Saturday Fulham Stuff - 16/12/23...

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Newcastle United predicted line-up vs. Fulham: Three changes made as £58m star returns while key man suspended
The latest team news and injury updates ahead of Newcastle United's Premier League home game against Fulham.

Newcastle United will aim to bounce back from their Champions League heartbreak when they return to Premier League action with a home clash against in-form Fulham on Saturday.

The Magpies looked set to take their place in the last 16 of European football's elite club competition when Joelinton fired them in front in a crucial final group stage fixture with Italian giants AC Milan on Wednesday. However, goals from former Chelsea winger Christian Pulisic and Nigerian star Samuel Chukwueze ensured Eddie Howe's side will have no European action to look forward to in the new year.

Despite that disappointment, the Magpies are fighting for success on a number of fronts as they prepare for an upcoming Carabao Cup quarter-final with Chelsea and an FA Cup third round trip to local rivals Sunderland.

First up is Saturday's St James Park meeting with Fulham as Howe and his players aim to put their Champions League disappointment firmly behind them and put pressure on the top four in the Premier League with a Fulham side that have scored ten goals without reply in their last two games.

Newcastle United Team News
It seems to be one step forwards and two steps back for Eddie Howe after he was dealt further bad news on the injury front. There was some hope summer signing Harvey Barnes could make a comeback from the ankle injury he suffered earlier in the season - but Howe has now revealed for the former Leicester City winger has suffered 'a setback' and could even require further surgery.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the Magpies boss said: "It's a setback to a degree. He's felt pain in his foot again. Hopefully, it's not a permanent setback, and he won't need an operation. There's still a chance that might happen."

Howe also revealed midfielder Joe Willock is not expected to return 'this side of January' as he continues his recovery from a calf injury and both Elliot Anderson and Sven Botman are still not ready to return. Goalkeeper Nick Pope (shoulder) and left-back Matt Targett (thigh) are long-term absentees and Javier Manquillo also remains on the sidelines and has no return date from the groin issue that has limited his involvement this season.

There is a slight doubt over in-form winger and Fantasy Premier League favourite Anthony Gordon after he picked up a thigh injury and he will be assessed before a final decision is made over his involvement. Kieran Trippier will sit out the game as he serves a one-match suspension and Sandro Tonali is on the sidelines until next season after receiving a ten-month ban for breaching gambling laws in Italy.

Despite his ongoing woe with injuries, Magpies boss Howe does have some big calls to make. Talented young midfielder Lewis Miley could have given a rest after producing a string of impressive performances upon his introduction to life at a senior level. It seems likely Tino Livramento will switch to right-back in Trippier's absence, meaning Howe must decide whether Dan Burn or Lewis Hall takes his place on the opposite side of the defence. Callum Wilson's return to fitness also means Howe has two striking options available.

Newcastle United Predicted XI
Dubravka, Livramento, Burn, Schar, Lascelles, Longstaff, Joelinton, Guimaraes, Almiron, Isak, Gordon.



https://www.3addedminutes.com/sport/football/newcastle-united/newcastle-united-predicted-line-up-vs-fulham-three-changes-made-ps58m-star-returns-while-key-man-suspended-4447335

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Raúl Jiménez is a man transformed as free-scoring Fulham race up the table
Frustration was the overriding emotion at Craven Cottage not so long ago. Although Fulham have always been easy on the eye under Marco Silva, they were throwing away too many games with wasteful finishing and it seemed inevitable that their campaign would be defined by the sale of Aleksandar Mitrovic last summer.

Mitrovic's departure was a heavy blow for Silva. It was difficult to recover from the team's focal point and main source of goals forcing through a move to the Saudi Pro League. There was an apparent void in attack, a weakness never more evident than when Fulham outplayed Manchester United last month but lost after missing several chances in the second half.

Related: Raúl Jiménez kicks off five-star Fulham's goal rush against West Ham

At that stage the discussion inevitably focused on problems with Fulham's recruitment. They had plenty of neat attacking midfielders but what about a finisher? Carlos Vinícius has never been a regular starter and Rodrigo Muniz is a 22-year-old prospect. As for Raúl Jiménez, signed on the cheap from Wolves in the summer, it seemed the Mexican'shis best was behind him after failing to score in his first 12 games.

Against all expectations, though, the mood has transformed since Jiménez grabbed a consolation goal in Fulham's 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa on 12 November. After scoring 10 times in their first 12 league games, Fulham scored 16 in their next four, a run that began with a VAR-inspired 3-2 win over Wolves a fortnight ago and an unfortunate 4-3 defeat at Liverpool before successive 5-0 thrashings of Nottingham Forest and West Ham at Craven Cottage.

It has been a staggering turnaround from a team who were in danger of slipping into relegation trouble before the Wolves game. Fulham were drifting. Silva, having led them to the Championship title in 2022 and kept them up last season, looked glum. He has always been a restless type, a reputation earned during brief spells at Hull and Everton, and a fretful transfer window raised concerns. There were overtures from Saudi Arabia and, after the Mitrovic saga, Silva's mind could have wandered had his influential midfielder João Palhinha not seen a move to Bayern Munich collapse on deadline day.

Yet Silva, whose side visit Newcastle on Saturday, is one of the most underrated managers in the top flight. He has fashioned a diligent, organised, intelligent side without access to large funds and Fulham, who scored 106 goals when they won the Championship, are flying again. They were unlucky against Liverpool, who denied them with four stunners and a late fightback, and made Forest and West Ham look pathetic.

Silva says little has changed in his approach. A tad modest? Well, he has made some interesting tactical tweaks. A notable move was dropping the 36-year-old Tim Ream, who has been vulnerable this season, and starting Tosin Adarabioyo and Calvin Bassey in central defence against Forest and West Ham, and another has been giving Tom Cairney a bigger role.

It cannot be a coincidence that Fulham have been more fluent with them in the team. There is excitement about Adarabioyo, who was missed while out with a groin injury, developing a partnership with Bassey, who has taken a while to settle since joining from Ajax. The duo were physically dominant against Forest and West Ham but are also capable of bringing the ball out. Cairney may not be the quickest central midfielder but is capable of unbalancing any defence with one swish of his cultured left foot.

Behind the Scot stands the commanding Palhinha. Keeping the Portugal midfielder has been crucialas Fulham's win ratio is far higher with him on the pitch. His presence has given Silva confidence to omit the snappy Harrison Reed and use the creativity of Cairney alongside the attacking midfielder Andreas Pereira.

Equally, Silva is entitled to point out that some individuals have simply upped their game. Pereira has stirred after a quiet spell and Harry Wilson, a versatile winger, has been excellent when called upon. They lead the way with four assists, and the outstanding Antonee Robinson has flown forward from left-back to create three goals.

Connections are building. Robinson may have defensive flaws but he has linked well with the evergreen Willian on the left. Alex Iwobi, who joined from Everton in the summer, has been superb on the right and has three goals in four appearances.

But the biggest difference has come from Jiménez. He has not been the same since a horrible head injury in 2020. Yet his natural ability has never been in doubt and his clever link-up play has given Fulham a fresh dimension. While everything centred on playing off Mitrovic's strength and looking for him in the box, there is more variation with Jiménez. That said, it is easier to feel positive now he is scoring. He produced two fine finishes against Forest, including an impudent backheel, and got the ball rolling against West Ham with an emphatic header.

It is too soon to suggest Fulham should not look to sign another striker in January. However, the need is reduced now. Substitutes have made telling contributions and there have been nine different scorers in the past four games. Sharing the load means Fulham are finally ready to move on from Mitrovic.



https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/ra-l-jim-nez-man-122617544.html

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Birmingham City XI to face Leicester predicted after Jay Stansfield scare
Latest Birmingham City news from BirminghamLive includes our predicted XI for the Leicester City game

Birmingham City face the Championship's most daunting fixture on Monday - against Enzo Maresca's table-topping Leicester City.

Leicester are the best team in the Championship, both on home turf and away from the King Power, and have accumulated double Blues' points tally of 26 after 21 games. Their record on the road reads eight wins, one draw and one defeat.

Blues' own form of late hasn't been great, but the 1-0 win over Cardiff City on Wednesday provided the high point of Wayne Rooney's short tenure as manager. A back-to-basics approach from Rooney saw Blues collect their first away victory in four months.

Speaking afterwards, Rooney said: "A manager's job is understanding the players' strengths and weaknesses, the more time I spend with them the more I understand that." With that in mind, a similar starting XI and set-up can be expected on Monday (8pm kick-off).

READ: I watched Blues train before Cardiff and Wayne Rooney got a lot right

READ: Blues are aiming high against Leicester to make Knighthead wish reality

The back five, including goalkeeper John Ruddy, picks itself at the moment due to injuries. Emanuel Aiwu, Marc Roberts, Dion Sanderson and Lee Buchanan are expected to line up in front of Ruddy.

Rooney said "the midfielders were excellent" against Cardiff. "Jordan James' running off the ball was very good, Ivan (Sunjic) came back in and made us more solid," he added. Blues are expected to spend most of the match against Leicester without the ball, so Sunjic's combativeness could be key. Krystian Bielik will be deployed behind James and Sunjic in the anchorman role.

If Rooney keeps his 4-3-3 formation, it will be difficult to change the forward line. Siriki Dembele, Juninho Bacuna and Jay Stansfield were all excellent against Cardiff. Exploiting Leicester centre-back Jan Vestergaard's lack of pace is a route to goal and the aforementioned trio have speed in abundance.

Stansfield had to be withdrawn on Wednesday, but Rooney suggested post-match that it was nothing more than a knock. "I'm sure he'll be fine," said Rooney.
Check out our predicted XI below and tell us your preferred team in the comments section...

Goalkeeper: Ruddy
John Ruddy kept his fifth clean sheet of the season against Cardiff.

Right-back: Aiwu
Emanuel Aiwu looked more solid on his switch to right-back after some difficult performances in the centre of Blues' defence.

Centre-back: Roberts
Marc Roberts has suited Blues' back-to-basics approach. He dominated Blues' box in Cardiff and deserves to keep his place.

Centre-back: Sanderson
Skipper Dion Sanderson was back to his best in midweek. He benefitted from playing next to the vastly experienced, no nonsense defender Roberts.

Left-back: Buchanan
Lee Buchanan is one of the few undroppables in Blues' squad. The left-back has been consistent throughout the season.

Midfield: Bielik
While Krystian Bielik's passing wasn't always perfect against Cardiff, his positional play was excellent. He will need to be at his best to stop Leicester's middle men.

Midfield: James
Wales international Jordan James has been a revelation under Rooney. He will play slightly further forward than Bielik and Sunjic in this system.

Midfield: Sunjic
Ivan Sunjic's return was instrumental in Cardiff. He supported Bielik in shielding Blues' defence and will need a repeat performance against Leicester.

Right-wing: Bacuna
Maybe Juninho Bacuna will switch back to the right against Leicester. There is certainly flexibility in Blues' front three.

Left-wing: Dembele
Bacuna moving to the right would allow Siriki Dembele to return to his favoured position on the left. He played excellently on the right against Cardiff though, so who knows what Rooney has up his sleeve.

Striker: Stansfield
Blues' five-goal top scorer should be fit to start. He is due a goal after six games without one.



https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gallery/birmingham-city-predicted-lineup-leicester-28296256

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How depleted Newcastle could line-up without ten first-team players for Fulham clash
Eddie Howe has revealed his side is without several players for Newcastle's clash with Fulham at St James' Park on Saturday – LIVE on talkSPORT.

The Magpies head into the clash on the back of their 2-1 Champions League defeat to seven-time winners and last season's semi-finalists, AC Milan, on Wednesday.

Such a result meant his side was dumped out of Europe after finishing bottom of Group F with five points, with attention now turns back to the Premier League.

But their quest to keep within touching distance of the top-four will be hampered by a number of missing first-team stars.

Speaking on Newcastle's injury woes, Howe said in his press conference: "We are now getting a couple of players back, but not in their best physical condition.

"Kieran [Trippier] misses this game through suspension so it is a good time for him to rest and we will see how he is next week.

"We will see how Anthony Gordon is today. Joe Willock in a period where he has had a couple of injections, a difficult injury but he won't be back this side of January.

"It's the same now with Harvey Barnes, he won't need an operation but we are waiting to see if he comes back or not.

"Dan Burn is closer to be being back, Sean Longstaff closer to being back and we are managing them to stay back."

Martin Dubravka is expected to retain his place between the sticks as Nick Pope recovers from a shoulder injury, meaning Loris Karius will take his place on the bench.

Full list of Newcastle's injuries

Nick Pope – shoulder	Joe Willock – Achilles
Harvey Barnes – foot	Anthony Gordon – hamstring
Sven Botman – knee	Kieran Trippier – knock/suspension
Jacob Murphy – shoulder	Javier Manquillo – groin
Elliot Anderson – back	Dan Burn – back
Matt Targett – hamstring

In the right full-back position, Tino Livramento, who was deployed at left-back in the defeat to AC Milan, is likely to replace the suspended Kieran Trippier.

It means 20-year-old defender Lewis Hall, on loan from Chelsea, is likely to come in at left-back for Newcastle, with Matt Targett out with a hamstring injury.

The Magpies skipper Jamal Lascelles is expected to come in once again to partner Fabian Schar at the heart of the defence due to Sven Botman's absence.

Bruno Guimaraes will likely form part of a three-man midfield alongside fellow Brazilian Joelinton, with 17-year-old Lewis Miley, who continues to impress, also retaining his place.

In attack, Callum Wilson is expected to lead the line, and Alexander Isak is expected to get the nod on the left, with Anthony Gordon a doubt for the clash.

Fan favourite Miguel Almiron will also form part of the front-three and take up his regular position on the right.



Tune into talkSPORT 2 for LIVE and EXCLUSIVE commentary of Newcastle vs Fulham in the Premier League – Saturday December 16, kick-off 3pm



https://talksport.com/football/1678633/

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Club hoping Fulham sell player in January – Getting 50% of transfer fee, quite a few clubs after him
Following reports from Brazil which said Palmeiras are interested in signing Carlos Vinícius from Fulham, there's now a reason for the Portuguese media to talk about that.

A story from newspaper O Jogo says Benfica are watching the situation and hoping that the Whites do accept to sell the centre-forward soon.

The reason for it is that when selling Carlos Vinícius to Fulham back in 2022, the Eagles made sure to keep 50% of a future sale.

Benfica should indeed increase their hopes of making some money soon, because recent reports said that Palmeiras, Fenerbahce, Olympiacos, Sevilla and Valencia all made approaches for the player.

Carlos Vinícius has three goals in 12 appearances for Fulham this season, and is one of the centre-forwards trying to find a place in Marco Silva's attack.

For those wondering why Benfica got 50% of a future sale, that's because they accepted to sell him to the Whites for just €5m.

Now the Portuguese side could benefit from it, as long as the Whites manage to negotiate his sale for a reasonable transfer fee.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/club-hoping-fulham-sell-player-january-getting-50-transfer-fee-quite-clubs/

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Newcastle Icon Talks About Champions League Exit – Some Realism Needed
As Eddie Howe said in his press conference this morning, for the tough Fulham Premier League game at home tomorrow, Newcastle did not achieve our goals in the Champions League.

It's just over two years since the new owners and Eddie Howe came into the club and brought some much-needed ambition and money to the club.

In that first season 2022-2023, we finished 11th in the league after being second bottom in November 2022.

And then last season we over-achieved and qualified for the Champions League, in 4th place, for the first time in 20 years.

And in our Group F – the most difficult group – the group of death – we got 4 points from our first two games, but then only one point (at PSG) in our remaining four games and we finished bottom of the group.

We went out fighting on Wednesday night at St. James' Park in the 2-1 defeat to AC Milan, but in the end, it was a difficult and sad night for our fans and the club.

Now – we have to move on from that.

Newcastle icon Alan Shearer is always willing to offer an opinion on his local club, and this is what he has said on the current situation on The Rest Is Football podcast:

    "Ultimately they are going to need better players but it has just happened so quickly for Newcastle,"

    "I mean nobody expected them to get into the top four, and because of that there has to be a bit of realism."

    "I'm not suggesting there isn't from Newcastle fans, because I think there is and there will be and there will be patience because they are way, way ahead of schedule."

    "I just hope they are not victims of their own success because it's happened so quickly."

    "There is no way that two years ago you would have said that Newcastle would be playing PSG, AC Milan, and all these games in the Champions League.

    You would have said no way, it's far too quick."

    "But it's happened and they are way ahead of schedule but to get to that next level you will need better players."

It will be a tough game against Fulham, because they have won their last two Premier League games 5-0.

They have beaten West Ham and Nottingham Forst with that score, both at Craven Cottage, so they are a team in form.



https://www.nufcblog.com/2023/12/15/newcastle-icon-talks-about-champions-league-exit-some-realism-needed/

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Fulham have 'picked up the scent' of player after recent performances – Rapid rise has 'caused a stir'
Fulham are keeping a close eye on Le Havre youngster Étienne Youté Kinkoué as his rapid rise in France earns him attention from a number of clubs.

That's according to Foot Mercato, who cover how Fulham could be set to compete with FC Köln and Mainz 05 for the player's signature.

They explain that the German duo are looking for defensive reinforcements for the second half of the season and have identified a 'central defender talent' in France.

They've been keeping a close eye on Kinkoué, who has 'caused a stir' in recent weeks after breaking into the first team and becoming an 'integral part' of the Ligue 1 side's set up.

He hasn't missed a minute since the beginning of November and these 'outstanding achievements' have earned him attention from the German duo.

They're not the only ones who have 'picked up the scent', though, as Fulham have also taken notice of him after his recent performances.

According to FM, Kinkoué is a central defender particularly characterised by his 'strong header game' and is tied to Le Havre until 2025 but has 'flown under the radar' in France so far with just six appearances for the U17s so far.

That appears to have now changed as Fulham, as well as clubs in Germany, have picked up on him and now seem to be keeping a close eye on his development.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-picked-scent-player-recent-performances-rapid-rise-caused-stir/

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Fulham boss only one not surprised by back-to-back 5-0 victories
Marco Silva insists he is "not surprised at all" by Fulham's impressive form, despite his side securing remarkable back-to-back 5-0 victories in their last two Premier League contests.

The Cottagers have also scored 17 times in their last five league meetings, and will hope to keep the floodgates open when they travel to Newcastle on Saturday.

Four of those goals are from Raul Jimenez, who has come into his own and inspired what Silva feels is a boost in collective freedom of expression in recent weeks.

Asked if Fulham were exceeding his expectations, Silva said: "No. If you ask me if it's normal to win two games 5-0 like we did, I have to say that no, sometimes in this league to win 1-0 or 2-1 is so difficult, imagine to win two games in a row.

"This is, of course I'm going to be honest with you, something that is really, really tough because I don't know how many years since [it has been done], that shows how difficult it is to do it.

"But the way we played, you're talking about performance, you're talking about expressing ourselves. I'm not at all surprised because it is the way we prepare ourselves, our players, it's the way we want to play.

"Of course we are adjusting things, we are trying to add some things for our game, but I know if you can start the game confident, if you can focus, [you see] the two games, after our team scored the first goal in both games we started to express ourselves much better.

"It's part of the process, when things come in the right direction things can happen in the way we did it, but about the performance I'm not surprised at all."

Silva believes Newcastle's midweek Champions League exit will only serve as fuel for the hosts to prove a point in their return to domestic action, predicting it will be a "harder than easier" encounter with Eddie Howe's seventh-placed side, who he characterised as "one of the most intense teams" in the division.

Nevertheless, the Portuguese boss is confident 10th-placed Fulham, whose last three victories – against Wolves, Nottingham Forest and West Ham – have all come at Craven Cottage, have what it takes to walk away with at least a point at St James' Park.

He added: "We are going to win more games away from home. I have no doubts about it. We have to keep performing in the way we have been doing, keep believing and the good things will come."



https://www.football365.com/news/fulham-boss-marco-silva-not-surprised-5-0-victories

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Jesse Lingard: Shock Newcastle, Fulham contract offers revealed, as ideal next destination emerges
Jesse Lingard was offered the chance to join either Newcastle United or Fulham when leaving Manchester United in the summer of 2022 but rejected them in favour of a switch to Nottingham Forest, it has been revealed.

After falling down the pecking order at Man Utd in the first half of the 2020-21 season, Lingard pushed for a loan move away from Old Trafford in January 2021. He wanted to start playing regularly again and also regain his confidence in front of goal.

The attacking midfielder went on to sign for David Moyes' West Ham. He enjoyed a great spell at the London Stadium, notching nine goals and five assists in 16 appearances to help West Ham finish sixth in the Premier League and qualify for the next season's Europa League.

Lingard was expected to join West Ham on a permanent basis that summer, as Moyes had become infatuated with him.

However, he was promised an opportunity to impress at Man Utd if he returned there, and that is exactly what the Englishman did.

But Lingard once again struggled at Man Utd in the 2021-22 campaign. While he made 22 appearances in all competitions, he only picked up 354 minutes of playing time in the league, which works out at less than four full games.

As such, it came as no surprise when Lingard and Man Utd parted ways in summer 2022, as his contract expired.

The Man Utd academy graduate rejected West Ham once again by penning a one-year contract with newly-promoted Forest. The deal raised eyebrows as Lingard reportedly earned an initial £115,000 a week at Forest, and it had the potential to rise to a whopping £200k per week through bonuses.

Jesse Lingard struggles at Forest after Newcastle, Fulham bids
But Forest did not have to pay Lingard many bonuses as he flopped at the City Ground, registering only two goals and two assists in 20 games. All of those goal contributions came in the League Cup too, as Lingard failed to muster a goal or assist in his 17 league outings.

The 31-year-old is once again a free agent and on the lookout for his next club. But things could have been far different.

The Athletic have provided a report looking at Lingard's situation and it includes some interesting information on the offers he received in summer 2022.

They state that prior to his move to Forest, Lingard was given the opportunity to join either Newcastle or Fulham. Both top-flight clubs were ready to hand him a four-year contract, which would have made his long-term future more certain.

But the Warrington-born ace instead decided to accept Forest's more lucrative, short-term proposal. And that decision has proven to be a big mistake.

While Newcastle finished fourth last season and Fulham managed 10th, Forest ended up four points off the relegation zone and in 16th spot.

It is unclear whether Lingard would have become a big hit at either Newcastle or Fulham, though what is certain is that he wasn't helped by the host of new arrivals at Forest, of which he was part of.

It is unlikely the 32-time England international will get another opportunity at a Prem club. Instead, he looks set to leave Europe altogether and play at an easier level.

Goal report that Lingard is eager to try out Major League Soccer in the US, in a move which would see him follow Barcelona and Argentina legend Lionel Messi.



https://www.teamtalk.com/news/jesse-lingard-shock-newcastle-fulham-contract-offers-revealed-ideal-next-destination

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Arsenal, Chelsea front-runners to sign Joao Palhinha, Liverpool bow out of chase

Arsenal and Chelsea are leading the race to sign 28-year-old Fulham defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha, with Liverpool dropping their interest.
According to a report by TEAMtalk, Arsenal and Chelsea are keen on having Joao Palhinha in their ranks. The 28-year-old midfielder is looking to join a bigger club in the upcoming transfer window. And with Liverpool withdrawing from the race, the Gunners and the Blues are two potential destinations for the Portuguese international.

Joao Palhinha: The Story So Far At Fulham
Palhinha arrived in England in the summer of 2022 as Fulham paid £20 million to acquire his services from Sporting CP. Since joining the West London club, he has gone from strength to strength. On the back of an impressive debut season, Bayern Munich were keen on signing him in the summer.

The German giants came very close, but the deal fell off. Post that, Palhinha has penned down a new deal. But a move in the winter still can't be ruled out, given the amount of interest in his services and the player's desire to join a bigger club.

Palhinha's representatives have approached multiple top clubs as they seek a new destination for their clients. They offered the Portuguese international to Liverpool. But it seems the Reds have withdrawn from the race.

Liverpool Out of the Race: Where Will Palhinha Land?
Jurgen Klopp is quite happy with Wataru Endo's performances, and he does not feel the need of signing another defensive midfielder. Moreover, the price tag of the 28-year-old is beyond their spending limit for the winter, and they have no intention of entering a bidding war. With Liverpool out, Chelsea and Arsenal are now leading the race for his signatures.

The Blues were approached by his representatives, and they are keen on having Palhinha in their ranks. Mauricio Pochettino has made it clear that he wants reinforcement in the winter, and the Portuguese midfielder is one of his targets.

Chelsea are willing to offload players to make room for new ones, and they can surely go big again in the winter. Meanwhile, Arsenal have recently entered the race for the 28-year-old's signatures. The Gunners want another defensive midfielder despite having signed Declan Rice in the summer.

Arsenal want someone who can form a double pivot in the centre of the park alongside Rice, and Mikel Arteta feels Palhinha could be an ideal choice. With Thomas Partey's future uncertain, signing the Fulham midfielder could surely do wonders for them.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/12/15/arsenal-chelsea-front-runners-to-sign-joao-palhinha-liverpool-bow-out-of-chase/

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Rebecca Welch: Managers back appointment of first woman to referee in Premier League
Premier League managers have backed the decision to appoint Rebecca Welch as the first woman to referee a top-flight game in England.

Welch will officiate Fulham's match against Burnley on 23 December.

The 40-year-old began refereeing in 2010, and in January she became the first woman to referee a men's Championship game.

"I'm so happy to see it in football," Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino said.

"When we were in France [with PSG], Stephanie [Frappart] is a female referee and she was really, really good. And why not? I think the capacity is there. I think [we should] open our minds and everyone has the quality, we have to make sure the people are about the quality."

Stephanie Frappart has been a trailblazer for female referees, taking charge of men's Ligue 2 and Ligue 1 fixtures in France, as well as being the first woman to officiate in the Champions League and Uefa Super Cup.

Frappart became the first woman to referee a men's World Cup fixture during Qatar 2022 when she took charge of Germany's 4-2 victory over Costa Rica.

Welch served as a fourth official in the Premier League in November as Manchester United beat Fulham 1-0 at Craven Cottage.

She was the first woman to take charge of an FA Cup third-round tie in 2022 after being added to the EFL's national list for men's football, which oversees League One and League Two fixtures.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking about Welch, said: "It is great news. I wish her all the best, it will be really positive. The diversity we have is incredibly positive for the league. It is something that was needed."

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was also supportive of the decision, saying: "Excellent news. Hopefully in the future there can be more. Everybody is more involved. It is good."

Welch, from Washington in Tyne and Wear, refereed at the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in the summer.

"I think it's a great moment," Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said.

"For me, it's got to be based on ability, not gender, ability to referee and I fully support it."

Welch oversaw her first Women's Super League game in 2014 when Chelsea beat Everton 2-1.

Brian Sorensen, manager of the Everton women's team, told BBC Radio Merseyside: "We've seen it around Europe that some of the really top referees are getting a chance in the highest men's game level.

"Now females are getting an opportunity on the bigger stage and I only applaud that. I'm very grateful and happy for that."

'Visibility matters'


Welch and Allison will take charge of Premier League matches over the Christmas period

The Premier League also announced that Sam Allison will take charge of the game between Sheffield United and Luton at Bramall Lane on Boxing Day, making him the first black referee in the top-flight for 15 years.

Uriah Rennie, the league's last black referee, retired from officiating in English football's top four divisions in 2009. The EFL's last non-white referee - Jarnail Singh - retired in 2010.

The Football Association laid out plans in July to recruit 50% more referees from "historically under-represented" backgrounds by 2026, aiming to add 1,000 women referees and 1,000 black or Asian referees at all levels of football in three years.

Currently, 8% of officials are of black or Asian ethnicity, but only 3% in professional football.

"Referees up and down the land are waking up this morning and thinking there are no barriers to get to the top," anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out posted on X, formerly Twitter.

"Visibility matters. Well done to FA-PGMOL and organisations like BAMRef for helping to create those journeys. There are many more inspirational stories to be told."

BAMRef, a group offering guidance, support, mentoring and counselling to black, Asian and mixed heritage referees, also welcomed the news regarding Allison.

"Sam's appointment is another significant step in the right direction towards refereeing reflecting society and the playing contingent within football," a group statement read.

"It is a culmination of years of hard work by BAMRef members and we hope to continue our work further with both the FA and PGMOL leadership to identify and progress more officials from black, Asian and mixed heritage communities."



https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67730371

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Wolves, Fulham monitoring explosive Marseille winger with view to January transfer window raid
Premier League duo Wolves and Fulham are reportedly keeping tabs on the situation of a former Premier League winger ahead of the opening of the January transfer window.

Gary O'Neil and Marco Silva are both expected to be handed funds to improve their squads in the new year, and the latest reports suggest that former Watford attacker Ismaila Sarr is on the radar of both clubs.

The 25-year-old moved to Marseille over the summer after spending four years at Vicarage Road, during which time he scored 34 goals in 131 games for the Hornets.

The French side paid an undisclosed fee for Sarr but he has struggled to show any sort of consistency in Ligue 1 so far, scoring three times in 13 league outings.

The Senegal international started the last two league games on the bench and there are suggestions that Marseille could consider offers for him in January.

Sarr remains a highly-rated player in England, having been a target for the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton in the past, but now it's Wolves and Fulham who are being linked with a new year swoop for the player.

Reports suggest that both clubs monitoring Sarr's situation at Marseille closely and are waiting to see whether he becomes available in January.

However, at this stage, it remains to be seen whether Marseille are prepared to give up on the winger and try and cash in during the winter window.

But if he does move, there is every likelihood that Sarr will end up back in England, having enjoyed success with Watford in the Premier League in the past.

The former Rennes star would likely represent good value for money, given his English top-flight experience, while he has also scored 11 goals in 56 games for Senegal.

Wolves and Fulham are both back in Premier League action over the weekend, with O'Neill's men heading to West on Sunday while the Cottagers travel to Newcastle on Saturday.



https://www.teamtalk.com/news/wolves-fulham-monitoring-explosive-marseille-winger-with-view-january-transfer-window-raid

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Sources: Fulham head to Celtic clash to scout Gimenez
Fulham scouts watched Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez in action against Celtic at Parkhead on Wednesday (13 December), sources have told Football Insider.

It is believed the Cottagers have an interest in the 22-year-old forward and he is a player on their shortlist as the January transfer window approaches.

Gimenez has been in red-hot form in the 2023-24 campaign so far and grabbed an assist on the night as Feyenoord were beaten 2-1 by Celtic in the Champions League.

Football Insider revealed on Monday (11 December) that the Mexico international is one of three strikers Chelsea are monitoring ahead of the January window.

The Argentina-born ace has notched 20 goals and four assists in 20 appearances across all competitions so far in the 2023-24 campaign.

He also hit 28 goals last term to help Feyenoord win the Eredivisie title.

Gimenez signed a fresh contract in August, keeping him at De Kuip until June 2027.

Fulham are on the hunt for striking reinforcements despite their recent rich vein of goalscoring form.

The Cottagers have hit five goals in each of their last two Premier League games having struggled at the sharp end of the pitch earlier this season.

Football Insider revealed on 11 November that Marco Silva's side are ready to smash their transfer record to bring a new striker to the club in January.

It is believed the Cottagers could spend £40million-plus on a forward if the right option becomes available in the mid-season window.

Fulham sit 10th in the top flight despite allowing former talisman Aleksandar Mitrović to leave for Al-Hilal in the most recent summer window.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-fulham-head-to-celtic-clash-to-scout-gimenez/

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Marco Silva predicts 'harder than easier' Newcastle challenge amid Champions League 'fuel'
Silva's in form Fulham make the trip up to the North East on Saturday

Marco Silva insists he is "not surprised at all" by Fulham's impressive form, despite his side securing remarkable back-to-back 5-0 victories in their last two Premier League contests.

The Cottagers have also scored 17 times in their last five league meetings, and will hope to keep the floodgates open when they travel to Newcastle on Saturday.

Four of those goals are from Raul Jimenez, who has come into his own and inspired what Silva feels is a boost in collective freedom of expression in recent weeks.

Asked if Fulham were exceeding his expectations, Silva said: "No. If you ask me if it's normal to win two games 5-0 like we did, I have to say that no, sometimes in this league to win 1-0 or 2-1 is so difficult, imagine to win two games in a row.

"This is, of course I'm going to be honest with you, something that is really, really tough because I don't know how many years since [it has been done], that shows how difficult it is to do it.

"But the way we played, you're talking about performance, you're talking about expressing ourselves. I'm not at all surprised because it is the way we prepare ourselves, our players, it's the way we want to play.

"Of course we are adjusting things, we are trying to add some things for our game, but I know if you can start the game confident, if you can focus, [you see] the two games, after our team scored the first goal in both games we started to express ourselves much better.

"It's part of the process, when things come in the right direction things can happen in the way we did it, but about the performance I'm not surprised at all."

Silva believes Newcastle's midweek Champions League exit will only serve as fuel for the hosts to prove a point in their return to domestic action, predicting it will be a "harder than easier" encounter with Eddie Howe's seventh-placed side, who he characterised as "one of the most intense teams" in the division.

Nevertheless, the Portuguese boss is confident 10th-placed Fulham, whose last three victories - against Wolves, Nottingham Forest and West Ham - have all come at Craven Cottage, have what it takes to walk away with at least a point at St James' Park.

He added: "We are going to win more games away from home. I have no doubts about it. We have to keep performing in the way we have been doing, keep believing and the good things will come."



https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/marco-silva-predicts-harder-easier-28297913

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Sunderland player told to snub Premier League move amid Nottingham Forest and Fulham interest
Pierre Ekwah is attracting admirers from the Premier League, but Carlton Palmer thinks that he is best staying where he is for now

    Pierre Ekwah's impressive form at Sunderland has attracted interest from Premier League clubs Crystal Palace, Fulham, and Nottingham Forest.
    Former England player Carlton Palmer believes Ekwah should prioritize regular game-time over a move to a top flight club to continue his development.
    Sunderland could demand a significant fee for Ekwah, potentially in excess of £10 million, given his contract length and potential for improvement.

Sunderland's model of signing young players on the cheap to develop into Championship stars has certainly brought through a few gems so far, with one of those being Pierre Ekwah.

In the first half of last season, Ekwah was playing under-21's football for West Ham United before the Wearsiders took a punt on him, and it wouldn't be long before he was making an impact in men's football for the very first time.

Ekwah's form since joining Sunderland in early 2023 has not gone unnoticed, and now a trio of Premier League clubs are monitoring him ahead of the January transfer window opening.

TEAMtalk revealed this week that Crystal Palace, Fulham and Nottingham Forest are all interested in the 21-year-old, and now it remains to be seen if any offers come in for the defensive midfielder next month - although they'd certainly have to be significant for the Black Cats to consider selling mid-season.

Palmer: Ekwah should favour regular game-time over Premier League move
Former England international footballer Carlton Palmer thinks that although it would be a blow to Sunderland if they did end up selling Ekwah, the Frenchman should snub a transfer to a top flight club as it is unlikely that he would receive any immediate game-time - and that could stall his development.

Pierre Ekwah, Sunderland's powerful young midfielder, is making quite a name for himself this season, which has seen the likes of Crystal Palace, Fulham and Nottingham Forest all register an interest in acquiring his services," Palmer said when speaking to Football League World.

"Pierre joined Sunderland for no up-front fee when he left West Ham, and West Ham retain 25 per cent of any sale and payment was agreed for the player when he signed for Sunderland when he reaches a certain amount of appearances.

"Pierre left West Ham in search of first-team football to play under Mowbray at Sunderland, so I'm not sure he wants to go back to a Premier League club where he faces a lack of game-time again.

The figure being banded around at present is £3.5 million, but Sunderland could demand even more given the length of his contract, which still has three-and-a-half years left to run.

"This would be a huge blow to Sunderland to lose such a player, but this is the model they're looking to adopt - buy young players for low fees, develop them and sell them on for big profit."

Sunderland could demand eight-figure fee for Ekwah
Sitting at the base of Sunderland's midfield usually, Ekwah is quick, strong and also technically proficient, and he will often have shots from long range - they aren't always successful but his brace against Southampton in September showed that he is capable.

It's a surprise that it took the Frenchman until the age of 21 to play men's football for the very first time, but he is truly thriving at the Stadium of Light in a young, energetic engine room.

And there's every reason to believe that Sunderland can demand in excess of £10 million for Ekwah - he's contracted to the club until the summer of 2027 and he is only going to improve and become more polished with the more game-time he receives.

There are still things that Ekwah can learn and develop on, but if Sunderland sold him for anything less than £5 million then it would be a bit of a poor deal on their end - especially with West Ham owning a sell-on clause.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/carlton-palmer-sunderland-midfielder-pierre-ekwah-should-snub-transfer-amid-nottingham-forest-and-fulham-interest/

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 Marco Silva insists he's 'not surprised' at Fulham's back-to-back 5-0 victories as his side attempt to take their impressive home form on the road ahead of Saturday's trip to Newcastle

    Marco Silva revealed Fulham's recent dominance has not come as a surprise
    But 46-year-old insisted his side will have to be at their best to defeat Newcastle

Marco Silva insists he is 'not surprised at all' by Fulham's impressive form, despite his side securing remarkable back-to-back 5-0 victories in their last two Premier League contests.

The Cottagers have also scored 17 times in their last five league meetings, and will hope to keep the floodgates open when they travel to Newcastle on Saturday.

Four of those goals are from Raul Jimenez, who has come into his own and inspired what Silva feels is a boost in collective freedom of expression in recent weeks.

Asked if Fulham were exceeding his expectations, Silva said: 'No. If you ask me if it's normal to win two games 5-0 like we did, I have to say that no, sometimes in this league to win 1-0 or 2-1 is so difficult, imagine to win two games in a row.

'This is, of course I'm going to be honest with you, something that is really, really tough because I don't know how many years since [it has been done], that shows how difficult it is to do it.


Marco Silva insisted Fulham's remarkable recent form is a reflection of their preparation
 

The Cottagers boss heaped praise on Raul Jimenez after his recent performances for the club
 

But he insisted his side have to maintain their home form while impressing on the road

'But the way we played, you're talking about performance, you're talking about expressing ourselves. I'm not at all surprised because it is the way we prepare ourselves, our players, it's the way we want to play.

'Of course we are adjusting things, we are trying to add some things for our game, but I know if you can start the game confident, if you can focus, [you see] the two games, after our team scored the first goal in both games we started to express ourselves much better.

'It's part of the process, when things come in the right direction things can happen in the way we did it, but about the performance I'm not surprised at all.'

Silva believes Newcastle's midweek Champions League exit will only serve as fuel for the hosts to prove a point in their return to domestic action, predicting it will be a 'harder than easier' encounter with Eddie Howe's seventh-placed side, who he characterised as 'one of the most intense teams' in the division.

Nevertheless, the Portuguese boss is confident 10th-placed Fulham, whose last three victories - against Wolves, Nottingham Forest and West Ham - have all come at Craven Cottage, have what it takes to walk away with at least a point at St James' Park.

He added: 'We are going to win more games away from home. I have no doubts about it. We have to keep performing in the way we have been doing, keep believing and the good things will come.'



https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-12869807/Marco-Silva-insists-hes-not-surprised-Fulhams-5-0-victories.html

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Ream set to miss several Fulham matches with calf injury
Tim Ream will be out until at least Christmas with a calf injury, Fulham head coach Marco Silva has said.

After starting all but one of Fulham's matches this season, Ream has missed the club's past two games. The 36-year-old was an unused substitute against Nottingham Forest before missing the squad entirely against West Ham. Fulham won both games 5-0.

In his press conference ahead of Saturday's game against Newcastle, Silva said Ream was set to miss several more games.

"Tim Ream is going to be out, and Adama [Traore] as well. All the others are going to be available for the match," Silva said.

"Tim felt something after we played against Nottingham at home. He felt something in his calf. Let's see. We have to keep assessing him, keep recovering him. He's doing rehabilitation with the medical department."

Asked for more details on Ream's status, Silva responded: "He's not training. It's probably going to be early for him [to return] before Christmas."

After Saturday's game against Newcastle, Ream will miss Tuesday's Carabao Cup quarterfinal against Everton, as well as the following weekend's league match against Burnley.

Ream could potentially return when Fulham faces Bournemouth on Boxing Day, or in a New Year's Eve matchup with Arsenal.



https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/2023/12/15/tim-ream-injury-news-fulham-defender-calf/

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Swansea City U18s to host Fulham in fourth round of FA Youth Cup
Swansea City Under-18s will face their Fulham at home in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.

The young Swans advanced to this stage of the prestigious competition thanks to a 2-1 victory over Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Tuesday night.

They will face the winner of the still-to-be-played third round tie between Cardiff and the Cottagers.

Fourth-round fixtures must be played by Saturday, January 20 2024.

Fixture details will be confirmed in due course.



https://www.swanseacity.com/news/swansea-city-u18s-host-fulham-fourth-round-fa-youth-cup

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Fulham send scouts to watch Santiago Gimenez

Fulham are still interested in Santiago Gimenez after scouting the Mexican striker in Feyenoord's latest Champions League clash.
According to Football Insider, Fulham recently scouted Santiago Gimenez during Feyenoord's Champions League clash. The Mexican forward has remained a target for the Cottagers, with Marco Silva reportedly open to spending big on a centre-forward in January.

Santiago Gimenez has made a solid mark on suitors following a goal-laden campaign. The Mexican's 18 Eredivisie strikes have not taken them above PSV Eindhoven in the standings but have kept Feyenoord in the hunt for another title.

He has 20 goals in all competitions, with two coming in the Champions League. At the same time, Feyenoord crashed out of the match well before their last group-stage game against Celtic, where Gimenez grabbed an assist.

Watching the game were Fulham observers, with the Cottagers seemingly interested in the striker for a few months now. The London outfit were told to pay a record fee to sign the Mexican striker, as Marco Silva remains open to spending big in January on a forward.

Fulham have not entirely replaced Aleksandar Mitrovic since his move to Saudi Arabia. Another Mexican, Raul Jimenez, has recently found his rhythm in the side, as he helped the Cottagers up front, as Silva's side scored five goals in each of their last two Premier League games.

With the recent scouting mission on Gimenez, it's clear Fulham have maintained their interest in the 20-goal star, despite a host of other clubs also keen. Tottenham have also scouted the Mexican, and Chelsea are among the sides keeping close tabs on his situation at Feyenoord.

Other clubs, including Real Madrid, have also shown an interest, but whether they will come in to sign him next month remains the question. Earlier, Gimenez reiterated his desire to stay at Feyenoord beyond January, but things could change following their Champions League exit.

Like most Premier League sides, Fulham has the financial means to broker a big deal for the Mexican striker. Gimenez might also open his doors to a move to England but might wait to see which other club comes into the equation.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2023/12/16/fulham-send-scouts-to-watch-santiago-gimenez/

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Fulham (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction
It's been a tough old week for Newcastle United, who followed heavy back-to-back defeats to Everton and Spurs  with a devastating 2-1 loss to AC Milan on Wednesday, where we went from closing in on the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League to crashing out of Europe altogether.

We're left licking our wounds and in desperate need of a win to lift the low mood across Tyneside, yet face a Fulham side who have enjoyed a sudden upturn in form just as we've struggled.

While we've shipped nine goals in our last three, losing all of them, Marco Silva's side have delivered back-to-back 5-0 wins at home against Nottingham Forest and Fulham, with their last away day an unfortunate 4-3 defeat at Anfield.

Speaking ahead of the game, Eddie Howe delivered this message, urging his players to override the 'negative narrative', show resilience and respond:

"The mood is good, there is some pain and anguish, but that can't stay around in professional football.

"The turnaround is so quick and now focus is on Fulham. It is going to be a big test of our resilience.

"I think there will be a negative narrative externally and we have to override that. Exiting Europe is a disappointment, but it doesn't have to have an effect on us afterwards. That's down to us, we need to respond."

Team news

Trippier is suspended, Gordon faces a late fitness test, Botman could make the bench, Barnes and Willock won't be back until January and Burn could return to league action after his cameo in midweek.

For Fulham, Willian will be checked after a hamstring issue, but Adama Traore and Tim Ream have both been ruled out.

Predicted XI: Dubravka – Livramento, Lascelles, Schar, Burn – Longstaff, Bruno, Joelinton – Almiron, Isak, Gordon.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-1 Fulham

This one won't be easy against a Fulham side who've scored 13 goals in their last three league games, but I back us to bounce back with a hard-fought win. HWTL!



https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2023/12/16/fulham-h-pre-match-thoughts-team-news-possible-line-ups-prediction-2/