Thursday Fulham Stuff - 26/10/23...

[WhiteJC]

How Chris Coleman conjured up a win at Old Trafford
Twenty years ago today, Fulham produced one of the finest performances in the club's history. Chris Coleman, written off as an inexperienced manager who would be unable to keep the Whites in the top flight, masterminded a magnificent win over Premier League champions Manchester United on their own patch. It wasn't a fluky victory or a narrow win that relied on parking the bus, either. Coleman's side, who had already surprised several of the stellar names in the first three months of the season, went to Old Trafford and played Sir Alex Ferguson's men off the park. This was a glorious success that has to rank highly in the pantheon of great Fulham victories.

Coleman, of course, had overcome a horrendous injury that cruelly cut short his illustrious playing career as he was on the cusp of leading the Cottagers back to the promised land. With the benefit of hindsight, it was remarkable that the classy centre back managed to recover from that devastating Surrey car crash to once again represent his beloved Wales. It is a testament to his considerable character that Coleman quickly threw himself into a coaching career having barely come to terms with the fact that he wouldn't be able to play top-level football again. Even more astonishingly, he was then thrown into the deep end, replacing Jean Tigana – his mentor in management – in a desperate attempt to keep a struggling side in the top flight.

The caretaker period couldn't have gone better. Coleman insisted he wasn't a candidate for the permanent job, but the thrill of management got under his skin. After guiding Fulham to safety with three wins in five games – and a brilliant draw at Stamford Bridge secured by a moment of magic from Luis Boa Morte – the cult hero was handed the reigns ahead of the likes of the likes of Klaus Topmoller and George Burley. But like another young manager, Micky Adams, he wasn't happy with resting on his laurels and vowed to prove the pundits, who universally predicted relegation at the start of the season, wrong.

The talking heads said that Fulham's French foreign legion would follow Tigana out of the door. Nothing was further from the truth. Several produced their finest football under their former captain, who navigated the transition from one of the lads to the gaffer, magnificently. His switch to a fluid 4-3-3 proved a tactical masterstroke that helped Louis Saha rediscover the scoring touch that made the fabulous forward so devastating in his first season at Craven Cottage. Crucially, the creativity of Boa Morte and Malbranque out wide meant that Saha wasn't isolated as a lone striker and three central midfielders both protected Fulham's back four and ensured they could keep the ball effectively.

By the time Fulham pitched up at Old Trafford towards the end of October, United should have been well primed for what they were due to face. The Whites had ended Glenn Hoddle's tenure at Tottenham with a wonderful win at White Hart Lane, beat Blackburn at Ewood Park and, four days before the trip to Manchester, surged into a two-goal lead against Newcastle United, then flying high under Sir Bobby Robson's stewardship, before falling victim to an Alan Shearer inspired comeback. Lee Clark tells a story about Coleman demanding that the players put in a performance at Old Trafford – and how they delivered for him.

Fulham's first win at Old Trafford since 1963 owed a lot to Clark, a wholehearted captain in the Coleman mould, poaching the opening goal after only three minutes. The midfielder made a late run in the penalty area to beat Tim Howard at his near post after Mikael Silvestre had presented possession to Malbranque and stun the home crowd into complete silence. The television cameras cut to a disbelieving Coleman on the Fulham bench, whose grin could easily have belonged to a Cheshire cat. The visitors had began with purpose and might have moved further ahead when Mark Pembridge pinged a speculative shot against the crossbar from 20 yards and Saha, who led United a merry dance all afternoon, was only thwarted by a smothering save from Howard.

The Whites took the shock of conceding Diego Forlan's first goal for Manchester United in their stride. It felt as if the misfiring striker's ferocious finish could have been a turning point but the Uruguayan fluffed a simpler chance after the interval and Coleman's charges quickly reprised the pattern of patient possession from the first period. Saha wriggled clear to reach a fine ball from Junichi Inamoto, but was denied a shooting chance by a brilliant recovery tackle from John O'Shea.

Within three miniutes, though, the away side were back in front. Boa Morte did brilliantly down the left and, when Rio Ferdinand's clearance of the winger's cross fell to Malbranque, the Frenchman found the net with an unerring low strike. That sparked bedlam in the away end, which turned to disbelief when the magnificent Malbranque produced a peach of a pass that sent Inamoto scurrying in goal. The Japanese midfielder deftly dinked a finish over the advancing Howard to put the seal on a superb Fulham away day.

Victories like that and Fulham's overall performances in finishing ninth with such an unfancied squad showed that Coleman, whilst a still a managerial novice, had potential in his new career. You still wonder quite where he could have taken the Whites had Ferguson not poached Saha the following January and then subsequently signed Edwin van der Sar. It was certainly no surprise that Coleman guided Wales all the way to the Euro 2016 semi-finals. Maybe he used some of the lessons learned during that win at Old Trafford to take his country into uncharted territory on the big stage.

Coleman was so loved at Craven Cottage for wearing his heart on his sleeve and giving everything for the cause. It hurt the Fulham faithful not to see him play in the Premiership for the Whites having dropped two divisions to join the club at the start of the Mohamed Al-Fayed era, but seeing him write a new chapter by taking the club back to the Cottage as a manager after a sensational season was special. The twentieth anniversary of this extraordinary triumph is well worth celebrating.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2023/10/how-chris-coleman-conjured-up-a-win-at-old-trafford/

[WhiteJC]

Brighton injury news: Forgotten £7m ace close to comeback ahead of Ajax and Fulham
Huge injury boost for Brighton as athletic midfielder nears return to full fitness

Albion head coach Roberto De Zerbi has received a huge boost as Jakub Moder is nearing a return after more than a year out.

The athletic 6ft 2in Poland international was just starting to show his best form for club and country when he sustained a serious ACL knee injury on April 2, 2022 during a 0-0 home draw against Norwich. He missed the rest of the campaign, the 2022 World Cup and then the entire 2022-23 season.

Moder joined Brighton in 2020 from Lech Poznań for around £7m. He had an encouraging start to his Premier League career and was a regular in the Albion midfield under then manager Graham Potter.

The 24-year-old is yet to play for current boss Roberto De Zerbi but is now in full training and reportedly played behind closed door friendlies.

This Thursday's Europa League clash against Ajax at the Amex is expected to arrive too soon for Moder. Elsewhere, Solly March (knee), Danny Welbeck (muscular), Pervis Estupinan (muscular) Tariq Lamptey (muscular) and Julio Enciso (knee) are all out for tomorrow's crunch Group B match-up with Ajax.



https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/sport/football/brighton-and-hove-albion/brighton-injury-news-forgotten-ps7m-ace-close-to-comeback-ahead-of-ajax-and-fulham-4384406

[WhiteJC]

Exclusive: Fabrizio Romano says rumoured Fulham transfer target would cost €35-40m if not for release clause
Fabrizio Romano has provided some insight into the situation regarding in-form Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy ahead of the January transfer window.

Writing in his exclusive column for the Daily Briefing, Romano acknowledged that Fulham seem to be one of Guirassy's suitors, but he expects there will be plenty of interest in the prolific Guinea international after his superb form in the Bundesliga so far this season, as well as his bargain release clause of just €17.5m.

Guirassy has been on fire in front of goal, netting 15 times in all competitions so far this season, making him the most lethal finisher in Europe's big five leagues so far, and surely an ideal option for clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea, who need a striker this January.

Romano admits that Guirassy would likely be worth more than double his release clause if not for having that clause written into his contract, so this looks an exciting opportunity for clubs in the January market.

"Some big news from yesterday is that Serhou Guirassy's release clause at Stuttgart is just €17.5m. The Guinea international has been probably the player of the season in Germany this year, scoring a remarkable 14 goals in just eight Bundesliga games," Romano said.

"Guirassy has been fantastic, he's a goal machine, and now many clubs are monitoring him in Germany, England and Italy. It's hard to believe, but yes his release clause really is just €17.5m – an incredible opportunity on the market.

"I can confirm that this clause is valid in January and in the summer, it's always available, so he's on the market – of course Stuttgart want to keep him, but this clause means the player will have the final say.

"There are many clubs looking for a central striker, so let's see if they move for him and if Guirassy wants to try a new opportunity this January or if he prefers to stay at Stuttgart for a bit longer.

"From what I'm hearing, some clubs are already moving behind the scenes, so let's see what happens. I'm aware of some reports naming Fulham but I'm sure it's not just them, because this really is a super cheap price for a player who would surely be worth more like €35/40m without the release clause."



https://www.caughtoffside.com/2023/10/25/guirassy-fulham-transfer-and-release-clause-exclusive/

[WhiteJC]

Board election 2023
We will shortly be inviting nominations for members to join the Trust board, with the formal 14 day nomination period running from 1 November until 15 November. In this election we are looking to elect up to five board members for terms of three years (four positions) and two years (one position). The election will be overseen this year by Marisa Cardoni, our independent scrutineer.

The current board is made up of 11 elected volunteer members who each take responsibility for specific areas of Trust activity. Four elected board members – Jerry Cope, Dan Crawford, Hayley Davinson and Tom Greatrex – must stand down by rotation as they are at the and of their current three year terms; they are entitled to stand again if they so choose. A fifth board position was vacated by Farrell Monk earlier in the year and so the two years remaining in this term will also be made available at the election.

We hold evening board meetings once per month on a hybrid face-to-face / video conference basis depending on the location of board members and we also meet the Club monthly on a Wednesday lunchtime by video conference. There are a number formal board roles, all of which are agreed at the first board meeting following the election, as follows:

    Chair
    Secretary
    Treasurer
    Membership secretary
    Vice Chair

Although our meeting with Fulham is often the most visible part of our work, we undertake a wide variety of other activities on behalf of Fulham supporters and are also members of the Metropolitan Police Independent Advisory Group (IAG) and the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Safety Advisory Group (SAG) as well as being affiliated to the Football Supporters' Association which is the national umbrella body for Trusts. Individial board members take responsibility for a wide range of work including

    Diversity and inclusion
    Communications
    Ticketing liaison
    Web site and IT
    Celebration day planning
    International supporters
    Social media and email

You can read about the full range of activity undertaken by the Trust board on our web site.

We are looking for Trust members from across our fanbase with the time, skills, enthusiasm and ideas to join the board, take responsibility for some of our growing range of activities and help build the supporter voice at Fulham. We would like to see our board become more representative of the diverse nature of our fanbase, so we hope that you will consider either putting yourself forward or encouraging others you know as there is much to do. You can read full details of the process below.

If you are interested in finding out more please feel free to contact any board member, or you can contact us using our main email address : [email protected].

Yours, on behalf of the current Fulham Supporters' Trust Board

Simon Duke
Chair

ELECTION PROCESS AND RULES
The election will be held in accordance with the election rules and the process will be overseen by an Independent Scrutineer, Marisa Cardoni, who is a Trust member but is neither a candidate nor nominating or seconding a candidate.

To be eligible to stand for election, the only requirements are that

    you are a paid-up Trust member as at 1 October 2023
    you remain a Trust member throughout the process
    you are nominated and seconded by paid-up Trust members as at 1 October 2023

Information required

You will need to supply contact information for yourself and those nominating and seconding you and a 200 word election statement that will be sent out with the electronic voting forms if there are more nominations than places available for election. The election statements of all successful candidates will be made available at the conclusion of the process.

Please supply the following information by email to the Independent Scrutineer by Wednesday 15 November 2023 using the following email address

[email protected]

Candidate

    Name
    email address
    Telephone
    Social media

Proposed by

    Member name
    email address
    Telephone

Seconded by

    Member name
    email address
    Telephone

Statement

A maximum of 200 words to support your candidacy. Any additional words will be truncated.
Election timetable

Nominations

    Wednesday 1 November 2023 – Nominations open
    Wednesday 15 November 2023 – Nominations close

If no ballot required (five or fewer candidates)

    Thursday 16 November 2023 – Announcement of new board at AGM

If ballot required (more than five candidates)

    Thursday 16 November 2023 – Announcement of ballot at AGM
    Saturday 18 November 2023 – Electronic ballot and candidate statements circulated to Trust members
    Saturday 2 December 2023 – Close of voting
    Monday 4 December 2023 – Announcement of election results
    w/c 4 December 2023 – December board meeting (subject to Nottingham Forest game)



https://www.fulhamsupporterstrust.com/news/2023/10/board-election-2023/

[WhiteJC]

Could former Bournemouth and Fulham manager return to Belgium with Leicester City's sister club?
Over the summer, Scott Parker was linked with the vacant Leicester City job. In the end, the Foxes decided to go for Enzo Maresca. Parker was available after a torrid time in Belgium with Club Brugge, in which he managed just a matter of weeks before being relieved of his duties. However, Parker's name is beginning to crop up again, linked to Leicester City's sister club OH Leuven. The side recently parted ways with Marc Brys, and given the links between Parker and Leicester over the summer, some, such as the Leicester Mercury, have suggested that he may be a candidate.

There is nothing concrete in the rumour, but there are questions around which way the Belgian side will go. In their first game without Brys, the club won 4-0 against Sint-Truiden, meaning that there is clearly no rush in bringing in the next head coach.

While Parker does have some experience in Belgium, his time in charge of Club Brugge was pretty disastrous. He only managed 12 matches with the then defending champions, with the final straw being a 5-1 humbling against Benfica in the Champions League. Perhaps the lower pressured situation would suit Parker more than managing one of the top clubs in Belgium. He has had success with so called lower ranked sides in England such as Fulham and Bournemouth. However, there would be plenty of skepticism from the OH Leuven fan base if the club were to go in that direction.



https://getfootballnewsbene.com/could-former-bournemouth-and-fulham-manager-return-to-belgium-with-leicester-citys-sister-club/?utm_content=cmp-true

[WhiteJC]

Stubborn Silva cost Fulham against Spurs, not Calvin Bassey

After disastrous distribution cost the Whites again, Jordan Forward-Lamb points the finger at Marco Silva's reluctance to get it launched.

We saw it clear as day against Chelsea for their second goal: Fulham's centre-backs in possession, an ocean of space between them, and more opposition players in front of them than teammates. Next comes a wayward infield ball to a teammate who's reluctantly running back to offer a passing option, and sure enough high-pressing Chelsea find themselves practically through on goal against a defence that had willingly split itself apart trying to find a teammate.

It was Ream against Chelsea and Bassey against Spurs, but we've seen the same situation repeat itself time and time again this season. As pointed out by The Athletic's Peter Rutzler, Fulham lead the league table for errors that have led to goals. Some have come down to simple defensive mistakes like Diop's ball-watching that led to Chelsea's first, but blunders like Bassey's have been occurring since the start of the season.

Tale as old as... the season

Fulham were lucky Everton had Maupay up front when Ream had a lob pass intercepted in the very first minute of the season opener. Ream was practically on the touchline when Maupay got the ball – it would have taken one more proactive Everton run through to make that nailed on goal. It happened a handful more times in the same match, but Everton weren't clinical enough to make it count. Even Norwich forced Diop into some disastrous distribution in the Carabao Cup, forcing him into his own corner where he slashed a ball into the feet of Płacheta – again, we got away with it because it was Norwich.

Ruthless at the top

Fulham have played out from the back all season, but it's only against Chelsea and Spurs where that style has cost us. Everton and Norwich were wasteful, teams like Luton and Sheffield United didn't try to press at all, and title challengers Man City and Arsenal swallowed up so much possession the Whites rarely had the chance to pass it around at the back. But when Fulham have been allowed to have the ball and then pressed by a competent, coordinated team they've become totally unstuck.

Postecoglou and Pochettino saw how Fulham would set up and countered it perfectly, so Silva insisting on the same setup is a decision that sits somewhere between overconfident and arrogant. And it's closer to the latter when you consider that both Ream and Bassey are left-footed, with Bassey playing out of position on the right. When Ream's forced out wide he's got the freedom to play the pass or cut back inside with his strong left foot, but it's a grim prospect for Bassey to his right: as soon as he's facing the touchline he's at a disadvantage.

Spurs exploited this with ease. When Bassey receives the ball before the first goal he's looking at three Spurs players – Son is blocking the pass back to Leno, Maddison makes a central pass unappealing, and Richarlison is already closing down Castagne to Bassey's right. If he picks the short pass to Castagne he's effectively passing the buck. He can try to lob it back across goal to Ream, but Kulusevski's lurking there. So Bassey does what we presume Silva has been telling him to do and attempts to pass through the press to Lukic. The second goal is even more egregious in that Bassey receives the ball in an even more isolated position with fewer options and less time to make the right call. And we've heard Silva speak endlessly about being brave in possession in the past, so it's hard to believe that Bassey would have been instructed to get it launched, Big Sam style.

With friends like these...

And then the questions need to be asked about the role of Bassey's teammates in the two Spurs goals. Lukic, the closest midfield option for the first goal, is nearly on the halfway line when Bassey gets the ball and I'm convinced he could have got something on it. Ream's initial position keeps Son onside, and he compounds the error by body-checking Bassey who's well on his way to getting an actual block in. Leno doesn't exactly help Bassey out either. In both goal instances it's Leno that plays a horizontal pass out wide to the Nigerian international, forcing him into a very tight angle on his weaker foot. Leno has the time, vision, and long-ball expertise to find Vini or De Cordova-Reid, or to just get rid.

To Marco's credit, he was quick to save Bassey's blushes in his post-match press conference, pointing out the midfield's dodgy positioning for the second goal and highlighting the many attacking chances spurned by Fulham. Things did improve after the second goal, with Leno electing to go long more regularly and a more dynamic midfield managing to win second balls and find dangerous chances in the transitions. It was a finish to the game that reflected what Fulham could bring to the party if they had set up in a way that acknowledged their shortcomings, but it was all too little, too late.

A loss against Spurs was always on the cards, but now there are questions around Bassey that he really doesn't deserve. He looked indomitable before the first goal and solid for much of the 90 minutes. In the opening 20 minutes we saw strength and composure, plus some beautiful long passes – from the left foot, naturally. There was a great moment in the 17th minute when Bassey calmly held Udogie off with one arm before whipping a ball out to Robinson. Two minutes later he delivered an inch-perfect diagonal pass to Willian that really should have led to something. Bassey is quality, make no mistake about it, and he almost had a good game.

Playing out from the back is a risk/reward system, and few teams have shown the potential benefits of that as clearly this season as Spurs. Fulham are running all the same risks, but without a convincing attack I'm struggling to see where the reward comes in for Silva's squad.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-10-25-stubborn-silva-cost-fulham-against-spurs-not-calvin-bassey/

[WhiteJC]

Shahid Khan and Tony delighted securing Silva to new Fulham contract
Fulham chairman Shahid Khan is delighted to have secured manager Marco Silva to a new contract.

The Portuguese penned terms yesterday to 2026.

Khan said: This is a wonderful day for Fulham Football Club. Specifically, it's a fantastic moment for Fulham supporters, who deserve our very best efforts to invest in the present and future of their Club, both within and around the game.

I'm happy to announce that we have a new contract with Marco Silva through 2025/26, and am confident this news will inspire our players and fans, both immediately and in the seasons ahead.

When I first met Marco in 2021, I knew then he represented everything we needed and more from our next Head Coach.

I am grateful that Marco believed, as I did, in what is possible here at Fulham, and now here we are several years later reaffirming our commitment to achieving something special for our fans.

Marco and I are aligned we have work ahead, but even more to look forward to."

Fulham's chief exec Tony Khan added: I'm delighted for Fulham fans and the entire Club that we have secured Marco's future here, and that he will be with us until at least 2026!

Through working together for the last few years, we've developed a great relationship, and are in tune with ambitions for the Club and aspirations for the future.

I'm a huge admirer of Marco's, his work ethic, professionalism and his hunger for success for Fulham translate through the whole Club, and we all look forward to the next phase of our journey together."

This article first appeared on Tribal Football and was syndicated with permission.



https://www.yardbarker.com/wrestling/articles/shahid_khan_and_tony_delighted_securing_silva_to_new_fulham_contract/s1_17172_39437494

[WhiteJC]

Marco Silva extends his stay with Fulham until end of the 2025-26 season
Head coach Marco Silva has extended his stay with Fulham until the end of the 2025-26 season.

The 46-year-old Portuguese was appointed by the west London club in July 2021, leading them to promotion back to the Premier League in his first season and then a 10th-placed top-flight finish last season.

The Cottagers sit 13th after nine games of the current campaign, and Silva told the club website after signing his new deal: "It is important to feel the trust and have the support of our owners. My relationship with them, and with Fulham Football Club as a whole, has been really important in this decision and the success of the last two seasons.

"The commitment and ambition that these players have demonstrated since day one has been the key to what we have achieved, and that will always continue to be the case, along with the unconditional support of our fans, who are fundamental. Let's continue together on this long journey."

Fulham chairman Shahid Khan described the extension of Silva's contract as a "wonderful day" for the club, adding: "When I first met Marco in 2021, I knew then he represented everything we needed and more from our next head coach.

"I am grateful that Marco believed, as I did, in what is possible here at Fulham, and now here we are several years later reaffirming our commitment to achieving something special for our fans.

"Marco and I are aligned – we have work ahead, but even more to look forward to."



https://www.planetsport.com/soccer/news/marco-silva-extends-his-stay-with-fulham-until-end-of-the-2025-26-season

[WhiteJC]

Aston Villa, Fulham both chasing electric forward who can move 'as early as January'
Aston Villa and Fulham are both mulling a January move for a pacy winger, and Marco Silva's interest stems from souring on two ineffective players, per reports.

Aston Villa and Fulham are experiencing contrasting seasons this term, with the former flying and the latter floundering.

Indeed, Unai Emery's side currently sit fifth in the Premier League table and their mark of 23 goals has been bested by only Newcastle (24).

Fulham, meanwhile, have found the net on just eight occasions in the league this term. The lack of offensive output is costing them dearly and if it is not quickly addressed, hopes of a positive season will soon fade.

According to the Evening Standard, Fulham boss Marco Silva – who signed a new three-year contract on Tuesday – is unimpressed with his striker options.

Raul Jimenez is yet to break his duck for the club, with the report claims Silva is 'lukewarm' at best on back-up striker Carlos Vinicius. Neither have been able to step up and replace the goals previously provided by Aleksandar Mitrovic.

As such, Silva is seeking attacking reinforcements in January and a move for Stuttgart phenom, Serhou Guirassy, is being contemplated.

Guirassy has scored a remarkable 14 goals in eight Bundesliga matches this season. His contract contains a release clause worth an extremely modest €17.5m.

But while the release clause can be activated in January, Sky Germany claimed Guirassy "has no intention of leaving" until the summer at the earliest.

Fulham, Villa monitoring Sporting winger
Per the Standard, other options Fulham would consider signing include Gift Orban (Genk), Carlos Alcaraz (Southampton) and Geny Catamo (Sporting Lisbon).

Alcaraz and Catamo aren't centre-forwards, thus suggesting Silva is open to signing any forward who can make a difference, rather than limit his search to strikers.

But per the BirminghamLive, Catamo is also on Aston Villa's radar.

The 22-year-old left-footer primarily plays on the right wing. Catamo represents Mozambique in international football and is known for his rapid turn of pace.

Catamo is not a regular starter for Sporting, though has featured in all 11 of their fixtures across all competitions this season.

BirminghamLive state Villa are 'tracking' Catamo who 'could leave [Sporting] as early as January'.

Emery is understood to be keen to reinforce his squad in January ahead of a potential battle to finish inside the Champions League qualification places. A knockout campaign in the Europa Conference League could also lay in wait.

It would appear unlikely Catamo would be a regular starter at Villa Park, though his speed off the bench could prove impactful late in games.



https://www.teamtalk.com/news/aston-villa-fulham-both-chasing-electric-forward-can-move-january

[WhiteJC]

How Spurs and Fulham fans have united against ticket pricing ahead of Cottagers' Man Utd protest
Fulham and Spurs fans united before Monday night's Premier League meeting to support each group's campaign against ticket price rises.

Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham supporters have united in a fight against increasing ticket prices at their respective clubs with some matchday tickets rising above £100 this season.

The two Premier League sides met in top-flight action on Monday night, with Ange Postecoglou's Spurs continuing their impressive start to the campaign with a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Son Heung-min and James Maddison. Ahead of kick-off in North London, the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters Trust (THST) and Fulham Supporters Trust (FST) gathered at a local pub to show their support for one another's campaigns.

Both groups are members of the Football Supporters' Association and have been actively campaigning in recent weeks for freezes on ticket prices ahead of next year in the name of great affordability for fans.

In a statement shared in August, the THST laid out its opposition to increased matchday ticket prices, having led a protest before the meeting with Manchester United that month. The group want a reversal of match day price increases, a 'commitment to genuine fan input on all pricing discussion' and a guarantee that no further increases will happen next season.

Match day ticket prices at Spurs have increased between £3 and £15 for Category B and C games and between £10 and £17 for Category A games this season with the top price for a single ticket at £103.

Seeking to engage with the club, THST said: "If these rises are not opposed, there will be more to come. A corresponding increase in ST prices would mean rises of between 9% and 13% for the 2023/24 campaign, and there's no guarantee that match day ticket prices will not rise further. This is clearly unacceptable, and any price increases must be resisted.

Last night we were delighted to meet colleagues from @FulhamSuppTrust to stand together in the fight against increasing ticket prices.#StopExploitingLoyalty#StopTicketPriceRises pic.twitter.com/guheN8xoZ2

— THST (@THSTOfficial) October 24, 2023

"Ticket prices at the Club are already amongst the most expensive across the Premier League and Europe. Ticket price increases are not an economic necessity for the club with the ninth highest revenues in world football. They are a choice: a choice the THFC Board chose to make against the backdrop of a huge cost of living crisis, with prices already sky-high.

 "Fans should be at the heart of every decision the Club makes. Instead, our loyalty is being exploited. We need to keep going until the Club agrees to our call, and we will be prepared to step up action when needed. Further action will be publicised through fan channels."

The FST is calling for similar changes and has called on fans to gather before the meeting with Manchester United on November 4 for a protest march to Craven Cottage. The group will also distribute yellow cards to be held up in the 18th minute of the match to represent the 'typical 18% price increase'.

The West London club's match day prices turned heads across the country when announced earlier this year. The FST is engaged in talks with the clubs over ticket pricing after publishing a lengthy statement on the matter on October 11.

In that post, the FST stated: "Despite relegation (twice), a pandemic and a massively overrunning rebuild of the Riverside Stand which should by now be bringing in much-needed non-matchday revenue, we finally seem to have some stability on the pitch in the Premier League under Marco Silva. However, off the pitch those £55 tickets now feel more like an aspiration than a burden.

"For our upcoming game against Manchester United, the majority of seats in the Hammersmith End have risen 18% since last season and a whopping 40% since 2019, now standing at £77. If you want to watch from the side it's even more – up to £106 in the Johnny Haynes Stand and £160 in the Riverside.

"These are the most expensive standard tickets in the Premier League and it's not just the high-profile matches that are on the rise. Ticket prices for all categories of match have risen steeply since last year, typically 18% in the three old stands and substantially more in the Riverside.

"The majority of adult tickets behind the goal cost £71 against Sheffield United with prices at the sides up to £125. For a family of four Fulham fans it would now cost from £172 – £212 to attend such a game in the Hammersmith End. So much for us being "a family-friendly" club."



https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/spurs/how-spurs-and-fulham-fans-have-united-against-ticket-pricing-ahead-of-cottagers-man-utd-protest-4384714

[WhiteJC]

New contract indicates Fulham are ready to back Marco Silva transfer plans
Silva rejected advances from Saudi Arabia this summer - but now must be backed by owners

Tuesday brought the news that Fulham supporters had wished for, but many feared would never come.

The club announced head coach Marco Silva has signed a new contract until 2026.

His deal had been due to expire at the end of the season but Silva has ended uncertainty over his future and his commitment is a huge boost for Fulham.

Silva has done an excellent job since taking over at Craven Cottage in 2021 and there is real optimism among fans that he will now build on the good foundations he has built.

Crucially, the new deal indicates a willingness from the owners to back Silva in the transfer market.

Silva was left frustrated by the slow progress of the Fulham's summer transfer business but he has surely been reassured about their spending in January, next summer and beyond.

Monday's 2-0 defeat at Tottenham highlighted where the squad needs to be strengthened.

Defensive lapses from Calvin Bassey exposed a lack of depth and Fulham desperately need to strengthen up front following the summer departure of Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Another priority in January will be fending off interest in Joao Palhinha from Bayern Munich, who are ready to make another bid for the midfielder after failing with a summer move for him.

Silva could now play a key role in convincing his Portuguese compatriot to stay.

Over the summer, Silva himself was subject of a £40million offer to move to Saudi Arabia.

He rejected a big-money move, and his commitment to Fulham puts them on healthy footing to build on their impressive 10th-placed finish last season.



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/silva-fulham-fc-transfer-news-2023-b1115821.html

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Lukic advises Fulham to purchase Torino midfielder Ilic
Ivan Ilic has struggled to show his best since joining Torino in January and his Serbia teammate Sasa Lukic reportedly advised Fulham to pick up the midfielder.

The 22-year-old broke through as an exciting talent with Hellas Verona and was picking up by the Granata earlier this year, joining in a deal worth around €16m this summer following a six-month loan spell.

Ilic has struggled for consistent playing time under Torino coach Ivan Juric this season and has been unable to show his best, scoring once and providing two assists across 502 total minutes of action.

As reported by Tuttosport via TMW, Ilic has grown disappointed with life at Torino and his close friend and Serbia teammate Lukic advised Fulham to make a move for the midfielder in the coming months.

The 22-year-old is contracted to Torino until June 2027 and the club aren't too keen to give up on him just yet, so a convincing offer would be needed.



https://football-italia.net/lukic-advises-fulham-to-purchase-torino-midfielder-ilic/

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After Palhinha, Fulham now want to sign another player from Sporting CP
The transfer window is still a few months away, but the rumours around Fulham are starting to crop up.

Indeed, after Marco Silva signed his new contract with the club, we're eagerly anticipating a flurry of activity from the Whites in the coming months.

With the gaffer on board for the foreseeable future, Fulham can finally start thinking long-term, and according to the Portuguese media, they've identified a young star as a potential target.

Indeed, according to Record, Fulham are interested in Sporting CP's Geny Catamo.

Now, this isn't all that surprising to hear.

Fulham have had their eyes on the Portuguese market for quite some time now, and Sporting in particular.

They were linked with Jovane Cabral year on year for what felt like half a decade, before ultimately signing Joao Palhinha from the Portuguese giants.

Furthermore, Fulham made a move for Benfica's Morato in the summer, albeit an unsuccessful attempt at signing the Brazilian.

It's no shock to see that Fulham are targeting that part of the world once again. After all, Marco Silva knows Portugal like the back of his hand, as does his assistant Luis Boa Morte.

Aston Villa are also said to be keen on Catamo, and while the added competition is frustrating, the fact that Villa are looking at the player would indicate that he is indeed a Premier League-level talent.

Whether or not this move goes ahead remains to be seen, but the fact that Fulham are already planning for the future and seemingly letting Marco Silva steer the ship a bit more in terms of transfers is certainly a positive.

If Catamo can come in and be half as successful as Palhinha has been after his move from Sporting, then this move would be a huge success.

This is one to keep an eye on heading into January.



https://www.fulham.news/2023/10/25/after-palhinha-fulham-now-want-to-sign-another-player-from-sporting-cp/

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OPINION | Is João Palhinha a viable option for Bayern Munich in January?
When João Palhinha completed his medical checks at Bayern Munich on deadline day last summer, the Portuguese international was spotted with the jersey and waiting to be announced.

However, the deal failed to get over the line before the deadline, just minutes too late.

If the transfer with Fulham did go through, Bayern were due to pay €65m plus add-ons that would have taken the total fee up to €74m, according to Christian Falk.

Since the failed transfer, Fulham have extended the midfielder's contract until 2028 and are now likely to ask for even more money should Bayern wish to sign the player again.

This raises the question, is purchasing Palhinha in January a viable option for Bayern?

My simple answer is no, it is not. Bayern have indicated they wish to strengthen their squad in the winter, particularly in defence where they are low on numbers, partially due to injury.

The German champions would still be keen to sign Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea, as the 24-year-old can offer cover in central defence and at right-back. However, there is a reluctance to go in for their long-term target due to his current injury, which has kept him out since the start of the season.

In terms of defensive midfielders, Bayern are also interested in Nice's Khéphren Thuram and Manchester City's Kalvin Phillips.

At 22, Thuram is six years Palhinha's younger and has a current market value of €40m, according to TransferMarkt.

What's more, City's Phillips is keen on a move away from the Premier League champions as he seeks regular football ahead of next summer's European Championships in Germany. The English international's current market value is €28m, as per TransferMarkt.

Already, there are two cheaper and solid options for Bayern for the defensive midfield role. This would surely be more tempting should they also wish to sign a defender.



https://www.getfootballnewsgermany.com/2023/opinion-is-joao-palhinha-a-viable-option-for-bayern-munich-in-january/?expand_article=1

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What's next for the newly re-signed Marco Silva?

Alex Mackenzie looks at what Marco Silva's new deal means for Fulham FC in the coming months.

This is the one we've been waiting for. After months of murmurings about the contract talks between manager and club, Shahid Khan has been in town for the last few weeks. It now seems obvious that the owner was coming in to approve the terms and manage the most important issue at the club.

Marco Silva's previous deal was due to expire in June at the end of the season. And with talks of a move to Saudi Arabia ongoing last summer, it was feared that he would be leaving like Mitrovic and other money-chasing mercenaries. It was also very probable that he could be tempted by other jobs in football closer to home in the Premier League. But he's now put pen to paper and made a commitment for the next three years.

It's often not wise to speculate on new contracts. Reporting on them can be misleading as they are largely dependent on the commercial reality of Silva's position and future. However, there is no doubt we've got a great manager who can bring great players to a club, provide fans with enjoyable football and both satisfy and be satisfied with the club's hierarchy. The last of which has often been the source of much criticism by his predecessors. So why don't we try and look deeper into what this new agreement means for the future?

A changed man

Three years is a long time in football, and Marco will have wanted to discuss those years in detail, much like he did when he took over a few years ago. Back then, Shahid Khan and Marco met in Portugal (possibly on a yacht) to discuss the future of Fulham and the vision for how the club would move forward after yet another relegation. Silva had endured a difficult time on the manager merry-go-round, going from Hull, Watford and Everton all in quick succession before being sacked and saddled with a reputation of being less-than-loyal to his employers.

Nevertheless, Marco's ability shone through to Mr. Khan, who reignited his passion by showing faith in him. Silva's sign of commitment shows that he might have learned from the past failures when deciding not to stick around at club that was going well under his leadership.

The carrots

Aside from potential performance-based bonuses, right of first refusal if other clubs are interested and escalations dependent on player recruitment (for specific territories or otherwise), the big part of the whole process would no doubt have been the promises from Mr. Khan to invest in the squad once more, as well as some of the infrastructure.

Fulham have the potential to maximise profits in the years to come after the long-awaited redevelopment of the Riverside stand finally opens up. But when it does, Silva would have hopefully have cottoned on to the fact that the corporate hospitality and non-footballing income will need to be redistributed into the club (with ticket prices stagnating across the rest of the ground). Marco will have wanted assurances that the new resources will also go towards the transfer budget, and he can utilise his powers of persuasion to bring new personnel (both coaches and players) to the team and youth systems.

The need to deliver

I imagine with a new contract and increased financial gain, Marco will have been set new targets. It might be plausible that this season a mid-table finish is the goal, what with the change in faces and the loss of a certain striker. But long-term Fulham will be thinking of challenging for Europe again. It must be something that's on the radar and part of the discussions when the next few years are considered.

Failure to meet such expectations will certainly lead to Marco's future being in question. There's a fear that he's becoming too predictable to opponents. So he'll have to keep adapting. When Marco arrived at Fulham he had two years away from the game to work on his craft, now he will have less time to think and needs to act quicker to solve problems. He's proven his worth, but the hard part is to sustain that success.

Worth the deal

The club know that Marco is part of the story that's being written, and this new agreement will hopefully inspire him to keep pushing himself and this team. To have the win ratio of 48.57% over two seasons in two divisions is something that he can look at with real sense of achievement, and largely the club have done well due to his persistent and obsessive talent.

Troy Deeney recently commented on his management skills, saying that it was little things like the signing of Andre Grey when he was at Watford and getting him to compete with Troy by saying things like "I don't think you can keep up with him", that made Troy himself improve as a player and striker. He's a motivator, he will not settle, and for a club that is getting more ambitious, that's vitally important. That ambition problem has been a big one with managers who have sometimes only ever seen the club as a stepping stone or a place to simply gain experience. Mark Hughes in particular left due to a perceived 'lack of ambition'.

I have to say though, there are a lot of unanswered questions about what happened in the summer when both he and Mitrovic were offered careers in Saudi Arabia. There were some conversations that might have gone better in hindsight, and sadly Marco could not convince Mitrovic to stay. It might well have been difficult, maybe even impossible, to convince him. But with this new deal Mr. Khan and the like have taken the view that the reason Mitrovic got to the level of a £50m player is down to Marco Silva restoring belief in the player himself and giving him much needed game time after the Scott Parker years.

That is the correct view. The only view. Marco built a team for Mitrovic to thrive in (and Mitrovic owes a lot to him), the club waiting around till too late in the day to sell inhibited Silva's ability to find a great replacement in time, placing any blame at the board level not the management level. The club awarding this contract is an acknowledgement of Marco's devoted work. Marco may now look to develop players at his disposal and find new ones in a new system. And the club have trusted him with that challenge, they have made the right choice based on his record, but consolidating as well as excelling again will be the order of the day. That will be his biggest challenge in English football to date.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2023-10-25-whats-next-for-the-newly-re-signed-marco-silva/

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Aston Villa, Fulham vying for Geny Catamo
Mozambican winger Geny Catamo has emerged on Fulham and Aston Villa's shortlists of attacking targets ahead of the January window.

According to Birmingham Mail, Aston Villa and Fulham could target Sporting CP's Mozambican winger Geny Catamo ahead of the January transfer window. The 22-year-old African attacker has put in some impressive performances, with Unai Emery adding him to the list of potential targets.

Aston Villa may face a shortage of attacking options during this season following some recent developments. Unai Emery brought in Moussa Diaby during the summer but may have wanted another winger to strengthen his options.

They might have made a late dash for one, but the serious injury to Emiliano Buendia shifted their focus to someone to replace the Argentine. Nicolo Zaniolo arrived on loan from Galatasaray. But the Italian international may soon face a lengthy ban for his role in an illegal betting scandal.

Names like Brahim Diaz have been suggested in the media as a potential target for Emery to replace Zaniolo. But Aston Villa is also prioritising a new winger. The Midlands club does have some quality options, but Emery would like to add something different from the wide areas to give a new dimension to the attacking output.

They had wanted Nico Williams from Athletic Club but may have given up on the chase as the Spaniard appears closer to a new contract. Villa have also considered a move for Jadon Sancho, with the Manchester United outcast ready to leave the club immediately.

Similarly, Villarreal's Alex Baena remains a target, while Arsenal's Emile Smith Rowe also features on their list. Now, Sporting CP's Mozambican winger Geny Catamo has become a name worth looking into following his good start to the season in Portugal.

Ruben Amorim has played him regularly this campaign, and the 22-year-old African winger has responded with three goal contributions. Sporting CP are currently at the top of their league and will view Catamo as an important piece of their squad.

However, with Aston Villa's interest growing in the winger, the player might have a say in what goes on with his future. He would know Emery's side are looking at other options too, including Galatasaray's Kerem Akturkoglu. But the Mozambican star sides have a chance in the next month to join them.

The report has also named Fulham as a potential suitor for Catamo ahead of the January transfer window. Hence, if Aston Villa are serious about him, they must move swiftly to start negotiations with Sporting and thrash out a deal for the 22-year-old African winger before Fulham beat him.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/10/25/aston-villa-fulham-vying-for-geny-catamo/

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Chelsea stadium latest: Blues expected to unveil plans for £2 billion Stamford Bridge renovation soon as Todd Boehly holds talks with Fulham over potential ground-share agreement

Chelsea are finalising plans to redevelop their stadium and increase the capacity at Stamford Bridge to 60,000 but a rebuild could take seven years.

    Chelsea want to redevelop stadium
    Work expected to take years
    Blues could ground-share with Fulham

WHAT HAPPENED? Chelsea Pitch Owners have issued a statement on the future of Stamford Bridge and expect an announcement on the club's plans for the stadium soon. The Blues are believed to be considering a £2 billion ($2.4bn) expansion, which would increased the capacity to 60,000, but have been warned such a plan would likely take seven years to complete. The team would also need to find a new home for several years as work is not due to start until 2026.

THE BIGGER PICTURE: The Blues could ground-share while work is ongoing, with owner Todd Boehly having already held "informal talks" with neighbours Fulham over using Craven Cottage, according to the Daily Mail. However, Craven Cottage's capacity is only 27,500 which would hurt Chelsea's revenue streams. Other potential venues include Wembley and Twickenham. Tottenham played at Wembley for two seasons recently as work was carried out to redevelop White Hart Lane.

WHAT THEY SAID?: "CPO has not yet been informed of any decision made by the Club on its future plans for the stadium. We believe their decision is due to be finalised shortly, having worked through all the available options," read the statement.

"Board members may choose to make their own views clear on the process but cannot of course do so until there is a proposal, and its detail can be properly considered. As we understand it, although the purchase of the Stoll site has been agreed, it will be some considerable time before the site can be vacated.

"In addition, a new planning application would be required, even though some of that work was done during the earlier project under Roman Abramovich. Once an application has been approved, estimates on the time required for demolition and rebuild vary from four years up to as much as seven years, during which time the Club would need to relocate its home games."

WHAT NEXT? Chelsea are back at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with Brentford the visitors in the Premier League.



https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/chelsea-stadium-expected-unveil-plans-gbp2-billion-stamford-bridge-renovation-boehly-talks-fulham-ground-share/bltdf87caa8711eeddc

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Marco Silva held extended one-on-one talks with 27-year-old Fulham player in build-up to Tottenham match
Fulham manager Marco Silva held extended talks with midfielder Andreas Pereira ahead of their match against Tottenham Hotspur.

A report from The Athletic has provided more details on the build-up and aftermath of a disappointing result at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Fulham fans would have been all too aware of their issues in front of goal going into a match with the in-form team in the league.

Unfortunately, Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson couldn't end their scoring droughts despite having brilliant chances in the second half.

Calvin Bassey was the man who made headlines for all the wrong reasons, although he was far from the only player who didn't have his best game.

Aleksandar Mitrovic's absence is clearly still being felt and no one appears to be missing him more than Andreas Pereira.

The Brazilian was superb in his first season at the club but has failed to hit those heights this year.

Silva brought Pereira off at half-time and replaced him with Alex Iwobi after having talks with the Brazilian ahead of the game.

After recording four goals and six assists last season, he's only managed two contributions in his first nine games, albeit off the back of a serious injury picked up in May.

Silva holds extended talks with Pereira
The report from The Athletic suggests that Silva took Pereira aside for an extended analysis meeting last week.

Pereira's position on the pitch hasn't changed this season, but the way he needs to play has to be adapted following Mitrovic's sale.

The biggest difference so far this year has been how often Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno plays long balls down the centre of the pitch.

While Mitrovic was in the team, there was a good chance he would either win a header or bring the ball down and lay it off to Pereira.

Both Raul Jimenez and Carlos Vinicius have the frames to do this job but are nowhere near as effective as the Serbian.

It has meant Fulham attempting to advance the ball through the defenders more often this year which has forced Pereira to drop deep to influence the game.

This has occasionally created too big of a gap between him and Fulham's front three, or if the ball is played down the wings, he's always the spare man.

Silva and Pereira holding talks to work out what's going wrong is encouraging, but it might be time to rest him against Brighton and hand Iwobi a start in that role.

He's only come off the bench once in his Fulham career and although it's unlikely to be a role he wants to play, something needs to change if the Whites are going to improve their output in front of goal.



https://www.fulham.news/2023/10/25/marco-silva-held-extended-one-on-one-talks-with-27-year-old-fulham-player-in-build-up-to-tottenham-match/

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Readers will relish the ride as Fulham's 'Great Adventure' under Al-Fayed is recalled
Mohamed Al-Fayed's tumultuous 16-year reign as Fulham owner is the focus of an entertaining new book by Tony Banks, reviewed by Eric Brown...



The experienced manager fought a losing battle to control his emotions.

A resounding home defeat looked like delivering the fatal blow to his team's prospects of avoiding relegation and the manager was bravely fronting up to journalists post-match.

I'd just seen Roy Keane's Sunderland beat Fulham 3-1 and now here was Craven Cottage chief Roy Hodgson blinking furiously to stop brimming eyes overflowing onto his cheeks.

It was already April in the 2007/8 season and Hodgson quietly admitted the situation looked hopeless. He added the usual platitudes about not giving up until survival became mathematically impossible.

Yet rather than opening the relegation trapdoor, Fulham's defeat signalled an amazing revival.

They stayed up, and prospered, going on to reach the Europa League final two years later. Their tearful manager would be all smiles when Liverpool eventually came calling for his services.

This episode somehow sums up Fulham's fortunes under Mohamed Al-Fayed. Their fans must have suffered emotional burnout with agony, despair and triumph swilling around in abundance down by the Thames.

Tony Banks' enjoyable new book 'The Great Adventure' is subtitled 'Al-Fayed's Rollercoaster Ride with Fulham FC'. Never a truer word.

⚽️ 📚 Out now! ⚽️ 📚

The tale of Mohamed Al-Fayed's time at #FulhamFC. He promised to take them to the Premier League in 5 years, and did it in 4. Along the way, #Fulham tasted 2 promotions, European football, 10 managers and numerous big signings 👇https://t.co/qZux9xbm8g

— Pitch Publishing 📚 Sports Books (@PitchPublishing) October 9, 2023

His £6.25m swoop for Fulham in 1997 came with the club newly promoted from the Football League's lowest tier and signalled a frantic period in the club's history.

The Egyptian billionaire stormed in, forecasting a Premier League place for Fulham in five years. They made it in four.

However, it wasn't an easy ride. Over Al-Fayed's 16-year reign, there were 10 managers, rows with the FA, the Football League, the Premier League and the government, and court proceedings.

Not to mention unpopular groundsharing and projected negotiations for a new club base. But there were also two promotions and European football to balance bad and good.

Al-Fayed's ambitious ideas occasionally spilled over into fantasy. His attempt to purchase cast-off Twin Towers from the old Wembley Stadium was quietly abandoned after it became obvious the £25m cost to buy and re-site them at the Cottage was exorbitant.

Just as well. It later emerged the Towers were constructed of concrete likely to crumble during any move. Al-Fayed's dream of re-erecting the iconic towers behind the Riverside Stand was dead.

Yet he went ahead with installing a statue of the so-called "King of Pop" Michael Jackson at the Cottage. It was never explained why.

All the above indicates there was never a dull moment at Fulham under Al-Fayed. So there is no lack of subject matter for Banks to tackle.

For the book, he interviewed many of the leading players, managers and club officials who served under Al-Fayed and relates their fascinating behind-the scenes stories.

His tale begins with Micky Adams as team manager, bounds along through Kevin Keegan's eventful spell, hurtles on with Paul Bracewell and Lawrie Sanchez, features a controversial period under Jean Tigana and charts Roy Hodgson's stay.

There's room for Chris Coleman, Martin Jol and Mark Hughes while others who tiptoe through the narrative include Rene Meulensteen. You'd need to be a committed Fulham fan to recall him. It all ends up with Felix Magath and Kit Symons.

Well, not quite ends. All deaths are untimely but Al-Fayed's at 94 came with this book already printed and in the warehouse awaiting delivery. Banks managed to redesign the wrap-around cover to include the news and add a bonus chapter available by scanning it.

Banks, a football writer with the Press Association, Today, The Sun, Daily Express, Daily Star and Daily Mirror, manages to reflect on a complex Fulham era under the unpredictable Al-Fayed.

His book will not only appeal to Fulham fans but those of other clubs with far less complicated history.

'The Great Adventure, Al-Fayed's Rollercoaster Ride with Fulham FC', by Tony Banks, is published by Pitch Publishing, price £18.99.



https://www.sportsjournalists.co.uk/books-and-reviews/readers-will-relish-the-ride-as-fulhams-great-adventure-under-al-fayed-is-recalled/

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Fulham keen on Stuttgart forward Serhou Guirassy?
Fulham are reportedly interested in signing Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy.

The Cottagers are still looking for a replacement for Aleksandar Mitrovic, who completed a £50m move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in the summer.

Fulham boss Marco Silva can currently call upon Raul Jimenez, Carlos Vinicius and Rodrigo Muniz as his centre-forward options, but none of the trio have filled the void left by Mitrovic.

Jimenez has struggled since his summer move from Wolverhampton Wanderers, having failed to score in his first nine appearances for the club.

Vinicius, who has scored twice in five matches, has only been trusted with three starts in all competitions, while Muniz has made four of his five appearances from the bench.

With Fulham on the lookout for a new striker, the Standard are reporting that the Cottagers are showing an interest in Guirassy.

The Guinea international has enjoyed an outstanding start to the Bundesliga season, scoring 14 goals in eight league matches.

As a result of his red-hot form, Guirassy tops the scoring charts in the German top flight, with a five-goal cushion over Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane.

Guirassy is also being monitored by a number of clubs, including current Premier League leaders Tottenham Hotspur.

The 27-year-old allegedly has a release clause in his contract, which can be activated in January and is believed to be less than €20m (£17.4m).

However, the Stuttgart man is reportedly determined to see out the remainder of the season with the Bundesliga side.

In addition to Guirassy, Brentford are believed to be considering a number of other targets, including Genk forward Gift Orban.

The West London club are also keeping tabs on Southampton's Carlos Alcaraz and Sporting Lisbon's Geny Catamo, although the latter primarily plays as a winger.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/spurs/news/fulham-keen-on-stuttgart-forward-serhou-guirassy_527346.html?newsnow