hoping for a routine day at the office.

If Mitrovic wasn't enough to handle - scoring 14 league goals last season - adding the Coventry striker into the mix could result in one of the best partnerships in England's top flight.

Last season, the Swede scored 21 Championship goals as the Sky Blues shocked everyone by reaching the play-off final, before suffering Wembley heartbreak at the hands of Luton Town.

Having scored 17 goals in the season prior, it is clear that Gyökeres is ready to step into the Premier League.

Speaking about the goalscoring machine last season, Sky Blues manager Mark Robins said (via CoventryLive):

"He came in on the back of a spell at Swansea from Brighton and I knew the raw ingredients were there, and he hadn't played.

"And he came in and wasn't starting in the side and he was fuming, absolutely furious that he wasn't playing. But he wasn't ready to do that and I said to him, 'I'm waiting to see it'.

"From that moment on he's showed me. Fair play to him because he's just phenomenal."

He may well have Manchester United's Fred as a teammate, too, with the Brazilian also linked with a move.

The midfielder could become part of the supply line to the potential new Fulham strike partnership, with his 5.47 progressive passes per 90 only likely to benefit those looking to find the back of the net under Silva next season.

Signing one of the best players in the Championship, as well as an experienced Manchester United midfielder would be a significant sign of how much Fulham have improved on and off the pitch in recent times.



https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-transfer-news-fred-viktor-gyokeres-silva-premier-league-gossip/

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Fulham weighing up big-money transfer swoop for Southampton player
Fulham are interested in signing Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse.

Fulham are interested in Southampton's James Ward-Prowse, although any deal could depend on whether Joao Palhinha leaves the club.

Will James Ward-Prowse leave Southampton?
The Saints skipper has been a reliable, consistent performer for the club over the years, even as they were relegated from the Premier League last season. Therefore, it was always thought that the England international would move on during the summer.

The midfielder will no doubt have ambitions to make the Three Lions' squad for Euro 2024, and playing in the top-flight will be key to him making Gareth Southgate's squad.

And, it has been claimed by the PA news agency, as quoted by the Independent, that Fulham could offer Ward-Prowse an immediate return to the top-flight.

They state that Southampton want under £30m for the set-piece specialist, which would be well within Fulham's price range if they sell Palhinha.

The Portuguese international is subject of interest from West Ham, who will be in the market for a new midfielder once Declan Rice has completed his move away from the club, with both Arsenal and Manchester City keen on the Hammers captain.

Should Ward-Prowse leave Southampton this summer, he will depart having made over 400 appearances for the south coast side since breaking through over a decade ago.

His sale would give new boss Russell Martin the funds he wants to bring in his own players as his appointment was finally announced on Wednesday.

Southampton summer transfer plans
Martin's arrival means things can start to happen in the transfer market, and with the former Swansea boss adopting a specific style of play, he is going to need to bring in players that suit his demands. But, the financial implications of relegation means that could be difficult.

So, sales are inevitable, and Ward-Prowse is undoubtedly one of the players in the squad that will command a huge fee. Given how he has performed in the top-flight over the years, it's no surprise he is on the radar of clubs.

However, the fact it could be relying on Palhinha's sale, which in turn is reliant on Rice going, shows how complex transfers are, and it's something that could drag on over the coming weeks. Either way, whether it's Fulham or elsewhere, you would expect Ward-Prowse to move on at some point in this window.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/russell-martin-targeting-premier-league-midfielder-after-southampton-appointment/

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Fulham 'enter race for Southampton's James Ward-Prowse'

 Fulham have reportedly entered the race to sign Southampton midfielder James Ward-Prowse.

The 28-year-old captain has earned legendary status at St Mary's having spent his entire club career with the Saints, scoring 55 goals and registering 53 assists in 409 appearances across all competitions during a 12-year period.

However, Ward-Prowse is widely expected to leave Southampton this summer following the club's relegation to the Championship.

A host of Premier League clubs have since been credited with an interest in the 11-cap England international, with both West Ham United and Liverpool in the market for midfield reinforcements.

While West Ham have identified Ward-Prowse as a potential replacement for in-demand Declan Rice, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is hoping to follow up the signing of Alexis Mac Allister with a few more midfield additions due to the departures of James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

However, according to the PA news agency, Fulham have emerged as the latest contenders in the race to sign Ward-Prowse ahead of the 2023-24 season.

It is claimed that Marco Silva's side find themselves in the line of a domino effect, as the potential sale of Rice from West Ham could see the Hammers make a move for Cottagers midfielder Joao Palhinha.

Palhinha only joined Fulham last year for £20m from Sporting Lisbon, but after an impressive debut campaign at Craven Cottage, a number of clubs, particularly West Ham, are believed to be contemplating a big-money bid for the Portuguese this summer.

The Independent claims that Ward-Prowse would be interested in a move to Fulham, who exceeded expectations in the 2022-23 campaign by securing a top-10 finish in the Premier League, 12 months after winning the Championship title.

The set-piece specialist is understood to see Silva's style of football as the best fit for him as he endeavours to secure a move to a club competing in the top flight.

Southampton are in a strong position when it comes to negotiating a potential sale of Ward-Prowse as the midfielder still has three years left on his contract which does not include a relegation release clause.

The Saints are thought to value Ward-Prowse between £30m and £50m, and should Fulham win the race for his signature by forking out a figure in that range, they would break their transfer record which currently stands at the €30m (£25.8m) paid for Jean Michael Seri in 2018.

Ward-Prowse is not the only Southampton midfielder who could be heading for the exit door, as Arsenal are reportedly making progress in negotiations to sign 19-year-old Romeo Lavia, who is valued at £50m.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/transfer-talk/news/fulham-enter-race-for-southamptons-james-ward-prowse_516858.html?newsnow

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Fulham's Marco Silva receives 'lucrative offer' to join Saudi Pro League club
Silva has one year left on his contract and is understood to have a £6m release clause which Al-Hilal wouldn't have a problem matching

Marco Silva is wanted by Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, who are targeting the Fulham manager after their statement capture of Portuguese compatriot Ruben Neves.

i understands that managerless Al-Hilal have made fresh contact with Silva in recent days as the Saudi Public Investment Fund's (PIF) effort to recruit elite talent shows no signs of slowing.

Silva, who also has the offer of a new long-term contract at Craven Cottage, is considering the lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia. But sources have indicated the pull of staying in the Premier League may outweigh the riches on offer from the Saudi Pro League.

The former Everton and Watford boss did an excellent job with newly-promoted Fulham, leading them to 10th in the English top flight while playing an attractive brand of football.

His contract runs out in 2024 and the Cottagers want to keep him in west London but talks have yet to produce an agreement.

And that has attracted the interest of Al-Hilal, who are targeting a top tier head coach as part of the new football era in the Gulf era.

Silva is understood to have a £6million release clause in his contract which would be no problem for Al-Hilal to pay.

The move comes at the end of another week that has seen Saudi Arabia shake up the world of football.

It's understood that a delegation from the Saudi Pro League has been in London this week holding talks with agents and players, which has prompted a fresh flurry of moves and speculation.

The most eye-catching so far has been the attempt by one of the four PIF-owned clubs to sign Manchester City star Bernardo Silva.

The pace of the Saudi push has surprised many in the football world, with the expectation among most recruitment executives that this summer they would mainly target veteran players who were out of contract.

But there has been a concerted effort to try and recruit players in the prime of their career, too, which has made the offers from Saudi Arabia compelling for sporting reasons as well as the obvious financial benefits.

The moves have been understandably controversial given concerns about Saudi Arabia's human rights record. Gary Neville also voiced concerns about sporting integrity after it emerged Chelsea could sell as many as six of their unwanted players to Saudi clubs.

But i revealed earlier today that the Premier League had received assurances that PIF are not part of Chelsea's ownership structure.



https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-marco-silva-receives-lucrative-offer-saudi-pro-league-club-2430578