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

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Sources: Fulham make 'concrete' move for Dominic Solanke after West Ham bid
Fulham have joined West Ham in the race to prise Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth before the window shuts, sources have told Football Insider.

The Hammers have submitted an offer believed to be around the £35-40m mark for the England international, 25, as they look to reinforce their front line this month.

Fulham also have what sources say is "concrete" interest in Solanke as they push for a new striker following the exit of Aleksandar Mitrovic to Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal in a club-record deal.

But the west Londoners are reluctant to match the bid on the table from West Ham.

It is believed Fulham are willing to go up to £25-30m for Solanke, which is £10m below David Moyes' side and leaves the Irons in pole position.

However, Bournemouth have not accepted West Ham's offer and they are reluctant to lose their star striker in the final 10 days of the window.

Solanke has a contract at Bournemouth that runs until the summer of 2026 after he signed an extension in August of last year.

The striker scored seven goals and provided seven assists for Bournemouth last season as they secured Premier League survival.

The one-time England international was lethal in the previous campaign as the Cherries were promoted from the Championship, scoring 30 goals in 49 games across all competitions.

Solanke has already made a strong impression in the new Premier League season.

He has started and completed both of Bournemouth's matches, scoring in the 1-1 opening day draw against West Ham and also causing the defence of his old side Liverpool problems last weekend.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-fulham-make-concrete-move-for-dominic-solanke-after-west-ham-bid/

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Fulham's Quest for New Signings in the Wake of Mitrovic's Farewell
London's buzzing streets have been all aflutter, with Fulham FC's footballing ambitions rapidly shifting gears after the high-profile exit of Aleksandar Mitrovic to Al-Hilal for a figure believed to be around the £46 million mark. It's not just the hefty sum that's the talk of the town; it's the big boots that the Serbian left behind.

Mitrovic's Legacy
The curtains may have closed on Mitrovic's time at Craven Cottage, but what a show he delivered! A stellar 15 goals and four assists in just 28 appearances last season, and a monumental 43 goals in the preceding campaign that saw Fulham catapulted to promotion. In his absence, one can't help but wonder: who's next up on Fulham's stage?

The Orban Chase Begins
With the ink barely dry on Mitrovic's transfer papers, whispers from the heart of football reportage, Football Insider, suggest that the Cottagers have set their eyes on KAA Gent's prodigy, Gift Orban. With six goals already to his name this season in as many appearances, it's no wonder Fulham is ready to vie with Tottenham for the young striker's signature.

More Than Just a Forward Thinking
However, manager Marco Silva, known for his strategic prowess, recognises that football isn't won on goals alone. Reliable sources intimate that, bolstered by the Mitrovic sale proceeds, Silva is exploring avenues to shore up his defensive ranks.

Full-back Reinforcements: The chatter in the football circles is that Fulham's ambitions this transfer window aren't limited to just replacing Mitrovic's firepower. Silva is believed to be keen on fortifying both full-back positions. Antonee Robinson, who recently penned a new deal with the club, has cemented his position at left-back. Still, Silva, ever the strategist, wishes to introduce competition to keep the spirits and performances high. Kenny Tete has started the season impressively on the right, but with the transfer clock ticking, a new face might yet join the ranks.

A Mixed Start
Football, as they say, is a game of two halves. Fulham's opening fixtures have showcased the highs and lows of the beautiful game. A triumphant 1-0 victory over Everton was soon followed by a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of local rivals Brentford. As the team regroups and the transfer window drama unfolds, the Fulham faithful will be hoping the new additions can steer the ship to calmer waters.

The stage at Craven Cottage remains set. It's over to Silva and his backstage crew to decide who gets the next big role in Fulham's unfolding drama.



https://eplindex.com/94938/fulhams-quest-for-new-signings-in-the-wake-of-mitrovics-farewell.html

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Fulham: Cottagers to join race for Spurs target
Marco Silva's side need to replace Aleksandar Mitrovic...

As the transfer window comes to a close, both Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham are in desperate need of a striker following the departures of both Harry Kane and Aleksandar Mitrovic.

With that, the two London clubs could be set to battle it out for one particular forward before the window slams shut, according to reports, with that forward being Gift Orban.

The KAA Gent man looks set to be one to watch in the next week or so.

What's the latest on Gift Orban to Fulham?
According to reports, Fulham are set to join the race for Orban's signature, rivalling Spurs in the process. Gaining a reported £50m for the departure of Mitrovic, the Cottagers should have no issues when it comes to affording a deal for the Belgian this summer, either.

They may need to act quick if they are to push ahead of Spurs, however, who should be no short on funds, themselves, following the exit of Kane to Bayern Munich this summer for a reported £86m.

As the window nears its end, it looks as though Orban will have a key decision to make regarding his future with both clubs battling for his signature, as per Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider.

With the world seemingly at his feet, the striker's choice will certainly be an interesting one to keep an eye on.

What's been said about Gift Orban?
Replacing Mitrovic is a hard task in itself, but upgrading on the Serbian sounds close to impossible for Fulham. Yet, signing Orban could arguably do exactly that.

The Nigerian scored 20 goals in 22 appearances last season, and has since proven that his successful campaign was no fluke by starting the current season with six goals in six appearances - Orban is the definition of a man in form.

In usual circumstances, Orban's decision may be an easy one, given that Spurs usually find themselves playing some form of European football. This season, however, that is not the case, potentially handing Fulham a greater advantage than in previous occasions.

Gent manager Hein Vanhaezebrouck will be gutted to see his star man leave, should a move occur this summer. He was full of praise for Orban back in April of this year, saying, via Idoma Voice: "He's not just a player, he's a phenomenon – and he's poised to remain a phenomenon. I've spoken these words five times before, and I'll continue to do so without hesitation," Vanhaezebrouck emphatically conveyed to reporters in the aftermath of the exhilarating game.

"As time moves forward, even if his presence isn't on our pitch, his legacy as a phenomenon will endure. At 21, he's still a young talent blossoming with potential."

He then went onto say: "His hat-trick? While it's a testament to his greatness, it's becoming routine for a player of his exceptional caliber, isn't it?"

Everything is pointing towards a player who will only get better and better wherever he ends up next. If Fulham can beat Spurs to Orban's signature, they will have themselves a player with the potential to exceed Mitrovic's legacy and more.

Whether they can hijack Spurs' pursuit remains to be seen.



https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-transfer-news-tottenham-premier-league-rumours-gift-orban/

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Thief swiped £130k Audi Q8 and Range Rover from home of ex-Wolves star Raul Jimenez during £250k crime spree
Patrick Rafferty, 35, broke into the footballer's home while his children were inside

A burglar who raided the home of ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers star Raul Jimenez while his family were inside has been locked up for more than seven years. 'Professional criminal' Patrick Rafferty and his fellow thieves sneaked into the footballer's Tettenhall home while he was there with his young children before fleeing with the striker's big-budget Audi Q8 and Range Rover.

The 35-year-old targeted Wolves' all-time top Premier League goal scorer as part of his two-month crime spree which saw him swipe cars worth a total of almost £250,000. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Rafferty was part of a gang of crooks who often disguised themselves before creeping into homes during the early hours of the morning.

Victims were often asleep when the thieves scrambled into their Wolverhampton and Willenhall homes in order to pinch keys and flee with cars parked on driveways. The gang forced entry into Jimenez' home in July last year, stealing two of his cars which were worth a total of £130,000

Other items snatched from the 32-year-old's home included PlayStation controllers, watches and computers, prosecutor Jonathan Barker said. During their crime wave, dad-of-one Rafferty and others entered a property in Longlake Avenue, Tettenhall Wood.

A Mini Countryman worth £5,800 was stolen while a family with children slept. The victims noticed the cars had been taken when they woke up later that morning.

Two days later, burglars broke a lock and forced their way into a home in Swallowdale, Tettenhall. A dad who had been asleep was suddenly woken up by a noise before realising the keys to his Porsche and Mercedes were being taken.

He 'courageously' attempted to 'disturb' the thieves, which caused a criminal attempting to flee in the Mercedes to lose control and hurtle into a neighbor's house.

The thieves then fled the scene on foot. A total of £5,500-worth of damage was caused to the neighbour's home.

Gang members targeted a further property that same day while a family with children were inside their home in Rollesby Drive, Willenhall. A lock was broken before the thieves snatched keys to a Ford Fiesta worth £4,000 and an £18,000 Seat Leon.

The next day, the gang broke a lock to get inside a home in Beech Road, Oxley, but left empty-handed when they were 'disturbed'. A victim living at a property in Sundour Crescent, Wednesfield, was woken up when his Ring doorbell made a noise that same day.

He confronted the masked burglars and 'shouted' at them before they said they wanted his car and walked off with nothing. Thieves went on to burgle a home in Ennerdale Road, Tettenhall, after breaking a lock on a door.

A family with children were inside when a BMW X3, Peugeot 208 and a Citreon DS3 were swiped from their home. Apple AirPods also taken were traced by police, linking accomplice Simon Brookes to the burglary.

The burglars then forced their way through a dining room window to get into another home, where two Mercedes worth a total of £23,000 were stolen. An attempted burglary took place in Uplands Road, Willenhall, but masked men ran off after the female victim shouted at them.

A Toyota Avensis worth £1,500 were also taken from a property in Western Drive, Bilston. The court heard how Rafferty - of no fixed abode - has 23 convictions for 58 offences including other burglaries and conspiracy to steal.

Rafferty and Brookes admitted conspiracy to burgle and conspiracy to steal between July 18 and September 16 last year. Third-strike burglar Rafferty confirmed he was involved in all 10 incidents.

Amrisha Parathalingam, defending Rafferty, said he was using drugs at the time of his offending. Brookes, 31, pleaded on a basis and claimed he was only involved in the burglary in Ennerdale Road, Tettenhall.

Simon Worlock, defending Brookes, said the dad-of-four - of Larkspur Close, Wolverhampton - was just the 'driver' of one of the cars which was stolen and is 'not proud of what he has done'.

Sentencing, Judge Michael Chambers KC said: "You were both part of a criminal gang which was focussed on stealing valuable cars by identifying them on driveways and entering the dwelling house in the early hours of the morning, drilling out the locks, wearing disguises." Rafferty was jailed for 84 months, while Brookes was locked up for 54 months on Monday, August 21.



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/thief-swiped-130k-audi-q8-27565098

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Fulham in 'renewed competition' for Callum Hudson-Odoi — report
Interest to motivate?

Callum Hudson-Odoi's proposed move to Fulham continues to progress at a glacial rate, but perhaps the "renewed" competition that our friendly neighbors are supposedly facing will help motivate it along at last.

According to the Evening Standard, Everton and Nottingham Forest are once again poking around the situation, with Fulham dragging their feet on ponying up the already ridiculously low £8m needed to match our asking price. Considering that they just got six times as much for Aleksandar Mitrović, they surely shouldn't have any problem doing so (in addition to the wage-savings we will incur with his transfer). Incidentally, CHO is willing to take a pay cut as well, to help facilitate things.

Obviously, the £8m is quite a drop from the £70m valuation not three years ago, but it's safe to say that the 22-year-old's career hasn't exactly turned out the way we were all hoping and expecting. Perhaps a change of scenery will be precisely what the doctor ordered.



https://weaintgotnohistory.sbnation.com/chelsea-fc-transfer-rumours-news/2023/8/22/23841139/fulham-in-renewed-competition-for-callum-hudson-odoi-report

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Nottingham Forest place €30m offer for centre-back – Moving strong for Fulham target
Nottingham Forest have joined the race for Benfica defender Morato, according to claims from the Portuguese media.

Mais Futebol reports that the Tricky Trees made a €30m for the centre-back.

It's claimed that even though Benfica have 'no big interest' in selling Morato, they're still to have a 'concrete position' about Nottingham Forest's offer.

What seems interesting is that the Reds are now trying to sign a player who Fulham failed to land this summer.

As recalled by Mais Futebol, the Whites had previously offered €25m for Morato, and that was turned down by Benfica.

Fulham's chase for the Brazilian had been going for a while, as in early July it had been reported that they offered €10m. Their bids were increasing until they stopped with the €25m attempt.

It isn't known whether the Whites are still interested in the signing, so Nottingham Forest may find a clear path for a deal. Even though Rennes also made a recent approach, they're still to make an official bid for him.

Benfica have Morato protected by a €100m release clause, so there's no pressure to sell.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/nottingham-forest-place-e25m-offer-centre-back-moving-strong-fulham-target/

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Transfers: Fulham join Premier League rival in race to sign Gift Orban
Gift Orban has been heavily linked with a move to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur this summer after consistently impressive performance for his Belgian club Gent.

Fulham have joined the race with London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of Nigeria and Gent striker Gift Orban, Soccernet.ng reports

The 21-year-old has been heavily linked in recent weeks with a move to Tottenham to replace already-departed English striker Harry Kane, who left the club to join Bayern Munich two weeks ago.

Orban has raised his profile from a relatively unknown £3.3m bargain Gent signed from Norwegian club Stabeak in January. After an impressive 20 goals from 22 games in his first six months at the club, the Nigerian striker has picked up from where left last year with six goals in as many games this new season.

His consistent performance in Belgium has seen him attract interest from several clubs, Ange Postecoglou's Spurs included. The North London club has a concrete interest in signing Orban, but no offer has been tabled yet according to Fabrizio Romano.

However, in another latest development, another London club Fulham have identified Orban as a replacement for Aleksandar Mitrovic, who left the club for £52m to join Al Hilal in the Saudi League last week according to Belgian outlet HLN

Whether any of the two London clubs will pay £30m the Buffalos placed on him remains to be seen. In that respect, French outfit, LOSC Lille, are also monitoring the situation of the 21-year-old and will not make a move until Canadian striker Jonathan David leaves the club.

Orban will have another game to continue showcasing his talent in attracting interest from suitors when his club entertains Apoel in the playoffs for a place in the group stage of the Uefa Europa Conference League on Thursday.



https://soccernet.ng/2023/08/transfers-fulham-join-premier-league-rival-in-race-to-sign-gift-orban.html

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How to use the Mitrovic money to rebuild the squad

So, Aleksandar Mitrovic has gone. The King of the Cottage has ceded his claim, as our Super Serb has swanned off into the sun and sand of Saudi.

It's a sad ending to what was whirlwind few years on the banks of the River Thames, but there is very little time for mourning at Fulham after the devastation rained upon us by those pesky Bees from Kew Bridge.

The weekend's derby defeat was brutal in more ways than one. Not only did it feel like the closing of an era at the Cottage, but it reminded us too just how fragile survival can be in the Premier League.

From the jubilation of last season's relatively serene league campaign, it does not take long for cracks to appear.

As mentioned on the Thursday Club Season Preview show, standing still is going backwards, and this league is unforgiving and brutal. Fulham have to reset fast, and sort out a number of issues in this squad. Marco Silva said at the weekend he needed four or five more players, and there is suddenly money in the kitty to play with – nearly £50m more than there was before the weekend.

So how do you reinvest that fee to augment the squad, as well as replacing Fulham's talisman? Well, I have some thoughts.

Striker
Vangelis Pavlidis, AZ Alkmaar, 24

The first port of call on any article talking about Mitrovic's departure is going to be replacing Mitrovic – and it's clearly not an easy job. The club signed Raúl Jimenez this summer from Wolverhampton Wanderers, but his first few weeks in the job have suggested further reinforcement is needed to replace our former number nine.

Fulham once before signed a Greek striker to replace a larger-than-life figure at the Cottage, and it was an unmitigated disaster; but plenty would suggest that Pavlidis is no Mitroglou. The 24-year-old has been somewhat of a slow burner; his youth career was exceptional enough in Germany to earn him a temporary spell on the books at Borussia Dortmund, but they opted not to make the deal permanent.

Instead, a 20-year-old Pavlidis moved to the Dutch Eredivisie, joining Willem II, initially on loan, before completing a permanent deal in 2019. He scored 33 times in 82 appearances for a relatively average Willem side, before making another step up to join AZ Alkmaar, where he's netted 47 times in all competitions in just 91 appearances, coming across two seasons.

That appearance total in itself is impressive, but Pavlidis has excelled at AZ under Pascal Jansen's leadership. Standing at 6'1, he's useful at using his big frame to win aerial duels, and while he's no Olympic sprinter, he's quicker than Mitrovic across the turf.

A small comparative graph from the Twenty3 Toolbox based on some of Mitrovic's biggest strengths throws up some impressive figures, although they should be adjusted for given that the Eredivisie is not as challenging a league as the Premier League.



It's an impressive resumé, even with that adjustment considered. Linked with Aston Villa, RC Lens, AS Roma and Borussia Mönchengladbach in this window, Pavlidis is starting to attract covetous looks from teams across Europe either in continental competition or looking to return to that level.

His performances in the Europa Conference League last season would have been a factor in that. Notching four goals in six appearances across the knockout stages, Pavlidis was on the mark in both legs against Lazio and twice against Anderlecht as AZ reached the semi-finals.

With two years left on his contract, AZ could look to cash in on a player they paid just €2.5m for in 2021, and the working assumption is that Pavlidis would be available for around the £20m mark.

Mitrovic's fire might have gone out in SW6, but Vangelis has chariots full of the stuff...

Full-back
Kyle Walker-Peters, Southampton, 26

Arsenal's reported interest in KWP might muddy the waters on this one a little bit, but Fulham's interest in the summer will be no coincidence to anybody paying attention to what Fulham need from a full-back.

Competent on both sides of the defensive line, Walker-Peters is a really strong one-on-one defender, with an ability to get forward and overlap his winger when the time is right. He's a good carrier of the ball down the flank, has an innate sense of timing in terms of his offensive exchanges around the opposition box, and draws fouls well in dangerous areas.

Calm and consistent in terms of his defending, KWP makes the right decision a lot of the time in both phases of the game, and in admitting earlier this summer he wants to be playing in the Premier League, Fulham might be an offer that he feels is too good to turn down.

While Southampton were originally hopeful of a £20m fee, various suitors earlier this summer felt that a deal could be done closer to the £15m mark, which would represent strong value for money on a player with heaps of experience in the English top flight.

Centre-back
Zeno Debast, RSC Anderlecht, 19

Even before Issa Diop's performance against Brentford, Fulham will feel the club is one centre-back short right now, unless there's a dramatic turnaround in the situation regarding Tosin Adarabioyo's future.

Diop has credit in the bank from last season, but he will need competition and his clanger that gifted Yoane Wissa the opener is a stark reminder that complacency in terms of positional security helps nobody. An option that the Whites should be looking at is Anderlecht's Zeno Debast.

At just 19 years of age, Debast is a full Belgian international, has been to a World Cup, and has racked up nearly 60 first team appearances for Anderlecht. It's an incredibly impressive resumé for a youngster, who was given his first team debut by the man many in Belgium hope that he will emulate – Vincent Kompany.

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez was effusive in his praise after handing Debast his first international cap, stating that "This was one of the most impressive debuts in recent years for Belgium. I enjoyed it. I saw a young guy with a lot of self-confidence, but also a lot of desire to learn."

Debast is a wonderful progressor of the ball, with an inch-perfect ability to launch cross-field diagonals – something that Tosin in particular has impressed with down the years – but also is strong in the air and has strong recovery speed.

He still needs time to fill out completely in terms of his frame, but there is undoubtedly potential to become a complete centre-back in Debast. His Anderlecht contract runs until 2025, but it's thought that the club would be willing to allow him to move on should the right offer come in. A £10m bid ought to at least pique interest.

Centre midfield
André Almeida, Valencia CF, 23

I've been banging this drum for a little while, but then again, I think André Almeida has all the tools to kick on and become one of the best central midfielders in the world, so I'm going to keep at it. A tempo controller in the middle of the park with a glorious passing range, almost perfect press resistance and a good engine to match, the fact nobody has snapped him up this summer continues to confound me.

Almeida started his career at Vítoria in Portugal, making his breakout at just 19 years of age when he started 21 times in the Portuguese top flight. A second good season followed, and Valencia snapped him up last summer to replace the outgoing Carlos Soler in the middle of the park, for a fee of around €8m.

It's his ability to retain the ball that's so impressive, however. His dribbling success rate was sixth in Europe's top five leagues for midfielders under the age of 23 last season – with the names ahead of him including the likes of Jude Bellingham and Pedri, some of the most valuable players on the planet.

His passing success rate is also exceptional, and not just because he recycles possession. Almeida's vision and ability to split defences open was one of the few bright sparks in a poor Valencia season last year. The fact that his numbers and performances have stood up in that season is just further evidence of a real diamond in the midst of the Mestalla madness.

It's not all just offensive work either, because Almeida isn't afraid to get stuck in. His defensive numbers are not dissimilar to Harrison Reed's – actually outranking Fulham's diminutive number six for defensive duels attempted and won, although the Portuguese youngster trails behind in terms of interceptions.

While Ruben Baraja seems to have steadied the ship, Los Che remain on financially unstable ground, and despite the fact they'll want to hold on to their star names, the pickup of Pepelu from crosstown rivals Levante and a crippling monetary situation means the right offer would almost certainly be accepted.

With Fulham under Portuguese direction in Marco Silva and a good core of Lusophone players in the squad, it might well be a move that appeals to Almeida. Recent leaks have suggested that a fee of around £25m might be enough to move the needle. It would be a sound investment.

Winger/number 10
Riccardo Orsolini, Bologna, 26

This one's been linked in the Italian press, but it makes total sense. Fulham are still shy on creative wing options, even with the addition of Adama Traore (and potentially Callum Hudson-Odoi), and Orsolini has been a star performer for Bologna for a number of seasons now.

The Italian has notched 46 goals and 25 assists in 184 games for the Rossoblu, but just as importantly, he's been a key cog in Bologna's team in various different guises. Given the keys to the creative engine of the team, Orsolini stepped time and time again up at the Dall'Ara, and was subject to interest in a €70m return to Juventus a few years back.

His importance to this Bologna side was re-affirmed by that valuation, but the circumstances are very different now. Orsolini has one year left on his contract and earlier in the transfer window deals were being discussed around the €10-12m mark.

Most adept at cutting in off the right wing to unleash with his left foot, Orsolini found his best form again last season, scoring 11 times in 32 Serie A appearances as Bologna surged up the league table under Thiago Motta, but his exit has looked more likely than not across the course of the summer.

And, for the sake of our sanity, he takes a mean spot kick.

The Mitrovic five
So, there you have it. Five signings, for a grand total of around £80m. With nearly £50m of that coming through the bank for Aleksandar Mitrovic, and another fee of around £10m seemingly likely for a departing Tosin, it would be a squad refresh without blowing the doors out of Fulham's working budget.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-08-22-how-to-use-the-mitrovic-money-to-rebuild-the-squad/

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Fulham start talks with Juventus over Moise Kean as Callum Hudson-Odoi interest ends

Fulham have approached Juventus over a deal for Moise Kean as they look to sign a replacement for Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Standard Sport understands contact was made on Monday to discuss a potential fee for the 23-year-old, a day after Mitrovic left for Al-Hilal in a club-record sale worth £46million.

Kean was once considered one of Italy's finest young talents, but an ill-advised move to Everton stalled his development before returning to Juventus earlier this year.

The 23-year-old is mostly consigned to a substitute role at Juve, so far scoring 22 goals in 103 matches over two spells.

Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is also being considered as Marco Silva demands a replacement for Mitrovic despite signing Wolves's Raul Jimenez earlier in the summer.

Fulham have also cooled their interest in Callum Hudson-Odoi after failing to agree a fee with Chelsea in summer-long talks.

Marco Silva wants a wide forward and Everton's Demarai Gray is among those admired. The manager has told the club he wants two full-backs, a midfielder and a winger before the transfer window closes on September 1.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/fulham-moise-kean-hudson-odoi-juventus-chelsea-b1102141.html

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Fulham make contact to sign striker with PL experience – At least €25m needed, loan deal ruled out
Fulham strengthened their attack by adding Raúl Jiménez to their squad this summer.

The Premier League side are still in the market for another striker after they sold Aleksandar Mitrović to Al-Hilal.

Goal in Italy state Juventus' Moise Kean has been identified as one of the targets for Fulham.

It's claimed Marco Silva's side have asked for information about the 23-year-old in the 'last few hours'. It's not made clear if they contacted his camp, the Serie A side or both.

The Italy international has two years left on his contract and Juventus are willing to allow him to leave. The website adds the Turin club need €25-30m and will not allow the player to leave on a loan deal.

Kean had a disappointing spell at Everton, managing four goals and two assists from 39 games for the Toffees. Any Fulham interest is obviously motivated by the hope of him doing much better.

Goal make it clear Fulham haven't tabled an offer yet to sign the frontman. They are told that Juve are only interested in a permanent deal for around €25-30m.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-make-contact-sign-striker-pl-experience-least-e25m-needed-loan-deal-ruled/

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£17m striker reacts to claims he could replace Aleksandr Mitrovic at Fulham
Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy is warning supporters to take rumours with a pinch of salt amid claims that he has rejected a move to Premier League outfit Fulham.

Should Marco Silva's side sign a striker before the window closes next week, the new arrival may almost feel like the man tasked with stepping into Daniel Craig's shoes when the planning for the next James Bond movie gets underway.

Aleksandr Mitrovic will certainly take some replacing. The 'Spectre' of those seemingly bottomless Saudi Arabian funds is hanging over many a club, and Fulham found out the hard way that even those with eye-watering Premier League contracts cannot resist the temptation to double, triple and quadruple their already sizeable pay-packets in the Middle East.

Mitrovic sealed a belated £47 million move to Al Hilal over the weekend.

BILD reports that Serhou Guirassy has since turned down the opportunity to step into the Serbian's shoes in favour of staying put at Stuttgart.

Fulham need a striker to replace Aleksandr Mitrovic
But while reacting to those reports on Twitter (or is it 'X' these days?), Guirassy was quick to remind the footballing public that, sometimes, there is smoke without fire.

"I'm just Guirassy. Until proven otherwise, I can decide where I want to be," the Frenchman responds. "And don't listen to everything on the internet."

Guirassy, who rebuffed the advances of Crystal Palace and West Ham when joining Stade Rennais back in 2020, scored 14 goals last season and kick-started the new campaigh with a clinical brace in Stuttgart's 5-0 thumping of VFL Bochum on the Bundesliga's opening weekend.

Guirassy is reportedly valued at £17 million.

BILD add that the well-travelled frontman will only leave Stuttgart for a club capable of offering him a place in the starting XI. In that sense, a Mitrovic-less Fulham may appeal more to him than a Nottingham Forest side boasting the excellent Taiwo Awoniyi.



https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2023/08/22/17m-striker-reacts-to-claims-he-could-replace-aleksandr-mitrovic-at-fulham/

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Everton must move to seal Callum Hudson-Odoi transfer after new twist
Everton must now make their move for Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, after Fulham pulled out of contention for the winger with his future now uncertain, according to Tom Roddy.

The Times journalist shared the news via his Twitter account on 21 August, in an update which should give Everton renewed hope of securing a deal for the 22-year-old.

Everton were linked with Hudson-Odoi as recently as 21 August, with the Evening Standard reporting the Toffees could look to hijack his move to Fulham. With the Cottagers now having pulled out, Everton could be left with a perfect opportunity.

Everton are in desperate need of a winger before the transfer window closes on 1 September, and a move for Hudson-Odoi could be the opportunity both the club and the player need to kick on and improve from how recent years have gone.

The current wide options at Goodison Park are new signing Arnaut Danjuma – who has largely been used as a striker – the injured Dwight McNeil, and wantaway Damarai Gray.

This has led Sean Dyche to use Alex Iwobi and James Garner as makeshift wingers, despite the former playing his better football in the middle of the park, and the latter having excelled in a new role at right-back.

While the 22-year-old is unlikely to be a huge game changer for the Toffees, he will give them a sense of directness and willingness to get forward on the wing that is not provided by current makeshift winger Alex Iwobi, with Clinton Morrison expressing his frustrations live on BBC Radio 5 Live.

Hudson-Odoi's career has stalled drastically in the last few years. Chelsea rejected a £70million offer from Bayern Munich for the winger just three years ago, but he has never quite been the same player after rupturing his achilles tendon.

Both he and Everton will be hoping that a proposed move to Goodison Park could help kickstart his career.



https://www.goodisonnews.com/2023/08/22/everton-must-move-to-seal-callum-hudson-odoi-transfer-after-new-twist/

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Fulham 'hold Jakobs talks'
Fulham are in discussions with Monaco about concluding a deal to sign their left back Ismail Jakobs, according to Teamtalk.

Marco Silva is desperate to bring in cover for first-choice Antonee Robinson before the transfer window closes and has reportedly made the Senegalese international Jacobs his top target. The 24 year-old has been a longstanding Fulham target since his days in the Bundesliga with FC Koln and can play both at left back and on the left wing.

Jakobs, who has seen his first time opportunities limited over the past season with Monaco, still managed 41 appearances for the Ligue 1 last season and has experience of playing in both the Europa League and the Champions' League. He has won eight senior caps for his country and is keen on the opportunity of playing in the Premier League. Fulham did face competition from Nottingham Forest for his signature, but appear to in pole position to sign the German-born defender at present.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/08/fulham-hold-jakobs-talks/

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Tottenham and Fulham in race for €30m-rated star – Spurs in 'close contact' with entourage
Fulham have joined Tottenham Hotspur in the chase for Gent star Gift Orban, according to De Morgen.

The striker has scored 26 goals from 28 games since he joined the Belgian club from Stabæk in January and six of them are from this season. This has seen him attract interest from clubs in England and across Europe.

Tottenham are one of his main contenders from the Premier League. They have to be wary of a potential battle with Fulham.

Marco Silva's side are in the market for a new striker after Aleksandar Mitrović's sale to Al-Hilal and have identified the 21-year-old as one of the three targets to replace the Serbian.

Fulham haven't yet made a concrete offer to the Jupiler Pro League side. It's the same with Tottenham but they have already taken steps, meaning they are ready for when they have to table a bid to sign the player.

It's said Orban's name is still on the table at Spurs and they are in 'close contact' with his entourage. Tottenham have to 'trim their squad' before making a concrete offer to sign the Nigerian.

He would either be a backup option for Ange Postecoglou or Spurs would send him out on loan.

However, De Morgen suggest Tottenham's immediate plan may not please the frontman. They add he would prefer Lille's sporting project, but the Ligue 1 side cannot afford his €30m asking price.

The website also states Orban's €30m price tag would make both Fulham and Tottenham 'think twice' to sign him this summer.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/tottenham-fulham-race-e30m-rated-star-spurs-close-contact-entourage/

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World Cup winner heading to Nottingham Forest for bargain fee as Fulham lose out

It wasn't too long ago Gonzalo Montiel was scoring the winning penalty of the World Cup, and the Argentina star now looks set to join Nottingham Forest this summer

Nottingham Forest look set to land World Cup winner Gonzalo Montiel for a cut-price.

Montiel was the man who gifted Lionel Messi his first World Cup triumph, with the full-back stroking the ball home with the decisive penalty. The Argentine then repeated his spot-kick feat in the final of the Europa League with Sevilla.

And, proving he hasn't lost his touch, Montiel converted from the spot in the UEFA Super Cup against Manchester City last week. However, the 26-year-old is now on his way out of Sevilla, and Forest look set to land the full-back.

Montiel has fallen out of favour at Sevilla - who are now struggling towards the bottom of La Liga. The Europa League winners are yet to win any of their Spanish top-flight games this season.

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the deal has now been completed, he tweeted: "Gonzalo Montiel to Nottingham Forest, here we go - deal confirmed. Medical has been completed."

Montiel has already been linked with Fulham, among other sides, but he appears to have chosen Forest - for £9.5million.

One fan joked: "He went from scoring the winning penalty in the World Cup Final, to scoring the winning penalty at a European Cup Final to then go to Nottingham Forest... Dreams do come true..."

"He saw the Champions League in their CV," a second joked. While a third said: "Forest have made some of the most random signings for the last two years!"

And another added: "I'm not even gassed. Should've been Spence man. Give a f*** if he's won a World Cup, so has Mustafi!"



https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/nottingham-forest-gonzalo-montiel-sevilla-30759472

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Fulham FC enlists Ebury as the club's official FX partner
Premier League side Fulham FC has announced financial solutions firm Ebury as the club's official FX transfer partner for the next four seasons.

Ebury will become the preferred service for all Fulham FX transfers as the payment company looks to bolster its visibility in the UK and the rest of the world due to the Premier League's global audience.

The four-year partnership will allow Ebury to drive its brand awareness to a global audience through Fulham's extensive media backdrops and the club's social channels.

During the agreement period, Ebury will also collaborate with Fulham FC to create engaging content featuring the men's first team players, as well as B2B testimonials and case studies.

Jon Don-Carolis, Commercial Director of Fulham FC, said: "It is with great excitement that we welcome such a forward-thinking partner to the club in Ebury.

"Ebury's efforts to help businesses through tech innovation will drive the success of this partnership as we showcase Ebury to our fanbase and partner portfolio."

Ebury offers solutions and services to enable businesses to trade and grow internationally "quickly, easily, and securely" by removing global barriers. By combining expertise with its technology, the FX company aims to deliver "high-impact and diversified solutions" across three key areas: payments and collections, business lending and FX risk management.

With capabilities in 130+ currencies and a multilingual team across 32 offices in 21 countries, Ebury empowers thousands of organisations through simplified and hassle-free solutions to support its global growth ambitions.

Juan Lobato, Ebury CEO, added, "Today, we are delighted to announce our partnership with Fulham as their official FX transfer partner.

"This collaboration is a significant step forward for Ebury, as we have the privilege to support them both on and off the field. With Ebury as their official FX transfer partner, we are pleased to provide the necessary financial tools and expertise to help Fulham thrive in all aspects of their global operations.

"On behalf of our 1,300+ Ebury employees, I'm incredibly excited to announce our unwavering support for Fulham throughout the season."



https://insidersport.com/2023/08/22/fulham-fc-ebury-official-fx-partner/

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Pep Guardiola to miss Man City games vs Sheffield Utd & Fulham

Pep Guardiola underwent surgery this week and is set to recover in Barcelona.

Pep Guardiola will miss Manchester City's next two matches, the club have confirmed.

The 52-year-old has been suffering with back pain in recent weeks and flew to Barcelona for emergency surgery. Guardiola is set to recuperate in the Catalan city and is not expected to return until after the upcoming international break. As a result, he'll miss the next two Premier League matches against Sheffield United (27 August) and Fulham (2 September).

In a statement released released on Tuesday, the club said: "Pep Guardiola has today undergone a routine operation on a back problem.

"The Manchester City boss has been suffering with severe back pain for some time lately, and flew out to Barcelona for emergency surgery performed by Dr Mireia Illueca. The surgery was a success, and Pep will now recover and rehabilitate in Barcelona.

"In his absence, assistant manager Juanma Lillo will oversee coaching of the first team on the training field and will assume duties on the touchline until Pep's return. He is expected to return after the forthcoming international break.

"Everyone at Manchester City wishes Pep a speedy recovery, and look forward to seeing him back in Manchester soon."

Guardiola's first game back could come against West Ham United on West Ham United on 16 September. His temporary replacement, Lillo returned to City over the summer having previously spent two years at the Etihad under Guardiola, before leaving in 2022 to take charge of Qatari side Al Sadd.

Lillo has extensive managerial experience, and his coaching career began in the 1980s. He has previously been in charge of Spanish sides Real Zaragoza and Real Sociedad, and has worked in Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Japan, China and Qatar.

He'll hope to continue City's impressive start to the 2023/24 campaign, with the European champions beating Burnley and Newcastle United in the opening two matches of the new Premier League season.



https://www.manchesterworld.uk/sport/football/manchester-city/pep-guardiola-back-surgery-man-city-sheffield-united-fulham-4264343

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Fulham: Journalist shares Folarin Balogun latest
The Whites need a striker to replace Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Journalist Simon Jones of The Daily Mail has shared why Fulham manager Marco Silva is hopeful of signing Arsenals striker Folarin Balogun amid ongoing talks.

Who will Fulham sign?
Silva overseen a mixed start to the new Premier League campaign so far, having secured a 1-0 victory away to Everton on the opening weekend but then suffering a hammering against Brentford.

Fulham's first home game of the season couldn't have gone much worse as their west London rivals put them to the sword with a 3-0 win, courtesy of goals from Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbuemo (2).

The match perhaps exposed some chinks in Fulham's armour as they seek to build upon a fine 2022/2023 season, where they challenged for Europe and comfortably swerved relegation.

Silva has been forthright in explaining his side's need for more new signings, coming after they sealed deals for both Mexico international Raul Jimenez and highly-rated defender Calvin Bassey.

"Unfortunately, we need many still. We have some important players injured," Silva said earlier this month.

"I hope they can come sooner. We have just two full backs, we need a midfielder too and we have just two wingers so we need another two wingers.

"We have completed our central defenders. I needed these players 15 days or 20 days ago, not now."

It's been a fairly mixed window for Fulham, and despite their attempts to sign Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, reliable media sources have claimed that talks have stalled over a deal for the Englishman.

Aleksandar Mitrovic, their star striker of last season, has also sealed a move to Saudi side Al-Hilal - where the Serbian will play alongside big name star Neymar.

The need for a replacement is a prevalent one, but The Mail's reporter Jones has some promising news on who they could sign to succeed Mitrovic.

Indeed, Arsenal forward Balogun is of serious interest, and they will now ramp up their pursuit of the USA international with talks ongoing for his services.

While the Gunners want around £50m, Silva is personally hopeful that a compromise can be reached as we enter the final week of this window.

Indeed, Fulham apparently believe they can conclude a move for £35 million plus add-ons.

How good is Folarin Balogun?
Balogun racked up a brilliant 21 goals in 37 Ligue 1 appearances on loan at Reims last season, raising his stock exponentially as Arsenal look to seriously profit off his sale.

Mikel Arteta, commenting on the player's form during his temporary spell, claimed he has the ability to be something special and remains "ambitious".

"He's a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career," said Arteta.

"He's really ambitious, really committed and really brave. We discussed a lot before he made that move whether it was the right place to go and the other choices he had. He was so convinced. I'm really happy for him because he deserves what he's getting.

"When you look at the numbers and what he is doing, it's just incredible. It's very rare to see that. But he's got something special."



https://www.footballfancast.com/premier-league-fulham-news-folarin-balogun-arsenal/

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Fulham step up interest in Folarin Balogun
Folarin Balogun has been linked with a move away from Arsenal this summer, with Fulham and Chelsea keen on signing him.

Folarin Balogun needs to play regular first-team football to continue his development, and Arsenal will not be able to provide him with the platform. A report from Daily Mail claims that Fulham are keen on signing the 22-year-old, and they have now intensified efforts to sign him. The Cottagers are ready to pay £35 million to secure his services.

The young striker has been linked with Premier League rivals Chelsea as well. The Blues need to bring in attacking reinforcements this summer, and Balogun could prove to be a quality long-term acquisition for them. The USMNT international is reportedly valued at £50 million by Arsenal this summer.

The 22-year-old striker was on loan at Reims last season, and he scored 22 goals across all competitions. There is no doubt that he is good enough to play for top Premier League clubs. So it will be interesting to see where he ends up. The opportunity to join Chelsea will certainly be an attractive proposition for the young striker, and he has reportedly agreed terms with them.

Chelsea struggled to score goals consistently last season, and they decided to bring in Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku to improve in the final third. However, Nkunku has been ruled out for several months with an injury, and Mauricio Pochettino needs to add more depth to the side.

Balogun will certainly add goals to the Chelsea attack. But it remains to be seen whether Arsenal are prepared to sanction his departure to a direct rival. Chelsea have a talented squad and will look to make amends for last season. The Blues had a disappointing 2022/23 campaign, finishing 12th in the league table.

They will be looking to bounce back strongly and compete for major trophies this year. Pochettino needs to plug the gaps in his squad in order to compete with the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City this season. Signing a quality attacker would certainly give them an edge over their rivals.

Meanwhile, Fulham will need to bring in a quality striker as well. Aleksandar Mitrovic has secured a move to Saudi Arabia, and the Serb was their main goal scorer last season. The Wests London club will have to replace him adequately if they want to do well in the Premier League this season.

The report claims that Fulham hope to seal an agreement for around £35 million instead of £50 million that Arsenal want. Balogun would be a solid, long-term investment for them. He is likely to get ample game time at Fulham and the move would be beneficial to his development.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/08/22/fulham-step-up-interest-in-folarin-balogun/

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LOAN: Striker joins for season from Fulham
Finnish forward joins the Blues

Carlisle United Football Club are delighted to announce the arrival of Fulham forward Terry Ablade on a season-long loan today.

Ablade, 21 in October, is a Finnish striker who signed for Fulham in July 2018 from FC Jazz over in his home country.

Renowned as a player with pace and power he took to the U18 level with aplomb, scoring a brace in his first start against Southampton, and his performances during the 2019/20 season saw him make the leap up to PL2 football for the following campaign.

He spent the second half of the 2021/22 season with League One side AFC Wimbledon where he made 12 appearances.

He netted 10 goals in 23 games across all competitions for the U21s last term, having also featured for the U21 team in the EFL Trophy group games in October 2020.

His first senior outing was recorded when he came on for the second half of the EFL Cup away meeting with Crawley last August.



https://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/2023/august/loan-striker-from-fulham/