Saturday Fulham Stuff - 01/07/23...

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Fulham to push for Demarai Gray Everton exit with Willian set to leave on free transfer

Fulham are set to give Everton a major transfer headache when it comes to Demarai Gray's future after it emerged Willian will leave this summer.

The Cottagers have registered an interest in the Jamaica international this summer, as he enters the final 12 months of his contract at Goodison Park and considers an exit for more regular first-team football.

Gray has also been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, but regular football in England is more likely to appeal to him and now has a greater chance of coming to fruition after the latest update on Friday (30 June).

According to Evening Standard journalist Nizaar Kinsella, the experienced Brazilian winger will leave Fulham when his contract expires at midnight tonight after he couldn't agree terms on an extension.

Willian joined last summer on a one-year deal and is said to have accepted lesser terms after a poor spell in Brazil, but expected to be rewarded for his fine form last season.

Instead the club wouldn't match his demands and he will now leave, opening up a fresh opportunity and need for them to make a move for Everton's Gray during the transfer window.

That could cause problems for Everton and Sean Dyche, who are yet to make progress on any signings so far this summer despite the need for reinforcements being so great.

Gray was among the team's top scorers last season and often found himself starting as the first-choice number nine when Dominic Calvert-Lewin was unavailable.

But he didn't play enough when everyone was fit, with the boss preferring to use Dwight McNeil and Alex Iwobi in the wide positions ahead of him.

Fulham are now likely to turn up the pressure in their pursuit for Gray, meaning Everton will have a big decision to make sooner rather than later.



https://www.goodisonnews.com/2023/06/30/fulham-to-push-for-demarai-gray-everton-exit-with-willian-set-to-leave-on-free-transfer/

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Willian is set to LEAVE Fulham after 'the Cottagers handed the Chelsea veteran a disappointing contract extension' - with the Brazilian winger open to offers from Premier League rivals

    The 33-year-old made the surprise move from Corinthians ahead of last season
    Willian has enjoyed a strong season in the Premier League upon his return
    But instead Marco Silva will have to contend with his absence for the next term

Willian is set to leave Fulham after just one season at Craven Cottage following his rejection of the club's contract extension, according to reports.

The Brazilian winger joined the Premier League side in a suprising move at the start of last season, after his plan to end his career at his boyhood club Corinthians faltered and saw him end his contract early by mutual consent.

The 33-year-old had a dazzling return to English football, following his previous spells at Chelsea, and Arsenal.

Across 30 appearances in all competions, Willian scored five times and registered another six assists as a sharpened prong of head coach Marco Silva's multi-faceted attack.

The midfielder's contributions helped Fulham achieve a sturdy 10th place finish at the end of the 2022-23 campaign, just one point short of matching their record top-flight points tally.

But as per the Evening Standard, the player's return to west London is set to come to a premature end.

Willian's current one-year deal is set to expire tonight, but despite a willingness to prolong his spell at Craven Cottage, he is thought to have deemed the terms offered by the club to be unsatisfactory.

Silva is thought to have included Willian in his plans for next season, and the Portuguese manager will now be left looking for alternatives.

For his part, Willian is reportedly keen to stay in the Premier League, and will be seeking offers from Fulham's rivals during the summer window.

The player's departure is unlikely to be the only change to Fulham's attack as they prepare for the outgoings and incomings of the market.

The club have slapped a whopping £90million price tag on talented midfielder Joao Palhinha, who arrived in west London with Willian at the start of last season, and may also entertain offers for Antonee Robinson, who they value at £35m.

In the other direction, Fulham are believed to be interested in Robinson's USMNT team-mate Brenden Aaronson, who went down to the Championship at the end of last season with relegated Leeds, and Sevilla's Lucas Ocampos.

A major question mark remains however over the future of Silva himself, after the manager was courted by Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.

Silva has a £6m release clause in his contract that would prove no stumbling block for the Public Investment Fund-backed side, and the coach is thought to be considering the offer despite his unwillingness to leave the Premier League.

Al-Hilal are said to have previously offered Rome coach Jose Mourinho a diamond-studded deal, which came with a £26m-a-season salary would have made him the highest paid manager in the world.

But Mourinho - who is currently the eighth highest-paid boss in football - is believed to have turned the offer down in favour of staying with the Europa League finalists.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12252179/Willian-set-LEAVE-Fulham-Cottagers-handed-disappointing-contract-extension.html

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Tottenham eyeing move for 6ft 5in PL powerhouse they 'have been watching' for some time

Tottenham Hotspur are keen on signing the Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo this summer.

A report from Football London claims that the 6ft 5-inch defender has been on Tottenham's radar for a while.

The 25-year-old is in the final year of his contract and he could be available for a knockdown price in the summer.

Adarabioyo's distribution skills make him the ideal option for Ange Postecoglou's defensive unit and it remains to be seen whether Spurs can agree on a deal for him.

The report from Football London claims that Tottenham 'have been watching' the defender closely for some time and they are now weighing up a summer move for him.

The opportunity to play for Tottenham is likely to be an attractive option for the player and he will be tempted to join the north London club this summer. It would be a step up in his career and he would get to showcase his qualities at a higher level.

Although Tottenham have missed out on European qualification, they have an ambitious project with quality players and a quality manager. They will be an attractive destination for most players.

Tottenham have been linked with players like Edmond Tapsoba and Micky van de Ven as well but both players are likely to cost a lot more than other Adarabioyo. Furthermore, the 25-year-old is well-settled in the Premier League and he might be able to hit the ground running at Tottenham.



https://theboyhotspur.com/tottenham-eyeing-move-for-6ft-5in-pl-powerhouse-they-have-been-watching-for-some-time/

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Willian 'doesn't rule out staying at Fulham'
Willian is willing to remain at Fulham if they put together a 'more attractive' offer for his services, according to reports from Brazil.

The Brazilian edition of Goal confirms tonight that the veteran winger was disappointed with the terms of the contract offer he was offered to remain at Craven Cottage and that he was hoping for more recognition of his consistency after starring for Marco Silva's side, who finished tenth in the Premier League. The former Chelsea and Arsenal winger wants to remain in the Premier League and has authorised his representatives to talk to other English clubs but he doesn't rule out remaining with the Whites if Fulham were to reopen negotiations.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/06/willian-doesnt-rule-out-staying-at-fulham/

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West Ham now targeting £128m trio to replace Declan Rice at London Stadium
West Ham United are interested in a £128m trio to replace Declan Rice at the London Stadium this summer.

West Ham United have midfielders Denis Zakaria, Joao Palhinha and Alex Scott on their list to replace Declan Rice at the London Stadium this summer, Sky Sports reporter Michael Bridge has told GIVEMESPORT

David Moyes will hope to see the Irons' business conducted promptly ahead of the Hammers' return to pre-season training.

West Ham transfer news – Latest
With West Ham securing a deal worth £105m with Arsenal for the services of Rice, Moyes has been provided with a significant boost in his transfer budget as he looks to replace the Irons captain.

According to reports in Italy, West Ham have offered £13m to Juventus to sign Zakaria, who spent last season on loan at Chelsea, but face competition from Ligue 1 outfit Lens, who can offer Champions League football next term.

Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has confirmed the London Stadium side's interest in Zakaria and Fulham's Palhinha in his recent column for CaughtOffside.

As per the MailOnline, Fulham will demand £90m for the 27-year-old midfielder, which puts a dent in the Hammers' chances of signing the Portugal international.

Transfer insider Dean Jones has recently told GIVEMESPORT that the east London club are "keeping an eye" on Palhinha as they weigh up on whether to make an offer.

Meanwhile, The Evening Standard reports that West Ham have held talks with representatives of Bristol City's Scott, with the teenager potentially commanding a fee of £25m.

And Bridge believes that Zakaria, Palhinha and Scott are the three names West Ham "like."

What has Bridge said about West Ham?
Speaking about West Ham's next steps after selling Rice, Bridge told GIVEMESPORT: "David Moyes, whatever fans think about him, is a very savvy manager, and the whole club will have known that this is happening, and they will have planned for it for some time.

"So, the names I've been given, alongside my colleagues, are Denis Zakaria at Juventus, Joao Palhinha at Fulham, who I think is a fantastic midfielder, and Alex Scott from Bristol City. Several Premier League clubs have watched him.

"I think they're the three names that have been out there. I've pretty much had the thumbs up that they are the three they like.

Would any of the trio be good signings for West Ham?
Whilst Rice's departure comes as a blow to West Ham and Moyes, securing two out of the three targets mentioned above would go some way to reducing the void left by their captain.

Zakaria will be champing at the bit to prove himself in the Premier League, having only been handed seven top-flight appearances at Chelsea during his loan spell from Juventus last season.

Palhinha has been an excellent addition to the Fulham squad since his reported £17m arrival from Sporting Lisbon last summer, making 4.2 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game whilst chipping in with three goals in the league himself, according to WhoScored.

Meanwhile, Scott enjoyed an exceptional breakthrough campaign at Bristol City and was rewarded with the Championship Young Player of the Season award by the EFL, demonstrating the 19-year-old's potential ability.

Therefore, West Ham must move on from the departure of Rice by signing at least one of their trio of targets as they look to build on last season's Europa Conference League triumph.



https://www.givemesport.com/west-ham-rice-replacements-zakaria-palhinha-scott-transfer-news/

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Bryan signs for Millwall following Fulham exit

Joe Bryan has signed for Millwall after being released by Fulham.

It was recently confirmed that the left-back would be moving on when his contract at Craven Cottage ended this summer.

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, 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.

"Joe has invaluable experience at the top end of the Championship – having won promotion twice with Fulham before – and in the Premier League, so we are very pleased that he has decided to join us," said Millwall's director of football operations and recruitment Alex Aldridge.

"Joe is relishing a new challenge after his time with Fulham and a different experience abroad in the French league last year.

"His quality and versatility to play both as a full-back and wing-back will really strengthen the squad, and we look forward to working with him."



https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/fulham-millwall-joe-bryan