Friday Fulham Stuff - 08/03/24...

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"I spoke with O'Hare" - Sky pundit reacts as Celtic, Rangers and Fulham eye Coventry City star
Callum O'Hare's contract is set to expire at the end of the current campaign

    O'Hare is a top talent attracting interest from Premier League clubs like Everton and Fulham.
    Goodman praises O'Hare's progress and potential to succeed in the Premier League as a free agent.
    Coventry City's success this season hinges on O'Hare's contributions, making his potential departure a significant loss.

Don Goodman has given his verdict on the out-of-contract Callum O'Hare amid transfer interest in the Coventry City star.
O'Hare is set to be a free agent this summer unless a contract agreement can be reached with the Sky Blues before the end of the campaign.

However, he is attracting interest from a number of clubs, including Everton, Fulham and Southampton.

Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers have also both been linked with the midfielder.

The 25-year-old is a key part of Mark Robins' side, having worked his way back to full fitness after a lengthy injury spell over the last couple of years.

Goodman: O'Hare is "a very attractive option for Premier League clubs"
Goodman has praised the management of O'Hare by Robins since the player made his return to the team earlier this campaign.

The EFL pundit revealed that he spoke to the Coventry star recently, where he learned that O'Hare is feeling great physically after such a long spell on the sidelines.

"I spoke with O'Hare before the West Brom game actually, I had a good five minute chat with him," said Goodman via King Casino Bonus.

"I asked him how his body was, how he was feeling, and he was feeling strong, better than ever.

"The knee was good, the knee is the big thing.

"He was being managed correctly by Mark Robins in terms of his game time.

"I noticed on Tuesday night that he started on the bench [against Rotherham] and he was brought off quite early against West Brom when it wasn't looking like a game that they were going to win.

Goodman believes that most of the sides in the Premier League should be willing to take a gamble on bringing in O'Hare this summer given his impending free agent status.

"Look, his contract is up, I think that's what separates him from the other lads that you've asked me about, Jacob Greaves, Philogene, Summerville, I think they're under contract," he added.

"The difference with Callum O'Hare is his contract is up in literally months, and that makes him a very attractive option for Premier League clubs and ambitious clubs.

"I like him. I like him a lot.

"Whenever I've seen him, I've watched him develop.

"He's always been able to dribble past players and all that, but sometimes it's about the choices, about how many do you dribble past before you pass or whether you shoot or whether you dribble or whether you pass or whether you cross.

"His football intelligence seems to be getting better and better and better.

"He's in his prime, he's 25 now.

"Six goals, three assists this season in just 14 starts after a serious injury.

"I think he's got the ability to play in the Premier League, and as a free transfer, it's absolutely a gamble that I think a lot of Premier League clubs, probably out with the massive ones, should be able to look at."

Coventry City league position
Coventry are competing for promotion to the Premier League this year, having missed out on promotion with a play-off final loss last season.

Robins' side sit eighth in the table, three points adrift of the play-off places with 10 games to go.

A 5-0 hammering of Rotherham on Tuesday evening boosted their standing in the race for a top six spot.

Next up for the Sky Blues is a trip away to face Watford on 9 March.

O'Hare's potential departure will be huge blow to Coventry
O'Hare's injury issues in the last couple of years has meant that Coventry have really missed out on making the most of having someone of his talent in their squad.

If he had been around more often last year, perhaps that could've made the difference in the promotion battle.

Even if he had been back in time for the start of the season, then maybe the team's top six standing would be more secure.

But, worst of all, losing him for nothing in the summer will be a real blow as he is easily worth as much as £15 or 20 million in the transfer market.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/don-goodman-makes-ohare-claim/

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Middlesbrough supporters must be looking at Fulham star with disbelief: View
Rodrigo Muniz has been superb for Fulham in recent weeks, despite struggling with Middlesbrough in the Championship last season.

    Loan signings in the Championship can be hit or miss - Rodrigo Muniz's journey from struggle to success at Fulham is proof.
    Muniz's disappointing stint at Middlesbrough turned into a remarkable resurgence at Fulham, highlighting the unpredictability of players' form.
    Muniz's recent stellar performances in the Premier League underscore how quickly a player's fortunes can change in football, with hard work and opportunities driving success.

There's always a risk when it comes to signing players on loan for all clubs in the Championship.

Will the player settle? Are they fully motivated knowing they can return to their parent club? Can they adapt to your style of play?

These are just some of the questions that managers will have when they opt to make a short-term addition, and Middlesbrough are a club that have experienced both the positives and negatives of loan signings over the years.

Rodrigo Muniz's struggles at Middlesbrough
Ryan Giles, Aaron Ramsey and Cameron Archer were all examples of successful loans at the Riverside Stadium last season, as they all played a big part in helping Michael Carrick's men to a top six finish.

However, one player who didn't hit the heights expected was Rodrigo Muniz.

The Brazilian arrived at Fulham from Flamengo in the summer of 2021, but he would spend most of his first season in English football as second fiddle to Aleksandar Mitrovic at Craven Cottage.

Therefore, following the Cottagers' promotion, a temporary switch to Boro was arranged, and it had been hoped that Muniz could flourish on Teesside. But, that didn't happen.

In fairness to the striker, it should be pointed out that a change in management wasn't ideal, but Muniz didn't take the opportunities he was given on the pitch.

Overall, he managed just two goals in 17 appearances in the second tier, and he fell so far out of favour under Carrick that he often wouldn't make the matchday squad.

Rodrigo Muniz impresses for Fulham
Yet, fast forward just over a year, and Muniz is now starring in the Premier League, having scored five goals and registered one assist in his last five games. Such form has seen the 22-year-old nominated for the Player of the Month award in February.

And, it's not just that Muniz is hitting a purple patch in front of goal, as his all-round game has been superb for Marco Silva's side.

He is the focal point they've lacked at times this season, with his work-rate and energy key to their positive form over the past month.

Rodrigo Muniz's Fulham Form Since February (As of March 6th)

Opponent	Minutes Played	Result	Goals	Assists
Burnley	73	2-1	1	-
Bournemouth	74	3-1 win	2	-
Aston Villa	90	2-1 loss	1	-
Manchester United	90	2-1 win	-	-
Brighton	83	3-0 win	1	1

Plus, it's not like that they've had easy games, as Fulham's latest victories have come against Manchester United at Old Trafford, and then against Brighton.

Raul Jimenez's injury has presented Muniz with an opportunity, and he's grasped it with both hands, to the extent that January recruit Armando Broja is sitting on the bench.

You'd forgive Middlesbrough fans if they'd been rubbing their eyes watching Match of the Day in the past few weeks, as they won't believe it's the same player they had.

Again, it's not just about the goals, but Muniz often struggled and sometimes looked disinterested when he was in a red shirt. He wasn't linking play in the way Carrick wanted, and he didn't seem to be on the same wavelength as his teammates.

Muniz's turnaround isn't a dig at Carrick, as he had Archer and Chuba Akpom scoring goals and playing well, so they weren't exactly lacking up top.

However, his form right now shows how quickly things can change for players, and whilst his time at Middlesbrough was forgettable, it may have provided Muniz with the motivation he needed to go back to show Fulham what he is capable of.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/middlesbrough-supporters-must-be-muniz/

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Blues have "serious" interest in Fulham left back
Chelsea have "serious interest" in Fulham left back Antonee Robison according to reports.

The Blues will no doubt be busy again in the summer transfer window and a left back to provide competition and back up for Ben Chilwell is likely to be a priority according to GiveMeSport.

Chilwell has been plagued with injury issues during his time at Chelsea and Maurico Pochettino has been left short of options at left back this season which has resulted in Levi Colwill playing a number of games there.

Chelsea are set to sell Ian Maatsen this summer who is currently on loan at Borussia Dortmund and are also expected to try and move Marc Cucurella on who has been disappointing since his big money move from Brighton in 2022.

According to the same report Fulham's Robinson is believed to be the left back the Stamford Bridge outfit have "serious interest" in with the Blues believing he has a value of around £35m.

GiveMeSport report that Chelsea have been tracking Robinson for the past year and have been impressed by his attacking mindset and pace and the club also believe that the defensive side of his game has improved.

Fulham aren't in a position where they need to sell Robinson who still has over four years remaining on his current deal.

The American has been a key player for Marco Silva's side this season and has made 33 appearances in all competitions.



https://chelsea.news/2024/03/blues-have-serious-interest-in-fulham-left-back/

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Preview: Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Fulham - prediction, team news, lineups
Two sides on opposite ends of 3-0 scorelines in last weekend's Premier League fixtures clash in Saturday's mid-table battle at Molineux, as Wolverhampton Wanderers take on Fulham.

Gary O'Neil's men were convincingly beaten by Newcastle United in gameweek 27, while the Cottagers put three past a meek Brighton & Hove Albion without reply.

Match preview
A six-game unbeaten run on the road - including back-to-back wins over Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur - was Wolves' to protect during their St James' Park encounter with Newcastle United, but O'Neil's men lost their counter-attacking bite and the game in the North East.

Serving Wolves a taste of their counter-attacking medicine, the Magpies turned defence into offence in the blink of an eye as Alexander Isak broke the deadlock early doors, before Anthony Gordon's opportunistic strike and Tino Livramento's intuitive finish completed an emphatic Newcastle victory.

On account of their first top-flight away defeat post-Christmas, Wolves have been demoted below Newcastle in the Premier League standings and also missed the chance to leapfrog Fulham's most recent victims Brighton, but O'Neil's team are still clinging onto a top-half spot in 10th place.

With just a four-point gap separating Wolves from West Ham United in seventh place, European football for 2024-25 is still not out of the question for the hosts, who could still return to the continent via FA Cup glory - a winnable quarter-final tie with Coventry City is on the agenda for next weekend.

Before Wolves fans get pre-occupied with thoughts of Wembley, their beloved side seek a third successive home triumph following 1-0 successes over Sheffield United and Brighton in the league and cup respectively, and only one of the hosts' last 20 top-flight games at Molineux has seen them fail to score.

As Wolves shipped three without mustering a response last weekend, Fulham notched a terrific trio of strikes past Roberto De Zerbi's Brighton in West London, where Brazilian hotshot Rodrigo Muniz and Welsh wing king Harry Wilson stole the show in the first half.

The former headed the ball down for the latter to fire a long-range rocket into the top corner, before Wilson then turned provider with a delicious cross for Muniz to meet and head home, thereby putting the game more or less out of Brighton's reach before the break.

After Muniz and Wilson had done their part, substitutes Bobby Decordova-Reid and Adama Traore combined for the ex-Wolves man to add a touch of gloss to the scoreline in injury time, rubber-stamping Fulham's third win from four matches following beatings of Bournemouth and Manchester United.

With just one defeat next to their name from their last six games in the top flight, Marco Silva's men are enjoying mid-table obscurity in 12th place and could now win three straight fixtures against teams in the top half for the first time since 2009, when Roy Hodgson was in control of the reins.

Failure to keep a clean sheet on the road since September will do the Cottagers no favours, but Silva's men edged a five-goal thriller 3-2 when Wolves visited their West London home at the end of November, ending a six-game streak without victory versus the Molineux side in the process.

Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form:

    L    W    L    W    W    L

Wolverhampton Wanderers form (all competitions):

    W    L    W    W    W    L

Fulham Premier League form:

    D    D    W    L    W    W


Team News
Wolves' misery against Newcastle was compounded when O'Neil brought Jose Sa and Pedro Neto off at half time due to thigh injuries, but both substitutions were precautionary, and there is optimism that both men will be fine to line up from the off this weekend.

That is more than can be said for deadly attacking duo Hwang Hee-chan and Matheus Cunha, both of whom will remain sidelined for weeks with similar injuries, while Joao Gomes is hamstring victim number five and will need a once-over in the coming hours.

Tommy Doyle and Daniel Bentley are waiting in the wings if neither Gomes nor Sa are passed fit for the visit of Fulham, where a first Premier League start will also come Nathan Fraser's way if Neto's injury proves more serious than first feared.

While it is mostly bad news on the availability front for Wolves, Fulham will receive a significant boost in the shape of Joao Palhinha's return; the Portuguese enforcer has sat out his side's last two Premier League games on account of picking up 10 bookings.

Sasa Lukic can feel hard done by to be dropped this weekend, having started the wins over Man United and Brighton, but the Serbia international is poised to make way for the reinstated Palhinha, who rejoins stand-in captain Harrison Reed in the middle.

The Cottagers' sole injury victim Raul Jimenez continues to work his way back from a thigh injury, but the Mexican would struggle to get a look-in right now thanks to the form of Muniz, who has five in his last five Premier League games and is also keeping Armando Broja at bay.


Wolverhampton Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Sa; Kilman, Toti, Dawson; Semedo, Lemina, Doyle, Ait-Nouri; Sarabia, Bellegarde; Neto

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Castagne, Adarabioyo, Bassey, Robinson; Palhinha, Reed; Wilson, Pereira, Willian; Muniz

We say: Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Fulham
Despite falling short in the capital four months ago, Wolves are yet to suffer a Premier League home defeat to Fulham, whose lack of away shut-outs could prove somewhat costly at a ground where O'Neil's men usually need no help putting the ball in the back of the net.

The absences of Hwang and Cunha were sorely felt against Newcastle, though, and with Fulham possessing a fully fit and firing talisman of their own in Muniz, the Cottagers have our vote to take home all three points, end their Molineux hoodoo and leapfrog their hosts in the table.



https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/wolves/preview/preview-wolves-vs-fulham-prediction-team-news-lineups_538377.html?cQx=NN&newsnow

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A HISTORY OF WOLVES V FULHAM
KARL WHITEHOUSE LOOKS AT THE HISTORY OF WOLVES V FULHAM
 
first meetings
The first league meeting of the two clubs was on the 9th November 1907 at Molineux in Division 2. The  game finished with a 2-0 win for Wolves.

The first meeting in the FA Cup was on 19th February 1921 at Craven Cottage and the score of the game was 1-0 win for Wolves.

The first meeting in a League Cup Game was 5th October 1966 at Craven Cottage which ended in a defeat with a score of 5-0.

The first meeting in the Premier League was 18th October 2003, this game ended in a nil nil  draw at Loftus Road in front of a crowd of 17,031 The match was played at Loftus Road due to redevelopment work at Craven Cottage. The team that played that day was Oakes, Irwin, Naylor, Butler, Craddock, Rae, Cameron, Camara, Gudjonsson, Blake, Miller and the only sub was used on that day was Kennedy. The manager of that game was Dave Jones.

most recent meeting
Premier League – The most recent game was on the 27th November 2023 the game finished 3-2 to Fulham with Iwobi, Willian with a brace for home side and Cunha, Hwang for the away side.

The latest meeting in the FA Cup was a replay 13th January 2015 at Molineux after the original game at Craven Cottage was a 0-0 draw.  This game went all the way into extra time where it finished 2-2 after 90 minutes,  3-3 after 120 minutes before going to a penalty shootout which Fulham won 5-3 in front of a crowd of 8,148.

The last meeting in the League Cup was 1st November 2000 at Craven Cottage in front of a crowd of 6,763, Fulham won the game 3-2.

biggest win
The Biggest League win Wolves have ever had against Fulham was in League Division one, the score was 9-0 at Molineux on the 16th September 1959 in front of a crowd of 41,692.

The Team that played that day was Finlayson, Stuart, G.W.Harris, R.Flowers, Showell, Clamp, Lill, R.Mason, J.Murray, P.Broadbent, Deeley.

Scorers of the goals: Deeley 6, 36, 68, 87 , R.Flowers 37 , P.Broadbent 58 , R.Mason 59 , J.Murray 62 , Clamp 73.

The biggest win in the Premier League was on the 21st August 2011. Wolves beat Fulham 2-0 at Molineux with goals from Kevin Doyle and Matthew Jarvis. Wolves line-up on the day was Hennessey, Stearman, Johnson, Berra, Henry, Ward, Hunt, Jarvis, O'Hara, Fletcher, Doyle and Subs were Kightly, Elokobi, Foley, Ebanks-Blake, Hammill, Milijas, De Vries and the Wolves manager was Mick McCarthy.

biggest defeat
Spare a though for Wolves fans travelling to Craven Cottage in 1928 who saw the biggest defeat with Wolves losing 7-0 in League Division 2. A crowd of over 12,981 turned up to watch.

The biggest defeat in the Premier League was on the 4th March 2012 at Craven Cottage with Fulham beating Wolves 5-0 where Pavel Pogrebnyak got a hat trick and Clint Dempsey got a brace of goals.

The line up for Wolves was Hennessey, Stearman, Berra, Zubar, Foley, Kightly, Henry, Ward, Jarvis, O'Hara, Doyle and Subs were Hunt, Milijas, Fletcher, Johnson, Bassong, Jonsson, De Vries and it was Caretaker Manager Terry Connor in charge.

match of the day
The game that was nearest to the upcoming fixture between the two sides was played on 6th March 1909 the game finished 1-1.

DO YOU REMEMBER?
Wolves 2 Fulham 1 20th September 2009 in Premier League at Molineux

Wolves secured their first home victory of the season against a strong Fulham team.

The game kicked off with Wolves applying early pressure and creating scoring opportunities. They broke the deadlock in the 18th minute when Doyle headed the ball into the net from close range after a flick-on by Berra from a corner. This marked Doyle's first goal for the club since his record signing from Reading.

Castillo, another new recruit on loan from Red Star Belgrade, attempted a long-range shot from 35 yards that hit the advertising boards.

Wolves almost doubled their lead in the first half, but Keogh's goal was disallowed for offside.

In the second half, Wolves extended their lead to 2-0 when Edwards capitalised on a mistake by Dempsey to slot the ball into the roof of the net.

Despite the home supporters urging for more goals, Wolves had to settle for a nervy finish after Fulham converted a penalty following a tussle in the box between Mancienne and Zamora.

Both teams introduced strikers in the final minutes, with Wolves bringing on last season's top scorer Ebanks Blake and Fulham introducing Kamara.

Fulham managed to pull one back with Kamara taking advantage of an exposed offside trap to score.

However, Wolves held on to clinch a 2-1 victory, securing their first home win of the season.

Wolves Team: Hennessey, Elokobi, Berra, Mancienne, Edwards, Henry, Halford, Jarvis, Castillo, Keogh, Doyle.

Substitutes: Hahnemann, Zubar, Hill, Kightly, Milijas, Ebanks Blake, Maierhofer.

Manager: Mick McCarthy

Fulham Team: Schwarzer, Konchesky, Pantsil, Hangeland, Hughes, Murphy, Duff, Etuhu, Dempsey, Johnson, Zamora.

Substitutes: Zuberbuhler, Baird, Smalling, Gera, Greening, Davies, Kamara.

Manager: Roy Hodgson

A LITTLE MORE HISTORY
Wolves 3 Fulham 0 30th April 2000 in Division 1 at Molineux

After dominating the first half of the game without scoring, Wolves finally broke the deadlock in the 50th minute of the second half. Bazeley's corner from the right wing found Nielsen, who dived to head home and make it 1-0 to Wolves.

Wolves doubled their lead nine minutes later when Phelan brought down Branch from behind in the penalty area. The referee had no choice but to award a penalty to Wolves. Curle, usually on penalty duties, gave way to Muscat, who coolly curled the ball into the net to make it 2-0 to Wolves.

In the 73rd minute, Fulham had a chance to score, but Ball's header was cleared off the line by Curle.

As the game neared injury time, Wolves sealed their victory with a third goal. Emblen set up Taylor on the right-hand side, who slotted the ball home through a crowded goalmouth to make it 3-0 to Wolves.

These three second-half goals secured Wolves their ninth win in ten home games, setting up an exciting challenge for the playoffs with a game in hand over Huddersfield.

Wolves Team: Oakes, Bazeley, Pollet, Curle, Muscat, Nielsen, Emblen, Sedgley, Sinton, Akinbyi, Branch.

Substitutes: Robinson, Taylor, Naylor, Petterson, Flo.

Manager: Colin Lee

Fulham Team: Taylor, Symons, Melville, Coleman, Uhlenbeek, Hayward, Clark, Ball, Phelan, Horsfield, Peschisolido.

Substitutes: Trollope, Neilson, Hayles, Thompson, Selley.

Manager: Karl Heinz Riedle & Roy Evans (Caretaker Managers)

head to head stats


PREMIER LEAGUE STATS

There has been 15 Meetings between the two sides.

Wolves have won 6 games with 5 Home wins and 1 Away Wins.

Fulham have won 3 games with 3 Home wins and 0 Away Wins.

There have been 6 draws between the sides.

Wolves has scored 15 Goals.

Fulham has scored 15 Goals.

OVERALL HEAD-TO-HEAD

There has been 97 Meetings between the two sides.

Wolves have won 45 Times.

Fulham have won 27 Times.

There has been 25 Draws.

Last 6 Matches

4th May 2019 Wolves 1 Fulham 0 at Molineux

4th October 2020 Wolves 1 Fulham 0 at Molineux

9th April 2021 Fulham 0 Wolves 1 at Craven Cottage

13th August 2022 Wolves 0 Fulham 0 at Molineux

24th February 2023 Fulham 1 Wolves 1 at Craven Cottage

27th November 2023 Fulham 3 Wolves 2 at Craven Cottage

PLAYING FOR BOTH TEAMS
Ivan Cavaleiro
Played for Wolves 2016-2020 made 96 appearances and scored 17 goals made his debut on the 10th September 2016 in a 1-1 draw against Burton Albion and played for Fulham on a season long Loan 2019-2020 and permanent 2020 to present day made 97 appearances and scored 11 goals on the 21st August 2019 when he made his debut for the club played against Milwall where he did a player of the match performance by scoring 2 goals and assisted 1 goal.

Emmanuel Frimpong
Played for Wolves January 2012 in a loan spell for the rest of the season from Arsenal made 5 appearances made his debut against Chelsea in a 2-1 defeat and played for Fulham January 2013 in a season loan spell from Arsenal made 6 appearances.

Jordan Graham
Played for Wolves 2015-2020 made 14 appearances and scored 1 goal and made his debut for the club 21st November 2015 against Ipswich Town and played for Fulham 2017-2018 in a loan spell from Wolves made 3 appearances which started 31st August 2017 to Mid January 2018 restricted to substitute appearances and was subsequently recalled by the club his loan spell.

Marcus Hahnemann
Played for Fulham 1999-2002 made 2 appearances  failed to displace Fulham's number one choice Maik Taylor as number one at the time at the club and played for Wolves 2009-2011 made 40 appearances he was backup goalkeeper to Wayne Hennessy for the opening 4 months and then Hahnemann was made first choice goalkeeper for the remainder of the season.

Mario Lemina
Played for in a loan spell for Fulham from Southampton 2020-2021 made 28 appearances and scored 1 goal where he made his debut for the club in the 2nd Round of the EFL cup against Ipswich Town and currently playing for Wolves 2023 made 4 appearances made his debut for the club against West Ham in the Premier League where Wolves won the game 1-0.

Scott Malone
Started his career at Wolves 2009-2012 never made any first team appearances for the club and came through the Wolves Academy to turn professional in 2009 and played for Fulham 2016-2017 made 36 appearances and scored 6 goals where he made his debut in the opening game of the 2016 season in a 1-0 win over Newcastle United.

Kevin McDonald
Played for Wolves 2013-2016 made 120 appearances and scored 8 goals where he made his debut for Wolves in a 2-1 win at Bristol City on the 17th August as a substitute and played for Fulham 2016-2021 made 116 appearances and scored 6 goals where he scored his first goal for the club against Cardiff City in 2-2 draw on 20th August 2016.

Jamie O'Hara
Played for Wolves 2011 in a loan spell from Tottenham on the 30th January 2011 and made his first start for the club by playing against Bolton Wanderers as a substitute and a permanent spell 2011-2014 made 55 appearances and scored 5 goals and played for Fulham 2015-2016 made 37 appearances and scored 1 goal and made his debut in the opening game of the 2015 season against Cardiff City.

Sheyi Ojo
Played for Wolves in a loan spell from Liverpool 2015-2016 made 16 appearances and scored 2 goals made his debut as a substitute coming on in the 84th Minute playing against Blackburn Rovers and played for Fulham also from a loan spell from Liverpool 2017-2018 made 24 appearances and scored 4 goals.

Seol Ki Hyeon
Played for Wolves 2004-2006 made 69 appearances and scored 8 goals and played for Fulham 2007-2010 made 18 appearances and scored 1 goal.

Jamie Smith
Played for Wolves 1994-1997 made 87 appearances and scored 1 goal and played for Fulham in a loan spell from Crystal Palace 1999 made 9 appearances and scored 1 goal.

Richard Stearman
Played for Wolves 2008-2015 and loan spell 2016-2017 from Fulham made 229 appearances and scored 5 goals he made his debut for Wolves in a 2-2 at Plymouth Argyle on the 9th August 2008 and played for Fulham 2015-2017 made 29 appearances.

Adama Traore
Played for Wolves 2018-2023 made 200 appearances scored 14 goals and is currently playing for Fulham after signing for them in 2023 made 9 appearances scored 1 goal.

Raul Jimenez
Played for Wolves 2018-2023 made 166 appearances scored 57 goals and is currently playing for Fulham after signing for them in 2023 made 24 appearances scored 5 goals.

Others Who Played For Both Clubs
Dave Beasant, Gordon Brice, Donald Cock, Stan Collymore, George Edmonds, Jack Hamilton, Jackie Henderson, Max Kilman, Tony Lange, Mekhi Leacock McLeod, Andrew Lonergan, Stacey North, Billy Richards, Dick Richards, Harry Robotham, Alf Tootill.

Played, Coached, Managed Both Teams

Stuart Gray – Assistant Manager & Caretaker Manager
Was at Wolves 2004 working with Dave Jones as a assistant manager and also was a caretaker manager of the for a month taking charge of 7 games and also was a caretaker manager at Fulham 2015 for 19 days taking charge of 4 games and is currently the Assistant Manager at Fulham working with Marco Silva at this current time.

Dave Beasant – Goalkeeping Coach
Played for Wolves in a loan spell 1992 from Chelsea made 4 appearances and was a player for Fulham 2003-2004 made no appearances and was also a goalkeeping coach at Fulham working with Lawrie Sanchez and also with Northern Ireland.



https://alwayswolves.co.uk/a-history-of-wolves-v-fulham/

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Controversial Stamford Bridge plans could see Chelsea ground share with bitter Premier League rivals
Chelsea chiefs have grappled with the Stamford Bridge issue for decades and Todd Boehly remains keen on revamping the stadium

Chelsea could temporarily move into Craven Cottage while Stamford Bridge undergoes a four-year revamp.

Blues chiefs have grappled with the idea of a stadium expansion since Roman Abramovich's early years. The current 41,000 capacity is the ninth highest in the Premier League - putting Chelsea at a disadvantage to their top-flight rivals.

For context, clubs like West Ham, Aston Villa and Newcastle United boast bigger stadiums and, with FFP/PSR constraints becoming increasingly stringent, increasing the attendance figures would give the Blues more headroom on the balance sheet.

Abramovich met stiff competition from Chelsea Pitch Owners - a fan group set up in 1993 to ensure the ground can never be sold off - when angling for an expansion. Over 14,000 shareholders own the freehold for the Stamford Bridge pitch and parts of the stadium.

Todd Boehly is keen to reignite the idea and plans were given a boost last October when a report revealed Stoll, a charity that houses vulnerable military veterans, agreed to sell land. CPO issued a statement revealing a complete demolition and rebuild could take up to seven years.

"CPO has not yet been informed of any decision made by the Club on its future plans for the stadium," the announcement read. "We believe their decision is due to be finalised shortly, having worked through all the available options. Board members may choose to make their own views clear on the process but cannot of course do so until there is a proposal, and its detail can be properly considered.

"As we understand it, although the purchase of the Stoll site has been agreed, it will be some considerable time before the site can be vacated. In addition, a new planning application would be required, even though some of that work was done during the earlier project under Roman Abramovich.

"Once an application has been approved, estimates on the time required for demolition and rebuild vary from four years up to as much as seven years, during which time the Club would need to relocate its home games."

The Sun are now reporting that Chelsea could ground share with West London rivals Fulham while a 60,000-seater Stamford Bridge is rebuilt. Boehly is understood to have held informal discussions with Cottagers owner Shahid Khan over the proposed move.

But Fulham's 26,000 capacity would mean a dramatic drop-off in matchday revenue - that could last up to seven years. Other stadiums that are mentioned include Wembley - previously used by Tottenham Hotspur during their upgrade - and Twickenham.



https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/chelsea/controversial-stamford-bridge-plans-could-see-chelsea-ground-share-with-bitter-premier-league-rivals-4546120

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'A little bit bizarre'... Tom Cairney shares why Fulham boss Marco Silva is different to other managers
Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney has praised Marco Silva whilst suggesting that his tactical approach can be a little bizarre.

Fulham have turned in two superb displays in recent weekends.

The 2-1 win away Manchester United was a huge result before backing it up with a 3-0 home victory over Brighton and Hove Albion.

Most of the attention right now is on striker Rodrigo Muniz, who has scored five goals in his last five games to become a real sensation out of nowhere.

Fulham fans will be hopeful of a strong end to the season now, and Tom Cairney has heaped praise on boss Marco Silva.

Tom Cairney on Marco Silva
Fulham ace Cairney has told the Footballer's Football Podcast that Silva is quite unique in terms of the managers he has worked with over the course of his career.

Cairney noted that most managers he has played under would want his side to keep it tight and protect a 2-0 lead in the second half.

Instead, Silva pushed for his side to keep on the attack and go for more goals to kill the game off.

Cairney noted that Silva would regularly push for this kind of approach in the Championship, which the Fulham midfielder thought was a 'little bit bizarre'.
 
Now used to Silva's methods, Cairney wasn't surprised to see Silva coming up with 'ways to hurt' Brighton at half-time on Saturday.

"I think the thing about Marco, especially the last two years of being with him, he's the only manager I've had really that... you can be 3-0 or 4-0 up and he will say like 'we need to score the next goal', which I used to find a little bit bizarre," said Cairney.

"Most managers that I've had have been like 'oh keep it tight lads, first 15, don't let them back into it', but he's like 'no no, score again', and it was a little bit like that at the weekend. We were 2-0 up at half-time and he was coming up with ways to hurt them again," he added.

Silva will soon come up to three years as Fulham boss and he has certainly been a great success.

Fulham coasted through the Championship and have now become an established Premier League side once again.

Silva deserves huge credit for his approach, but let's just hope that the links with a move to West Ham United prove unfounded.



https://www.fulham.news/2024/03/07/a-little-bit-bizarre-tom-cairney-shares-why-fulham-boss-marco-silva-is-different-to-other-managers/

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GiveMeSport: Milan show rejuvenated interest in USA international
AC Milan nearly signed Antonee Robinson from Wigan Athletic, and a report has claimed that they have retained an interest in the defender since he has been at Fulham.

According to what is being reported by GiveMeSport, there are a number of teams interested in signing Robinson ahead of the summer transfer window given how impressive he has been since joining Fulham.

The report starts by claiming that Chelsea are 'serious' about signing the 26-year-old, who has played 94% of available Premier League minutes throughout this season so far under Marco Silva, in turn keeping Milan loanee Fode Ballo-Toure out of the side.

Chelsea want to sign a left-back to provide cover for Ben Chilwell, who continues to miss big stretches due to injuries. The Blues have been scouting Robinson 'for the past year' and like what they see from the USA international.

Fulham are not under any pressure to sell and do not want Robinson to leave, which is why Chelsea know it might take £35m (€40m) to tempt them once the transfer window reopens.

Other clubs are interested too, such as Liverpool and Manchester City. Meanwhile, the source add that Milan have also shown reignited interest in Robinson, who was set to join in January 2020 before a heart problem was discovered which scupper the move.

Given the insistent rumours about Theo Hernandez potentially being the subject of a big-money bid from Bayern Munich in the coming months, it might well be that Geoffrey Moncada is looking into potential replacements.



https://sempremilan.com/givemesport-milan-chelsea-liverpool-robinson-fulham

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What does the future hold for Tosin?

The last few weeks have been heaven for Fulham; a last-minute winner at Old Trafford and a convincing win over Brighton in front of the fans. It's safe to say that Marco Silva is weathering a season that at times has proven difficult.

One of the defining aspects so far this term has been the fact that the team has taken on many forms. It's only as the season is drawing to its conclusion that Fulham are a bit clearer on a few things. Firstly, Rodrigo Muniz has been emerging from his development cocoon, Tom Cairney has enjoyed an Indian summer in the starting XI, and the pairing of Tosin and Calvin Bassey has proven to be the best combination in the centre of defence.

Rock solid

The pairing have only started seven league games as a pairing. Out of those, Fulham have won five (all bar Bournemouth and Burnley). Of those five, three have been clean sheet performances. The remaining two wins were the victories against Arsenal and Manchester United. So, at this point, neutrals will be asking the question: why have they not started more games together? Their joint record is very good.

Well, we know Tosin has been injured and Bassey has been away at AFCON. In a way, the fact that they have been unavailable has shown that this Fulham team, with these two at the back, can offer a lot more.

Timing

Hopefully Tosin should know that a defensive partnership like the one we're currently seeing can lead to great things. There will be the obvious temptation of moving away to play football at a higher level. But he has planted such great roots at Fulham, if he stays on for two – or even three – years, he can surely bank some more achievements and then secure a move when his quality has become undeniable. A move away now would seem foolish given the fact that he's not exactly convinced big clubs to invest, he would have to fight for game time and would perhaps be asked to settle for not being an established first choice.

The club can use that fact to their advantage. At this point, with Tosin out of contract in the summer, they are making a loss on a player who has top-quality attributes. He's still only 26 and parts of his game will continue to improve. He is also still a English player, who could step into a very shaky looking England back line. The sky is the limit, but at the moment the only move he could make is sideways.

What he if stays?

A contract for Tosin then, what would that look like? He'll no doubt want a higher wage, so the club may have to swallow that if they don't want to lose a first-team player for free. Potentially the club will have to propose that he will get a starting XI guarantee. A release clause that can allow him to make that big move if he does in fact get one. A clean sheet bonus to focus the mind during the term? Maybe even a level of clearances bonus?

Either way, Fulham will be thankful that a player who has this quality has not fully shown exactly what he is worth this term. There are still two months left of the season, and he'll need to churn out high quality to get his salary up. The big clubs are unlikely to take a big chance on him just yet, as he still has lapses and momentary losses of concentration. He's lost more than half his duels and has one direct error leading to goal in a Fulham shirt.

But out of the 13 appearances Tosin's made this season, six have been wins and three have been draws, with four losses. And he has a better tackle success rate than Ruben Dias and Gabrielle Magalhaes to boot. The point to be made is that there is some seriously underlying value here that Fulham will hopefully be examining when proposing an offer. They might count themselves lucky that he hasn't played all that much – the offer would probably have to be higher, and the decision may have already been taken out of their hands.

What if he goes?

If he doesn't decide to stay, there will be an inquest into how to replace him. Tim Ream has signed an extension so he can step in temporarily and Issa Diop has looked capable of holding his own. But a long-term solution would be needed. Tosin would bring in no fee for his replacement and perhaps Fulham would look to bring in a youth prospect who could eventually make the role his own, saving expenditure. Otherwise, they'll have to turn to the market, and so far, we know that Marco Silva has preferred Premier League experience with his signings. Joachim Anderson would be welcome back at Fulham, and with Oliver Glasner coming into a tricky situation at Palace, he might be tempted to come back to the Cottage. Trevor Chalobah is very much out of favour at Chelsea. It is these kind of fringe players that Fulham will likely target.

With the added issues of transfer fees and player integration, I'm sure the club will want Tosin to engage in meaningful talks around his future. Fulham will promise him what he wants if he is clear about his intentions. Marco will want to keep him in the set up. If Tosin is desperate for a move away though, the last thing you want on your books is a player who isn't keen on the long term vision. So, selling him more great moments like his final penalty against Everton, and reminding him that the club will listen to offers from big clubs if he is under contract, will surely be the key to keeping him.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/post/2024-03-07-what-does-the-future-hold-for-tosin/

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How Muniz exceeded expectations to fill Fulham's Mitrovic void
When Aleksandar Mitrovic departed Fulham in the summer, Craven Cottage collectively mourned the loss of a star player.

The Serbian striker hit a ludicrous 43 goals in 44 Championship starts in 2021/22, firing them to promotion, then followed that up with an exemplary 14 goals in 23 Premier League starts, helping them ease their way not only to safety, but to a top 10 finish, two spots above arch-rivals Chelsea.

It felt like a true building block of a season: They scored the 10th most goals in the division (55) and conceded the 10th fewest (53); they'd assembled an energetic, physically robust side, led by the brilliant Joao Palhinha in the centre, and spearheaded by Mitrovic's goalscoring stardust. They were firmly midtable, but with huge capacity to improve.

Then the Saudis came calling, and Fulham - understandably - accepted a mega offer for their difference-maker. Between that and coming so close to losing Palhinha on deadline day too, it cast a huge shadow over what had been anticipated to be a truly bright campaign... but was threatening to take a rather different turn.

Fulham's response to losing Mitrovic was to sign Raul Jimenez, whose powers had waned following a nasty head injury; he was in the middle of a truly grim goal drought. It took him until midway through November to score his first for the Whites, sparking a mini-purple patch, but he's sloped off again, yet to net in 2024.

Fulham's response to this was to sign Armando Broja on loan from Chelsea, on deadline day, in a curious deal that gets cheaper the more he plays. It smacked of a team rooting in the dark for answers, perhaps concerned for their Premier League safety. An immediate injury means his Craven Cottage story has barely even begun, though, and while that probably should have spelled disaster for the Whites, it has in fact opened up the most surprising of doors.

Rodrigo Muniz, who was signed almost three years ago, buried in the depth chart, loaned to Middlesbrough, then shown no faith as the club signed Jimenez and Broja to play ahead of him, has inexplicably come to the rescue. No one - and we mean no one - saw this coming.

But his last month (and a bit) has been as good as just about anyone's in the Premier League, scoring five goals and adding one assist in his last five games. His WhoScored rating since the start of February is 7.87; only seven players have earned better in that time. That has helped Fulham to 10 points from a possible 15 and pushed them back up to within touching distance of the top half of the table.

Muniz is overperforming slightly in his shooting - he's registered 5 goals from an xG of 4.15 -  but not to a concerning degree. Even if that dropped off just a little, he still adds immense value to the team, as he barrels around the pitch, roughing up centre-backs and scrapping for every ball. 

Across those five games, he's been involved in an incredible 94 duels. He only ever wins about half of them on a good day, but even when he loses out, he applies enough pressure to force a defender off balance, into a panicked clearance, or perhaps into an outright mistake. That ability to both score and occupy is reminiscent of, well, Mitrovic himself.

"Great performances," manager Marco Silva cooed last week. "Rodrigo is getting better and better. He's getting stronger, which is really difficult for defenders to deal with. If we provide for him inside the box then he's really dangerous as well. I think there's even more to come from him."

There's absolutely no way Fulham were counting on this. It's wise to measure clubs by their actions, not their words, and the fact they've signed and fielded multiple strikers in the time Muniz has been in the background tells a distinct story.

But all you need in football is one chance, and the Brazilian - still just 22 years of age - has grabbed his emphatically.



https://www.whoscored.com/Articles/Abi76oePKECgFdHpq_jA5A/Show/How-Muniz-exceeded-expectations-to-fill-Fulham-s-Mitrovic-void

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Chelsea now want to sign £2m Fulham player after Joao Palhinha rumours
Fulham left back Antonee Robinson continues to be linked away with Chelsea now understood to be interested in a summer raid.

We are now used to seeing Chelsea being linked with players left, right and centre.

Todd Boehly has spent massively at Chelsea and, so far, the results have been very limited.

That means fans are already looking at more spending in the summer with another left back now wanted.

Yes, after spending £50million on Ben Chilwell and around £60million on Marc Cucurella just two years later, the Blues are back in for a new left back.

This time, they may come calling to Craven Cottage.

Chelsea want Antonee Robinson
Give Me Sport now claim that Chelsea have a 'serious' interest in signing Fulham ace Antonee Robinson.

It's suggested that Chelsea have been monitoring Robinson for around a year and could make a move this summer.

We have seen Chelsea being linked with Joao Palhinha, but now it's Fulham teammate Robinson on their wish list.

The 26-year-old has been a mainstay of the Fulham side ever since joining from Wigan Athletic for an absolute bargain price of just £2million.

Robinson has become one of the Premier League's top left backs with his blazing speed certainly making him an impressive player.

Fulham may receive plenty of interest in Robinson this summer as 90min suggested in December that Liverpool are also interested.

The American is understandably a wanted man, but he only signed a new long-term deal with Fulham last summer.

Robinson committed himself to Fulham until the summer of 2028, meaning he still has four years left on his deal.

Liverpool or Chelsea will have to dig deep to tempt Fulham into selling Robinson and we would hope to see him honour that contract and stay put for a while yet.



https://www.fulham.news/2024/03/07/chelsea-now-want-to-sign-2m-fulham-player-after-joao-palhinha-rumours/

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Chelsea interested in Antonee Robinson

Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Antonee Robinson from fellow London club Fulham this summer.
A report from Give Me Sport has claimed that Chelsea are plotting a summer raid on Fulham for Antonee Robinson. The Blues value the 26-year-old USMNT international at around £35 million.

Although Chelsea have players like Ben Chilwell, Marc Cucurella, and Ian Maatsen on their books, it seems that they are now looking to bring in another left-back. Cucurella has been quite underwhelming with his performances since joining the club, and Maatsen is out on loan.

The Dutchman could easily be sold in the summer, especially considering he wants a permanent move to Borussia Dortmund. That would leave Chelsea with Chilwell as the only reliable option. So, it is no surprise that they are looking at Robinson as well.

The American international has proven himself in the Premier League with Fulham, and he could battle it out with Chilwell for the starting spot. The 26-year-old could be tempted to join a big club as well. Moving to Chelsea would be a major opportunity for him, and he will look to prove himself at the highest level. He has been linked with Liverpool as well.

Although Chelsea are going through a rough patch right now, they are one of the biggest clubs in the world and have the resources to sign the best players in the world. Robinson has already proven himself with Fulham, and he might look to take on a new challenge at this stage of his career.

Chelsea would be an exciting move for Antonee Robinson
Joining a big club and competing for major trophies will certainly be an attractive proposition. It will be interesting to see how the situation develops. Interestingly, Chelsea value the 26-year-old at £35 million, which seems reasonable for a defender who is a reliable performer in the Premier League, and he could hit the ground running as well.

A move to Chelsea would mean that Antonee Robinson can continue living in London as well. It will certainly be an attractive opportunity. The 26-year-old defender is entering the peak years of his career, and this is the right time for him to take the next step and join a big club. It remains to be seen with the Chelsea are prepared to pay the asking price for him.



https://thehardtackle.com/transfer-news/2024/03/07/chelsea-interested-in-antonee-robinson/

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Wolves vs Fulham team news - 3 doubts and 3 outs ahead of Molineux meeting
Fulham look to build on back-to-back wins against Manchester United and Brighton when they travel to Wolves on Saturday.

Fulham will leapfrog Wolves on goal difference if Marco Silva's men grab all three points on their travels to Molineux this weekend.

Back-to-back wins over Brighton and Manchester United have boosted morale at Craven Cottage in recent weeks as a rejuvenated Rodrigo Muniz spearheads the Fulham attack. The West London outfit have now lost just one of their last six league outings and face a Wolves side looking to come back from a 3-0 defeat at Newcastle United.

Here's your team news ahead of this weekend's Premier League action in the Midlands, with much more cause for injury concern among the hosts than Fulham.

1. Jose Sa - DOUBT
Taken off against Newcastle United with a thigh worry but that is thought to have just been precautionary.

2. Pedro Neto - DOUBT
In the same situation as Jose Sa with a small thigh worry.

3. Joao Gomes - DOUBT
Absent against Newcastle United with a hamstring injury and could miss out again.

4. Hwang Hee-chan - OUT
Has a hamstring injury and his return date is unknown.

5. Matheus Cunha - OUT
Not due back from a hamstring injury until the end of the month.

6. Raul Jimenez - OUT
Fulham's only absentee is Raul Jimenez, who has a thigh injury.



https://www.londonworld.com/sport/football/fulham/wolves-vs-fulham-team-news-3-doubts-and-3-outs-ahead-of-molineux-meeting-4546962

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Joao Palhinha Leaving Fulham This Summer 'Not Impossible'
Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha could be the subject of interest come the 2024 summer transfer window at Craven Cottage.

    Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha could leave Craven Cottage during the 2024 summer transfer window.
    The 28-year-old saw a £55m move to Bayern Munich collapse in September 2023 and remains with Marco Silva's side until the end of the 2023/24 season.
    Arsenal, Liverpool and Bayern have been linked with a move for the Portugal international.

Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha could leave Fulham during the 2024 summer transfer window as transfer insider Dean Jones hints that a sale could total between £50m and £60m at Craven Cottage.

The Cottagers are on course to secure their survival in the top flight for a second consecutive campaign.

Marco Silva's side had been tipped to be relegation candidates over the past two terms but look set to prove those predictions incorrect in the coming weeks. Palhinha has established himself as one of the Premier League's best holding midfielders, having almost left west London for Bayern Munich in the final hours of the 2023 summer transfer window.

Palhinha's near-move to Bayern Munich
In July 2022, Fulham confirmed the signing of Palhinha from Sporting CP in a deal worth £20m. The midfielder became the first signing of the Cottagers' return to the Premier League, having topped the Championship table in the 2021/22 season.

Palhinha enjoyed an exceptional debut campaign in English football and established himself as Fulham's most important player, capturing the attention of some of the continent's biggest clubs. A total of 52 points helped Fulham secure a top-half finish on their return to the Premier League, with Palhinha and striker Aleksandar Mitrovic proving key in their joyous campaign.

Heading into the final days of the 2023 summer transfer window, it looked like Palhinha's time at Fulham was ending. The 28-year-old had flown to Germany after being handed permission by Fulham to complete a move to Bayern Munich.

According to BILD, the reigning Bundesliga champions had agreed a £55m deal with the west London outfit to sign Palhinha on Deadline Day. But Fulham's failure to sign a replacement before the window shut meant that Palhinha's move to Bavaria collapsed at the 11th hour, despite the Portugal international having undergone a medical and club interviews.

Jones told GIVEMESPORT before the 2024 winter transfer window that Arsenal were unlikely to table a £60m bid for Palhinha after being linked with a move for the midfielder. In December, BILD journalist Christian Falk also claimed that Liverpool were monitoring the services of the in-demand Premier League star. Still, Palhinha will remain at Fulham until the end of the 2023/24 season. The Reds' interest in Palhinha could also be affected by Jurgen Klopp's departure from Anfield at the end of the season.

However, Football Insider reports that Arsenal and Liverpool are still interested in Palhinha despite their lack of movement in the winter transfer window. The same outlet also reports that the Fulham man remains on Bayern's shortlist despite Thomas Tuchel's pending departure at the end of the campaign.

Dean Jones - 'There will definitely be interest in Palhinha'
Jones is sure there will be interest in Palhinha's services during the 2024 summer transfer window and that "it's not impossible" that he leaves Fulham. The journalist feels that Palhinha is "generally underrated" in the game. Jones told GIVEMESPORT:

"There will definitely be interest in Palhinha. You can see from Tony Khan's recent comments that it's not impossible that he leaves Fulham. £50m to £60m would be an unbelievable deal for one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe. I still feel like Palhinha is generally underrated in the game. It'll be interesting to see whether the Bayern option remains on the table."

Fulham transfer news following Pablo Maia comments
With Fulham being one of several Premier League sides to endure a quiet 2024 winter transfer window, the Cottagers can start planning for the summer market to open in June. The west London outfit's top-flight survival is almost guaranteed, meaning Silva can begin planning for next season.

In October 2023, reporter Jorge Nicola claimed that Fulham and West Ham were battling for the signature of Sao Paulo midfielder Pablo Maia. A deal wasn't completed during the winter window, but the 22-year-old has recently told The Daily Mail that he would love to sign for a Premier League side.

"I heard about an offer from an English club to Sao Paulo FC, and then another club inquired about a loan deal two windows back. The Premier League is played at the highest technical and intense level in the world, with players accustomed to the Champions League and World Cup. It's a league that we dream of, set as a goal. Whenever I can, I watch the games and analyse how players in my position perform."



https://www.givemesport.com/fulham-transfer-news-joao-palhinha-leaving-this-summer-not-impossible/

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'It's mental'... Tom Cairney thinks one Fulham player has 'turned into an animal' recently
Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney has praised striker Rodrigo Muniz as an 'animal' after his recent upturn in form.

If you told most Fulham fans two months ago that Rodrigo Muniz would be up for the Premier League Player of the Month award for February,  they would probably would have laughed.

Muniz was hardly even considered by Fulham fans as a potential striking solution when Aleksandar Mitrovic left the club last summer.

A quiet loan spell at Middlesbrough last season didn't really indicate that a big Premier League breakout was on the cards.

The Brazilian has stepped up in recent weeks though with Raul Jimenez injured and loan signing Armando Broja off to a fairly slow start.

Muniz's header against Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend now means that he has bagged five goals in his last five outings.

Tom Cairney hails Rodrigo Muniz
Muniz is the talk of the town right now and praise has been coming in from all corners.

Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney has now joined in whilst speaking on the The Footballer's Football Podcast.

Cairney suggested that Muniz's form is 'mental' right now, suggesting that he has become an 'animal' in the Fulham attack.

Cairney noted that Muniz is 'fighting defenders' and showing his aggressive side, even scoring a Mitrovic-like goal agains Brighton.

The Fulham skipper also feels that Muniz will improve with time, believing that this is an exciting time for fans as they watch him develop.

"It's mental! He's got five goals, he's just turned into an animal! He's a handful, he's fighting defenders, he's aggressive, his goal was a bit like Mitrovic in the box," said Cairney. "He's brilliant in the air, he's not the tallest or the biggest but he's got a leap, he's a strong boy and I think it's just confidence. I think confidence is such a big thing in football and he is chomping at the bit right now."

"Last season, he didn't really play a lot for Middlesbrough but he has took his chance when called upon this month really and he's up for Premier League Player of the Month as well. Still only 22, got a lot of things to improve and I think he will with time and age, so it's an exciting time for Fulham fans watching him," he added.

Snapped up from Flamengo in 2021, Muniz only scored five goals in his first Fulham season and then two on loan at Middlesbrough.

Fulham must now attempt to figure out whether this is a purple patch or whether Muniz is the real deal up top.

The 22-year-old should have plenty of chances to shine before the end of the season, and that will likely dictate just how strongly Fulham chase a new striker this summer.



https://www.fulham.news/2024/03/07/its-mental-tom-cairney-thinks-one-fulham-player-has-turned-into-an-animal-recently/