Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 12/07/23...

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Fulham ready to raise offer for signing – Silva's side have 'no intention' to give up
On Monday, Viola News reported Fulham are still chasing Igor Julio despite earlier claims suggesting the Premier League side are unwilling to meet Fiorentina's high demands to sign him.

It was also stated the 25-year-old has made it known through intermediaries about his desire to leave the Serie A side in the summer window.

TuttoMercatoWeb have a report explaining the efforts put in by Fulham to secure the defender's services.

They say Fiorentina have not taken into consideration the 'potential first proposal' of €8m made by Marco Silva's side. Despite this, Fulham have 'no intention' to endow ending their pursuit.

It's claimed new contacts are expected between Fulham and the Italian club in the 'next few hours', to kickstart the negotiations on 'more concrete' terms.

The report states Fulham are 'ready to raise' the offer for Igor, who has a deal expiring in 2024. Although the player wants to leave his current employer in this window, TMW add there's 'still a long way to go' for him to get a move.

Fulham must be wary about Villarreal, who are in the background but haven't yet taken any concrete steps to sign Igor.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-ready-to-raise-offer-for-signing-silvas-side-have-no-intention-to-give-up/

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Fulham Rumour Round-Up: Rodrigo, Harwood-Bellis, Dest
Fulham's admin guys have been awful quiet lately, and so have the deal-makers. Well, we've done our homework, so here's the freshest transfer rumours.

In typical Fulham fashion, we're yet to sign a player and with less than a month to go until next season commences, we've 22 recognised first-team players and one of them is Kevin Mbabu. Hopefully the wheels will start turning in the not too distant future and in Cam's latest round-up, there's a few names that would definitely go down a treat with all of us.

Rodrigo Moreno – Leeds United
Sources close to Football Insider are under the impression that Leeds United's Rodrigo Moreno is nearing a summer exit from Elland Road and Fulham could be a likely destination. The 32-year-old was Leeds' top scorer last season with 13 Premier League goals and following the Liliywhites' relegation to the Championship, he's angling for a move elsewhere and a number of clubs worldwide are tracking his availability.

The Spain international is under contract at Leeds until 2024. Capable of playing out wide as well as through the centre of attack, Rodrigo's versatility would be highly beneficial to Silva's system however as he's allegedly on £100k-a-week, his salary could be a drawback in negotiations if they were to be initiated.

El Bilal Touré – UD Almeria
Well-known Belgian reporter Sacha Tavolieri revealed via his Twitter account that Fulham, alongside Everton, are tailing UD Almeria striker El Bilal Touré, however the Whites will only prioritise the 21-year-old if Aleksandar Mitrovic suddenly departs Craven Cottage this summer.

The Ivory Coast-born Mali international has a €40m release clause included in his contract at La Liga outfit after moving from Ligue 1 side Stade Reims last September. In 25 outings last term, he bagged seven goals while offering two assists, which isn't a bad return by any means, but he's not a ready-made replacement for Mitro and that's all there is to it.

Jonathan Bamba – Free Agent
According to French football publication Team Football, Fulham have been quoted as a possible suitor for former Lille OSC winger Jonathan Bamba, who is now a free agent after leaving the Ligue 1 side at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.

The 27-year-old's representatives have supposedly been contacted by the Whites' recruitment team and by all accounts, the prospect of flaunting his expertise in the Premier League is attractive to the Frenchman. Bamba tallied 29 goals and 35 assists for Les Dogues in 200 appearances, he's an attacker that doesn't think twice about beating his man and if the Whites can pick him up without spending a penny, it would definitely be good business.

Morato – SL Benfica
In order to strengthen our central defensive options, Fulham have allegedly opened a dialogue with Liga NOS champions SL Benfica regarding their 22-year-old defender Morato, as per The Telegraph. Tosin Adarabioyo could be on the way out of the club in the coming weeks and Morato's been identified as a feasible addition if our towering centre-back heads elsewhere.

Featuring in 20 games across all available competitions, Morato wasn't necessarily Benfica's go-to leader at the back but his efforts were enough to draw attention from admirers outside the Portuguese top-flight and if Silva thinks he'll slot into his plans effectively, we've got to trust his judgement as ever.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis – Manchester City
Fulham – disclosed by TEAMtalk – are among a host of sides that are vying to capture Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Manchester City during the summer transfer window. Spending the 2022/23 season on loan under Vincent Kompany's stewardship at Championship victors Burnley, Harwood-Bellis recently captained England's U21s to their first European title in 39 years and Lee Carsley's men didn't concede a single goal throughout the tournament.

City are undecided as to whether they'll keep hold of Harwood-Bellis or not and as well as the Whites and the Clarets, Brighton and Hove Albion, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Everton are also circling for the 21-year-old centre-half. Given his heroics for the Young Lions, though, I'm certain City will want to enhance his title-winning qualities at the Etihad next season and if they don't, they'll be foolish.

Bright Osayi-Samuel – Fenerbahce SK
Hold on, we've been here before, haven't we? Fulham were linked with Fenerbahce's Bright Osayi-Samuel last summer and Turkish outlet Krampon Sports (via Twitter) believe we're in for him again. The former Queens Park Rangers winger-come-fullback is also on French club Troyes' radar, as well as Brentford's, and in a recent interview, the 24-year-old expressed his desire to return to English shores.

Speaking to Soccernet Nigeria, Osayi-Samuel said: "I think everyone knows that my ambition is to play English football, to play in the [English] Premier League, you know,

"No disrespect they [Fenerbahce] have done some much for me there [in Turkey].

"But my ambition is to play in the Premier League. So when I feel that the time is the right time for me to go, I will take it."

Sergiño Dest – FC Barcelona
Plenty of American internationals have been touted for a switch to SW6 throughout the summer and the latest USMNT representative that's thought to be in our sights is FC Barcelona's Sergiño Dest, according to renowned Spanish publication Mundo Deportivo. Xavi is supposedly unconvinced by Dest, he endured a lacklustre season with AC Milan on loan and subsequently, and exit from the Camp Nou is being weighed up.

Milan passed up the opportunity to activate a €20m purchase clause and he still has two years remaining on his contract at Barca. Dest, like his compatriot Antonee Robinson, is a speed demon on the flanks and as a right-sided defender, he'd compliment our fast-paced counter attacks superbly. Crystal Palace are also said to be keeping tabs on Dest, and while his form wasn't necessarily gleaming last season, we should snap him up if the price is right because Silva could undoubtedly reimagine the player's purpose.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-07-11-fulham-rumour-round-up-rodrigo-harwood-bellis-dest/

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Get To Know: FFC Sweden

Next up in our Get To Know feature series, we spoke to Hampus Petersson, secretary of FFC Sweden, to find out more about another one of our Official International Supporters Groups.
How did your affiliation with Fulham start?

Fulham had fans in Sweden long before FFC Sweden came to life, but in 2004 we decided to gather and connect as many as we could. Since then we have built a solid base, with the yearly members' trip as the obvious highlight.
How did you build the group/find other members?

Mostly with the help of various chat groups and SvenskaFans, a supporters' website that was very popular in Sweden 20 years ago. The fun part is that we have found and connected with half a dozen Swedish fans in the beer garden at the Golden Lion.

How do you keep up with all the action?

Many of us travel to watch games at Craven Cottage several times a season. When we're not there, we watch the games on TV. In Sweden, all Premier League fixtures are televised through Viaplay.
Have you ever experienced Craven Cottage?

Oh yes. Hundreds of times if we add up the total visits from members of FFC Sweden.

What is your all-time favourite Fulham moment?

Without a doubt the Play-Off Final at Wembley in 2018. What a day! We were there in full force, soaking up and adding to the atmosphere at the stadium. Not to forget The Torch before the match.
What's the best way for other Fulham fans to get in contact with you?

Nowadays we mostly stay in touch through a group chat on Messenger. Otherwise the best way to contact us is through Facebook or Twitter. We don't post that much, but always have an eye open for direct messages on both platforms, we can also be reached via email. And don't be afraid to say hi when you see us (and our flags) in SW6!

To find out more about FFC Sweden, you can view their page here.

To view a full list of Fulham's Official Supporter Clubs and find out how you can get involved, click here.

To get in touch with us and make your group officially recognised by the Club, please email [email protected].



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/july/11/get-to-know-ffc-sweden/

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Fulham and West Ham Ponder Move for U21 European Champion
A Golden Opportunity: Premier League Eyes on Harwood-Bellis

The Rising Star of Manchester City
It's no secret that Taylor Harwood-Bellis has caught the eye of the footballing world. BBC Sport reports this dynamic 21-year-old Manchester City defender and captain of England's U21s has sparked serious interest amongst Premier League clubs, namely Fulham and West Ham.

Harwood-Bellis' leadership drove the Young Lions to their first European title in nearly four decades, triumphing over Spain in the breathtaking final.

A Valued Asset: From Burnley to Premier League
The young defender's talent doesn't stop there. He claimed the Championship title during a fruitful loan spell at Burnley last season, demonstrating his adaptability and potential. The rumour mill suggests Manchester City peg his worth at around £15m.

Praise from High Places and Future Prospects
Entering his contract's final year at City, Harwood-Bellis has been endorsed by none other than England manager Gareth Southgate himself during the last senior international break. The defender's centre-back partner, Levi Colwill, has also enjoyed the limelight, being a part of the England squad in the last international break.

FA figures predict that Harwood-Bellis, amongst others in the current U21 side, has the potential to ascend to the senior squad, a testament to his promising future.



https://eplindex.com/91861/fulham-and-west-ham-ponder-move-for-u21-european-champion.html

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Target agrees 4-year deal with Fulham but Cottagers have £7m bid rejected

Fiorentina's Igor Julio has reportedly agreed a four-year contract at Fulham but the Premier League outfit must improve their opening bid of £7 million to bring the Serie A ace to Craven Cottage.

With doubts rising over Tosin Adarabioyo's future – the former Man City youngster has one year left on his contract and interest from Tottenham and Inter Milan – Marco Silva's side are leaving nothing to chance.

Igor Julio, another right-sided centre-half due to become a free-agent in 2024, has been lined up as Tosin's replacement.

Fulham, according to Tuttomercatoweb, have seen an opening bid of £7 million rejected. The West London outfit are not giving up that easily, however; a new approach already being formalised.

Fulham still hope to sign Igor Julio from Fiorentina
Igor, a 25-year-old Brazilian who joined Fiorentina from SPAL in 2021, copped plenty of criticism after choking on Jarrod Bowen's dust in the build-up to West Ham's dramatic late winner in the Conference League final last month.

One albeit-high-profile mistake should not take away from what was an otherwise excellent campaign, however. Leicester City are also keen. Fulham are now the clear frontrunners, however, after the Foxes suffered relegation on the final day.

"I spoke to Fiorentina about Igor's future," the 25-year-old's agent, Marcelo Mascagni, told Viola News in June.

"The intention is to leave in the summer. The Viola club is also in agreement. We're looking around."

According to Viola News, Igor has now agreed a four-year contract at Fulham. Fiorentina are holding out for around £10 million, however, meaning Fulham will have to almost double their opening bid in order to get the well-travelled centre-half through the door.

The Standard reports that Fulham have also held talks with Benfica's Morato, failing with another bid this time in the region of £10 million.

In other news, Silva's hopes of reuniting with Manor Solomon next term look over; the Israel international undergoing a medical at Tottenham Hotspur.

"Tottenham is the most suitable (club) for him," super-agent Pini Zahavi tells Sport1.

"Because, this season, they will be playing attractive football. The coach (Ange Postecoglou) advocates attacking football, different from in the past.

"I supported the idea, and in doing so I made Solomon's dream come true."



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2023/07/11/target-agrees-4-year-deal-with-fulham-but-cottagers-have-7m-bid-rejected/

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Club Keen To Encourage Burnley, Fulham And West Ham To Get Into Bidding War For Player

Manchester City want a bidding war between Burnley, West Ham United and Fulham for their defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis, according to the Evening Standard.

The 21-year-old centre-back came through the academy ranks of the Sky Blues and has made eight senior appearances for Manchester City.

Last season, Harwood-Bellis joined Burnley on loan and made 32 league appearances for Vincent Kompany's side while helping them earn promotion to the Premier League.

Harwood-Bellis has entered the final year of his contract with Manchester City and Premier League outfits West Ham, Burnley and Fulham are interested in his services.

Burnley boss Kompany is keen on bringing Harwood-Bellis back to Turf Moor on a permanent basis this summer.

And Manchester City are ready to part ways with the England Under-21 international; they have put a £15m price tag on his head.

However, Manchester City are hoping for a bidding war between West Ham, Burnley and Fulham.

David Moyes is looking to add a centre-back to his West Ham squad and he is an admirer of the young Sky Blue star.

Harwood-Bellis recently guided the England Under-21 side to win the 2023 Under-21 European Championship.

It remains to be seen if Manchester City will get their wish and Burnley, West Ham and Fulham compete to push the price up.



https://insidefutbol.com/2023/07/11/club-keen-to-encourage-burnley-fulham-and-west-ham-to-get-into-bidding-war-for-player/610240/

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Tottenham confirm Manor Solomon's arrival on a free transfer - as the Israeli commits to a five-year deal in north London after his fruitful loan spell at Fulham

    Tottenham have signed Israeli international Manor Solomon on a free transfer
    The 23-year-old forward spent last season on loan at newly-promoted Fulham

Tottenham have signed Israeli international Manor Solomon on a five-year deal, the club confirmed on Tuesday.

Solomon, whose contract at Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk expired in June, has agreed to join the Premier League side on a free transfer following his fruitful loan spell at Fulham last campaign.

The forward began his season-long stint at Craven Cottage with a serious knee injury but went on to chalk up 24 appearances across all competitions, scoring five goals.

Remarkably, all four of Solomon's Premier League goals last term came in successive matches between February and March.

The Israeli netted in back-to-back clashes against Nottingham Forest, Brighton, Wolves and Brentford while star man Aleksandar Mitrovic was absent with a knock.

Solomon, 23, began his career with local Israeli side Maccabi Petah Tikva before joining Shakhtar Donetsk in January 2019.

There, the winger twice won the domestic league title and gained valuable experience in the Champions League, becoming the youngest Israeli player to score in the competition against Atalanta in October 2019.

'I'm so delighted and excited to be joining this fantastic football club,' Solomon posted to Twitter on Tuesday. 'It's truly an honour to be here and I can't wait to get started. to dare is to do!'

Spurs fans will hope the signing of Solomon has no bearing on Harry Kane's future this summer, as the England captain continues to pursued by serial Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

Chairman Daniel Levy is primed to reject Bayern's second bid of £70million for the all-time Tottenham goal-scorer, who reportedly met with Thomas Tuchel to discuss a potential move to Bavaria ahead of next season.

Tottenham made former Empoli goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario the first signing of the Ange Postecoglou era last month and have since lured England international James Maddison from Leicester for a fee worth £35m.

Remarking on Kane's uncertain future at Tottenham, Postecoglou said on Monday: 'He's one of the premier strikers in the world and I want him involved. My conversation with him will be about how we can make this club successful. I've no doubts he wants that as well.

'Within that context, whatever that narrows into the personal stuff around Harry as an individual, if the conversation takes it that way then we'll take it that way, but I doubt it's going to be defined in the manner people think.

'It's not going to be a conversation where we walk out of the room and have an understanding.

'I don't want that kind of conversation. I want to introduce myself to Harry and give him my vision of the football club, and get a sense on what he thinks the club needs to do to be successful. Then walk out on that training pitch and try and make it happen.'



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12286869/Tottenham-confirm-Manor-Solomon-joined-club-free-transfer.html

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Fulham: Whites in race for Fode Ballo-Toure
Marco Silva wants new additions this summer.

Fulham are in a four-horse race to sign Senegal international and AC Milan left-back Fode Ballo-Toure this summer, according to reports.

Who are Fulham looking to sign this summer?
On the transfer front, things have been very quiet at Craven Cottage, with manager Marco Silva still yet to see a single major signing come through the door.

Following a successful 2022/2023 campaign back in the English top flight, Fulham will be eager to strengthen their ranks and bolster key areas, though that is yet to come to fruition thus far.

The Whites finished mid-table and briefly contended for European qualification last season, even finishing above west London rivals Chelsea. However, to maintain their solid performance level, Silva must freshen up the Fulham squad whilst adding desired quality.

Fulham have been linked with a few fresh faces over the last few weeks, perhaps most notably Man United midfielder Fred, Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, USA internationalSergino Dest, Valencia midfielder Yunus Musah and Roma defender Roger Ibanez.

Silva's side have also placed high price tags on their most prized assets to ward off potential suitors, with reports suggesting that star midfielder Joao Palhinha could cost around £90 million to interested sides like Man United and West Ham (The Daily Mail).

In terms of incomings, while there have been few developments in the way of official bids or talks, Fulham do have their eyes on a fair few potentials - with a report from France linking them to African defender Ballo-Toure.

The 26-year-old, who featured briefly for Senegal at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar last year, faced off against England in the last 16 of the tournament.

According to Foot Mercato and journalist Sebastian Denis, Fulham are interested in signing Ballo-Toure, but they face stiff competition as a trio of clubs join the race for him.

Indeed, Bologna, Werder Bremen and league rivals Everton are now also in the mix to sign Ballo-Toure alongside Fulham - with a four-horse battle now on the cards.

Denis wrote:

"Fodé Ballo-Touré keeps a good rating on the transfer market,"

"After Fulham (which still keeps an eye on him), three new clubs are interested in the 26-year-old left-back who worked for PSG, LOSC and AS Monaco.

"According to our information, Bologna , Werder Bremen but also Everton are in the process of recovering the 2022 Italian champions, under contract until June 2025 with Milan."

How good is Fode Ballo-Toure?
Playing 10 Serie A matches last season, totaling around 518 minutes for the Rossoneri, Ballo-Toure could well be looking for a new side who can hand him more playing time (WhoScored).

The full-back may perhaps come as an alternative option to Antonee Robinson on the left-hand-side, and according to football philosopher Joost van der Leij, who applies the scientific principle "Bayesianism" to the beautiful game, Ballo-Toure could come as a solid option for Silva.

"Fodé Ballo-Touré is an above par LB with decent defending probability and okayish finishing probability and a bit of passing game probability," said van der Leij on Twitter.

"A modern LB, but I prefer a bit more defending probability myself, even though his finishing probability is really nice to have in a team. Replacement value for AC Milan = €7,560,655. So he is quite undervalued."



https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league-fulham-fode-ballo-toure-ac-milan-transfer-news/

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Academy To Head To Portugal

The Fulham Academy is heading to Portugal on Sunday (16th) to take part in a week-long training camp.

Our Under-21s and Under-18s will get some warm weather training in and play two friendlies, each against local opposition.

"Portugal is a great opportunity for our Professional Development Phase (PDP) teams to prepare for the demanding season ahead of them," Academy Director Sean Cullen told fulhamfc.com.

"The trip gives our players and staff the chance to bond, whilst also working hard on the grass and playing fixtures against top-quality opposition. The players are exposed to different styles of football and will also benefit holistically from experiencing a different culture."

Friendly dates

Wednesday 19th July:

FC Porto B v Fulham U21 (10:30am)

SC Braga U19 v Fulham U18 (5pm)

Saturday 22nd July:

SC Braga B v Fulham U21 (10:30am)

FC Porto U19 v Fulham U18 (10:30am)



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/july/11/Academy-To-Head-To-Portugal/

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Fulham front-runners to sign Fred
Manchester United midfielder Fred has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford this summer.

According to a report from Globo Esporte, Premier League outfit Fulham are currently in pole position to sign Manchester United midfielder Fred, who is valued at £20 million.

There have been reports that the Brazilian midfielder recently switched agents in order to facilitate a transfer, and it remains to be seen where he ends up.

Fulham need to add more quality in the middle of the park and Fred could prove to be a superb acquisition.

Joao Palhinha has been linked with a move away from Fulham this summer and the Manchester United star could be his replacement if the Portuguese moves on. Manchester United have been linked with a number of midfielders in recent months and if they decide to sign a central midfielder this summer, Fred is likely to drop down the pecking order.

The Brazilian will not want to sit on the bench at Old Trafford, and it makes sense for him to move on in search of regular playing time.

The Red Devils have recently signed Mason Mount in a big-money deal from Chelsea and the England international is expected to operate as the advanced central midfield here.

Meanwhile, Fred is at the peak of his career and he will look to establish himself as a key player for Fulham if the transfer goes through.

The Brazilian is well-settled in the Premier League and he will look to make an immediate impact.

Although the 30-year-old is not good enough to start regularly for a side looking to win the Premier League title and the Champions League, he is certainly good enough to make his mark at a club like Fulham.

The Londoners had an impressive campaign last year and they will look to build on it and push for a finish in the top half next season.

Signings like Fred will certainly help them improve on the pitch.

Furthermore, the reported £20 million asking price seems quite reasonable for a player of his experience and quality. Fulham certainly have the resources to pay up.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/07/11/fulham-front-runners-to-sign-fred/

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Fulham agree personal terms with Fiorentina's Igor

Fulham remain keen on signing Fiorentina's left sided defender Igor and they have agreed personal terms with the player.

Igor has impressed in his time at La Viola and this has attracted interest from a number of other clubs. ViolaNews have reported Igor is now out of Vincenzo Italian's project at La Viola and Fiorentina are open to letting the player leave this summer.

They want a fee of around €10 million to €12 million for the Brazilian, who has agreed personal terms with Fulham. He has agreed to sign a four-year deal with the Cottagers, who could soon make an attempt for the 25-year-old defender this summer.

Last season, Igor made 27 Serie A appearances for Italiano's side and was a regular in the Conference League. Since arriving from SPAL, the player has impressed with his ability on the ball and that has proved crucial in Italiano's system at the club.



https://www.getfootballnewsitaly.com/2023/fulham-agree-personal-terms-with-fiorentinas-igor/

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Joao Palhinha posts instant reaction on Instagram as Manor Solomon joins Tottenham

Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha has taken to Instagram to congratulate Manor Solomon after he joined Tottenham Hotspur today.

Tottenham officially announced the signing of Solomon on Tuesday afternoon as Ange Postecoglou snapped up his third signing of the summer.

He follows Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison to Tottenham, with the Israeli winger putting pen to paper on a five-year deal.

The 23-year-old has left Shakhtar Donetsk and joined Spurs on a free transfer after his contract was initially set to expire in December, according to The Athletic.

It comes after FIFA ruled in May that all foreign players based in Ukraine or Russia would be able to suspend their contracts again for another year.

Solomon spent last season on loan at Fulham where he impressed and bagged four goals in the Premier League.

And Joao Palhinha has congratulated his former teammate on securing a switch to North London.

Palhinha sends message to Solomon after Tottenham move
Solomon took to Instagram shortly after Tottenham announced the deal to express his delight with the move.

He wrote: "I'm so delighted and excited to be joining this fantastic football club.

"It's truly an honour to be here and I can't wait to get started. To dare is to do!"

And Palhinha replied beneath the post: "All the best bro, was a pleasure share the pitch with you!"

Palhinha is another player who has impressed during his debut season at Craven Cottage and is already attracting interest from a host of clubs.

Fulham will undoubtedly be keen to avoid losing any more key players in Marco Silva's squad, but Solomon was yet to nail down his place in their side.

The former Shakhtar man enjoyed a brilliant run of form in February, netting in three consecutive Premier League games.

Spurs will certainly be hoping that Solomon finds some consistency in North London, especially as the winger hasn't played a lot of football over the past couple of years.

Nevertheless, this could turn out to be an astute piece of business from Tottenham and he seems well-suited to Postecoglou's style of play.

He's likely to provide cover out wide for both Heung-Min Son and Dejan Kulusevski. But Spurs have lacked a winger with the profile of Solomon over the past couple of years and his pace and directness could prove to be useful for Postecoglou.



https://tbrfootball.com/joao-palhinha-posts-instant-reaction-on-instagram-as-manor-solomon-joins-tottenham-today/

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Why Edson Alvarez's future could be key to Fulham's

Ajax's Mexican defensive midfielder Edson Alvarez has been a critical target for German giants Borussia Dortmund since the 2022/23 season came to an end, and a deal was looking likely for the player to swap the Eredivisie for the Bundesliga. However, the move broke down at the last minute, and this could be good news for Fulham ahead of the new Premier League campaign.

A piece of a bigger puzzle
West Ham, who are set to lose captain and key midfielder Declan Rice to Arsenal imminently, are one of many clubs who had an eye on Alvarez, with the Hammers feeling he could replace their outgoing talisman. West Ham were believed to be one of the frontrunners for the 25-year-old's signature, but when the deal with Dortmund was close, they turned their attention to Fulham's Joao Palhinha, a player the Cottagers don't want to and can't afford to lose.

Looking realistically at Premier League betting, it's evident that every club will level up next season, which means Fulham will have to as well if they want to, at the very least, repeat last term's achievements. The odds suggest this will be the case, but the task will be made much more challenging if Palhinha, one of the club's top performers, was to leave Craven Cottage before the new campaign begins. But now Alverez's move to Dortmund is officially off, with the German outfit signing Felix Nmecha instead, it means the Portuguese midfielder leaving is looking less likely.

A sigh of relief?
If Rice joins Arsenal as expected, and Alvarez indeed heads to West Ham as his replacement, Fulham manager Marco Silva can begin to build on the success of last season with one of his key players still in place. There's undoubtedly work to do on the squad to add more quality, even in the midfield department, with Fred a reported target for the club. The Brazilian, who has a lot of top-flight experience, would immediately add that quality, and he'd undoubtedly complement Palhinha and how he goes about his business.

But, rather than it being players that Fulham bring into the club that could prove to be the best business they do this summer, it's highly likely to be a case of the best business being to hold onto the likes of Palhinha. The Cottagers had Manor Solomon on loan last term and would've liked to have made his switch permanent, but the winger chose to move to Spurs instead.

However, retaining the likes of Palhinha, Aleksandar Mitrovic, and others is going to be the foundation for success. And if Fulham can add on top of that, which they undoubtedly will, they could go again and potentially match or even eclipse their tenth-place finish of last term. It'd be some achievement, especially when many tipped the club to be battling relegation on their return to the Premier League, which never proved to be the case at any point.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-07-11-why-edson-alvarezs-future-could-be-key-to-fulhams/

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Burnley join Fulham and Leeds in transfer battle for Coventry City star
The Clarets have set their sights on Gustavo Hamer from the Sky Blues in a bid to bolster their engine room

Burnley and Coventry City were involved in a real transfer wrangle last summer over the services of Callum O'Hare - one which ended up with the creative midfielder staying put with the Sky Blues.

Vincent Kompany wanted to bring O'Hare to Turf Moor in a multi-million pound deal, but a hamstring injury for the player ended negotiations and it ended up being a season to forget for the 25-year-old, who was then struck down with a serious knee problem in December.

The Clarets have also been keen on Viktor Gyokeres for a number of months too, but with the Swede heading away from England to Sporting CP, it will ultimately prove to be another failed pursuit of a Sky Blues player for the Championship champions.

Could Burnley be lucky at the third time of asking though when it comes to a player from Mark Robins' side?

According to a report from The Telegraph, Kompany's side are keen to sign Gustavo Hamer as part of their transfer splurge this summer, having already captured Jordan Beyer and Dara O'Shea for £20 million and they are set to add Man City stopper James Trafford for a fee of up to £19 million.

The Clarets want to add to their engine room and see Hamer as a good fit for their return to the Premier League, but they face competition for his services.

It was revealed in the past week by Sky Sports that Fulham were plotting a move for the 26-year-old following his impressive 2022-23 season with the Sky Blues, whilst FLW exclusively revealed back in June that Leeds United were making the Dutchman their marquee target for the summer in a bid to weaken one of their Championship rivals.

What is Gustavo Hamer's current Coventry City situation?
Hamer signed for City in 2020 from PEC Zwolle for a fee of just over £1 million, and he's proven to be a bargain buy for the Sky Blues.

Despite discipline issues on the pitch in his time at the club, Hamer has been a combative midfielder but his breakout campaign in terms of goal contributions came in 2022-23.

After two early season dismissals, Hamer knuckled down and scored 11 times for Coventry - including in the Championship play-off final against Luton. whilst also adding 10 assists to his tally as well.

Coventry could be forced to cash in though on the Brazil-born midfielder as he has less than 12 months remaining on his contract at the CBS Arena, with the possibility that they lose him for free in 2024 should they not sell now.

How much would Gustavo Hamer cost Burnley?
Despite having just under 12 months left on his deal, Hamer will go for a significant fee as Coventry have proven they can get big prices for their stars like Viktor Gyokeres no matter what the contractual circumstances.

Midfielders who hit double digits in the Championship in both goals AND assists do not come round very often, and Hamer is well-worth the step up to the Premier League.

Therefore, Coventry should be asking for north of £10 million for his services - with Burnley involved though and their keenness to strike a deal to bring Luke McNally back to the club, the Irishman could be involved as part of a cash plus player deal for Hamer's services.

That could put Burnley in the driving seat for his services and it would also bring the price down to perhaps a seven-figure fee if McNally heads the other way too.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/burnley-join-fulham-and-leeds-in-transfer-battle-for-coventry-city-star/

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Fulham, West Ham United interested in Taylor Harwood-Bellis
Fulham and West Ham United are all set to battle it out for the services of 21-year-old Manchester City centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

According to Jack Gaughan, Fulham and West Ham United are both keen on having Taylor Harwood-Bellis in their ranks ahead of next season. The 21-year-old Manchester City whizkid has been in sensational form over the past 12 months, and there is a lot of interest in his services.

Harwood-Bellis has been a part of the Manchester City setup since his childhood days. He has come through the ranks at the club. The 21-year-old was promoted to their first team back in the winter of 2021. The England youth international has featured in a total of eight matches for the City senior team.

However, he is yet to make his Premier League debut. The 21-year-old has spent the majority of his time out on loan post his promotion to the first team. Last season, he was a part of the Burnley squad that went wild in the EFL Championship and managed to secure promotion back to the English top flight.

The England Under-21 star was the mainstay of Vincent Kompany's team as he featured in a total of 35 matches and was on the pitch for close to 2,900 minutes. He has recently led the England Under-21 team to glory in the Under-21 European Championship.

Despite all the heroics over the past 12 months, he is unlikely to get any game time at Manchester City and does not seem keen on another loan. His contract runs out in 12 months, and City value him at around £15 million. There is a high possibility of a permanent move away from the club in the ongoing summer.

Meanwhile, Fulham and West Ham United are keen on having him in their ranks. Both clubs are looking to bolster their defence. While the Cottagers are looking to build on last season's performances, West Ham are keen on reviving themselves as they someone managed to avoid relegation.

The Hammers won the UEFA Conference League but were really poor in the league. Both clubs believe securing Harwood-Bellis's services would do wonders both in the short as well as long term. However, it won't be that easy as they will surely face competition from elsewhere given his recent heroics in the Under-21 European Championship.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/07/11/fulham-west-ham-united-interested-in-taylor-harwood-bellis/

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Carlos Vinicius reacts to transfer announcement made by Tottenham

Carlos Vinicius has reacted on social media to the announcement made by Tottenham Hotspur today about Manor Solomon.

Tottenham are trying to move quickly during the summer transfer window. They have already signed Guglielmo Vicario and James Maddison.

Today, they confirmed the signing of winger Manor Solomon. The attacker spent half of last season on loan at Fulham and clearly impressed those at Spurs.

Spurs hired new manager Ange Postecoglou and are rebuilding for next season. Former Spurs player Vinicius reacted to the winger signing for his old club.

Carlos Vinicius reacts to Tottenham announcement
Spurs announced the signing of Solomon today. The winger also posted on Instagram after the announcement and expressed his excitement of joining the club.

The winger said: "I'm so delighted and excited to be joining this fantastic football club. It's truly an honour to be here and I can't wait to get started. To dare is to do!"

Vinicius replied with a simple message as he reacted to the Spurs announcement. The Brazilian said: "All the best soloooo"

Despite Vinicius not having the greatest of spells at Spurs, it is nice for him to wish Solomon luck. The two played together whilst at Fulham so there is clearly no love lost between the two despite the move.

Solomon excited many in the Premier League last season and it will be very interesting to see how he gets on at Spurs next season.

The club are not in a European competition so one of the most important targets is to make sure they qualify next season.

In order to do this, new manager Postecoglou needs to get the squad playing at their best from the start of the new season.

With three players already signed, it is a good start. This means that the squad can get a full pre-season together. No doubt some more signings will come soon.



https://tbrfootball.com/carlos-vinicius-reacts-to-announcement-made-by-tottenham-earlier-today/

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Edwin van der Sar: Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper 'not in life-threatening danger' but remains in intensive care

Ex-Man Utd goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar remains in intensive care after suffering bleeding around his brain; but he is communicating and "not in life-threatening danger", his wife has said; Van der Sar, 52, spent six years at United where he won the Premier League and Champions League

Edwin van der Sar remains in intensive care but is communicating and "not in life-threatening danger", his wife has said.

The former Manchester United and Netherlands goalkeeper was admitted to a hospital in Croatia last Friday after suffering bleeding around the brain.

Annemarie van der Sar said in a statement issued via Dutch club Ajax: "Edwin is still in the intensive care unit, but is stable. He is not in life-threatening danger.

"Every time we get to visit him, he's communicative. We have to wait patiently to see how his situation will develop."

Van der Sar, 52, had been on holiday in Croatia when he reportedly suffered a cerebral haemorrhage.

Manchester United sent a message of support for their former goalkeeper, tweeting: "Sending all our love and strength to you, Edwin."

Fulham, with whom Van der Sar spent four years before joining United, tweeted: "Everyone at Fulham Football Club wishes Edwin a speedy recovery. We're thinking of you."

The Professional Footballers' Association tweeted: "The thoughts of everyone at the PFA are with Edwin and his family."

Van der Sar won the Premier League four times during his six years at United, as well as the Champions League in 2008, which he also lifted while at Ajax.

After retirement, he returned to Ajax where he took up the role of chief executive in 2016 but left the post at the end of last season.

Following a disappointing campaign, the club finishing third in the Eredivise and missing out on Champions League qualification, Van der Sar announced he would be stepping down from his role after almost 11 years on the club's board.

"I feel the need to take some distance, to get some rest, and to do other things," he said on Twitter at the end of May.

"It doesn't feel good to take decisions about the future of this wonderful club in the coming period. That is why I have decided to resign."

After more than 200 appearances for Ajax and European success as part of Louis van Gaal's side, the Dutch keeper moved to Juventus before signing with Fulham in 2001.

A switch to Old Trafford followed four years later, which also saw Van der Sar win the League Cup twice and the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup.

United, though, suffered defeat to Barcelona in both the 2009 Champions League final and again at Wembley in 2011, after which Van der Sar retired.

Van der Sar played 130 times for the Netherlands and for a spell was the nation's most-capped player.



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12961/12919315/edwin-van-der-sar-ex-manchester-united-goalkeeper-not-in-life-threatening-danger-but-remains-in-intensive-care

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Fulham set to table bid to sign Igor
Fulham are set to lodge a bid for 25-year-old Brazilian defender Igor, with Fiorentina likely to consider an improved offer.

According to Tutto Mercato Web, Fulham are set to table an improved offer for Fiorentina man Igor. The Cottagers are keen on strengthening their backline and have identified the 25-year-old Brazilian defender as an ideal target.

Igor has consistently been in this Fiorentina side throughout the last few years. He and his Serbian defensive partner, Nikola Milenkovic, have kept a tight lid at the back. But the time may have come to break this partnership.

Igor continues to attract the attention of Premier League sides, with Fulham very much in front of others. Marco Silva has identified the 25-year-old Brazilian defender as a key addition and wants to bring him in this window.

It does not seem like a complex chase for the Brazilian, valued at €10 million per Transfermarkt. Fulham's interest in the 25-year-old defender became evident a few weeks ago. But the report claims they had already made an €8 million offer.

Fiorentina had not shut the door on the proposal but continued to demand more for the centre-back. Silva may look at the defender's future value and push the club to get the deal over the line. Their biggest fear is the entry of other sides into the race if they see the value in bringing Fiorentina.

There's also the danger of losing Tosin Adarabioyo, as interest racks up in the centre-back. Irrespective of the current Fulham star leaving, Silva wants to bring the 25-year-old Brazilian defender to Craven Cottage. He already has an otherwise solid backline, which will get bolder with the addition of the Fiorentina star.

Fulham are now set to submit another bid, probably their first official one for Igor. There is a feeling Fiorentina might accept anywhere between €10-12 million for the defender. It should prove acceptable for Silva and Fulham to make an offer close to that mark, which should seal the transfer.

Igor could have a good impact on this side, which had a brilliant first season upon their return to the top flight. Silva will show eagerness to build on that success as he targets other players in different positions. For now, the manager will likely strengthen the wide attacking areas and the backline, with Igor pencilled in to make a strong impression.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/07/11/fulham-set-to-table-bid-to-sign-igor/

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Fulham 'definitely' want to sign 'unbelievable' £10m star at Craven Cottage
Fulham have shown interest in £10m-rated Championship star but will have to fend off Leeds United in the process

Fulham's interest in Coventry City midfielder Gustavo Hamer is 'definitely one to watch', Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth has told GIVEMESPORT.

Hamer was a vital cog in Coventry's push for Premier League football and the club are - understandably - hesitant to let him leave.

Fulham transfer news - Gustavo Hamer
MailOnline reported that the Premier League side are keen to get a deal over the line for one of Coventry's stand-out stars.

The 26-year-old moved to England from Dutch outfit PEC Zwolle three years ago and has grown into a classy operator in Coventry's engine room since, hence the interest.

With a reported value of £10m, Leeds United are also monitoring Hamer's situation according to The Athletic, but Fulham may hold the advantage of being in the Premier League over their competition.

Unfortunately for his Premier League-chasing side, Hamer was taken off in their play-off final against Luton Town, but he did manage to bag the equaliser before picking up an injury.

Hamer's goal in the final was just one of many examples of how important he has been to their success in the Championship.

What did Dharmesh Sheth say about Fulham and Gustavo Hamer?
Sheth claimed that Fulham have concrete interest in the Dutch superstar, though his current employers are keen to keep him on board given how well he has performed for them.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, he said: "There's definitely an interest and I think Fulham will be well aware that he's entered the final year of his contract. And as much as Coventry City will want him to stay, I'm sure Hamer will want to assess all of his options and if Fulham follow up this interest and formalise it in the form of a bid, then Coventry will have a decision to make, as will Gustavo Hamer, so definitely one to watch there for Fulham."

What is Coventry City's stance on Gustavo Hamer?
Seeing as the 25-year-old was one of the club's stars in their play off final-reaching campaign, alongside marksman Viktor Gyokeres, Coventry will be reluctant to let him go.

Having penned a contract extension in 2022, Hamer is now entering the final year, leaving his future at the club uncertain, especially with a series of clubs circling around his signature.

The little time outstanding on his contract means he will likely be picked up for a low fee, which will be irrespective of his actual ability.

As the transfer window continues throughout the summer, other Premier League clubs and those across Europe may opt in taking a look at the midfielder, which means Fulham should act fast should they believe he would be a good addition to the squad.

What could Gustavo Hamer bring to Fulham?
The Brazil-born midfielder has been lauded as "unbelievable" by former Coventry City goalkeeper Mako Marosi after scoring nine goals, providing 10 assists and creating a highly impressive 16 big chances, per Sofascore.

Bearing in mind he operates from central midfielder, these numbers show his knack of progressive forward and being his side's creative hub.

According to Fbref, he has also shown he is defensively astute as he recorded 2.8 tackles, 1.48 blocks and 1.3 passes blocker per 90 over the last 365 days.

What Fulham would be getting would be a true all-rounder, but whether these numbers could translate into a higher tier of English football is yet to be seen.



https://www.givemesport.com/fulhams-interest-in-10m-star-is-definitely-one-to-watch-at-craven-cottage-transfer-news/

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USMNT's Tim Ream hosting podcast for Men in Blazers media network

    A USMNT regular has his own podcast.

On Tuesday, the Men in Blazers media network announced a new addition to their podcast lineup.

Fulham and US Men's National Team regular Tim Ream will host a new podcast, The American Dream, with Steve Schlanger. Per the release, the podcast "will offer an engaging and insightful journey into the world of Premier League and international football, providing listeners with unprecedented personal access to Tim Ream's experiences and perspectives, including interviews with so many of his US teammates."

Ream and Schlanger spoke highly of the podcast and the Men in Blazers.

    "I'm excited to be able to bring our show to the MiB Media Network. I've been an admirer of MiB from afar going back to 2018 when I first met Rog for an interview after earning promotion with Fulham," said Tim Ream. "To now have the opportunity to work alongside the MiB crew five years later is a crazy full circle moment. The podcast started as simply two guys from St. Louis gabbing about the beautiful game and has since morphed into bringing you off the pitch to talk about the current happenings in our sport, as well as shared experiences from not only my journey as a professional but from a variety of special guests."

    "The American Dream" offers listeners an exclusive opportunity to join Tim Ream as he shares his personal journey, on and off the field, exploring the triumphs, challenges, and moments a footballer experiences at the highest level featuring interviews with Tim Ream's teammates, coaches, and friends from around the world.

    Cohosted by longtime broadcaster Steve Schlanger, the podcast is a conversation among friends. "Joining Men in Blazers provides a significant platform for Tim and myself to produce more original content and expand the reach of our show.  We're excited about the possibilities as MiB has always been known for smart, sophisticated, and savvy soccer programming," said Schlanger.


Various podcasts have been released under the Men in Blazers media network brand over the last year or so, including last year's World Corrupt limited series, The Women's Game, and European Nights.



https://awfulannouncing.com/soccer/usmnt-tim-ream-podcast-men-in-blazers.html