Friday Fulham Stuff - 18/08/23...

[WhiteJC]

Player strongly pushing for Fulham exit – Stance made clear, only wants one club
Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo is pushing to leave the club this summer and sign for Monaco before the end of the window.

That's according to Foot Mercato, who say the Ligue 1 club are working to make a deal happen after finalising a deal for Wilfried Singo.

They are 'still targeting' Adarabioyo having already seen an offer worth more than €10m rejected by Fulham.

That was not enough to convince those in charge at Craven Cottage to let Adarabioyo go, even though he has entered the final year of his contract and indicated he won't be signing an extension.

The defender was left frustrated by that refusal from Fulham, with FM stating that the lack of movement is beginning to 'seriously annoy the player'.

He did not participate in the opening day defeat of Everton and is still keen to move on and according to FM's information, he has again made it clear to his management that he only wants to go to Monaco.

He's also made it clear he won't be going anywhere else, although whether that is enough to convince Fulham to bend and change their stance.

An answer on that front is expected 'in the next few hours' but even if it isn't, Adarabioyo is very much a name to keep an eye on after making his stance clear.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-strongly-pushing-fulham-exit-stance-made-clear-wants-one-club/

[WhiteJC]

Report: Spurs receive potential boost in rumoured pursuit of Tosin Adarabioyo
Sky Sports reporter Lyall Thomas has revealed that Monaco's latest offer for rumoured Tottenham target, Tosin Adarabioyo, has been knocked back by Fulham.

It has been widely reported recently that Ange Postecoglou is prioritising signing another central defender before the transfer window shuts on September 2 (Football Insider).

Adarabioyo, who has one year left on his contract at Craven Cottage, has been heavily linked with a move to Spurs over the last couple of months (Football London).

However, it was reported by  GiveMeSport last week that the Fulham man has dropped down Tottenham's wishlist, with Torino's Perr Shurrs alleged to have emerged as the North London club's top target.

Meanwhile, it was suggested by Foot Mercato last week that Adarabioyo is now edging closer to a move to Moncao.

Monaco's offer knocked back for Tosin Adarabioyo
However, if Thomas' latest update is to be believed, the Ligue 1 side have now failed with an approach for the 25-year-old.

The journalist revealed that Moncaco submitted an £8.5m for Adarabioyo, which the West London club have turned down.

Spurs Web Opinion
The fact that Monaco are bidding suggests that they already have a verbal agreement in place with Adarabioyo over a potential transfer.

It does appear as if Tottenham have abandoned their pursuit of the Fulham man and are now looking elsewhere to bolster their backline.



https://www.spurs-web.com/spurs-news/report-spurs-receive-potential-boost-in-rumoured-pursuit-of-tosin-adarabioyo/

[WhiteJC]

The £50m daring swoop that could see Fulham follow in Brighton's European footsteps
The Cottagers have been touted as admirers of Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun

Aleksandar Mitrovic vowed that he would never play for Fulham again. It was a promise he kept for all of 58 minutes. On Saturday afternoon, the bulky Serbian was benched by manager Marco Silva for his side's Premier League opener against Everton amid a slew of speculation about his future in west London. Less than an hour of playing time later, and he was introduced to the fray - like some brooding toffee hammer - as the Cottagers tried to puzzle out a way of cracking their hosts' resolve.

If reports are to be believed, even in spite of his Goodison Park cameo, the working relationship between Mitrovic and Fulham is not a sustainable one. The striker is understood to be a target for Saudi outfit Al-Hilal - the club who recently lured Neymar to the Middle East by jangling the keys to a 25-bedroom mansion in front of him like a property developing toddler - and the expectation is that an agreement will be reached sooner rather than later.

That, then, would leave Fulham with something of a void to fill. Already this summer, the Cottagers have signed Raul Jimenez from Wolves, but after a relatively barren turn at Molineux last season, there are question marks over whether or not he can provide the goals they need to properly build on the encouraging foundation they laid during their recent top flight return. Aside from the Mexican, Silva's only real alternatives up front - assuming Mitro does depart - are Brazilian duo Rodrigo Muniz and Carlos Vinicius; the former spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with Middlesbrough, and the latter could only muster five goals in 34 outings across all competitions during the same spell. Evidently, a striker is needed.

Which brings us to Folarin Balogun, the wantaway Arsenal prospect who electrified French football last term, and who is said to be catching the eye of those in the boardroom at Craven Cottage. According to the Daily Mail, Fulham are considering a bid for the 22-year-old in the event(uality) of Mitrovic's exit, and even in spite of his hefty price tag. Depending on who you ask, the striker is valued at somewhere between £40 to 50 million.

Obviously, that is a lot of money, but then again, Balogun boasts a lot of potential. Last season, during a loan stint with Stade de Reims - they of Will Still fame - he netted 22 times across all competitions, and in the period since, has been linked with everyone from RB Leipzig to Inter Milan. He has also committed his future to the USMNT and is now a regular senior USA international, and there is an argument to be made for Arsenal asking for no more than is justifiable - especially when you consider the sweltering climate of the current transfer market. Manchester United, after all, have just spent £72 million on Rasmus Hojlund - a player who registered six strikes fewer than Balogun last term.

From a Fulham perspective, the Hale End academy graduate would offer not just a goal threat, but a talent who could grow in line with the club's own ambitions. You would imagine that the aim for this season, conservative as it may seem, is to consolidate a hard-won Premier League status. After that, however, who can say? Why can't Fulham follow the recent examples set by clubs like Brentford or Brighton and seek frequent top-half finishes, or European qualification, even?

If his time in France is anything to go by, then Balogun is only just getting started. You suspect that were it not for the player's own desire to seek out first team opportunities elsewhere, Arsenal would be quite happy to integrate him into their plans this season. If nothing else, their valuation speaks volumes as to just how highly he is rated by his boyhood side. Fulham, in short, could do far, far worse.

Ordinarily, a fee upwards of £40 million would feel fairly astronomical for a club like the Cottagers, but the widespread suggestion is that Al-Hilal's latest offer for Mitrovic comes in at around £46 million. Worst case scenario, Fulham might have to cough up a little extra to get a deal for Balogun over the line. If they're smart, and if they can drive Arsenal down a touch at the negotiation table, that lump sum may even cover the cost entirely.

Of course, this would be a deal with a touch of risk attached. Balogun, after all, has just 70 minutes of Premier League football to his name at the time of writing. But think of it this way, if we were talking about any other 22-year-old who had systematically tore apart one of Europe's strongest leagues last season, outscoring the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar in the process, would there be as much trepidation about taking a punt on him? The answer, in all likelihood, is no.

Fulham, if they're serious, could sign Balogun this summer, and in doing so, make a real statement about the trajectory that they see their future taking.



https://www.3addedminutes.com/sport/football/fulham/the-ps50m-daring-swoop-that-could-see-fulham-follow-in-brighton-european-footsteps-4258363

[WhiteJC]

Player Makes Clear To Club He Wants Monaco And Not Tottenham Move
Tosin Adarabioyo has told Fulham that he does not want to join Tottenham Hotspur and has his heart set on a move to Monaco.

The 25-year-old defender, who managed to feature in 29 games for the Cottagers last season, has less than a year left on his current contract at Craven Cottage.

Fulham are keen to cash in on him given his situation, but Monaco have not yet offered a sum the Premier League side will accept.

The Cottagers are trying to sell the defender to Tottenham, according to French outlet Foot Mercato, but Adarabioyo has told them that he only wants to join Monaco.

It is claimed that Adarabioyo is now waiting to see if Fulham will change their stance.

Adarabioyo is now annoyed by the situation and desperate to move to Monaco.

The defender did not play in Fulham's Premier League opener away at Everton, which the Cottagers won 1-0.

Monaco have so far put €10m on the table for the defender to take him to Ligue 1.



https://insidefutbol.com/2023/08/17/player-makes-clear-to-club-he-wants-monaco-and-not-tottenham-move/616081/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham submit enquiry for Eric Bailly
Fulham have enquired about the availability of Eric Bailly, with Marco Silva's search for a new defender taking him to Manchester United.

According to Mail Sport, Fulham are keen on exploring a deal for Eric Bailly to add depth to their backline. The Ivory Coast international is not their first choice targe t for the position but could become an alternative before the window shuts down.

Marco Silva wants a new defender before the transfer window shuts on September 1. Central defence still seems like an area which would need some depth, as the manager appears to search for a new option. The future of Tosin Adarabioyo still seems up in the air, but whether he leaves remains the question.

Fulham have already signed Calvin Bassey from Ajax earlier in the summer. And now, Silva probably wants one more to keep his depth intact at the back. There are a few options for the Cottagers boss, including Benfica's Morato and Manchester United's Erik Bailly.

The interest in Bailly emerged last month, but Silva may look at the injury-prone star as an alternative to his priority target Morato. The Manchester United outcast, who arrived on a €38 million deal in 2016, seems to have no future at the club following a loan at Marseille and will have returned to the squad way down in the pecking order.

Fulham have remained keen on Morato since July, with reports indicating Benfica had already rejected a bid for the centre-back. He wants to join the Cottagers and could force a move through if Silva desperately wants him to join.

If the Cottagers cannot sign him, they will move for Bailly, who cost Manchester United €38 million years ago. After many injury-ravaged seasons, the valuation will have to reduce drastically, but the Red Devils could cash in on the centre-back.

His contract with Manchester United expires in 2024, but the club can extend it by another season. They could take up the option if they feel it could affect his valuations, although the chances are low. Fulham might make a move once their pursuit of Morato becomes clearer. For now, there are chances Silva will sign the Benfica star as his preferred option, but one cannot rule out an approach for 29-year-old Bailly until the window shuts.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/08/17/fulham-submit-enquiry-for-eric-bailly/

[WhiteJC]

Tony Khan Reveals Why Craven Cottage Was Not Used To Host AEW All In
Tony Khan reveals why Wembley Stadium is the choice of venue for AEW All In.

When rumours of the UK show first started, many speculated that Craven Cottage would be the location of the event, as the Fulham Football Club ground is also owned by the Khan family. With multiple venues discussed prior to the announcement, the AEW president would shock the world by choosing the largest stadium in the UK to host the pay-per-view.

Wembley Stadium was a bold choice that has appeared to have paid off judging by the ticket sales, but why was the venue chosen in the first place? Speaking with Uproxx, Khan explained that he would have loved to host the inaugural European show in Craven Cottage, but for financial and logistical reasons, Wembley Stadium was a no-brainer:

    "There's two places I thought about. One is also very dear to my heart, and that's Craven Cottage. Wembley is, for a pro wrestling event, the more economical choice for many reasons. In that, you can have much more capacity for attendance since Wembley is a larger stadium by far, and also, the same wonderful charms of Craven Cottage and all the history of that magnificent venue. (Craven Cottage) poses so many challenges to loading in a pro wrestling event and it would cost millions more to produce the event at Craven Cottage than at Wembley."

Tony Khan DIsciplines MJF And Adam Cole On AEW Dynamite
In a rare on-camera segment, Khan was seen interacting with MJF and Adam Cole as the best friends took part in their latest bonding session. Tired of MJF and Cole constantly hitting Double Clotheslines on backstage personnel, the finishing manoeuvre was strictly limited to the ring.

Whilst Khan has avoided one logistical nightmare by opting for Wembley Stadium over Craven Cottage, the AEW CEO faces new challenges by running 2 pay-per-views only 7 days apart. Khan was asked about this issue but chose to not give an answer. With backstage news being the buzz of the internet just days before All In, logistics might not be Khan's only headache right now.



https://itrwrestling.com/news/tony-khan-reveals-why-craven-cottage-was-not-used-to-host-aew-all-in/

[WhiteJC]

Games for the weekend 19/08
Our first home game of the season we face Brentford for a 3 o'clock kick off

Well that was a lucky win against Everton, I didn't think we played that badly however if Everton had been more clinical then the result could have been very different?
Leno was outstanding, easily MotM, what a signing he's proved to be.
I was a little surprised to see Tim Ream in the starting eleven, mainly due to him recovering from the broken arm but also because Bassey has such a good debut against Hoffenheim.

Over on the forum our stats guru Ludlow Richard pointed out...
the stats show how difficult it has been for Fulham to win away on the first game of the season in the top flight.
We have played 14 away games on the first day of the season in the top flight. WE have won just three of them, all by 1-0: Portsmouth in 2009, Sunderland in 2013 and Everton yesterday. In those 14 away games we have only scored more than 1 goal on two occasions (1965 v Blackpool: we drew; and 2001 v Man Utd: we lost). So what this goes to show is that whatever we thought of yesterday's win, it was a rare occurrence and the team deserve plaudits for the win.

It was good to see Pereira coming on for a substitute appearance, hopefully Palhinha will be available for the Brentford game.
There were photos of Mitro on crutches and with a protective boot on his left foot getting off the train at Euston, hopefully this was as a precaution? I'm still expecting him to go to Saudi, but I guess we'll have to wait and see, I do hope he doesn't leave on the last day of the window.

Brentford looked good against Spurs so I think we'll need to perform at a better level than we did against Everton.

Our record against Brentford is 4 wins, 8 losses and 3 draws.

assuming no new signings, departures or injuries my squad would be...

COYW's

Games of Interest...
Friday 18th
Forest v Sheff Utd

Saturday 19th
Fulham v Brentford
Spurs v Man Utd

Sunday 20th
West Ham v Chelsea

Monday 21st
Palace v Arsenal
come on over to the forum and join in the conversation...
https://www.friendsoffulham.com/forum/index.php?board=36.0


http://www.friendsoffulham.com/wordpress/?p=2858

[WhiteJC]

Everton make fresh £12m offer for Che Adams in bid to beat Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Fulham in race to sign Southampton forward 

    Everton have revived their bid to sign Southampton forward Che Adams
    The 27-year-old has scored two goals in three games so far this season
    Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Fulham have also shown interest

Everton have revived their bid to sign Che Adams and made an offer worth £12million to Southampton.

The Scotland international has been a target for Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Fulham this window.

The 27-year old has scored two goals in three games so far this season.

Scotland international Adams wants a move back to the Premier League after Southampton were relegated last season.

Everton have already made four signings this window in the form of Ashley Young, Youssef Chermiti, Arnaut Danjuma and Jack Harrison.


Southampton forward Che Adams has scored two goals in three games so far this season

Everton Sean Dyche is keen to boost his attacking options.

Wilfried Gnonto is training alone at Leeds United's Thorp Arch as he pushes for a move to Goodison Park.

The Italy international refused to play for Leeds last week in their Carabao Cup tie with Shrewsbury Town and said he still wasn't in the right frame of mind to travel for their Championship game at Birmingham City on Saturday.

Leeds have told Gnonto they don't want to sell him despite Everton making bids in excess of £15million earlier this summer.

That has upset the 19-year old and his representatives as he wants to return to the top-flight to stay in with a chance of retaining his place in the Italy squad for the European Championships.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12418981/Everton-make-fresh-12m-offer-Che-Adams-bid-beat-Crystal-Palace-Bournemouth-Fulham-race-sign-Southampton-forward.html