Friday Fulham Stuff - 5/01/24

[WhiteJC]

Up next: Rotherham United (h)
The fabled magic of the FA Cup has definitely diminished in recent years, but third round weekend remains one of the highlights of the English footballing calendar. With all of the west London sides being drawn at home, this fixture has been switched to a Friday night – which will no doubt hit the attendance figures, especially for the Rotherham United supporters who might well have been looking forward to a Saturday in London. The Millers had sold 700 tickets yesterday afternoon, which is an exceptional effort given that they are some fourteen months and 28 games without a win away from home.

Marco Silva has spoken in glowing terms about the tradition and importance of the FA Cup – and there is definitely a feeling within the Fulham squad that the club have some unfinished business with the competition, having led 1-0 at Old Trafford in last season's quarter-final until those three red cards turned of the Whites' most impressive away performances in years into a routine victory for Erik ten Hag's side. Ironically, Fulham's historic progression to next week's League Cup semi-finals – as well as local derby looming into view the following weekend, of course – could impact on just how strong a side Silva sends out for this particular fixture – but the Fulham head coach asserted that will fully focused on taking on the Championship strugglers.

The hosts should head into this contest in good spirits after their outstanding victory over Arsenal, where they came from behind to cast more doubt on the validity of Mikel Arteta's title challenge. Whilst Silva's side played some exquisite football, their desire and determination was striking as they both recorded a first win over one of the top six in the Portuguese head coach's tenure but also ended a worrying run of three straight defeats in the best possible manner. The team that starts this evening will likely look a little different to the eleven that began the game against the Gunners, but the Cup tie should offer an opportunity to a few fringe figures in the first team squad.

For instance, Marek Rodak, who enjoyed two successful loan spells with Rotherham, should get a rare outing in goal in place of Bernd Leno. Kenny Tete could come back into the side at right back, with Timothy Castagne, who was excellent against Arsenal, moving over to the left flank. There will have to be a change in the centre of defence, with Calvin Bassey now preparing for the forthcoming African Cup of Nations with Nigeria, and as this fixture comes too soon for Tim Ream, Silva has the opportunity of playing Issa Diop or academy prospect Luc de Fougerolles. The midfield could be overhauled as well with the likes of Harrison Reed and Sasa Lukic replacing Joao Palhinha and Tom Cairney, whilst Andreas Pereira, Harry Wilson, Carlos Vinicius and Rodrigo Muniz will all be looking to gain minutes.

The Millers, who won just two of their first fifteen league fixtures before dispensing with the services of Matt Taylor, have begun to hit form under new manager Leam Richardson. They registered an impressive win over Middlesbrough and earned creditable points against Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers. Richardson's squad includes a number of players who featured regularly against Fulham when the Whites were plugging away in the Championship, like former Cardiff City captain Sean Morrison and the ex-Hull City pair of Sam Clucas and Tom Eaves as well as the former Preston North End centre forward Jordan Hugill. Rotherham's record signing is the brother of former Fulham academy striker Jean-Pierre Tiehi.

Richardson will have to juggle a lengthy injury list as he plans changes to his side with securing Championship safety remaining his number one priority. Rotherham will be without Tyler Blackett, Daniel Ayala, Andre Green, Lee Peltier, Grant Hall, Cameron Humphreys-Grant, Fred Onyedinma and Shane Ferguson through injury, whilst the recalled Peter Kioso is ineligible for this game having already featured in the FA Cup whilst on loan with Peterborough United. Rotherham haven't reached the fourth round of the competition since 2002 – but Fulham will need to beware the predatory instincts of striker Sam Nombe, who scored 27 goals in 85 games at Exeter City before moving to the Millers in August.

The Premier League side will be firm favourites to book a place in round four, but Fulham will require a professional performance to avoid the kind of upset that has plagued the Whites in previous years.

MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Rodak; Tete, Castagne, Diop, de Fougerolles; Reed, Lukic; Wilson, De Cordova-Reid, Pereira; Vinicius. Subs: Wickens, Tanton, Adarabioyo, Palhinha, Cairney, Willian, O'Neill, Muniz, Jimenez.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/01/up-next-rotherham-united-h/

[WhiteJC]

Arsenal win should not diminish importance of transfer window business for Fulham
Amid the haze of the foggy period between Christmas and New Year, the excitement of festive football can often ease worries and cause concerns to be overlooked.

That is certainly how it felt on the final day of 2023 at Craven Cottage as Fulham came from behind to beat title-chasing Arsenal and end a run of three consecutive league games without a win.

Marco Silva and Mikel Arteta admitted afterwards that the Whites had deserved the victory, with goals from Raul Jimenez and Bobby De Cordova-Reid a justified reward for a well-co-ordinated game plan and showing the confidence to stick with it after Bukayo Saka had opened the scoring early on.

Beating Arsenal was a landmark for Fulham. They had not previously overcome the Gunners since 2012, and since their latest return to the Premier League the only member of the traditional 'Big Six' they have enjoyed success against was an out-of-sorts Chelsea almost a year ago.

A stoppage-time point was snatched at the Emirates earlier this term but late defeats to both Manchester United and Liverpool left the Cottage faithful desperate for the sort of scalp that typified their best years in the Premier League under Roy Hodgson.

Beating Arsenal in such convincing fashion, and moving closer to the European places than the relegation zone in the process, will have supporters dreaming of those days returning once more as the new year begins in earnest.

Yet Fulham's struggles in the three league games beforehand should not be ignored, particularly with the January transfer window now open.

Perhaps defeats at the hands of cash-rich Newcastle and in-form Bournemouth should be expected, and having to play with 10 men at St James' Park for more than an hour following a red card for Jimenez makes it a difficult game to properly assess.

Nobody has epitomised Fulham's fluctuating fortunes quite like Jimenez. The Mexican's early winter goal rush established him as Silva's undoubted first choice upfront, and his 32-game wait for a Premier League goal now seems a very long time ago.

Rodrigo Muniz and Carlos Vinicius have both been linked with moves away since, and their lack of impact during Jimenez's suspension is a clear indication that Fulham still require attacking reinforcements.

With Willian also missing due to a hamstring injury, Fulham failed to score against Newcastle, Burnley or Bournemouth.

Against a Burnley side that had previously only won this season against teams they were promoted with from the Championship last term, it was a case of not taking chances rather than the inability to create them which dogged the early months of the campaign.

Muniz and Vinicius had four shots at goal between them without ever looking like scoring.

Losing to Bournemouth was an altogether more harrowing experience. Joao Palhinha was walked past for the Cherries' first goal and clumsy when conceding the penalty for the second.

An out of character afternoon was summed up by Bernd Leno getting involved in an altercation with a ball boy before Bournemouth scored their third late on.

This created pressure on both the Arsenal game and off-field matters in January.

Fulham found themselves six points clear of the bottom three – the same position they had been in before their upturn in fortunes at the end of November – and were facing a fourth game in a row without scoring for the first time since December 1999.

The response under pressure from Silva and his players was emphatic but the situation they found themselves in should be what guides their approach to the window rather than allowing one excellent result to make it seem that all is well.

Fulham have not won a league game this season without Willian starting. His quality is obvious and his influence on Fulham's attack down the left flank is undeniable, but he is 35 and out of contract in the summer.

Jimenez's return to form has been surprising and heart-warming. Although the 32-year-old has only been absent through suspension so far this term, he is clearly also at an age where he requires support in the form of an eventual successor.

Palhinha's departure seems inevitable at some point given how consistently excellent he has been in the Premier League.

Replacing him like-for-like will be near enough impossible, yet the ambition that is shown in trying to do so will say a lot about whether the club can offer Silva the tools to continue building on the success of the past two-and-a-half years.

A first-ever EFL Cup semi-final in the coming weeks is yet another sign of the fine job Silva is doing.

Rather than expecting him to make the most of what he's got, vice-chairman Tony Khan and chief executive Alistair Mackintosh should consider just how good things could get if January goes well.




https://londonnewsonline.co.uk/arsenal-win-should-not-diminish-importance-of-transfer-window-business-for-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

Harris earns PL2 player of the month nomination
Promising Fulham midfielder Luke Harris has been nominated for the PL2 player of the month award for December.

The Welsh under-21 international scored once and notched up a pair of assists during the league action last month and this honour is the talented youngster's third such nomination since he moved up from the under-18 level at Motspur Park. Harris made one and scored another in the 3-0 win over Brighton and Hove Albion at the start of December, before setting up Kristian Šekularac to secure a crucial point at Aston Villa when Hayden Mullins' men had been reduced to ten men.

Harris is up against Norwich City's Kenneth Abo, Ryan Bartley of Derby County, Wolves centre back Justin Hubner, West Ham striker Callum Marshall, Everton's attacker Francis Okoronkwo and the Norwich goalkeeper Vicente Reyes, who were all nominated by their opposing coaches after excellent performances last month. The attacking midfielder joined Exeter City on loan and has gone straight into Gary Caldwell's squad for the Grecians' game against Carlisle United tomorrow afternoon.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/01/harris-earns-pl2-player-of-the-month-nomination/

[WhiteJC]

Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai ruled out of Arsenal, Fulham matches
 Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Dominik Szoboszlai will miss the Reds' next two matches with a hamstring injury.

The Hungary international has been a driving force in the Liverpool midfield since his summer move from RB Leipzig, scoring four goals and setting up three more in 26 appearances in all tournaments.

After being restricted to a substitute appearance against Burnley on Boxing Day, Szoboszlai returned to the starting lineup against Newcastle United on New Year's Day, where Liverpool opened up a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League table with a 4-2 win.

Szoboszlai only lasted 64 minutes of the clash with the Magpies before being replaced by Ryan Gravenberch, though, and he was visibly struggling with an injury as he made his way to the dugout.

Klopp confirmed immediately after the match that the 23-year-old had hurt his hamstring, although he did not speculate on his serious Szoboszlai's issue was at the time.

However, the Liverpool boss issued an update when he faced the media on Friday ahead of Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie with Arsenal, a game which Szoboszlai has "no chance" of playing in.

The former RB Leipzig man is also set to miss next Wednesday's EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Fulham, but his injury is not a serious one, and he could potentially be back in action when Liverpool travel to Bournemouth on January 21.

"I can confirm it's not a potential injury – it is an injury. Muscle, hamstring. But now we have to see," Klopp admitted. "Dom is very positive, doesn't have a lot of pain but we have to wait a little bit

"So, no chance obviously for Sunday, not for Wednesday. No. And then we will see, after that hopefully he might be back but we don't know."

On a brighter note, Klopp confirmed that no other fresh concerns have arisen since Monday's triumph, adding: "Besides that, nothing else really happened. The rest were yesterday available and fully fit, so let's hope that's today the same and we will have to make a choice."

Szoboszlai will be one of nine absentees for Liverpool at the Emirates, a list which also includes Africa Cup of Nations-bound Mohamed Salah and Asian Cup-bound Wataru Endo, who will be turning out for Egypt and Japan respectively.

Stefan Bajcetic (calf), Ben Doak (knee), Kostas Tsimikas (collarbone), Joel Matip (ACL), Andrew Robertson (shoulder) and Thiago Alcantara (hip) are also out of contention, although the latter is expected to return to team training at some point this month.

With Szoboszlai and Endo unavailable, Alexis Mac Allister and Gravenberch are set to return to the Liverpool engine room alongside Curtis Jones, although Harvey Elliott represents an alternative option.

Salah's absence and Doak's knee injury also means that Liverpool have no recognised right-winger for the trip to North London, although Diogo Jota or Cody Gakpo could deputise in that area.

Liverpool came from behind to hold Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates on December 23, but they have lost their last three FA Cup ties with the Gunners, most recently being beaten 2-1 at the Emirates in the 2013-14 campaign.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/arsenal/fa-cup/news/liverpools-dominik-szoboszlai-ruled-out-of-arsenal-fulham-matches_533007.html?newsnow

[WhiteJC]

Bayern line up Tosin move
Bayern Munich are mulling over a potential move for Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo, according to reports in the German press this morning.

The Bavarian giants had been heavily linked with a return for Portuguese international Joao Palhinha this month after coming close to signing the former Sporting Lisbon schemer last summer. But Bayern have reportedly switched targets and sent scouts to watch Adarabioyo, who has impressed on his return to Marco Silva's starting line-up following groin surgery, during Fulham's 3-0 defeat at AFC Bournemouth on Boxing Day.

Thomas Tuchel has identified a new centre back as his transfer priority in January although Bayern will face competition from a number of clubs who hold an interest in the 26 year-old. Napoli have been heavily linked with Adarabioyo in the past week, whilst the ball-playing centre half was reportedly close to joining AS Monaco and Tottenham Hotspur during the summer transfer window. He is out of contract at the end of the season and can open discussions with foreign clubs about a pre-contract agreement this month.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/01/bayern-line-up-tosin-move/

[WhiteJC]

Report: Bayern Munich Bold Move for Premier League Duo

Bayern Munich's Transfer Targets: Joao Palhinha and Trevoh Chalobah
Bayern Munich's Renewed Pursuit in the Transfer Market

As reported by Miguel Delaney in The Independent, Bayern Munich are set to reignite their interest in Fulham's Joao Palhinha and Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah this January. This development comes as manager Thomas Tuchel aims to bolster his squad, particularly focusing on strengthening the team's midfield.

Tuchel's Strategic Vision
Thomas Tuchel's preference to sign both Palhinha and Chalobah underscores his strategic vision for Bayern Munich. Despite being content with his current team, Tuchel recognizes a gap in the midfield that needs addressing. The team's high-scoring prowess in Europe has often been marred by a noticeable fragility in the central midfield area.

Summer Transfer Window Challenges
During the summer transfer window, Tuchel had identified these issues, but the signing of Harry Kane from Tottenham took precedence. A loan deal for Chalobah fell through, and negotiations for Palhinha stretched to the wire on deadline day. Unfortunately, the deal could not be completed in time, despite Palhinha having travelled to Munich airport in anticipation.

Resurrecting the Deals in January
The January transfer window presents a new opportunity for Bayern to secure these key targets. Negotiations will need to be revisited with Fulham for Palhinha, who has become an integral part of Marco Silva's team. Palhinha's significance to Fulham is heightened by their pursuit of the Carabao Cup, where they face Liverpool in the semi-finals.

Chalobah's Potential Move to Bayern
The situation with Chalobah at Chelsea could facilitate a smoother transfer. With Chelsea needing to comply with Profit and Sustainability Rules and looking to make their purchases in January, a move for Chalobah seems more feasible. Tuchel's admiration for Chalobah, stemming from their time together at Stamford Bridge, adds a personal dimension to the potential transfer. Chalobah's limited involvement in Chelsea's Premier League campaign this season under Mauricio Pochettino might also influence his decision.

Impact on Fulham and Chelsea
For Fulham, losing Palhinha mid-season could be a significant blow, especially with their aspirations for domestic silverware. Silva's tactics heavily rely on Palhinha's presence in midfield. Chelsea's situation with Chalobah, however, seems more conducive to a move, given the player's current standing in the team and the club's financial considerations.

Conclusion
Bayern Munich's intent to pursue both Palhinha and Chalobah reflects a strategic move to strengthen the core of the team. These potential signings signify Tuchel's commitment to addressing the midfield issues that have hampered Bayern's consistency. If successful, these transfers could significantly enhance Bayern Munich's prospects, particularly in their Champions League campaign.



https://eplindex.com/101717/report-bayern-munich-bold-move-for-premier-league-duo.html

[Bill2]

Silva faces disrepute charge
Marco Silva has been charged with breaching Football Association rules after claiming that referee Sam Barrott wasn't experienced enough to officiate Fulham's game at Newcastle United last month.

The Fulham boss was furious that Raul Jimenez was sent off for a wild tackle but that Jamal Lascelles, who had elbowed the Mexican striker in the face, escaped any punishment. His trenchant criticism in the post-match interviews after Fulham's 3-0 defeat has now seen him charged.

A statement from the FA this afternoon read:

"Fulham Football Club's manager Marco Silva has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 following their Premier League game against Newcastle United on Saturday 16 December 2023. It's alleged that his comments in the post-match media interviews following the fixture, constitute improper conduct in that they imply bias and/or question the integrity of, and/or are insulting towards the match official and/or the Video Assistant Referee, an/or bring the game into disrepute.

Marco Silva has until Monday 8 January to provide a response."



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/01/silva-faces-disrepute-charge/

Maybe he should mention that Martinelli who did exactly the same tackle as Jimenez against Brighton a day later was not even given a yellow card. Was our ref too inexperienced, or the one refing the Arsenal game. Consistency is a word not in the refereeing dictionary.

[WhiteJC]

Premier League Financial Fair Play rules explained: What restrictions are there on clubs spending what they want?
Premier League Financial Fair Play and UEFA Profit and Sustainability Rules explained with clubs wary of staying within limits in January Transfer Window; why Chelsea have been able to spend £1bn, Man Utd could see budget boosted and Arsenal may need outgoings to fund arrivals

FFP, or Financial Fair Play if we're being formal, can be an enigma. A mystery. A good way of avoiding questions about your transfer plans.

The one thing we all know is there are some hefty spreadsheets involved, and in recent times more than a few run-ins with the authorities.

Everton were docked 10 points in November for falling foul of the Premier League's financial regulations, while Manchester City have been under investigation by the league for nearly a year regarding more than 100 alleged breaches spanning almost a decade.

So what is it in the rules stopping Arsenal putting down big money on a new striker in January, or Todd Boehly adding another £1bn onto his wishlist at Chelsea - and could Manchester United receive a surprise winter war chest if Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment is ratified in time?

Financial Fair Play cheat sheet
Premier League clubs can...

    Make 'allowable' losses of up to £5m/season (averaged over three seasons)
    Increase that figure to £35m/year with owner investment (averaged over three seasons)
    Spread out any transfer costs over a maximum of five years

What are the Premier League's Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules?
In the simplest terms, when every Premier League team tots up their annual accounts, they can have made a loss no greater than £105m across the previous three seasons.

Sounds straightforward, but don't worry - this would be a very short article if it were that easy. There are a fair few caveats and subclauses to get through before any club can find itself in the clear, or not...

For a start, not all losses are created equal.

Clubs can only lose £15m of their own money across those three years. So that's no more than £15m extra on outgoings like transfer fees, player wages and, in a lot of clubs' cases, paying off former managers compared to their income from TV payments, season tickets, selling players and so on.

The other £90m of any £105m must be guaranteed by their owners buying up shares, known as 'secure funding', and essentially means bankrolling the club.

If any club owner isn't feeling that flashy, or can't find the best part of £100m down the back of the sofa, that doesn't leave much wiggle room. And some Premier League clubs have expensive tastes.

Only Chelsea, Everton and Leicester utilised that full amount in the most recent published accounts (for the 2021/22 season) - with nine clubs, including Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United receiving no equity injection.

Oh, and for sides who have spent any of the last three seasons in the EFL, owners can only put in £8m of secure funding for those years, leaving an overall maximum annual loss of £13m for the campaigns in question.

What counts towards FFP and what doesn't?
Talking of expensive tastes, let's start off with transfer fees. Premier League clubs spent almost £2.4bn in the 2023 summer transfer window, an average of £120m each. But those signings won't all come out of their budgets at once.

Using a process called amortisation, clubs are able to treat players as 'assets' in a financial sense rather than one big outgoing - even if they do pay the whole cost up front.

If you sign a £50m player on a five-year contract, they are 'worth' £50m at the start and £0 at the end in your accounts, so can be put down as a £10m loss every year.

That's exactly why we've seen Chelsea and other clubs signing players on contracts as long as eight years, and why Premier League clubs voted in December to limit spreading those transfer fees over a maximum of five years from now on.

Beyond the creative accounting, there are a number of expenses which do not count towards FFP whatsoever, such as club infrastructure, any associated women's teams and academy costs.

There was also some added leeway granted for the unforeseen income drop caused by Covid-19, but the three-year FFP cycle including 2020/21, the last without fans, ended in 2022/23 and will not have any bearing on this season.

How do UEFA's own rules affect teams hoping to play in Europe?
If you're following so far I'm afraid UEFA's own, somewhat different set of rules are about to complicate matters further.

For a start, since the start of this season they have dropped the 'Financial Fair Play' moniker as the heads of European football have said their new rules are not designed to create a level playing field, but rather force clubs to live within their means.

In the same style as the Premier League, clubs are permitted to make three-year losses of €60m (£51.8m), with €55m (£21.5m) of that through 'secure funding' from owners.

But for anyone feeling the pinch from those lower numbers, there's also the added cushion of an additional €30m (£25.9m) loss allowed for clubs who UEFA deems in good financial standing, for a total of €90m (£77.7m) over the previous three years.

That's still lower than the Premier League - but it is an improvement on the €30m three-season loss UEFA would permit before this season.

There's also a catch. Starting this season and tightening over the next two years, clubs will be increasingly bound by 'squad cost' limits - in essence, the amount they spend on wages, transfer fees (in amortisation form) and compensation as a proportion of their income.

That figure currently stands at 90 per cent, but will tighten to 70 per cent in 2025/26.

Football finance blog Swiss Ramble recently crunched the numbers on these figures, and found that out of the Premier League's 'big six', Arsenal (79 per cent), Chelsea (90) and Manchester United (86) would be in breach of those requirements on their current spending when the rules become more stringent.

How is UEFA's 'squad cost' ratio calculated?
The sum of...

    First-team and manager wages
    Player amortisation (transfer fees)
    Agent and intermediary costs
    Fees paid to pay off former players/managers

Divided by...

    Day-to-day income
    Incoming transfer player and manager fees
    Any other transfer income

How have Chelsea been able to spend so much in the Boehly era?
So with 800 words' worth of measures across England and Europe to adhere to, how were Chelsea able to spend £1bn on transfer fees across the first 12 months of the Boehly era?

It's worth noting they are currently being investigated by the Premier League and FA over payments received during the Roman Abramovich era - but let's look at the current state of play.

In terms of the financial situation surrounding the new ownership, outgoings play a big part in balancing the books.

The Blues have recouped almost £300m in player sales since the American's takeover, and unlike the way amortisation works on new signings, they can bank all of the money they make on outgoings at once in their accounts.

Many of the sales came from players brought through the academy - the likes of Mason Mount, Billy Gilmour, Ruben Loftus-Cheek - and can be banked as 'pure profit'.

For players like Kai Havertz, their sale price is offset against the amount their 'value' has already decreased - in his case 60 per cent of what Chelsea paid for him, the proportion of his contract he had already run down - and so the income from those players does not tally up quite as nicely.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has suggested Chelsea's recent signings have also come in on lower wages than those who have departed Stamford Bridge, too, while the £40m Infinite Athlete shirt sponsorship they signed in October is another boost to the balance sheet.

There is no guarantee it will be enough, and the fact Chelsea are willing to countenance parting with Conor Gallagher in January - despite starting all but one league game this season - does raise eyebrows.

Sky Sports News senior reporter Dharmesh Sheth explained all on The Transfer Show. He said: "What happened in the last transfer window, was they had this cut-off point of June 30 where there were a huge ranch of players sold who represented big, big profits for Chelsea to enable them in the next accounting year to go out and buy players again.

"We might see something similar happening this year as far as Chelsea are concerned. They will have that situation where they need to bring in more money if they want to go big again in the summer."

Whatever the exact situation regarding their current finances, we will find out more about the first year of the Boehly era very soon. Chelsea's accounts for 2022/23 are yet to be published, but the Premier League required their submission by December 31, and it has been reported any potential breaches will be made public by January 14.

Could Man Utd spend big in January after all?
For any Manchester United fans who have made it this far, here's some reward for your patience. Let's go back to that £90m secure funding, which can balloon the losses allowed by Premier League sides.

Under the Glazers, there has perhaps unsurprisingly been no sign of that over the last three years, meaning the club could only lose an average of £5m per year.

However, new investor Sir Jim has already committed a decent little sum of £245m to be earmarked on improving the state of the club.

So long as his investment is ratified by the Premier League before the end of January, theoretically that could mean the opportunity to commit some of that money to do business in the transfer window, through secure funding.

There are more caveats here, in that unlike most clubs Manchester United publish their quarterly financial results every three months.

Those show that for the first nine months of 2022/23, the club lost £31m - which even with the maximum level of secure funding would make things very tight to stay within FFP boundaries.

How things are looking in 2023/24 though is something only Sir Jim and the club themselves know at this stage. And unless the Premier League approve his investment by the end of the month, it won't have any effect their January business either way.

What's stopping Arsenal signing a striker?
Arsenal have been linked with a January move for a centre-forward some think could make or break their title hopes. More pressingly, it could also be make or break for their FFP budgets after handing Mikel Arteta a £200m war chest in the summer.

That left the Gunners' financial situation so finely balanced they have already deferred payment for David Raya from Brentford, bringing in the goalkeeper on an initial loan which will become permanent this summer, taking his transfer fee into a different accounting period.

It was not so long ago Arsenal were renowned for selling their best assets and replacing them with cheaper outlays - but a spending tally of around £510m over the last five transfer windows, a net spend of around £400m, bucks that trend significantly.

They have slashed their wage budget in that time and can use everyone's favourite accounting method to spread out the cost of their purchases - but having only returned to the Champions League for the first time in seven years this season, their revenues are still a way from catching up with their old lives as return customers at Europe's top table.

That plays some part in the Gunners' willingness to let a number of squad players depart the Emirates Stadium in January, with any potential income allowing the club to loosen the purse strings to some degree before the end of the month.



https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11661/13041990/premier-league-financial-fair-play-rules-explained-what-restrictions-are-there-on-clubs-spending-what-they-want

[WhiteJC]

Roberto Firmino offered to second Premier League club
Premier League side Fulham have been 'offered the chance to sign' former Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino.

The 32-year-old Brazilian is reportedly ready to leave Saudi Arabia after just half a season in the Pro League.

Firmino became one of the most high-profile stars to move to Saudi Arabia for big money last summer. He joined Al-Ahli after his eight-year stay at Liverpool came to an end following the expiry of his contract.

However, the former Hoffenheim star's stay in the Middle East has not gone to plan.

After scoring a hat-trick on his Saudi Pro League debut, the Brazilian hasn't netted since and has struggled for game time in recent months – last starting a game in October.

Recent reports have claimed that the forward – who also tragically lost his father in November – has 'lost patience' in Saudi Arabia and is seeking a return to either Europe or Brazil.

Sheffield United were one team recently linked with the man who scored 111 goals for Liverpool, while talkSPORT now claim that Fulham are 'among the Premier League clubs who have been offered the chance' to take on Firmino.

The report claims that Fulham are looking for an experienced striker to add to their squad, following the exit of Aleksandar Mitrovic (also to Saudi Arabia) last summer.

Marco Silva's side sit in 13th in the Premier League table after 20 games, while 32-year-old Raul Jimenez is their current top scorer with five goals.

Firmino was in the crowd at Anfield for the Reds' 4-2 win over Newcastle on New Year's Day, and told the club's official website of his 'emotional' return.

"I'm very happy to be back here at home, at Liverpool and the stadium as well, Anfield. I'm very grateful to God for bringing me these moments again, to watch the game. Of course I'm not playing but I watch the game and see the boys," he said.

"It's always emotional [to be here], you cannot forget you were here. We had a very good history here at the club that we achieved together and nobody can claim this history, it's already in the history [books]. We are here to support."



https://anfieldwatch.co.uk/roberto-firmino-offered-to-second-premier-league-club-liverpool-transfer-news/

[WhiteJC]

Roberto Firmino offered to Fulham

Intermediaries have reportedly offered Fulham the chance to sign Liverpool legend Roberto Firmino from Al-Ahli this month.

According to a report by talkSPORT, Roberto Firmino might return to the Premier League only six months after leaving Liverpool. The 32-year-old wants to leave Al-Ahli in the January transfer window after struggling to settle down at the Saudi Pro League club. And intermediaries have offered him to West London outfit Fulham.

Roberto Firmino: A Premier League Legend
Roberto Firmino is a Premier League legend after helping Liverpool win every trophy at the club level. The Brazilian international, who has turned out 55 times for his national side, was an unlikely success story for the Merseyside club, considering his strengths do not lie in scoring goals.

But the 32-year-old enjoyed unprecedented success with Liverpool before his stint ended in the summer transfer window last year. Firmino departed from Anfield as a free agent before joining Al-Ahli. The experienced attacker was one of many high-profile players moving to the Saudi Pro League, with the riches of the league attracting him.

The Liverpool legend started life with Al-Ahli superbly, scoring a hat-trick in his first game. He has also donned the captain's armband for the Saudi Pro League club. But that was as good as it got for Firmino, who has managed only three goals and three assists in 19 appearances thus far this season.

Premier League Return on the Cards?
Firmino has not found the back of the net since his Al-Ahli debut, struggling to make his mark for the club. The former Liverpool attacker wants to leave the Saudi Pro League club and might have the opportunity to return to the Premier League, with intermediaries offering him to many top-flight clubs, including Fulham.

Fulham will likely delve into the market for a striker in the January transfer window. Raul Jimenez replaced Aleksandar Mitrovic, who moved to the Saudi Pro League in the summer. While the Mexican international has produced some impressive performances, he has not been consistent. So, Roberto Firmino might be a viable target for Fulham if they target him.

Recent reports have linked the West London clubs with many strikers, including Andre Silva. But it will be interesting to see if the Cottagers decide to launch the offensive to sign Liverpool legend Firmino instead.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2024/01/05/roberto-firmino-offered-to-fulham/

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Vinicius 'close to Bahia move'
Fulham forward Carlos Vinicius is 'close to becoming a Bahia player,' according to reports from various Brazilian outlets.

The Brazilian press report that Bahia, who have been in intensive negotiations with the Cottagers over the striker's future for much of the past month, have reached agreement with Fulham over a permanent deal. The stories also suggest that Vinicius could make his final appearance for the Whites in tonight's FA Cup third round tie with Rotherham United at Craven Cottage.

The 28 year-old has scored seven goals in 48 games for Fulham since signing from Benfica in September 2022. He famously headed the home his first goal for the Whites against Chelsea last January to seal Fulham's first SW6 derby win since March 2006.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/01/vinicius-close-to-bahia-move/

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Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Fulham eye Sunderland transfer move
Pierre Ekwah has been linked with three Premier League clubs following an impressive start to the season with Sunderland.

    Sunderland midfielder Pierre Ekwah is attracting interest from Premier League clubs, including Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, and Fulham.
    Ekwah's standout area of play is his passing ability, with an accuracy of 87% and an average of 59 touches per game.
    Former Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray praised Ekwah's technical ability but noted that he needs to improve the physical side of his game.

Three Premier League clubs are keeping a close eye on Sunderland midfielder, Pierre Ekwah according to a report from HITC.

Michael Beale's side are currently just inside the play-off positions in sixth place, one point ahead of Hull City and three ahead of the rest of the chasing pack.

The 21-year-old midfielder joined the club in January 2023 and has been a key man in the middle of the park for Sunderland this season as they look to return to the Premier League.

The Black Cats could be in for a battle to keep hold of the former West Ham player, with Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace and Fulham all reportedly watching the highly-rated young midfielder, as they look to strengthen their sides battling for Premier League survival.

Ekwah is the latest of a number of key Sunderland players gathering interest from Premier League clubs, with Jack Clarke and Dan Neil also attracting attention in the early stages of the January transfer window.

What does Ekwah offer?
The midfielder, who has been capped at under 23 level for France, has featured 20 times for Sunderland in the Championship this season, starting on 19 occasions and scoring twice, both from outside of the box.

Ekwah's technical ability, particularly passing the ball, is the standout area of his play. The midfielder has a passing accuracy of 87% in the Championship, averaging 59 touches per game.

The midfielder has also contributed to his side's defensive efforts in games, averaging 5.2 ball recoveries and 1.5 tackles per game.

Former Sunderland manager Tony Mowbray praised Ekwah's technical ability, adding he needs to improve the physical side of his game.

Speaking to The Chronicle in May, Mowbray said: "That part of his game is really coming along, and I keep telling him that if he can develop that physical aspect of his game then what a footballer we've got because he can do amazing things with his feet.

"He's so clever with his feet, you can see how fast his feet are, and he can see pictures.

"He's a good footballer, so if he can just add the off-the-ball stuff then he'll be even better. He's doing exceptionally well.

He's a young boy who had never played a professional game before coming to Sunderland. He'd had a lot of U23 football, but you can see the talent and the physicality that he's got.

"I'm not sure he's brilliant in the air at the moment, but at least he's 6ft 1in so he can help us in that aspect of the game as well."

Which side needs Ekwah most?
Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace would all benefit from the addition of the young Frenchman to their midfields and he would certainly develop playing with more experienced players.

Injuries to Roy Hodgson's side have left them light in the midfield and Ekwah would get game time in the absence of Cheick Doucoure, who is expected to be out for the season with an achilles tendon injury.

Nottingham Forest are losing key players to the African Cup of Nations, including Ibrahim Sangare and Cheikhou Kouyate. Both are experienced players and Nuno Esperito Santo may look for a more physical player to bring in.

Fulham look to have found their starting midfield pair in Joao Palhinha and Tom Cairney and Ekwah could find his minutes limited in West London.

However, Palhinha could be on his way out this month following standout performances for Marco Silva's side and a failed move to Bayern Munich in the summer, paving the way for Ekwah to find his place in midfield.

Sunderland should do everything they can to keep hold of Ekwah and continue his development. A potentially big fee could be on the horizon if the Frenchman continues to have an influence in midfield.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/premier-league-trio-watching-sunderland-star-closely/

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Martin Odegaard handball VAR appointed referee for Liverpool vs. Fulham
There tends to be some sort of history with most officials assigned to Liverpool games these days, but the referee for our clash with Fulham has made the headlines very recently.

Liverpool will take on Marco Silva's side in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final at Anfield on Wednesday night, with both teams just 180 minutes from Wembley.

David Coote will be the man in the middle on this occasion, having angered Reds supporters only last month – and not for the first time!

Coote was the VAR for last month's top-of-the-table meeting with Arsenal last month, a game in which the honours were shared in a 1-1 draw.

It was a game that wasn't without controversy, however, with both on-pitch referee Chris Kavanagh and the VAR failing to award Liverpool a penalty for what was a blatant handball by midfielder Martin Odegaard.

Just two and a half weeks on, Coote will be involved again at Anfield, this time as the match referee.

He has been no stranger to controversy involving Liverpool, having allowed Jordan Pickford's season-ending challenge on Virgil van Dijk to go unpunished in the Merseyside derby back in 2020.

It later transpired that Coote "forgot" to check for a red card for the goalkeeper, having been distracted by checking to see whether Van Dijk was in an offside position instead.

Liverpool's meeting with Fulham offers them the chance to get back to Wembley for the first time since completing a domestic cup double back in 2021/22.

The return leg will be played two weeks later at Craven Cottage, where the hosts will be bidding to reach the final of the competition for the first time in their history.

There aren't many popular referees at Anfield these days, but there will be little patience for Coote in the first leg if he makes any early mistakes.

He will be assisted from the touchlines by Timothy Wood and Wade Smith, while Tim Robinson stands in as the fourth official.



https://www.thisisanfield.com/2024/01/martin-odegaard-handball-var-appointed-referee-for-liverpool-vs-fulham/

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Sky Sport Germany insists Bayern are interested in versatile Tottenham centre-back and not Tosin
Sky Sport Germany has insisted that Tosin Adarabioyo is not a player of interest to Bayern Munich amid speculation linking the Fulham star with a switch to the German Bundesliga champions in the January transfer window.

It had been claimed that the Manchester City academy product was among the four Premier League centre-backs identified as a possible reinforcement for the Bavarians, the others being Chelsea's Trevoh Chalobah, Manchester United's Raphaël Varane and Aston Villa's Clément Lenglet.

But the respected German broadcaster has poured cold water on the reports, saying rumors linking Tosin with Bayern are false and the Munich team are not interested in him.

As per the report, Bayern have reached an oral agreement in principle with Eric Dier from Tottenham Hotspur.

Dier, an England international, offers versatility as he can operate in central defence, defensive midfield and right-back.

The 29-year-old is back on the radar of Bayern Munich after he was offered to them in the summer transfer window.

Tosin's future has been the subject of speculation since the start of the season as he has six months left on his Fulham contract and can sign a preliminary contract with one of his admirers this month.

The 26-year-old was heavily linked with a transfer to Monaco on deadline day, only for the deal to fall through at the last minute because Fulham could not sign a replacement.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel



https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=50012

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Liverpool rocked by injury to 'machine' ahead of huge Arsenal and Fulham fixtures
Liverpool are still in with the chance of a treble this season but have London sides Arsenal and Fulham in their way this week.

Liverpool will be without influential midfielder Dominic Szoboszlai for the upcoming FA Cup and Carabao Cup meetings with Arsenal and Fulham.

The 23-year-old, who arrived at Anfield for £60 million from RB Leipzig, has started 19 of the Reds' 20 Premier League matches this season and has grown to be a vital cog in Jurgen Klopp's machine. Szoboszlai limped off during Liverpool's dominant win over Newcastle United on New Year's Day.

Speaking to the media, Klopp has now confirmed that the midfielder will need to spend time in the treatment room. He will miss Sunday's FA Cup third-round clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium and the first leg of the Carabao Cup tie with Fulham at Anfield on Wednesday.

Those matches are both key to Liverpool's season with the Merseyside club still in with the chance of completing their own treble this season. Klopp said: "I can confirm it's not a potential injury - it is an injury. Muscle, hamstring. But now we have to see. Dom is very positive, doesn't have a lot of pain, but we have to wait a little bit. So, no chance obviously for Sunday, not for Wednesday, and then we will see. After that, hopefully, he might be back but we don't know."

The Liverpool manager has made no secret of his admiration for Szoboszlai, who is a fierce presence in the Reds' midfield and one that Arsenal and Fulham will be glad not to face. Speaking earlier this season after a particularly dominant performance against Aston Villa, the German manager said: "He's a machine, eh? That is now four games, pretty impressive, absolutely impressive, tactically smart, absolutely ready for the dirty part of the game, really hard work, not the fancy stuff."

The two London clubs next up for Liverpool will also have their hopes of beating the in-form Premier League leaders boosted by the absence of Mohamed Salah and Wataru Endo, who are away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations and Asian Cup respectively.

Arsenal will also be impacted by the tournaments with Mohamed Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu absent while Fulham will miss Fode Ballo-Toure, Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi.



https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/arsenal/liverpool-rocked-by-injury-to-machine-ahead-of-huge-arsenal-and-fulham-fixtures-4468011

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Roberto Firmino Offered To Fulham Just Six Months After Moving To Saudi Arabia
Former Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino could be set to return to the Premier League this month.

Firmino left Anfield to join Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League in July but he is said to be keen to leave just six months on.

The Brazilian made a dream start to life in the SPL. After being named as Al-Ahli's captain, Firmino scored a hat-trick on his debut in a 3-1 win over Al-Hazm in August.

However, the 32-year-old has not scored in 18 appearances since then.

According to talkSPORT, Firmino wants to find a new club during the January transfer window and his services have been offered to multiple EPL teams, including Fulham.

Firmino is the highest-scoring Brazilian player in Premier League history, having netted 82 times in 256 matches for Liverpool. He also produced 50 EPL assists.

He was part of the Liverpool team that won the Premier League title in the 2019/20 season.

Firmino also won the FA Cup, EFL Cup, Community Shield, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup with Liverpool.

Fulham sold star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic to Al-Hilal in August.

Mitrovic has scored 17 goals in his first 17 league games for the SPL leaders.

Only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored more goals in the Saudi Pro League this season.



https://www.si.com/fannation/soccer/futbol/transfers/former-liverpool-striker-roberto-firmino-offered-to-fulham

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PRE-ROTHERHAM PRESS CONFERENCE
Marco Silva promises Fulham will be giving the Emirates FA Cup the attention it deserves when we host Rotherham United on Friday night.

With a trio of players now having departed for the Africa Cup of Nations, and the First Leg of the Carabao Cup Semi-Final at Liverpool next Wednesday, Silva was asked by the media if that trip to Anfield takes priority.

"We have a way to look for all the competitions, really thinking of the right moment for each one," he replied. "We had a really busy, busy December. We played a lot of games, we had the Quarter-Final of the Carabao Cup, it was really busy.

"It's difficult for us to say that one is going to be the priority in one competition. Of course, Semi-Finals you don't have the chance to play always.

"Tomorrow is going to be an FA Cup match – it's normal that we look at this competition really seriously as well. We have shown last season that situation, how serious the competition is for us.

"We are proud to play this competition, and for sure the XI that is going to start tomorrow is an XI with the desire to go through in the competition."

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/january/04/pre-rotherham-press-conference/

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Tottenham swap deal for Tosin Adarabioyo could be hindered even though move 'makes sense'
We're delighted to welcome former Scotland right-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist as each week he'll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium...

Alan Hutton fears any move Tottenham make for Tosin Adarabioyo could be hindered by the prospect of involving Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as a makeweight in the deal.

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said on 15 December that a new centre-back is a priority for Spurs in the January transfer window (Sky Sports News).

A recruitment source with links to Spurs has told Tottenham News that the club are readying a player-plus-cash deal for Adarabioyo with Hojbjerg the man heading in the opposite direction.

Fulham may be willing to do business with Adarabioyo into the final six months of his contract, meaning he can leave for free in the summer.

Former Spurs defender Hutton – speaking to Tottenham News – thinks it is a transfer that would suit both parties, though he thinks swap deals can sometimes complicate matters due to differences on player valuations.

"If both parties want that player then of course it will make sense. I think there's obviously discussions to be had," he said.

"It can make it a little bit easier depending on the valuations, it depends how the teams value each player. Sometimes it can help, sometimes it can hinder a deal we'll have to wait and see.

"Centre-back is where Tottenham need someone, I'm not surprised Tottenham are interested in someone like that as well."

Centre-back has been a problem position for Postecoglou this season. Both Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have hamstring injuries with the latter having also served a suspension this term.

Eric Dier is out of favour and faces an uncertain future, which means that Emerson Royal and Ben Davies – more at home at full-back – have filled in as emergency centre-backs this term.



https://www.tottenhamhotspurnews.com/exclusives/tottenham-swap-deal-for-tosin-adarabioyo-could-be-hindered-even-though-move-makes-sense/

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