Tuesday Fulham Stuff - 06/02/24...

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Results

Monday 5/02
Brentford	1-3	Man City

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Emotional Muniz makes his mark
It was something of a surprise to see Rodrigo Muniz's name on the teamsheet at Turf Moor on Saturday. Everyone assumed that Armando Broja, who has been playing regularly for Chelsea, would get the nod having arrived on loan right at the end of transfer deadline day. But Marco Silva put his top January target on the bench, keeping faith with the Brazilian – even after he missed a pair of presentable chances against Everton in midweek after replacing the injured Raul Jimenez.

Muniz has had a curious Fulham career. Much of Silva's first summer after succeeding Scott Parker was spent in a tug-of-war with Middlesbrough to sign the Flamengo forward – and the £6m that the Whites spent seemed a hefty sum for an unproven youngster who was always likely to only be a back up for Aleksandar Mitrovic. He had scarcely little game time to acclimatise to the physicality of English football but showed he knew where the net was by scoring memorable goals against Reading, Blackburn Rovers and a brilliant strike at Stoke City.

His loan spell at Middlesbrough became a miserable one once Michael Carrick replaced Tony Pulis and his re-emergence as an option up front after Mitrovic's departure and Jimenez's indifferent start at Craven Cottage was largely taken by the fan base as an indication of how lacking in potent strikers Silva's squad is. But Muniz played well against Manchester United and was disconsolate after suffering a knee injury in a challenge with Harry Maguire. He tried to play on, ending up leaving the field in tears – fearing his chance in the top flight had gone as quickly as he arrived.

Silva obviously sees something in Muniz, who at 22 and barely a hundred professional games behind in, probably still has time to develop. Whether he will get that opportunity at the Cottage remains to be seen. But there was nothing to fault in his performance at Burnley on Saturday. He worked exceptionally hard, making intelligent runs to trouble the Clarets defence, and undoubtedly the moment of what ended up being an immense infuriating afternoon, came when he lofted a lovely finish over James Trafford to score his first Premier League goal after turning a hopeful clearance from Antonee Robinson into a great ball by punishing a horribly square home defence.

Muniz's emotional reaction to breaking his Premier League duck showed just how much it meant to me. His team-mates were genuinely delighted for him – and Silva was fulsome in his praise following the final whistle. Ultimately, the Brazilian might not have enough to succeed in what is widely regarded as the best league in the world but his joy was a beautifully human moment that we all shared in.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/02/emotional-muniz-makes-his-mark/

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Fulham already know next £17m transfer window decision
Fulham's interest in a Bundesliga star is believed to have not been deterred by tricky January negotiations.

The January transfer window may have just ended with a late flurry of business for Fulham but it appears the Cottagers may already know the next piece of business they hope to conclude this summer.

Marco Silva's side successfully brought in Chelsea striker Armando Broja on loan in a dramatic Deadline Day race against Premier League rivals Wolves, but the club were also reported to be in contact with German outfit VfB Stuttgart as the clock ticked down to 11 pm. Fulham are known to be in the market for a winger to boost their ranks, having also been linked with moves for former West Ham man Said Benrahma and Marseille man Ismaila Sarr.

However, it was VfB Stuttgart winger Silas Katompa Mvumpa who emerged as a prime target in January with reports that Fulham had submitted an offer to the club over a potential January deal. Mvumpa, who is known as Silas, was said to be keen to make the move to the Premier League but an agreement with the club could not be struck.

Stuttgart were demanding a fee of around £17 million for the 25-year-old, who has five goals and four assists in 19 appearances this season. Fulham were prepared to pay that sum but only in a loan-to-buy offer, which did not suit the Bundesliga side.

Sky Sports Deutschland journalist Florian Plettenberg reports that Fulham have not given up on their target are are, in fact, 'still pushing' to sign the DR Congo international come the summer. Whether Stuttgart are still willing to accept £17 million for the player's services remains to be seen.

The winger is currently taking part in the Africa Cup of Nations and his DR Congo side has booked a place in the tournament's semi-finals having come behind to beat Guinea 3-1 in the quarter-final. Silas picked up an assist in that match and also has a goal to his name at AFCON so far this year.



https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/fulham/fulham-already-know-next-ps17m-transfer-window-decision-4506022

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Raul Jimenez ruled out for at least a month in Fulham injury blow
The Mexico international's injury offers a chance for Chelsea loanee Armando Broja to thrive

Raul Jimenez will be out for at least a month after scans revealed the extent of the Fulham striker's hamstring injury sustained against Everton last week.

The 32-year-old missed the 2-2 draw with Burnley on Saturday and has a fight on his hands to return before the March international break.

The injury is a blow for Marco Silva as he loses his improving joint-top scorer with five goals this season.

Fulham are assessing Jimenez week-by-week as they set out a timeframe for his return and the worst case scenario would see him miss six league matches, including Bournemouth's visit to Craven Cottage on Saturday.

Silva explained before the recent trip to Burnley: "It is not something that is going to be quick [to recover from]".

Rodrigo Muniz scored his first Premier League goal as he started in place of the Mexican at Turf Moor.

Meanwhile, Chelsea striker Armando Broja made his debut for the Cottagers from the bench after joining the club on loan until the end of the season.

Broja is not seen as a replacement for Jimenez but is well-placed to become a regular starter in the coming weeks.

Silva explained why Fulham spent January searching for a striker before Broja's loan deal was agreed in the final hours on deadline day.

"It's not just because Raul got injured, but in the summer, we sold a striker [Aleksandar Mitrovic] for a big amount of money," he added.

"It was important in the summer, and it is important now."



https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/raul-jimenez-injury-fulham-fc-b1137236.html

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Spurs Game Live On Sky

Fulham's upcoming home match against Tottenham on Saturday 16th March will be shown live on Sky Sports.

The game will now kick-off at 5:30pm.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/february/05/spurs-game-live-on-sky/

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Fulham made secret deadline busting bid for £17m star alongside Cherki
Marco Silva and Fulham pursued multiple attackers on deadline day.

On the final day of the January transfer window, Fulham finally managed to get a deal for Chelsea striker Armando Broja over the line after pursuing him for much of the month. Broja has joined on loan until the end of the season after Chelsea agreed to reduce their fee demands from £5m to a maximum of £4m, depending on performances and appearances.

The Albanian wasn't the only forward the Cottagers chased last Thursday, though. They also made contact with Lyon to check on the availability of Rayan Cherki after they signed Said Benrahma on loan, but they were unsuccessful.

Elsewhere, it was thought that Fulham made an "informal" enquiry for Stuttgart winger Silas, only to be told that the Bundesliga club didn't want to sell him. Now, though, a different version of events has emerged.

Fulham actually made £17m offer for Silas
According to Sky Sport Germany's Florian Plettenberg, Fulham's interest went much further than an enquiry. Instead, they made a "late" push to sign him, proposing an initial loan with a €20m (£17m) obligation to buy.

Rather than being opposed to a sale, Stuttgart merely insisted that they receive that £17m sum immediately. That wasn't suitable for Fulham, but they're "still pushing" to sign Silas when the summer transfer window rolls around.

Fulham right to push for key AFCON figure Silas
Silas joined Stuttgart from Paris FC in 2019 and has gone on to make 120 appearances for the club, scoring 33 goals and providing 19 assists. He played 19 matches in the first half of the current campaign before heading off to join DR Congo at the Africa Cup of Nations and notched nine direct goal contributions (five goals, four assists).

While his overall output - detailed in the table below - doesn't look spectacular, the underlying numbers offer more encouragement and take into account his limited minutes. Silas ranks seventh in the Bundesliga for expected goals per 90 minutes (0.61), and sixth for xG per shot (0.23), which shows that he gets into high-value positions and takes top-quality shots. That's a formula that should, in the long-term, lead to a healthy goal return.

At the international level, meanwhile, the 25-year-old has been an important player off the bench at AFCON, scoring in the 1-1 group-stage draw with Morocco that helped DR Congo squeeze through and then providing an assist in the 3-1 quarterfinal win over Guinea. He'll face the hosts Ivory Coast in the last four on Wednesday.

Come the summer, when that tournament is in the rearview mirror, Silas will be able to focus on his future, and that's when Fulham will hope he puts pressure on Stuttgart to let him move to the Premier League on favourable terms.



https://www.footballfancast.com/fulham-transfer-news-made-bid-for-17m-silas-rayan-cherki-marco-silva/

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Arsenal could make summer move for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Arsenal could potentially enter the race for Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ahead of the summer, as the Leicester City star could become available.
According to Dean Jones on Give Me Sport, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could emerge on the Arsenal list ahead of the summer window. The Leicester City midfielder attracted the interest of many clubs in January but eventually stayed with the Foxes. That could change if the Gunners enter the chase.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall continues to have a fantastic season with Leicester City in the Championship as they eye a quick return to the Premier League. The Foxes are on top of the Championship table with 72 points, some 11 points ahead of nearest rival Southampton, albeit having played a game more.

The Foxes knew that some Premier League clubs had an interest in Dewsbury-Hall ahead of January but were seemingly uninterested in a sale of the midfielder. They did succeed in that quest, as a few teams were making serious enquiries about the 25-year-old's availability.

Fulham and Arsenal were linked with a move in January, but neither side made the move. The Cottagers, in particular, had been looking for a new midfielder to shore up their squad. However, Fulham might now push for summer signings as Marco Silva eyes players who can lay a solid foundation for the future.

Dewsbury-Hall will remain on their list, although with Leicester's likely promotion back to the top flight, the midfielder's price might see an increase. Arsenal have also watched the midfielder numerous times and now, according to Dean Jones, they might consider the Leicester midfielder as an option for the next window.

Jones's insistence that Dewsbury-Hall may not climb to the top of Arsenal's list would make sense. However, his numbers this season speak volumes of his talent, with ten goals and as many assists in the Championship helping Leicester in a big way to stay top of the table.

His numbers are what Arteta may get excited about, while there is a possibility he will cost far less than some of the Gunners' key midfield targets for the summer. Those include Martin Zubimendi, Douglas Luiz and Amadou Onana, with either of them likely to cost well above the £50 million mark.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2024/02/05/arsenal-could-make-summer-move-for-kiernan-dewsbury-hall/

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Fulham FC Advances Plans to Open New Riverside Stand

Club applies for alcohol licences for venues including bar on riverwalk


Visualisation of the riverside walk underneath the riverside stand
Fulham Football Club is advancing plans for the public opening of its new Riverside Stand, including the long awaited extension of the riverwalk.

The club has submitted applications to Hammersmith & Fulham Council for alcohol licences for a range of venues it plans to open within the new stand.

They include a new premises licence application for the ground floor in the Riverside Stand's Main Concourse area, where food and drink will be provided to anyone attending the stadium, including passers-by from Riverside Walk. The application, currently open for comments, can be seen in full on the council website using the reference 2024/00134/LAPR.

This club has named this the Riverside Market, offering a range of shops, cafés and bars which can be accessed by all from the Riverside Walk during the day and into the early evening.

An area one floor below, within the Stand's basement is set to provide conference and events space, reference 2024/00129/LAPR. The club is calling this The Orange Box and says it will provide a hospitality space for fans on match days and will also be available to promote cultural and social programmes.


Outlline of the various parts of Fulham's stadium development
The applications also include a formal restaurant with brasserie and dining areas on the first floor, reference 2024/00137/LAPR. This is part of the club's plans for a range of dining opportunities in its Water's Edge Restaurants.


CGI of how the Water's Edge restaurant might look
The Stand's second floor will offer various entertainment and refreshment areas comprising the Chairman's Suite, Director's Suite and other entertainment spaces, which the club is calling Markers, reference 2024/00138/LAPR, while floors three to five will become a Members' Club, 2024/00128/LAPR plus Health Club and Spa, including a heated open air rooftop swimming pool, application reference 2024/00127/LAPR.


An aerial visualisaition of the Health Club and Spa with heated swimming pool
There is also an application for a boutique hotel, reference 2024/00126/LAPR, which will be operated independently.

Fulham FC admits the Riverside Stand project has been hit by delays, due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the demolition of the old stand proving more complex than expected and its main contractor going into administration. However it says: "We are now working with our fit out contractor, Portview Fit-Out Ltd. ('Portview') to minimise any further delays as we are keen to open the Riverside Stand and the Riverside Walk as soon as it is possible and safe to do so."

The club is currently providing an interim total of 4,968 seats in the new Stand, and says that when it is able to provide more seats - which it hopes to do at the start of the next football season - its planning permission requires the Riverside Walk to be opened to the public.


Another CGI view of the stadium walk from planning documents
This means people will no longer have to take a diversion around the premises on Stevenage Road, and they will also be able to enjoy the public facilities adjacent to the riverwalk.

Fulham FC says, " Once it is safe to do so and the Riverside Walk is no longer a construction site, we will be able to open the walkway for public access, which is something we all want to achieve."



https://www.fulhamsw6.com/?fbclid=IwAR3iEWPOJTo4MZDe1wmieQL2IC278urFiT4lbbaz0_ULMG560Tx-6eQpBD8#pages/fulhamsw6:info:fulhamfc2402

[Jims Dentist]

Can't see The Chairman's Lounge being used much.

[Chi_FFC]

Didn't want to start a new thread and this seemed like the best place to put this good news.

Tosin Adarabioyo only suffered a minor knock at the weekend and is set to be available when #FFC host Bournemouth on Saturday. Major boost.https://t.co/19sZ7oD7oi

— Dom Smith (@MrDomSmith) February 6, 2024

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[Barrett487]

https://sportwitness.co.uk/newcastle-fulham-keen-signing-e8m-rated-13-goal-striker-player-almost-certain-leave-summer/

Newcastle and Fulham keen on signing €8m-rated 13-goal striker – Player 'almost certain' to leave in summer

Newcastle United and Fulham have 1. FC Nürnberg star Can Uzun on their agenda.

The Magpies were credited with an interest in the striker in the winter market but didn't go ahead with the deal.

Bild state Newcastle are still in the picture and are joined by Fulham in the chase for the 18-year-old.

The Turkey U18 international has starred for the second division German club this season, scoring 13 goals and registering three assists from 20 matches.
Inter Milan are added to the list as they are following the youngster's development and rise closely.
The Serie A side haven't yet made a concrete offer for Uzun, who may consider moving to Italy, where his compatriot and friend, Kenan Yıldız, is excelling at Juventus.

Inter have to be wary of Newcastle and Fulham 'in particular', as they are also looking at the frontman. Bild state that unlike the Italian club, the Premier League duo's interest 'should have concrete features', without providing any further explanation.

It's 'almost certain' Uzun will leave Nürnberg in the summer and a final decision on his future is expected to be made in March. Bild state he's currently valued at €8m.