Thursday Fulham Stuff - 07/09/23...

[WhiteJC]

Bayern Munich may revisit Joao Palhinha transfer in January
A good transfer window ended on a sour note for Bayern Munich. Despite doing everything possible to complete the signing of Joao Palhinha from Fulham, the transfer didn't go through since there was no final green light from the English club.

Palhinha underwent medical in Munich and completed the rest of the formalities on Friday, only to go back to London after the transfer collapsed at the last minute. The Portuguese midfielder was devastated, while Die Roten's planning to address the midfield looked chaotic.

Thomas Tuchel expressed disappointment over the transfer chaos on the final day while talking to media on Saturday. The German coach has been looking to add a defensive midfielder to the squad throughout the summer. However, the Bavarian club only made a move for Palhinha on the penultimate day of the transfer window. Fulham couldn't sort out a replacement, so they had to keep Palhinha for the first half of the season.

Palhinha didn't play for Fulham last weekend after his move to Bayern collapsed at the last minute. The Portuguese midfielder will need some time to recover from this setback, but he may eventually get a move to Bavaria in the future. While talking to media before the game against Borussia Monchengladbach (via iMiaSanMia), Bayern CEO Jan Christian-Dressen hinted towards a winter transfer for Palhinha.

    "He was extremely sad yesterday. He would've liked to stay (in Munich). But as we say: most of the time, you see each other twice in life."

Sport1 has also reported that a transfer to Bayern is possible for Palhinha in January. The Bavarian club had agreed a fee close to €65 million for the Portuguese midfielder. It remains to be seen if Fulham will accept a similar fee for the midfielder midway through the season. The Portuguese international will definitely push for a move if Die Roten remains interested.

Tuchel currently has only three options in the center of the park, so Die Roten will have to add a midfielder to the squad in January. Despite failing to complete a deal for Palhinha, Bayern went ahead with the sale of Ryan Gravenberch. The Dutch midfielder sealed a deadline-day move to Liverpool.

Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka form the preferred midfield pairing for Tuchel in Hinrunde, while Konrad Laimer will provide depth in this position. The Austrian midfielder will also provide cover in the right-back position.

Along with failing to sign Palhinha, Bayern also struggled to find a replacement for Benjamin Pavard. They pursued deals for Trevoh Chalobah and Armel Bella-Kotchap, but both transfers never materialised on the deadline day. When the transfer window reopens in January, Tuchel will hope to see a new defender and midfielder arrive in Munich.



https://bayernstrikes.com/2023/09/06/bayern-munich-may-revisit-joao-palhinha-transfer-january/

[WhiteJC]

Webb admits controversial City goal 'was an error'
PGMOL chief Howard Webb has admitted Nathan Ake's goal against Fulham should have been disallowed in Manchester City's win on Saturday.

Fulham head coach Marco Silva was furious after Michael Oliver allowed Nathan Ake's header to stand – making it 2-1 to City – just before half-time, despite Manuel Akanji being in an offside position in the line of version of goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Silva told the BBC afterwards that the decision 'was a huge mistake made by people who have never played football,' whilst Manchester City striker Erling Haaland said he 'would have been fuming' had it happened to his side.

Speaking during a Premier League 'Match Officials Mic'd Up' programme fronted by Michael Owen on Tuesday evening, Webb said:

"From the outset, I want to say this should have been disallowed. These are not always easy to call because you are trying to get two pieces of information together. Is the player in an offside position, which official is in a good position to see, and what consequence was there of the player being in that position and how it impacts the opponents?

It certainly appears that Akanji has an impact on Bernd Leno, the goalkeeper seems to hesitate. The officials on the field gave the goal, they did not see the obvious action that impacted Leno's ability to play the ball.

They did not feel it was clearly impactful on Leno's ability to play the ball but when you see it, you can see that hesitation by the goalkeeper who was waiting to see whether the ball made contact with Akanji, which would have deflected the ball.

Unfortunately it was not identified on the day and the learning from this will be shared from all of our group because we are looking to do better each and every week – and this was an error."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/09/webb-admits-controversial-city-goal-was-an-error/

[WhiteJC]

Hayles: Al-Fayed 'transformed my life'
Barry Hayles has paid an emotional tribute to former Fulham chairman Mohamed Al Fayed, who passed away last week, saying that the Egyptian entrepreneur transformed his life.

The former Harrods tycoon took over London's oldest professional football club shortly after their promotion from the Third Division in 1997 and unveiled a five-year plan to take the Whites back to the top flight. He did it in four season and Hayles, who had been scoring plenty of lower-league goals for Bristol Rovers, played a pivotal part in the club's rise – scoring 57 goals in 215 games after making a £2m move from the Memorial Ground in November 1998.

Hayles told the Daily Star:

"He transformed my life really. I think my transfer was a record between clubs in the division and I'd heard about the chairman, but only because he owned Harrods. He used to come in the changing rooms before games at home and he'd always ask: 'Have we got big balls today boys?' We realised it was him getting his players ready to go to war, but initially it was quite a shock – especially when you'd just signed.

The Fulham cult hero detailed his chairman's generosity, with several gifts arriving for the club's successful players as they rose through the divisions.

"He started handing these pills out on one occasion and I had no idea what they were, the boys were saying: 'You know what these are for?" They said they were Viagra and I couldn't believe it, but that was just him. We were told that we were getting gold bars worth millions but we then realised they were chocolates, which he thought was hilarious. I don't think anyone else had a chairman who would walk around the pitch before matches and wave a flag around his head without fail, he was upstairs but hands on at the same time."

Hayles also revealed that he became close to Al-Fayed's youngest son Karim, who considered the Jamaican international his favourite player.

"I was quite close with his younger son. We used to have chats in the changing room before games when he came along and he enjoyed it. He'd always say you're my favourite player and we'd sit close together because of his hearing difficulty. That was a nice memory of him and Al-Fayed being so close to the club."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/09/hayles-al-fayed-transformed-my-life/

[WhiteJC]

Nathan Ake's crucial goal for Man City against Fulham 'should have been disallowed', admits PGMOL chief Howard Webb

PGMOL chief Howard Webb has admitted that Nathan Ake's goal against Fulham for Manchester City "should have been disallowed".

    Webb admits Ake's goal was offside
    Akanji blocked out Leno from an offside position
    Man City beat Fulham 5-1

WHAT HAPPENED? The Dutch defender scored a crucial goal for Manchester City against Fulham last weekend which put Pep Guardiola's side 2-1 up just before the break. Ake's goal was checked by VAR after the initial replays suggested Manuel Akanji was in an offside position when the Dutchman headed the ball into the net from Phil Foden's corner.

After a thorough check, VAR upheld the referee's decision and the goal was awarded. But now, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) chief Howard Webb has admitted that the goal was wrongly given as Akanji was clearly obstructing Bernd Leno's vision while being in an offside position.

WHAT THEY SAID: In Match Officials: Mic'd Up, shown by Sky Sports and TNT Sports, Webb said: "These are not always easy to call because you're trying to get two pieces of information together - is the player offside, and then the consequence of being in that position. From the outset, I think this should have been disallowed. It certainly appears Akanji has an impact on Leno the goalkeeper who seems to hesitate. We think it's a clear situation of offside, unfortunately, it wasn't identified on the day. This was an error."

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Erling Haaland went on to score his first hat-trick of the season as the Cityzens won the clash 5-1, with Ake's goal proving to be the turning point in a close contest.



WHAT NEXT? Guardiola's side will next face West Ham in the Premier League on September 16.



https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/nathan-ake-goal-man-city-fulham-should-have-been-disallowed-pgmol-chief-howard-webb/blt5500b4c1205c771f

[WhiteJC]

Player has had 'very good' offer to leave Fulham – Silva opinion key for transfer decision
In the summer of 2022, Fulham signed Willian on a free transfer and offered him a one-year contract.

On July 17th, the Brazilian signed a new deal until 2024 with the Premier League side, and a few weeks later, claims from England and Brazil stated the winger had received an offer from Al-Shabab.

The transfer window in Saudi Arabia closes on Thursday and the Fulham player won't be moving to the Middle East, according to iG Esporte.

The 34-year-old considered the proposal he received from Al-Shabab to be financially 'very good' and he was 'very close' to leaving the Premier League side in recent weeks.

However, the report states the operation has now stalled because the Saudi club weren't able to find an agreement with Fulham, and the former Chelsea man 'stays in England'.

Marco Silva is said to be behind the decision to keep Willian, who is a key player for him, and the website states the manager pushed the London club's leaders to offer the attacker a new deal.

The South American finished his debut season at Fulham with five goals and six assists from 30 games.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-good-offer-leave-fulham-transfer-stalled-silvas-side-dont-reach-agreement/

[WhiteJC]

The Palhinha Equation: How United Tackled the Window
Old Trafford's Intricate Ballet

Manchester United, steeped in history and grandeur, as the new Premier League season beckoned, appeared to have navigated a mostly calm transfer season. The potential hiccup in Rasmus Hojlund's fitness was but a speck in an otherwise promising horizon. The boardroom at Old Trafford would undoubtedly be chuffed with their recruitment strategy.

Indeed, with a hefty outlay of £163 million potentially rocketing to £180m, the crucial positions of a forward, a custodian between the sticks, and a central midfield linchpin had been secured. Mason Mount, Andre Onana, and Hojlund became the subjects of much talk, with Kane's prospects shelved earlier in the year.

Behind the Scenes at United
Yet, beneath this veneer of perfection, the rumour mill churned. The whispers echoed across corridors, suggesting that, beyond these marque signings, United's further dalliances in the market would be shaped by how well they bid adieu to their existing squad members.

The perennial struggle of relinquishing peripheral players, intricately tied to the club's balance sheet in compliance with financial regulations, created ripples of tension. It was this backdrop that saw the final week of the transfer window turn frenetic and unexpectedly lively.

The Cucurella Conundrum
Chelsea, not unfamiliar to the dance of loans, had been entertaining overtures for Cucurella throughout the summer. But it was United's intent that bore the hallmark of determination. Despite being top-tier competitors, the potential transfer didn't raise eyebrows.

A huddle between the clubs saw Chelsea's initial asking price set at £7 million, a figure United seemed hesitant to match. Yet, hope prevailed that an accord could be reached before Chelsea's encounter with AFC Wimbledon.

Switching the Spotlight: Amrabat's Arrival
Transitioning from Cucurella to Reguilon opened newer avenues for United to pursue Sofyan Amrabat. Ten Hag, the manager with an ever-evolving wishlist, had been vocal about fortifying the midfield. Following United's less-than-stellar performance in the season's onset, this became paramount.

Destiny, it seemed, favoured Amrabat's move to United. Aided by his change of representation to SEG — the same agency as Ten Hag — the path to Old Trafford became clearer. However, tussling with Fiorentina over the transfer fee proved a challenge. As The Athletic unveiled, amidst negotiations for Cucurella, a loan bid of €2 million for Amrabat was tabled by United, a figure Fiorentina rebuffed.

The Italian outfit's demands were clear: a €35 million package, complete with specifics. Despite prolonged discussions, United's offer fell short, leading Fiorentina to pull the plug on the negotiations.

The Palhinha Pursuit
Bayern Munich's shifting priorities, influenced in part by their admiration for Fulham's Joao Palhinha, interwove with United's narrative. Palhinha, after showcasing his prowess against United, had garnered Ten Hag's respect. The midfielder's inclination towards a move to Manchester was palpable.

Yet, United, always the strategists, opted for the younger Amrabat. The scales could have potentially tilted in favour of Palhinha had McTominay been sold to Bayern, but the Scotsman remained, as did van de Beek.

The transfer window, however, hasn't entirely descended, with Turkish football offering another opportunity. Despite rebuffing a £1 million loan bid for van de Beek, United still have the potential to augment their £52 million transfer earnings.

United's Financial Fandango
While £52 million is a sum many would envy, the revenue generated by some of United's rivals, such as Manchester City and Chelsea, have overshadowed this figure.

United's challenge in the transfer market is multi-faceted. High-value contracts, past decisions, and FFP restrictions all play a role. Their brush with a €300,000 fine by UEFA over a "minor break-even deficit" looms large.

The complexity of financial regulations, coupled with the Glazers' reservations about dipping into their personal reserves, made frugality this summer an imperative for United.

Wrapping up the Window
Despite these challenges, United can look back at this window with a sense of accomplishment. Priority acquisitions were made, and additional requirements were met, albeit with some challenges.

The shadow of previous errors might have slightly marred the summer, but the Red Devils have once again shown resilience and ambition, ready to take on the Premier League with renewed vigour.



https://eplindex.com/96052/the-palhinha-equation-how-united-tackled-the-window.html#google_vignette

[WhiteJC]

Bayern set to launch fresh Joao Palhinha move with Fulham replacements likely to be available in January

Deadline day drama set for second act during January transfer window

Bayern Munich are set to launch a fresh move for Fulham's Joao Palhinha in January.

Palhinha agreed personal terms with Bayern and underwent a medical in Germany on deadline day, but Fulham pulled the plug at the last minute after they failed to sign a replacement.

That has left Bayern short in midfield after they sold Ryan Gravenberch to Liverpool, and the German giants plan to renew their interest in the Portugal midfielder.

Fulham moved to sign Manchester United's Scott McTominay and Tottenham's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on deadline day, and both players are likely to be available again in January.

Fulham manager Marco Silva does not want to lose Palhinha, who was signed for around £20m last summer, but the club are thought to be willing to let him go if they have a replacement lined up.

Palhinha's agent, his brother Goncalo, said: "They [Fulham] didn't kill the dream, they just postponed it."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/palhinha-transfer-news-fulham-fc-bayern-munich-2023-b1105154.html

[WhiteJC]

Marco Silva And Fulham Not On Same Page About Cottagers Star
Marco Silva and Fulham are not on the same page about selling Joao Palhinha in the January transfer window, according to the Evening Standard.

The 28-year-old midfielder underwent a medical and agreed personal terms with Bayern Munich before the move fell through on deadline day.

Fulham could not secure a replacement for the Portuguese and the German champions ran out of time to sign the player.

Palhinha is back at Fulham but Bayern Munich are still claimed to be interested in getting their hands on him in the winter window.

It has been claimed that Silva and the Fulham hierarchy are not on the same page regarding the player's future.

The Fulham boss does not want to lose the midfielder and wants to fight to keep him at the club.

However, the club are open to letting Palhinha leave in January if they can secure a proper replacement in the middle of the season.

His agent recently indicated that Palhinha's departure from Fulham has only been postponed and not cancelled.



https://insidefutbol.com/2023/09/06/marco-silva-and-fulham-not-on-same-page-about-cottagers-star/619734/

[WhiteJC]

'Obvious' - How Man City benefitted from VAR blunder in Premier League win over Fulham
Manchester City beat Fulham 5-1 in the Premier League over the weekend but benefitted from an incorrect VAR decision


Manuel Akanji attempts to get out of the way of Nathan Ake's header vs Fulham (Image: James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Nathan Ake's controversial goal for Manchester City against Fulham should have been ruled out, admits Howard Webb.

Ake headed City into a 2-1 lead against Fulham in the weekend Premier League clash but Manuel Akanji was standing in an offside position. Fulham complained he was obstructing goalkeeper Bernd Leno, who seemed to hesitate before diving in case the ball flicked off the City man.

But referee Michael Oliver awarded the goal and VAR Tony Harrington confirmed the call with help from his assistant Adam Nunn. Fulham boss Marco Silva was angry with the decision while City striker Erling Haaland, who went on to score a hat-trick as the Blues won 5-1, said he thought the goal should have been ruled out.

And Webb admitted the decision was wrong. Speaking on 'Match Officials Mic'd Up' on Sky Sports on Tuesday, which showed some of the key VAR decisions that have been made in the opening month of the top flight, he said: "From the outset, I want to say this should have been disallowed.

"These are not always easy to call because you are trying to get two pieces of information together. Is the player in an offside position, which official is in a good position to see, and what consequence was there of the player being in that position and how it impacts the opponents?

"It certainly appears that Akanji has an impact on Bernd Leno, the goalkeeper seems to hesitate. The officials on the field gave the goal, they did not see the obvious action that impacted Leno's ability to play the ball.

"They did not feel it was clearly impactful on Leno's ability to play the ball but when you see it, you can see that hesitation by the goalkeeper who was waiting to see whether the ball made contact with Akanji, which would have deflected the ball.

"Unfortunately it was not identified on the day and the learning from this will be shared from all of our group because we are looking to do better each and every week – and this was an error."

The audio between VAR officials Harrington and Nunn was played on the programme, providing insight into the decision-making process.

Harrington: "Checking the goal, checking the goal. He's [Akanji] definitely in an offside position. Has he made an obvious action to impact on the ability of the goalkeeper? He's moving out of the way of the ball."

Nunn: "In my opinion, he makes a full-length save. For me, it's subjective, there's potential impact on the 'keeper, but does it clearly impact the 'keeper? I think the 'keeper sees the ball the whole way."

Harrington: "So the 'keeper sees it, there's no difference, we're happy. Check complete?"

Nunn: "Personally, I'm happy for check complete."

Harrington: "OK, check complete, check complete."



https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-fulham-var-webb-27662218

[WhiteJC]

Fulham and Silva split on Palhinha's future
Fulham and Marco Silva are split over Joao Palhinha's future, according to the Evening Standard.

Bayern Munich are poised to try and sign the Portuguese international in January having seen their late summer swoop for the defensive midfielder fall through last Friday. The Standard suggests that Fulham are open to selling the former Sporting midfielder but that head coach Silva 'does not want to lose him'.

This development follows the Athletic's Peter Rutzler revealing earlier this week that Silva did not wish to sign Callum Hudson-Odoi and Lucas Ocampos, who were the subject of protracted transfer negotiations during the summer.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/09/fulham-and-silva-split-on-palhinhas-future/

[WhiteJC]

Bayern Munich set to relaunch bid for Fulham midfielder Palhinha in January as Manchester United's Scott McTominay and Spurs' Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg likely to be available in January

    Bayern Munich will reportedly return with a bid for Fulham's Palhinha in January
    A move broke down as Palhinha returned to Fulham on deadline day
    It is believed that Fulham's potential replacements will be available in January

Bayern Munich will reportedly launch a fresh bid for Fulham midfielder Palhinha in the January transfer window, with potential replacements set to be available for the Cottagers.

The Portugal star had agreed a deal with Bayern Munich and even underwent a medical on deadline day.

However, Fulham blocked the move as they did not have enough time to secure a replacement for Palhinha.

Thomas Tuchel's side are short in midfield and let Ryan Gravenberch leave to join Liverpool as they planned for a future with Palhinha.

According to The Evening Standard, the German giants will return for Palhinha as they plan a fresh move in January.


Bayern Munich will reportedly launch a fresh bid for Fulham midfielder Palhinha in January
 

Fulham blocked the move as they did not have enough time to secure a replacement for Palhinha on deadline day
 

Bayern Munich are light in midfield and will reportedly look to sign Palhinha in the new year

There's a strong chance that the move could happen, with the Cottagers' potential replacements likely to be available.

They moved to sign Scott McTominay and  Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg towards the end of the summer window but neither deal was possible.

Fulham could return for the pair in January if Palhinha departs with it believed that the club are willing to allow the Portugal midfielder to leave if they have a replacement lined up.

This news comes after Palhinha's brother, who also acts as his agent, revealed a deal could happen in the future.

'They didn't kill the dream, they just postponed it,' he said after the move collapsed.

Fulham will be hoping that Palhinha can turn his attention to winning games for his side until the January window opens.



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12486837/Bayern-Munich-Fulham-Palinhia-January-transfer.html

[WhiteJC]

Report: Bayern Munich positioned for strong pursuit of Fulham's João Palhinha in January
Things are falling into place for Bayern Munich in January.

We know that not everyone thinks Bayern Munich needs a new No. 6, but manager Thomas Tuchel's desire for a new player at the position is persisting.

According to a report from Evening Standard journalist Nizaar Kinsella (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), Bayern Munich is poised to strike again on Fulham FC's João Palhinha in January:

    Bayern are set to launch a fresh move for João Palhinha in January. Fulham manager Marco Silva does not want to lose Palhinha, but the club are thought to be willing to let him go if they have a replacement lined up. Fulham moved to sign Scott McTominay and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg on deadline day, and both players are likely to be available again in January.

With the "transfer committee" being disbanded, Tuchel has already cleared one hurdle to get Palhinha, as most of his opposition came from club legends Uli Hoeneß and Karl Heinz Rummenigge. However, recent reports indicate that Joshua Kimmich might also not be ready to cede his position as the team's No. 6 and irritating Kimmich at this stage could end up being an incentive for the Germany international to start exploring some of the feelers that he received from Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Manchester City, and Liverpool FC over the summer.



https://www.bavarianfootballworks.com/2023/9/6/23861017/bayern-munich-fulham-palhinha-transfer-kimmich-liverpool-manchester-city-real-madrid-barcelona-coman

[WhiteJC]

La Liga giants value Fulham star 'highly' – Said to be 'very unhappy' at Craven Cottage
We today get to see strange links between Barcelona and Fulham midfielder João Palhinha.

It all starts with Catalan outlet Mundo Deportivo featuring a story which says Barça are looking to sign a defensive midfielder in the January transfer window.

Due to their money issues and the Financial Fair Play, they can't spend much on this reinforcement, and several cheap options get a mention.

Mundo Deportivo then claims that Barcelona value Palhinha 'highly', and is one of the players who they would like to have him in their squad.

It's obviously recalled that Fulham nearly sold him to Bayern Munich, and it's still unknown whether the Bundesliga giants will be back for him in January.

The outlet highlights that Palhinha wanted the move and is 'very unhappy' to stay at Craven Cottage for another season, and that's why he could end up being an option for Barcelona.

Now since it's well known that Bayern Munich were ready to spend a significant amount of money to get him from Fulham, we just wonder how could the La Liga giants just think of making that operation possible.

Unless they get some sort of very generous loan from the Premier League club, which seems very unlikely.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/la-liga-giants-value-fulham-star-highly-said-unhappy-craven-cottage/

[WhiteJC]

West Ham could reignite their interest in Scott McTominay as Man Utd midfielder available in January
Scott McTominay will likely be made available for transfer once again in January, according to the Evening Standard, having been a target of West Ham United in the summer transfer window.

The newspaper reported on Wednesday (6 September) that the Scottish midfielder is set to still be for sale when the transfer window opens again in the new year, with Fulham keen on signing the 26-year-old should they lose Joao Palhinha.

David Moyes' side had a bid rejected for Palhinha during the summer window, with the Portuguese the Irons "dream" midfield target [Fabrizio Romano, 27 July] and they later turned their attentions to McTominay attempting to sign him in a joint £50m alongside Harry Maguire [BBC Sport, 7 August].

The Hammers instead signed James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez to bolster their ranks in the middle or the park but with the McTominay once again available at the start of 2024, there is every chance Moyes may move again for his fellow Scotsman.

However, he is one of two targets identified by Fulham as a potential replacement should Palhinha complete the switch to Bayern Munich in the new year, having been so close to joining the German champions on deadline day.

Midfield depth
The Hammers have started the season incredibly, despite missing out on McTominay in the summer and part of that impressive run of form is down to the inspired performances of Ward-Prowse and Alvarez in midfield, where both new signings have shone.

On the face of it therefore a move for the Manchester United midfielder again would seem unnecessary as he is by no means a guaranteed starter at the London Stadium, especially with Thomas Soucek and Lucas Paqueta also regular fixtures in the middle of the park.

But in terms of genuine midfielders, there isn't much depth afforded to Moyes and if the Irons were to pick up a couple of injuries, they would be looking short of options quite quickly and a move for McTominay would solve that issue.

However, the reported fee to secure the 26-year-old is by no means cheap, with Manchester United valuing him at at least £40m (The Sun, 26 July). The Hammers would be better off spending that money in other areas of the pitch where they are short of options.

Moyes still doesn't have a consistent striker in his ranks and if West Ham have the option of spending £40m on a new forward or on McTominay to add midfield depth, they should invest at the top end of the pitch.



https://www.westhamzone.com/comment/west-ham-could-reignite-their-interest-in-scott-mctominay-as-man-utd-midfielder-available-in-january/

[WhiteJC]

Has Thomas Tuchel already irritated Bayern Munich bosses?
Looking from the outside in, Bayern Munich appeared to enjoy a highly productive transfer window with Thomas Tuchel enjoying the backing of the board. The marquee signing of Harry Kane was one of the biggest deals of the summer in world football, and that move was supported by the signings of defenders- Kim Min-jae, Raphael Guerreiro, and central midfielder Konrad Laimer.

The Bayern bosses were also ready to grant Tuchel's wish for a new defensive midfielder with the German champions agreeing to a deal with Fulham for the transfer of João Palhinha, with the Portuguese defensive midfielder completing his medical and even posing with the club shirt, only for the deal to fall through at the 11th hour.

The collapse of the deal had everything to do with Fulham failing to land a replacement and nothing to do with Board boss Jan-Christian Dreesen or technical director Marco Neppe, who did all they could.

Tuchel comments causing total incomprehension among Bayern bosses
Bayern manager spoke to Sky before his side's 2-1 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach, making it three wins from three games in the Bundesliga.

"The squad is a bit thin, a bit small. We have six trained defensive players for a four-man chain, which is perfect."

According to a report in BILD, that statement was met with complete incomprehension by Bayern bosses with the report suggesting that 'Tuchel is playing a very dangerous game with his repeated negative statements'.

If you've followed Tuchel's career, you'll know that the manager has previously had issues in terms of his relationship with bosses, usually revolving around transfers. We detailed some of this earlier today in the Kepa article.

Details in the article indicate that bosses have been left frustrated with the constant calls for a defensive midfielder. Considering he has Joshua Kimmich at his disposal I can understand that stance, especially now the transfer window has closed.

Tuchel chose to prioritise a holding midfielder over defensive reinforcements
Once the decision had been made to allow Benjamin Pavard and Ryan Gravenbach to leave the club, a meeting was held whereby Tuchel, CEO Dreesen, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and Uli Hoeneß met in President Herbert Hainer's office to decide what to do with the funds. Knowing the team was short in defence, Tuchel pushed for Bayern to sign the holding midfielder, which they tried to do with the Palhinha deal.

It's also reported by Bild that Tuchel's tendency to change his opinion on players has 'irritated' the sport committee, with the paper referencing João Cancelo, a player who was on loan last year at Bayern, but ended up signing for Barcelona on loan on transfer deadline day.

This is all based on the report in BILD, but rumours like this continue to follow Tuchel.



https://bayernstrikes.com/2023/09/06/thomas-tuchel-already-irritated-bayern-munich-bosses/

[WhiteJC]

Report: Premier League club could reignite interest in Spurs midfielder
The Evening Standard have claimed that Fulham could come calling again for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg during the January transfer window.

Until transfer deadline day, several outlets had been reporting that Spurs were looking to offload Hojbjerg so they could push ahead with a late move for Chelsea's Conor Gallagher (Guardian).

However, neither move materialised, with the Dane staying put at Spurs. It was revealed that the offer made by Atletico Madrid for the 28-year-old did not satisfy Tottenham (Fabrizio Romano) while the player had rejected the chance to join Fulham (Daily Mail).

Fulham could try again for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg
The Evening Standard have now explained that the Cottagers pulled the plug on Joao Palhinha's switch to Bayern Munich late in the window since they could not sign a replacement for the player.

The publication asserts that Hojbjerg and Manchester United's Scott McTominay were the two players that Marco Silva's men had identified as potential replacements for Palhinha.

It is alleged that Bayern will reignite their interest in the Portuguese midfielder in January, which is why Fulham could try again to sign Hojbjerg.

Spurs Web Opinion
I doubt Hojbjerg would be willing to take a step down to a club like Fulham. The Dane would be hoping that Atletico reignite their interest in him in January and are able to strike a deal with the Spurs hierarchy this time.



https://www.spurs-web.com/spurs-news/report-premier-league-club-could-reignite-interest-in-spurs-midfielder/

[WhiteJC]

Bayern Munich to return for Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha in January
Bayern Munich will return for Joao Palhinha in January, as Thomas Tuchel faces a shortage of midfielders for the entire season.

According to Fichajes, Bayern Munich will return to sign Joao Palhinha in January after their failed move for the 28-year-old midfielder on deadline day. Thomas Tuchel faces an acute shortage of midfield depth and will want the club to strengthen the area in the winter market.

Things did not go Bayern Munich's way during the transfer window for large periods, but more so on deadline day. The Bavarians had planned a few things regarding incoming transfers but failed to find a solution anywhere for their preferred targets.

For starters, Liverpool agreed a move for Ryan Gravenberch earlier on deadline day, as the Dutchman had already travelled to Merseyside. They then targeted Joao Palhinha as a replacement, and the profile of player Thomas Tuchel wanted.

Despite Fulham's initial reservations about selling the 28-year-old key midfielder, they reluctantly accepted a bid from Bayern, which reports suggested was worth around €65 million. The Portuguese star travelled to Munich and passed his medicals, followed by media duties.

With Fulham searching for a late replacement, they could not find one despite links to a few names. With that, the Cottagers could not provide the required permissions for Palhinha to conclude his move, and he had to return as a disappointed figure.

Bayern faced a similar fate in their efforts to sign Chelsea defender Trevoh Chalobah. Whether they will return for the Blues defender remains the question, but they might do that for Palhinha ahead of the January window.

Tuchel, having lost Gravenberch to Liverpool, needs more midfield depth in his side. The manager feels he cannot go about the entire season with his current options. A single midfield injury could disrupt their season as things stand, and hence, the Bavarians will likely return to Fulham for the 28-year-old midfielder.

Bayern will hope to broker a deal for a similar price they had agreed with Fulham on deadline day. Around January, the Cottagers will have plenty of time to find a suitable replacement, as some important options will likely emerge on the market.

Palhinha will have his mind set on a move to Bayern when the January window opens. For now, he will recuperate from failing to move on deadline day, but Marco Silva will expect a swift return for the 28-year-old after the international break.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/09/07/bayern-munich-to-return-for-fulham-midfielder-joao-palhinha-in-january/

[WhiteJC]

WATCH: VAR chaos as officials debate whether offside Manuel Akanji interfered in controversial Nathan Ake goal for Man City against Fulham

Fans have been offered a glimpse of the heated VAR offside debate that followed Nathan Ake's goal for Manchester City against Fulham on Saturday.

    Akanji seemingly interfered with play
    Ake goal stood
    Chaotic VAR debate

WHAT HAPPENED? A social media post from Football Daily showed the behind-the-scenes recording of VAR officials debating whether the offside Akanji had interfered with play.

"There's potential impact on the keeper, but is he clearly impacting the keeper?" was the question asked by one official, who alongside his colleagues ultimately allowed the goal to stand.

However, in the aftermath of the match PGMOL's Chief Refereeing Officer Howard Webb said: "I think this should have been disallowed. It certainly appears that Akanji has an impact on Bernd Leno, the goalkeeper, who seems to hesitate."

Inside the VAR discussion on Nathan Ake's goal against Fulham 📺 pic.twitter.com/atLdPjaOwT

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 6, 2023

THE BIGGER PICTURE: It's one of a number of refereeing decisions that Webb has later expressed regret about this season. And beyond the decision itself, fans have been surprised by the level of chaos the video appeared to capture. The debates between VAR officials seem frenzied and loud, unlike the type of calm, level-headed reflection many supporters are searching for from video assistant refereeing.

WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY? Regardless of conduct from officials, there's not much that can stop Pep Guardiola's relentless City side. This VAR decision ultimately had little bearing on Saturday's final result - a 5-1 win for City - as they continue to churn out results despite their manager's absence due to back injury. The Catalan coach is likely to be back on the sidelines following the international break, when they head to London to face West Ham.



https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/watch-var-officials-debate-offside-manuel-akanji-controversial-nathan-ake-goal-man-city-fulham/blt99226af5407191b0

[hovewhite]

What is it with you fellow supporters you all like wallowing in misery and how the club downtrodden and victimized every morning on this topic.

[Bill2]

Webb admits controversial City goal 'was an error'
PGMOL chief Howard Webb has admitted Nathan Ake's goal against Fulham should have been disallowed in Manchester City's win on Saturday.

Fulham head coach Marco Silva was furious after Michael Oliver allowed Nathan Ake's header to stand – making it 2-1 to City – just before half-time, despite Manuel Akanji being in an offside position in the line of version of goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Silva told the BBC afterwards that the decision 'was a huge mistake made by people who have never played football,' whilst Manchester City striker Erling Haaland said he 'would have been fuming' had it happened to his side.

Speaking during a Premier League 'Match Officials Mic'd Up' programme fronted by Michael Owen on Tuesday evening, Webb said:

"From the outset, I want to say this should have been disallowed. These are not always easy to call because you are trying to get two pieces of information together. Is the player in an offside position, which official is in a good position to see, and what consequence was there of the player being in that position and how it impacts the opponents?

It certainly appears that Akanji has an impact on Bernd Leno, the goalkeeper seems to hesitate. The officials on the field gave the goal, they did not see the obvious action that impacted Leno's ability to play the ball.

They did not feel it was clearly impactful on Leno's ability to play the ball but when you see it, you can see that hesitation by the goalkeeper who was waiting to see whether the ball made contact with Akanji, which would have deflected the ball.

Unfortunately it was not identified on the day and the learning from this will be shared from all of our group because we are looking to do better each and every week – and this was an error."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/09/webb-admits-controversial-city-goal-was-an-error/

"Not easy to call" What a measly mouthed excuse. It was blatantly obvious, even some one with no idea about football could see it. I can only think that Harrington had gone for a pee and the assistant was making the tea.
To late to do anything about it now but it will be a long time for it to be forgotten, the only good thing is I don't know many City fans.