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

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Man Utd 'agree' exit amid Fulham 'interest' after player 'refused' to join ex-Liverpool man at Besiktas
According to reports, Manchester United have 'agreed' to let centre-back Eric Bailly leave on a free transfer amid interest from rivals Fulham.

Man Utd have been busy in the transfer market this summer as significant fees have been spent to sign Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund.

The Red Devils are understood to still be in the market for a centre-back and centre-midfielder but they need to sell players to raise funds for their own signings.

David De Gea, Anthony Elanga, Alex Telles and Fred have all moved on this summer but more players are expected to leave Old Trafford before the summer transfer window closes.

Bailly is one United outcast likely to secure an exit in the coming weeks. The Red Devils spent £30m to sign him in 2016 but he has been restricted to just 70 Premier League appearances as he has been hampered by injuries over the past seven years.

The 29-year-old spent last season on loan at Ligue Un side Marseille. He is out of contract in 2024 and he is not part of Erik ten Hag's plans.

Earlier this month, it looked like Bailly was set to join Turkish side Besiktas – who have recently acquired former Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – but he has also been linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League.

Now RMC Sport journalist Fabrice Hawkins is reporting that Bailly has an 'agreement with Man Utd' that will allow him to leave on a free transfer this summer.

Bailly 'refused' a move to Besiktas, but Fulham are 'interested'. He is also said to have 'exit doors in Saudi Arabia and Turkey'.

It was also thought that Harry Maguire will leave Man Utd after they accepted a £30m bid from West Ham United but this transfer has since fallen through.

Former Premier League forward Darren Bent thinks Maguire needs to "get out" of Man Utd and "start again" elsewhere.

"Harry's got to make a decision," Bent told talkSPORT. "Does he want to stay somewhere that clearly doesn't want him and have played other players that don't even play that position ahead of him like Luke Shaw, and that have taken the captaincy away from you?

"The fans don't trust you, your teammates don't trust you, your manager doesn't trust you. Get out of there and go and start again. He can go to West Ham and have a fantastic career at another big club."



https://www.football365.com/news/man-utd-agree-fulham-interest-player-refused-join-ex-liverpool-man-besiktas

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Fulham 'have asked' about Man United's Eric Bailly
Fulham have shown an interest in signing Man United defender, Eric Bailly.

Manchester United Football Club are still in a mode where they have to sell before they can buy. The Red Devils need to generate funds (and space in the squad), before Erik ten Hag will be given more money to spend.

Several players have been linked with exits, though their excessive wages are seemingly making it tough to move on from. Harry Maguire is the prime example of that, while Eric Bailly is another centre-back who United want to sell.

So far, Ten Hag has been unsuccessful on both of those fronts. However, the club may be about to be given a lifeline in Bailly's situation.

It's the Daily Mail with the story. According to their report, the fellow Premier League club 'have asked' about potentially signing the 29-year-old United defender this summer. However, that's as far as it has gone at this stage.

Fulham are looking to bring in another defender to bolster their options, while Bailly would represent a relatively cheap option, when you consider his talent and ability.

The problem? His injury record. United would love to get his wages off the books but he's just so unreliable. I do not see Fulham taking a gamble, unless he's allowed to leave for free, while no doubt that the London club would expect United to cover some of his wages.

This is just another example of United making more problems for themselves and unless the attitude changes, then this issue is going to keep happening.

I'd love to see Bailly leave, but I just don't see Fulham backing up their interest with a firm offer.



https://oldtraffordfaithful.com/fulham-have-asked-about-man-uniteds-eric-bailly/

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Two Away Days Moved
Fulham's match at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, originally scheduled for Saturday 21st October, will now take place on Monday 23rd October and kick-off at 8pm.

The fixture will be televised live on Sky Sports.

We were due to face Brighton & Hove Albion the following Saturday, but this fixture will now take place on Sunday 29th October (2pm) due to the Seagulls' midweek participation in the Europa League.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/august/17/spurs-away-televised-brighton-date-change/

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Fulham to use £46m Aleksandar Mitrovic windfall to sign Everton ace Demarai Gray
Fulham want to use the £46million windfall from the potential sale of Aleksandar Mitrovic to fund a move for Everton ace Demarai Gray, according to the Daily Mail.

The publication reported on its website on Thursday (17 August) that Cottagers boss Marco Silva is keen to sign the Toffees winger this summer.

The move would come if Mitrovic is sold to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal, who have offered Fulham £46million for the Serbian [Daily Mail, 16 August].

"Al-Hilal have offered £46m for Fulham striker Aleksandar Mitrovic after signing Neymar from Paris St Germain in a £77.6million deal," according to the Daily Mail (16 August).

The publication then reported that "Marco Silva is keen to add Everton's Demarai Gray, Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi and Leicester City's Timothy Castagne to his squad with the windfall from Mitrovic's sale."

Summer move likely

Everton look highly likely to move Gray on this summer, and it seems that their Premier League rivals Fulham are his most likely destination.

The Cottagers have been reluctant to lose star striker Mitrovic, but they could still come out well from his sale if they manage to bring in a handful of new faces with his potential £46million fee.

Gray wouldn't be a direct replacement for the Serbian, but the winger could still play a key role out wide under Silva this season, with the player's Everton days slowly winding down.

The 27-year-old has registered 12 goals and six assists from 75 Toffees appearances, figures that should really be improved upon if he wants to enjoy a successful individual season this time around, wherever that may be.

The Merseyside club have snapped up Jack Harrison from Leeds United on loan for the campaign, further evidence that Gray has no future with the Toffees.



https://www.goodisonnews.com/2023/08/17/fulham-to-use-46m-aleksandar-mitrovic-windfall-to-sign-everton-ace-demarai-gray/

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Liverpool keen on signing Fulham's Joao Palhinha this summer
Liverpool have identified Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha as a prime target but are reluctant to meet his £60m price tag, according to the Daily Mail.

Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is desperately trying to bring in a new defensive midfielder before the window closes on September 1st after missing out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavai to Chelsea this month.

Caicedo completed his transfer to the West Londoners on Monday while the Blues have finally agreed a deal with the Saints to sign  Lavia. The 19-year-old is expected to undergo his medical this week before putting pen to paper on a long-term contract.

Lavia was heavily linked with a move to Anfield but he has opted to join Mauricio Pochettino's side therefore Liverpool have switched attention to other alternatives as they look to bring in a defensive midfielder this summer.

The Daily Mail claims that the Reds have lined up six midfield targets including Fulham's Palhinha, Crystal Palace's Cheick Doucoure, Fiorentina's Sofyan Amrabat, Kalvin Phillips of Manchester City, Fluminese star Andre and Nice's Khephren Thuram.

Reluctant
The report says Palhinha is Liverpool's prime target but the Reds are reluctant to meet Fulham's £60m asking price as the 28-year-old is much older than the profile of player they have been targeting this summer.

The Portuguese international has four years left on his contract with Fulham, having joined them from Sporting Lisbon last summer. He racked up 40 appearances and scored four goals in competitions as Marco Silva's outfit finished 10th in the Premier League table last season.

The Portugal international is currently on the sidelines after sustaining a suspected dislocated shoulder during a friendly against Brentford on their pre-season tour of the United States. The extent of the injury is unknown but it is believed that he will return to action in the coming weeks.

We will have to wait and see if Liverpool decide to meet Palhinha's valuation but he would be an excellent signing for the Reds if they decide to take him to Anfield this summer.



https://football-talk.co.uk/190208/liverpool-keen-on-signing-fulhams-joao-palhinha-this-summer/

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Fulham defender to join League One club on loan, reporter says
Fulham defender Luciano D'Auria is poised to join Cheltenham Town on loan, reports Fabrizio Romano.

Fulham are poised to let the full-back head into League One to get some experience under his belt in the Football League.

D'Auria, 20, has risen up through the youth ranks at Craven Cottage but is yet to make a first-team appearance for the Premier League side.

Reporter Romano has taken to Twitter (see tweet below) to share the news that the youngster will be linking up with Cheltenham for the upcoming season.

New face incoming at Cheltenham
Cheltenham are in need of some new signings following a tricky start to the new third tier campaign under Wade Elliot. They have lost all three of their opening league games against Shrewsbury Town, Bolton Wanderers and Reading and could do with some more quality in their ranks.

The Robins are yet to score and will likely turn their attention to attacking reinforcements if they can get a deal over the line for D'Auria now.

He will give the Robins more competition and depth at the back and would give them another option to pick from which is useful when the fixtures start to stack up.

D'Auria made 27 competitive appearances for Fulham's U18's before making the step up to the U23's a couple of years ago. He has since played 38 times for the latter and has chipped in with a single goal and six assists.

A temporary switch to Cheltenham now will help boost his development and is likely to be more beneficial then playing youth football. The Gloucestershire outfit are back in action this weekend with an away trip to Portsmouth and they hunt for their first win.



https://the72.co.uk/2023/08/17/fulham-defender-to-join-league-one-club-on-loan-reporter-says/

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Cheltenham Town set to sign Fulham wing-back Luciano D'Auria-Henry
Second loan signing of the summer imminent

Cheltenham Town are set to sign Luciano D'Auria-Henry on loan from Fulham ahead of this weekend's trip to Portsmouth.

The 20-year-old attacking right wing-back has progressed through the ranks at his Premier League parent club since Under-11 level.

He was named on the bench for their EFL Cup tie against Crawley Town last season, but he is yet to make his first team debut for the Cottagers and this will be his first loan experience.

D'Auria-Henry, who is eligible to represent England, Italy and Dominican internationally, will go straight into Wade Elliott's squad to face Pompey away in League One on Saturday.

And Gloucestershire Live understands Cheltenham are also close to completing the signing of a loan defender from another top flight club.

Cheltenham have lost all four of their matches in league and cup this season without scoring.

Attacking midfielder Oli Hammond from Nottingham Forest was their first loan addition this summer, along with permanent additions Curtis Davies, Rob Street, Jamie Pardington, Luke Southwood, Liam Smith and Curtis Thompson.



https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cheltenham-town-set-sign-fulham-8684182

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Fulham vs Brentford lineups: Predicted XIs, confirmed team news and injury latest

Brentford are sweating over the fitness of three players ahead of facing Fulham this weekend.

Ben Mee could make his first appearance of the campaign if he overcomes a calf injury while Frank Onyeka is nearing a return from his hamstring issue.

Thomas Frank was handed a fresh worry last weekend when Mathias Jensen went off against Tottenham with a thigh injury.

"Ben Mee will hopefully available for Fulham and as for Mathias, we don't know," said the Brentford boss post-match. "It appeared to be a thigh problem. We will just have to wait and see."

Kevin Schade could enter the attack for a rejig to 4-3-3 and join Bryan Mbeumo in flanking Yoanne Wissa in Ivan Toney's absence.

Fulham are once again without Joao Palhinha (shoulder).

The latest developments in Aleksandar Mitrovic's future could see him left out after Marco Silva benched the striker for the win at Everton, amid Al-Hilal's attempt to sign him.

Bobby De Cordova-Reid is pushing to start ahead of Willian after his winner at Goodison Park.

Predicted Fulham XI: Leno; Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson; Reed, Lukic, Pereira; Wilson, Jimenez, Willian

Predicted Brentford XI: Flekken; Hickey, Collins, Mee, Henry; Jensen, Norgaard, Janelt; Mbeumo, Wissa, Schade



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-vs-brentford-lineups-predicted-xi-confirmed-team-news-injury-latest-premier-league-2023-b1101337.html

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The Sean Davis Column
We may not have been at our best last weekend, but a win is a win at the end of the day. It's a tough place to go, you know, Everton. When I was a Fulham player we always struggled with Everton away. Sean Dyche kept them up last season and now he's had a full pre-season with them. Goodison Park is always a very difficult fixture, especially when the crowd is with them. When you go to Everton away I think you've got to try and silence the home fans. That did happen on Saturday, but probably more as a result of their poor finishing! Sometimes you need your goalkeeper to stand up and save you, and that's what Bernd Leno did. He made some great saves. A clean sheet away from home and three points, it might have been a bit of a smash and grab, but we'll take that all day long, as my good friend Gentleman Jim would say.

On the subject of Leno, he's been class from day one. He's got a big frame, he's dominant, he's good with his feet, so we've got a great one there. We've had some excellent goalkeepers in the past. The two that stand out are Edwin van der Sar and Mark Schwarzer, and Bernd is right up there with them if he continues the way he's going.

Talking of goalkeepers winning Fulham points, my mind immediately goes to Arsenal at Highbury in 2003. It was a goalless draw but we got in the changing room after and we were laughing our heads off because it was literally a robbery. Obviously we didn't win the game, but to take a point against that Arsenal team felt like three points. Edwin was awesome that game, but he was awesome from start to finish in his Fulham career, just the way he went about himself around the training ground, what he ate, how he looked after himself, the professionalism he showed. It's not often you can say you played with world class players, but he was definitely that.

Moving onto our summer business, I think re-signing Willian is fantastic, not only because he's someone that people pay to watch because he's so fantastic, but just imagine what an inspiration he is to the young players in training. That can only be good for the Academy, and for the team. He's not in the team just because he's Willian, he's in the team because he works hard and he brings so much quality to the side with his assists and goals, so it's fantastic to re-sign him.

We know Raúl Jiménez scores goals, we know he gets in the right positions, he's got great movement, so hopefully we can get balls in the right areas, and I'm sure he'll score plenty of goals for us. He was unlucky to hit the post on Saturday, and he seems to have settled in really well. To bring in someone of that calibre to give us a different dimension up top is a great bit of business from the Club.

I really like the look of Calvin Bassey. I think he's a very good option for us at the back. He's got speed, power, pace. Now it's just about him settling in, learning what's expected from our centre-halves, what the manager wants, and I'm sure he'll be a great addition to the squad.

Adama Traoré offers something completely different to anyone else in the squad, and you need that. You need pace, you need power. A lot of people will look at Adama and think he should be playing at a higher level, so it's a real coup that we've managed to bring him in. He was at Barcelona two seasons ago, so the talent is certainly there. Everyone has stages in their career where it all just clicks, and for me it feels like working with Marco Silva could bring the best out of Adama. He'll love it here, he'll love the area, and we've seen how good Marco is at bringing the best out of players.

Brentford on Saturday is an absolute cracker for our first home game of the season. I watched their match against Spurs on Sunday. They're obviously missing Ivan Toney, but they've got so much quality, as was shown by the two guys up top [Bryan Mbeumo & Yoane Wissa] both scoring. They move the ball quickly, they're very direct, set-pieces we're going to have to be on our toes. It's a London derby as well, a massive game for us. I wouldn't want to be around Jim an hour before kick-off, because he gets so nervous ahead of these matches as he lives in Brentford so is surrounded by their fans! But our home form last season was great, so hopefully we can continue that this year.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2023/august/17/the-sean-davis-column/

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Sky: Fulham open talks with Bologna for Orsolini
Sky Sport Italia claims Fulham have opened talks with Bologna for Riccardo Orsolini and will soon submit an offer for the 26-year-old.

The Italian winger completed his best-ever Serie A campaign in 2022-23, scoring 11 goals in 32 league appearances, but hasn't reached an agreement to extend his contract at the Stadio Dall'Ara beyond June 2024.

Now, according to Sky Sport Italia, Premier League side Fulham have opened talks to sign the ex-Ascoli and Atalanta winger.

There is still no offer for the Rossoblu, but according to the report, Fulham will soon submit their opening bid for the 26-year-old.

According to the report, Bologna have already identified a potential replacement for Orsolini. It's Roland Sallai, currently under contract with Bundesliga side Freiburg.

Orsolini has scored 40 goals in 182 Serie A appearances and joined Bologna from Juventus on an initial loan deal in January 2018. The Rossoblu made his move permanent in July 2019 for €15m.



https://football-italia.net/sky-fulham-open-talks-with-bologna-for-orsolini/

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Fulham could use £46m windfall to fund move for 'unbelievable' Everton man Demarai Gray
Fulham could be about to make a move for Everton attacker Demarai Gray with the London club potentially about to receive a cash windfall.

The 27-year-old, who Rio Ferdinand described as an 'unbelievable find' last season has been linked with a move to Marco Silva's side this summer.

Indeed, the Cottagers are said to be keen on a move for the Everton player, and could make a move for the winger should they sell Serbian forward Aleksander Mitrovic.

Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal have reportedly offered Fulham £46m for the 28-year-old, who could link up with Brazilian international Neymar, who recently made the £77.6m switch from PSG.

According to the Daily Mail, Fulham would then be interested in reinvesting the cash windfall in Everton winger Demarai Gray, who himself was recently linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League.

Gray now looking set to join Fulham with absence this weekend a huge hint at exit
Demarai Gray was absent from Everton's opening fixture of the Premier League season last weekend, as the Toffees suffered a disappointing if not predictable 1-0 defeat to the visitors.

The Blues created a plethora of opportunities, but poor finishing proved costly as Fulham snatched all three points with a second half strike.

However, Everton have just brought in Jack Harrison from Leeds United on a season-long loan deal, and though he is currently out injured, the 27-year-old may have been brought in to replace the outgoing Gray.

Having paid just £1.7m for the Jamaican international back in the summer of 2021, Everton could make a sizable profit on the attacker, who's form has always been inconsistent.

The former Leicester City player is capable of producing a goal out of nothing and has scored some spectacular long-range efforts, but perhaps doesn't work hard enough to suit a manager like Sean Dyche.



https://www.grandoldteam.com/2023/08/17/fulham-could-use-46m-windfall-to-fund-move-for-unbelievable-everton-man-demarai-gray/

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Fulham: Riverside Stand redevelopment further delayed after construction company enters administration

Buckingham Group Contracting had also been working on Liverpool's development of the Anfield Road Stand

Fulham's redevelopment of the Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage has been further delayed after the construction company overseeing the project went into administration.

Buckingham Group Contracting have filed for administration and Fulham have said they now do not expect the redevelopment to be finished until the start of the 2024/25 season.

Work on the Riverside Stand started in 2019 and was initially due to be completed in 2021.

Buckingham Group Contracting have also overseen Liverpool's development of the Anfield Road Stand at Anfield.

Fulham did not comment about the company going into administration but said in a statement: "Many of the principal delay factors include addressing difficult site conditions during the demolition of the old stand, as well as remedying issues arising out of the construction of the new stand.

"Whilst it has taken time to address these factors, good progress is now being made on the fit-out phase and we will start to open first-class spaces in the new stand during 2024.

"Not all spaces will be completed at the same time. As soon as the first hospitality areas start to open, we will provide further details.


Work ongoing: Fulham have been redeveloping the Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage since 2019 / Getty Images

"Before then, and for the 2023-24 season, the ground floor internal and external concourses are available to all Riverside Stand ticket holders whilst these areas continue to be developed and completed during the 2024 close season.

"Additional seating in the new stand will be available, subject to licensing, from the commencement of the 2024-25 season.

"Both the club and fans have been anticipating the full opening of the stand, which we had hoped would be by now, and we understand supporter frustrations. Rest assured that work continues diligently to deliver on the promise of a truly remarkable and world-class experience."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-riverside-stand-redevelopment-delayed-b1101369.html

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Arsenal wantaway star Folarin Balogun eyed by Fulham as replacement for Aleksandar Mitrovic
Fulham could reportedly switch their attention to Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun if Aleksandar Mitrovic leaves the club this summer.

Despite an impressive first season back in the Premier League, Marco Silva's side may need to dip into the market for a new striker.

Mitrovic was offered a contract worth £21.3mllion-per-year by Al Hilal earlier in the window but Fulham reject two offers from them.

However, the Saudi Pro League side have reignited their interest in the Serbian and have offered almost £47million for his services.

The striker himself is keen on the move to the Gulf state having joined Fulham from Newcastle in 2018.

He has scored 111 goals for the west London side and 28 of those have come in the Premier League, but he could be set for a departure.

Should this happen, the Evening Standard report that Arsenal forward Balogun is on their list of targets.

The 22-year-old is keen to leave the Gunners this summer following a highly impressive loan spell at Reims last season.

Balogun scored 22 goals for the French side, with Arsenal already rejecting a formal bid for him from Monaco.

A move to Craven Cottage could see him compete alongside summer signing Raul Jimenez for a starting spot up front.

talkSPORT reported earlier in August that West Ham may also eye a potential move for the USA international.

Balogun was not named in Arsenal's squad for their Community Shield win over Manchester City.

He was also omitted from the side that beat Nottingham Forest last weekend, with his future likely to be away from the Gunners.



https://talksport.com/football/1536571/

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Fulham interested in Gonzalo Montiel
Fulham will reportedly look to sign 26-year-old World Cup winner Gonzalo Montiel from Sevilla in the ongoing transfer window.

According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Gonzalo Montiel is the subject of interest from Fulham. The Cottagers are looking to sign a right-back before the summer transfer window shuts down. And the 26-year-old World Cup winner has emerged as a top target for the West London club.

Gonzalo Montiel has spent most of his professional career thus far in his homeland. After graduating from the River Plate youth division, he became a regular for the Argentine giants. And he also broke into his national side before earning a move to Europe in August 2021, joining La Liga giants Sevilla.

The 26-year-old has shared game time with Sevilla captain Jesus Navas since arriving at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. And he has managed only seven minutes of action in the two games thus far this term. Meanwhile, Sevilla will likely open the exit door for the 26-year-old in the ongoing transfer window.

Montiel, who scored the winning penalty when Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, faces an uncertain future at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium. And he has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa. But the player's next destination might be Fulham.

The Cottagers are focusing on signing a striker and a left-back this summer. Marco Silva's main concern is bringing in a long-term replacement for Aleksandar Mitrovic, who wants to move to Saudi Arabia. But the Fulham boss might be open to securing the services of a right-back due to the inconsistencies of Kevin Mbabu and Kenny Tete.

Montiel has thus emerged as a viable target for Fulham. And the 26-year-old World Cup winner will bring a trophy-winning pedigree to Craven Cottage, considering the success he has enjoyed for his club and country. Meanwhile, with Sevilla open to selling him, the Argentine international might be an easy acquisition.

It will be interesting to see if Fulham can quickly secure Montiel's services once they launch the offensive for his signature. For now, the World Cup winner has emerged as a viable target for the West London club.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/08/17/fulham-interested-in-gonzalo-montiel/

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Fabrizio Romano says £50m Tottenham striker target is about to join another club
Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move to sign Aleksandar Mitrovic this summer, but it looks like he's on his way to Saudi Arabia now.

Spurs are on the market looking for a new striker. They need to fill the void that Harry Kane has left up top, and it will not be easy to find someone of that level.

Among all the names linked with a move to Tottenham was Mitrovic, but Fabrizio Romano has claimed on The Daily Briefing that he's off to Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

Fabrizio Romano says Tottenham target Aleksandar Mitrovic is joining Al Hilal
Aleksandar Mitrovic has been incredible for Fulham over the years.

The Serbian scored 14 goals in 24 Premier League appearances last season, which is an excellent return and one which appears to have impressed Tottenham.

90min reported earlier this month that Mitrovic is on Tottenham's transfer shortlist as they lined up possible replacements for Kane, who joined Bayern Munich last week.

The 28-year-old Fulham man would definitely have been an interesting option at Spurs, but Romano has now claimed that he's closing in on a move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal.

He said: "Al Hilal are finalising move to sign Aleksandar Mitrovic! A deal is now imminent, waiting for final approval as formal bid has been sent.

"Mitrovic agreed terms with Al Hilal in July and he's just waiting for Fulham green light to make it happen in the next hours."

TBR View:
It doesn't look like Tottenham will be able to sign Mitrovic, and that may just prove to be a blessing in disguise if Ange Postecoglou really wanted him.

The Serbian is undoubtedly a brilliant player, but he will turn 29 next month. Fulham are reportedly demanding £50 million to let him go, which is just too much for some of his age.

Tottenham will likely be able to find much better options on the market than Mitrovic – preferably someone younger with huge potential.

Gift Orban has been heavily linked recently, and he would be a great option in our opinion.



https://tbrfootball.com/fabrizio-romano-says-50m-tottenham-striker-target-is-about-to-join-another-club/

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Exclusive: Sunderland, Millwall and QPR in race to sign Fulham player
Sunderland, Millwall and QPR are all keen on Fulham forward Jay Stansfield.

    Fulham's Jay Stansfield is attracting interest from clubs like Sunderland, Millwall, and QPR, who are looking to sign the highly-rated 20-year-old attacker.
    Stansfield has shown his potential with impressive performances and goals during his loan at Exeter in League One.
    The player's priority is to secure regular playing time, and clubs like Sunderland, Millwall, and QPR could provide the opportunities he needs to continue his development in the Championship.

Sunderland, Millwall and QPR are among a host of clubs who are keen on signing Fulham's Jay Stansfield, Football League World can exclusively reveal.

Who is Jay Stansfield?
The 20-year-old came through the ranks at Exeter, before signing for Fulham as a teenager in 2019, and he has gone on to make eight appearances for the Cottagers, including three in the Premier League.

Whilst he remains highly-rated, the reality is that he wouldn't get regular minutes at Craven Cottage, so a loan to Exeter was sorted last season.

It was an emotional move for Stansfield, who is the son of Grecians favourite Adam, who sadly passed away in 2010.

The youngster excelled in League One, scoring nine goals in 36 games, whilst he impressed with his all-round game that made him a constant threat to the opposition. Now back with Fulham, Stansfield has been with Marco Silva's side for pre-season, and he was an unused substitute in the opening day win over Everton.

Championship interest emerges in Jay Stansfield
However, FLW can confirm that a move is on the cards for the player before the deadline, with Sunderland, Millwall and QPR having all registered their interest in the player.

Crucially, Fulham are willing to let Stansfield go to continue his development, but they are waiting for Aleksandar Mitrovic's situation to be sorted first.

It's no secret that Al-Hilal are desperate to sign the Serbian international, and the Cottagers want to know his future, and potentially sort out replacements, before they let Stansfield go.

However, there is an expectation that Mitrovic's future will be resolved in the next week or so, which should open the door for Stansfield's exit.

As well as the Championship trio, there is interest in League One, so Fulham won't be short on options when they plot the next move for their exciting talent.

Which clubs need to sign Jay Stansfield?
Firstly, you can understand why there is so much interest in the attacker, as Stansfield is someone with enormous potential, and he will keep improving over the next 12 months.

He's not just a goalscorer either, with the seven assists he registered last season proving he is someone who can link play, and he has an eye for a pass.

Sunderland seem an obvious fit with their style of play, and Tony Mowbray has shown he is a manager that will give young players a chance to flourish. Meanwhile, Millwall and QPR are both in need of attacking reinforcements, so Stansfield could be given the opportunities he craves in the second tier.

Realistically from the perspective of the player, he needs to be playing week in, week out.

The fact he moved to Exeter shows how Stansfield values game time, and his performances in the third tier proved he is ready for the step-up.

With that in mind, you'd have to say whoever does bring him in would be making a shrewd addition, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up, and how this season progresses for the England youth international.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/exclusive-sunderland-millwall-and-qpr-in-race-to-sign-fulham-player/

[WhiteJC]

D'Auria-Henry set for Cheltenham Town loan
Fulham wing-back Luciano D'Auria-Henry is poised to join League One Cheltenham Town on loan, according to various reports this afternoon.

The 20 year-old, who was converted from a winger into a right back during his time in the Motpsur Park youth set-up, has shone for Fulham's under 21s and recently signed an extension to his professional contract. The Ealing born right-back was named on the bench by Marco Silva for Fulham's EFL Cup defeat at Crawley Town last season and sparked a spirited comeback in the under 21s 3-2 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers last Friday night by supplying two assists in the closing stages.

Fulham are keen to give D'Auria-Henry a taste of senior football and is expected to be in contention to make his Cheltenham debut for Wade Elliott's side at Portsmouth on Saturday.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/08/dauria-henry-set-for-cheltenham-town-loan/

[WhiteJC]

Fulham contemplating Folarin Balogun swoop
Fulham are considering a move for £50 million-rated Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun as a replacement for Aleksandar Mitrovic.

According to a report by Mail Sport, Arsenal's Folarin Balogun could become a target for Fulham in their efforts to replace Aleksandar Mitrovic. The Serb is closing in on leaving the Cottagers and joining Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. So Marco Silva could target the £50 million-rated prospect from the North London club as a viable option.

The Folarin Balogun chase has another entrant in the mix, with Fulham now vying for the £50 million-rated prospect from Arsenal. Mikel Arteta has given enough indications to suggest the USMNT international does not feature in his plans for the season and that the club are open to offers at their price.

Inter Milan were close at one stage but bowed out, citing the £50 million price tag of the striker. There have been rumblings about Chelsea and even Tottenham's reported interest in the youngster, but nothing concrete has come up.

AS Monaco came the closest and lodged a reasonable bid for the striker. With Arsenal rejecting their offer, the French giants could return with another proposal closer to the £50 million asking price. West Ham United are also interested on the sidelines and could make a move for the forward before the window closes.

Meanwhile, Fulham are considering a move for the 22-year-old forward. Aleksandar Mitrovic has pushed to leave the club all summer ever since the interest from the Saudi Pro League became apparent. As per Fabrizio Romano, a deal with Al-Hilal could materialise in the coming days as the striker's days at Craven Cottage are numbered.

Arsenal are open to letting him join Fulham or any other club if the bid matches their expectations. Their £50 million price tag has its justifications, but Marco Silva might look to pay less, despite the money they could receive from Al-Hilal.

As per various yet unconfirmed reports, Fulham might net £46 million from Al-Hilal, which could push Arsenal to ask closer to £50 million for Balogun. Things could accelerate if the Cottagers negotiate with the Gunners over a proposed move.

Right from the start, negotiations for Balogun with Arsenal have looked difficult for many clubs interested in the USMNT striker. Fulham could try their way of talking to the Gunners and finding an agreement in the coming days.

Balogun would represent a solid purchase for Silva and Fulham, considering he has a long future ahead. Whether they pay close to Arsenal's asking price remains the question, but they must replace Mitrovic with another top-class centre-forward, for the Serb's loss could result in a lack of goals in the current season.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/08/17/fulham-contemplating-folarin-balogun-swoop/

[WhiteJC]

Tony Khan Is Ready For AEW's 'Single Biggest Opportunity' At All In

When the Jacksonville Jaguars played host to the Denver Broncos at London's Wembley Stadium in October last year, fans caught a clip that featured star quarterback Trevor Lawrence and Blackpool Combat Club member Claudio Castagnoli as part of a promotional shoot for AEW's English TV partner, ITV.

That brief crossover was Tony Khan's early work in planting the seeds for the wrestling promotion's eventual European debut. Khan, AEW's founder and the Jags' chief football strategy officer, has known for a long time that he wanted to run his first London show at Wembley, but admits the outpouring of interest has exceeded even their very optimistic early projections.

"We stand on the verge of breaking so many historical milestones," Khan tells Uproxx Sports. "Certainly this will be the biggest wrestling event ever in Europe and one of the biggest events in history."

As of this writing, AEW has sold more than 80,000 tickets and stands less than 800 tickets away from breaking the all-time paid ticket sales record — per WrestleTix, WWE set that record by selling 80,709 tickets for WrestleMania 32.

AEW has known of the significant interest in a large-scale show abroad, but Khan admits that Wembley wasn't the only venue the promotion considered for its first All In show. Khan also considered Craven Cottage, the oldest football stadium in London and home to the Premier League's Fulham FC, which boasts a record attendance of 49,335 from a soccer match in 1938. (Khan serves as the vice chairman and director of football operations for the club.)

"There's two places I thought about," Khan says. "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."

For Khan, the magnitude of this show hasn't set in yet, although he calls it the "single biggest opportunity" the promotion has ever had. It follows the trend of taking a leap of faith like the Young Bucks and Cody Rhodes did at the original All In back in 2018, which made history as a self-promoted independent show that sold 10,000 tickets.

The group that puts the Elite in All Elite Wrestling recently committed their collective futures to the promotion and are expected to be heavily involved in the show. The Young Bucks will feature prominently in another dream showdown with FTR over the AEW World Tag Team Championships, while Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, and Kota Ibushi will face off against Juice Robinson, Jay White, and Takeshita.

"Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks have been a huge part of what we do since the very beginning, both in the ring and backstage," Khan says. "AEW started when I first spoke to The Young Bucks about this idea that I wanted to launch a pro wrestling promotion and I was trying to get people to support it. Hangman Page is one of our first champions, a great world champion and also a great world tag team champion and one of our top stars. And I think all four of them are a huge part of the the identity of the company."

MJF versus Adam Cole for the AEW World Championship is the main event, featuring one of the best enemies-turned-friends storylines in some time. The Fatal 4-way match between Hikaru Shida, Toni Storm, Saraya, and Britt Baker is sure to be a barnburner for the AEW Women's Championship. Chris Jericho against Will Ospreay is a match that's been years in the making. The just-announced Stadium Stampede will be a brawl between the Blackpool Combat Club, Eddie Kingston, Best Friends, and Lucha Bros.

And then, there's Sting.

Khan says the opportunity to spotlight the icon's return to the ring is the one thing he never truly expected to happen in AEW.

"Sting stepped away from pro wrestling for several years and by all indications, he was going to retire. He felt he had a great run in him alongside his tag team partner, Darby Allin. He's had some of the most exciting and memorable matches in AEW in the last several years and Sting has accumulated an undefeated record where Sting is, in many ways, the most successful wrestler in AEW," Khan says.

"Every time he steps in the ring we try to pay tribute to his great career and how honored we are to have Sting with us. I think this will be one of the great memories we've been able to make for Sting in AEW. Sting and Darby Allin. Darby's old friends, Swerve Strickland and A.R. Fox in a coffin match, in front of the biggest paid crowd ever to watch Sting wrestle in his entire amazing career."

With a loaded roster and interest at its highest since launching the promotion, Khan has big aspirations and wants to continue hosting large-scale events in North America, Europe, and other continents as well. With matches still to be announced, All In's card is living up to the billing as one of the biggest events in wrestling history.

But despite that, the future of the All In event is unclear. When asked if we can expect it as an annual event, Khan admitted there's "a lot to consider."

"In addition to the live event, also on the media rights landscape, there are a lot of interesting things happening," Khan continues. "We're very focused on these events. Doing this for the first time to have AEW All In on August 27th, followed by AEW All Out the next weekend."

Fans can tune in live to watch All In on August 27 on traditional pay-per-view, through Bleacher Report, and internationally through FITE.



https://uproxx.com/sports/tony-khan-interview-all-in-2023/

[WhiteJC]

As well as Hudson-Odoi another 'sensational' Chelsea player could end up at Fulham – journalist
Fulham and Chelsea have something of a strange rivalry.

For some fans, this is the west London derby, this is the rivalry that matters more than any other and bragging rights are there to be won or lost every time these two teams meet.

However, unlike most other rivalries of this ilk, these two clubs don't have any issues in terms of doing business with one another.

The likes of Gael Kakuta, Tomas Kalas, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Lucas Piazon have all crossed this divide in recent years, and now, we could be set to see two more players swap Stamford Bridge for Craven Cottage.

Callum Hudson-Odoi is reportedly closing in on a move to Fulham, while according to Dean Jones, speaking on The Done Deal Show, Fulham are also having a look at Armando Broja.

Broja to Fulham an option
Jones shared what he knows about the 'sensational' Chelsea star.

"I think we will get a good gauge on it on whether or not Broja will be able to speak to other clubs or not. That would be the one to make way. Right now with Nicolas Jackson you're thinking Broja is the main backup and alternate option there. West Ham have had an eye on Broja for a while and Fulham are having tentative steps around looking at the Broja perspective," Jones said.

Mitrovic replacement
This isn't surprising at all.

Fulham will soon be in the market for a new striker as Aleksandar Mitrovic closes in on a move to Al-Hilal, and it looks like Broja could be an option.

A physical striker who suits Fulham's style, Broja could be the perfect Mitrovic replacement for the Whites.

He's proven in the Premier League, and he could well be available after Chelsea's spending spree this summer.

Fulham could do much worse than replacing Mitrovic with Broja.



https://tbrfootball.com/as-well-as-hudson-odoi-another-sensational-chelsea-player-could-end-up-at-fulham-journalist/