Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 16/08/23...

[WhiteJC]

'He's accepted that': 'Special' £60m player Liverpool now want knows he's not leaving PL rival – journalist
Liverpool have been dealt another blow in their pursuit of a new midfielder, with Joao Palhinha accepting that he will not be leaving Fulham in this window.

That is according to journalist Graeme Bailey, who was speaking to the Talking Transfers podcast as the Reds continue their search for a holding midfielder.

Of course, it has been a tough time for Jurgen Klopp. Sunday's 1-1 draw with Chelsea highlighted the need for Liverpool to sign someone who can sit in front of the backline.

Liverpool target Joao Palhinha has accepted he's not leaving Fulham
However, the Daily Mail has reported that Romeo Lavia is set to follow Moises Caicedo in snubbing the Reds and joining Chelsea.

The report notes that some at Liverpool remain admirers of Joao Palhinha. But the Mail suggested that the Portuguese has an asking price of £60 million – and that may put the club off.

However, it may be that £60 million is still not enough to get a deal done. Bailey suggested that he could be even more expensive. And the 28-year-old himself is not expecting to move on from Craven Cottage before the deadline passes.

"Palhinha's just not available. He was at best thinking, £80 million. He's not gettable I don't think. I think Mitrovic is slightly different," he told Talking Transfers.

"From what we hear, Palhinha's just not available. He's accepted that. West Ham were chasing Palhinha strongly. That's when they were getting briefed that he had a release clause. It soon emerged that he doesn't, which I think is why West Ham moved on quite quickly once they knew that he didn't have a release clause. They were wasting their time.

"I don't think Palhinha's gettable for them, I really don't. I don't see them doing that."

The worry for Liverpool fans is that it is likely to only get tougher and tougher to sign another midfielder. Certainly, signing one good enough for Klopp's side is going to be a huge challenge at this stage.

Prices are only going to go up. And it is really going to take something special to alleviate supporters' concerns.

Palhinha would have arguably been a very impressive signing for Liverpool if a deal was possible. But it would appear that the 'special' Fulham star has now accepted that he is not going anywhere in the next couple of weeks.



https://tbrfootball.com/hes-accepted-that-special-60m-player-liverpool-now-want-knows-hes-not-leaving-pl-rival-journalist/

[WhiteJC]

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2 LINCOLN CITY 2
SKY BET LEAGUE 1
Tuesday August 15th, 7.45pm
Sixfields

NORTHAMPTON TOWN 2
Louis Appere 87
Sam Hoskins 90

LINCOLN CITY 2
Reece Hackett-Fairchild 22
Paudie O'Connor 78

Attendance: 6,188 (786 away fans)

Cobblers: Max Thompson, Akin Odimayo (sub Aaron McGowan 76), Sam Sherring, Manny Monthe, Patrick Brough, Jack Sowerby (sub Will Hondermarck 90), Marc Leonard, Sam Hoskins, Tyreece Simpson (sub Louis Appere 71), Mitch Pinnock, Kieron Bowie (sub Max Dyche 90)
Subs not used: Peter Abimbola, James Dadge

Lincoln: Lukas Jensen, Jaden Brown (sub Tyler Walker 46), Ethan Erhahon, Reeco Hackett-Fairchild (sub Ali Smith 76), Ethan Hamilton (sub Teddy Bishop 76), Danny Mandroiu (sub Lasse Sorensen 67), Paudie O'Connor, Jack Burroughs, Ben House, TJ Eyoma (sub Adam Jackson 90), Sean Roughan
Subs not used: Jordan Wright, Dylan Duffy

Referee: Ollie Yates

Booked:
Cobblers: Sam Hoskins (81)
Lincoln: none

Sent off:
Cobblers: none
Lincoln: none

Kieron Bowie and Manny Monthe came into the side as boss Jon Brady made two changes for the midweek visit of Lincoln City. Jon Guthrie wasn't risked while eight other players remained unavailable for selection due to injury.

Lukas Jensen saved from Tyreece Simpson and Mitch Pinnock went close with a terrific first time volley from the edge of the area in an encouraging opening quarter of an hour.

It was Lincoln though who took the lead against the run of play midway through the first half, Reeco Hackett-Fairchild with an unstoppable strike from 20-yards.

Sam Hoskins fired over on the half-hour after some good work by Simpson and Akin Odimayo before Ben House spurned a decent opening for the Imps. Bowie then went close with a shot from distance just before half-time as the Cobblers pressed for an equaliser which so nearly came in first half stoppage time when a looping header from Hoskins landed on the roof of the net.

The Cobblers started the second half on the front foot and went agonisingly close to an equaliser when Mitch Pinnock had a shot saved by Jensen before Pinnock and Bowie both had efforts cleared off the line in the follow-up.

Jensen saved comfortably from Marc Leonard, referee Ollie Yates said no penalty when Bowie went down under pressure from Sean Roughan and Sam Sherring saw a header from a corner hit the post as the Cobblers continued to push hard for the goal their performance deserved.

As in the first half it was Lincoln who scored against the run of play, Paudie O'Connor heading home a cross from substitute Lasse Sorensen in a real sucker punch for the Cobblers who had thrown everything at the Imps without reward. The goal also had more than a hint of offside about it.

The game was far from over though and a good finish from Louis Appere into the top corner on 86 minutes halved the Cobblers deficit and set up a grandstand finale.

Jon Brady brought Max Dyche on up front in stoppage time and with his side throwing everything at Lincoln, Sam Hoskins snaffled a deserved equaliser seven minutes into injury time, his well struck volley clinching a point for the Cobblers.

COBBLERS MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (0) 10
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 9
CORNERS: (3) 3
FOULS: (6) 9
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (2) 2

LINCOLN MATCH STATS (first half in brackets, match total out of brackets)
SHOTS ON TARGET: (4) 3
SHOTS OFF TARGET: (5) 3
CORNERS: (2) 1
FOULS: (5) 7
CAUGHT OFFSIDE: (0) 0



https://www.ntfc.co.uk/news/2023/august/lincoln_h_report/

[filham]

If we lose Mitro,Palhina and Willian is there any way we could match last season's performance. I find t hard to see how, so the importance of this window is really who we manage to keep rather than who we bring in.

[Stevieboy]

Liverpool want Fulham's Joao Palhinha but are wary of £60m price tag, and hold interest in Cheick Doucoure and Khephren Thuram as they scramble for midfielders after losing out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia

    Fulham star has emerged as the club's preferred option in defensive midfield
    Liverpool are poised to miss out on both their targets in the position to Chelsea

Liverpool face a race against time to land much-needed reinforcements in midfield with Fulham's Joao Palhinha and Crystal Palace youngster Cheick Doucoure among the favoured options.

The Reds have been left reeling following Chelsea's double swoop of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, despite the Anfield club first agreeing a British transfer record fee for the former after they had spent much of the summer courting the latter.

Now scrambling to secure the vital signing of a defensive midfielder before the transfer window slams shut on September 1, Mail Sport understands as many as six targets are being considered.

Fulham's combative midfielder Palhinha, who led the league for successful tackles last term, is believed to be the most admired of the options. However, the club is unsure whether to stump up the £60million-plus it would take to pry the 28-year-old away from Craven Cottage.

Despite his obvious talents, the Portuguese international is much older than the club's preferred profile of acquisition and is currently sidelined after being forced off in his side's pre-season friendly against Brentford with a shoulder injury last month.


Fulham slapped a £60m price tag on Joao Palhinha after interest last month from West Ham
 

Crystal Palace signed 23-year-old Cheick Doucoure from Lens last summer for a fee of £22m

   
Liverpool have been left reeling from Chelsea's decisive double swoop of targets Moises Caicedo (left) and Romeo Lavia (right)

Palace youngster Doucoure, who only joined the side from Ligue 1 outfit Lens last summer, is another player who is being considered. Liverpool had been linked with the 23-year-old earlier on in the window but were met with a £70m valuation from the Eagles.

But amid the desperation to recruit in the position - and the £110m they were willing to spend on Caicedo - Liverpool may now view the Mali international as a viable option.   

Jurgen Klopp's side had begun their summer recruitment diligently by snapping up Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai for a combined fee of £95million.

But the unplanned departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho necessitated at least one marquee arrival at the base of midfield.

Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat, who is a target of Manchester United, and Kalvin Phillips of Manchester City were two names who had been ruled out prior to recent events. But they too are believed to be under consideration in the club's current predicament.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12408413/Liverpool-want-Fulhams-Joao-Palhinha-wary-60m-price-tag-hold-Cheick-Doucoure-Khephren-Thuram-scramble-midfielders-losing-Moises-Caicedo-Romeo-Lavia.html

I should imagine most teams in the Premier League would want Joao in their team.....not rocket science !!

[WindyCity]

If we lose Mitro,Palhina and Willian is there any way we could match last season's performance. I find t hard to see how, so the importance of this window is really who we manage to keep rather than who we bring in.

Of Mitrovic, Palhinha, Tosin, Willian......the ONE player we just CANNOT lose is Palhinha!  IMHO