Friday Fulham Stuff - 12/04/24...

[WhiteJC]

West Ham handed Tosin Adarabioyo boost after Fulham offer submitted – sources
Fulham star Tosin Adarabioyo is set to become a free agent in the summer window in a major boost to West Ham, sources have told Football Insider.

It is believed the Cottagers have presented the 26-year-old with several contract offers in the hopes of keeping him at the club.

Marco Silva's side are hopeful Adarabioyo will stay but sources have told Football Insider that it is now increasingly likely he will leave for free in June.

Football Insider revealed on Monday (8 April) that West Ham are the latest side to join the race to sign the Fulham defender this summer.

Adarabioyo set to walk away from Fulham amid West Ham, Liverpool and Tottenham interest
Sources have also told Football Insider (18 March) that Liverpool and Tottenham are also keen on a potential deal for the centre-back.

Meanwhile, Monaco, AC Milan and other Serie A clubs are also interested.

Adarabioyo has made 23 appearances across all competitions this term, 20 of which have come as part of the starting lineup.

He signed his last contract extension in January 2023 but has so far rejected all offers of a new deal from Fulham and intends to walk away from the club for free.

It is believed his imminent free agent status is alluring him to top sides from around England and the continent.

The centre-back has now racked up 76 Premier League appearances for Fulham after failing to make a top-flight appearance during his time at Man City.



https://www.footballinsider247.com/west-ham-handed-tosin-adarabioyo-boost-after-fulham-offer-submitted-sources/

[WhiteJC]

QPR must look with jealousy at Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham: View
With QPR struggling to score goals, they will be looking on at two of their January targets with envy.

    Cifuentes transformed QPR's fortunes from relegation worries to safer ground with tactical changes.
    QPR's goal-scoring struggles remain evident with a lack of a consistent striker, affecting their attack.
    January targets Muniz and Ugbo have excelled elsewhere, leaving QPR to wonder what could have been.

Marti Cifuentes has managed to turn Queens Park Rangers from a team that looked certain to be relegated to League One, to a team that now looks likely to escape the drop.

 After starting the season with Gareth Ainsworth, the former Wycombe Wanderers boss was relieved of his duties after six straight defeats at the end of October, and was swiftly replaced by Cifuentes.

Arriving from Hammarby in Sweden, many were wary as to whether Cifuentes would be able to get a tune out of an ageing team who were built in the summer to play a very different style of play to the way Cifuentes wanted to implement.

But the Spaniard has done an amazing job, with the R's now four points clear of the relegation zone with four games to go.

One area which QPR have struggled is when it comes to scoring goals, and two of their reported January targets have now been excelling at their respective club, which will have QPR envious.

QPR's attacking troubles
 QPR are one of the teams that have scored the least amount of goals out of anyone in the Championship, with only Rotherham United, Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall scoring less than them so far.

They have only scored three or more goals in a match once, in a 4-2 win over Stoke City in November.

Their current top scorer, Ilias Chair, has only scored five goals this season.

One of the main issues behind their attack is the lack of a lethal, clinical finisher up front. QPR currently have three options when it comes to strikers, in Lyndon Dykes, Sinclair Armstrong and Michael Frey.

Frey joined in January from Royal Antwerp, whilst the other two have been at Loftus Road the whole season. Between the three of them though, they only managed eight goals.

 Cifuentes saw that this was a problem in January, and looked to recruit a new striker up front who could bang in the goals that they so desperately needed.

However, some of the other strikers that they were linked with have gone on to do better than he has for different teams.

January targets Muniz and Ugbo shining in the second half of the season
 QPR in the end signed Frey, but they were linked with signing two other strikers in Fulham's Rodrigo Muniz, and Troyes' Ike Ugbo.

Muniz was used as more of a backup striker at Fulham during the first half of the season, which led to him being linked with a move away from the club to QPR and Bristol City in January.

Since then, the Brazilian has now become a prolific goal scorer in the Premier League.

He has scored eight goals in his last ten games, becoming one of the most in-form players in the division right now. His brilliant run of form means he is also now Fulham's top scorer.

Ugbo, on the other hand, was linked with a move to Loftus Road having spent the first half of the season on loan at Cardiff City, in a poor spell.

 His loan was then terminated, and French side Troyes loaned him out once again to QPR's relegation rivals Sheffield Wednesday for the rest of the season.

Ugbo has now excelled with the Owls, being a key part in their great escape under Danny Rohl. He has already scored more of them in eight fewer appearances than he did at Cardiff, scoring six goals in 14 Championship appearances.

Those goals have been pivotal too - he scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over bitter rivals Rotherham, and both goals in a 2-1 win against Bristol City, with his poacher instincts coming in clutch.

Whilst QPR have done tremendously well in this second half of the season to drag themselves away from the bottom three, they must be thinking that if they had signed either of these two players, they would surely be safe already.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/qpr-must-look-with-jealousy-at-sheffield-wednesday-and-fulham-view/

[Barrett487]

You started this on Thursday.... i want my money back !!!

[WhiteJC]

January Bristol City target now linked to Man Utd & valued at £50m was likely never in reach: View
Rodrigo Muniz was never a realistic target for Bristol City as he is linked with Manchester United move.

    Muniz's stellar run of form for Fulham has attracted interest from top clubs, including Manchester United.
    Bristol City's pursuit of Muniz was dashed by the £50m price tag, far exceeding their record signing fee.
    Despite interest from lower-tier clubs, Muniz is more likely to make a move to a top club like Man United after a successful Premier League season.

Bristol City target Rodrigo Muniz looks unlikely to make the move to the Championship after he picked up his form for Fulham in the Premier League.

 The 22-year-old has come out of nowhere to bag the goals for Fulham this season, after failing to pull up trees in previous campaigns.

He joined the London club in 2021, signing from Brazilian side Flamengo on a five-year deal. He scored just five times in his first season in the Championship, before bagging only twice for Middlesbrough in a disappointing loan spell.

Muniz was linked with a loan move to Bristol City in January, after struggling for game time at Fulham. This move never came to be, and he remained at his parent club beyond the closure of the transfer window. His commitment was rewarded with game time, and the Brazilian began a fantastic run of form.

After scoring his first Premier League goal against Burnley in February, he went on to net eight times between February and April. He scored eight times in ten matches for the Cottagers. This has attracted more interest for the player, who could leave the club once the season concludes.

Manchester United are linked with a move for Muniz
 After his impressive form for Fulham, Muniz has been linked with a move to Manchester United in the summer.

GiveMeSport reported that the club want to sign the forward, although the £50 million price tag being touted will prove a massive outlay for the Red Devils.

 Following the big-money signings of the likes of Antony and Jadon Sancho in the past few years, the club will be hesitant in throwing big sums of money at players who have not proven themselves as top stars in the Premier League yet.

However, with players like Antony Martial and Raphael Varane set to leave the club on free transfers in the summer, the United wage budget will be free of their gargantuan wages. This gives United more maneuverability in the transfer market, and makes the £50 million move for Muniz more of a realistic possibility.

However, signing another young striker after the £72 million move for Rasmus Hojlund in the summer may not be the best option for the club. Nevertheless, his eight goals so far for Fulham will have impressed Erik Ten Hag, and he could make a move for the forward once the season ends.

Muniz price-tag completely takes Bristol City out of race
 The £50 million price tag being touted has removed The Robins from contention to sign the forward.

The club's record signing was Tomas Kalas for under £8 million, so spending £50 million on any player is simply out of the question at any level, let alone the Championship.

The odds of Muniz joining the club, even if they could afford the fee, were low. Fulham are not blessed with an impressive strikeforce. They have only scored 47 times in the league, with eight of those coming from Muniz in the last ten matches.

Losing him would have put a huge dent in their arsenal, which would have been a huge risk as they still had a chance of being drawn into a relegation battle.

It is also unlikely Muniz would have wanted to dropdown to the second tier again, following spells with Boro and Fulham in the Championship. The move to Bristol City was a pipe dream for the Robins, and the transfer to United seems much more likely, even with the hurdles a £50m price-tag might throw up.



https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/bristol-city-move-rodrigo-muniz-always-unlikely-as-man-united-circle-fulham-transfer/

[WhiteJC]

Liverpool target certain to leave Premier League club as a free agent ahead of 2024/25 season
Liverpool target Tosin Adarabioyo is almost certain to leave Fulham at the end of the season as several clubs eye up a move for the defender as a free agent.

The centre-back has spent the last four years at Craven Cottage and remains a mainstay in Marco Silva's team having featured in 23 games during the current campaign, scoring two goals. The Cottagers have offered the 26-year-old a new deal but nothing has been signed as of now and that has prompted Premier League clubs to keep an eye on his situation.

According to Football Insider, Adarabioyo is almost certain to leave Fulham at the end of the season for free as he has so far rejected all new contract proposals.

The 26-year-old wants a new challenge and there are plenty of clubs lining up to sign the player.

According to the report, Premier League duo Liverpool and Tottenham are keen on a potential deal for Adarabioyo as they look to strengthen their defences ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

West Ham, Monaco, AC Milan and other Serie A clubs are also said to be considering a move for the Fulham star.

Could Tosin Adarabioyo make a switch to Liverpool this summer?
At a time when financial fair play restrictions are hampering a lot of Premier League club's spending, a free agent such as Tosin is a highly sought-after target.

Liverpool look set to lose Joel Matip at the end of the season due to his contract expiring and the 26-year-old is a candidate to replace the 32-year-old at Anfield. This would be a cost-effective way for the Merseyside club to replace the centre-back and could be a route the Reds go down.

However, with no manager in place at Liverpool, is this interest even real as any targets would need to be run by the incoming coach?

The Premier League club will not be able to sign any players until they have their new manager and that is exactly what they are working on at present.



https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/04/11/liverpool-tosin-adarabioyo-fulham/

[WhiteJC]

Official Programme | Fulham Premier League issue available now!
West Ham United's 2023/24 Official Programme for Sunday's Premier League visit of Fulham to London Stadium is available online now!

The 116-page publication is the largest in English football and, at just £4 per issue, represents superb value for money for supporters wanting exclusive interviews, attention-grabbing opinions and eye-catching photographs, plus the regular news, columns and statistics and insightful content from across all areas of the Club.

The Official Programme is the definitive Claret and Blue publication for West Ham fans.

Our 23rd issue of another busy campaign is led by an in-depth interview and analysis of Maxwel Cornet, and features with Brazilian star Lucas Paquetá and former Whites goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.

We also have Ian 'Moose' Abrahams' interview with former West Ham and Fulham player and current Portsmouth coach Jon Harley, Steve Blowers' chat with former West Ham and Fulham defender Rufus Brevett, along with historic features galore.

With the latest from our women's team and Foundation, plus puzzles, statistics and the lowdown on our opponents from west London, the Official Programme is packed full of content for you!

The only way to guarantee every issue is delivered straight to your door is by signing up for a seasonal subscription.

Whether you are planning to be at the match, watch at home or are simply a loyal West Ham fan or collector, the easiest way to get your copy each week is to subscribe.

The deal includes all home Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup matches.

Prices start at just £122 for UK delivery, and issues can be shipped worldwide regardless of where you follow the Claret and Blue Army from.



https://www.whufc.com/news/official-programme-fulham-premier-league-issue-available-now

[WhiteJC]

Newcastle join race for Super Eagles-eligible star on the radar of AC Milan, Liverpool, West Ham
The Fulham defender will not be short of suitors when he becomes a free agent in the summer

Newcastle United have joined the long queue of clubs interested in signing Fulham star Tosin Adarabioyo, Soccernet.ng reports.

Adarabioyo has been one of the standout performers for Fulham this season, with his defensive partnership with Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey bearing significant fruits.

Their centre-back pairing is one of the major reasons Fulham are 14 points adrift of the relegation waters with only six games left.

However, Adarabioyo is into the last six months of his contract with Fulham, and he is almost certainly set to leave the Cottagers this summer as a free agent.

With 104 appearances in the Championship and another 76 in the Premier League, Adarabioyo comes with loads of experience, and it is no surprise that top European clubs are keen to snap him up.

Italian giants AC Milan have been on the 26-year-old's case since last summer, while several English clubs, including Liverpool and West Ham, are also interested.

According to Bein Sports, Newcastle are also interested, and the Magpies have reportedly placed the former Manchester City ace on their radar ahead of a busy summer.

Apart from joining a new club, the end of the season could also see Adarabioyo earn a first call-up to the Nigerian national team.

Adarabioyo played for England at the youth level, but he is yet to be called up for the Three Lions.

He is set to miss out again on England's squad to the European Championships later this year.

That could help Adarabioyo decide to play for Nigeria, the birthplace of his parents.

Adarabioyo could be in line for his first Super Eagles call-up ahead of Nigeria's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa in June.



https://soccernet.ng/2024/04/newcastle-join-race-for-super-eagles-eligible-star-on-the-radar-of-ac-milan-liverpool-west-ham.html

[WhiteJC]

Hammersmith Bridge: 'At least five more years until it reopens', Londoners told on 5th anniversary of closure
The Grade II* listed crossing was hurriedly closed to vehicles five years ago

Londoners have been warned on the fifth anniversary of the closure of Hammersmith Bridge that it will be at least another five years before it can be reopened to cars, even if the £250 million estimated cost of fixing it is found today.

The Grade II* listed crossing was hurriedly closed to vehicles five years ago after its owner, Hammersmith and Fulham council, found that its wrought-iron structure was riddled with cracks. Pedestrians and cyclists were temporarily banned the following year.

The shutdown has brought worse congestion to much of west London, isolated residents in Barnes on the south side of the river, and prompted global ridicule because of Britain's inability to repair a vital piece of transport infrastructure in its capital.

The estimated cost of making it safe for cars and buses has ballooned from an initial £20million to the current £250million. Around £30million has already been spent by the Labour-run council and the Department for Transport in stabilisation work that has allowed the bridge to reopen to pedestrians and cyclists.

However, a more ambitious plan to fully restore the bridge — which would include a toll for drivers — has been caught in political wrangling and is still being considered by DfT officials a year after it was submitted by the local authority.

But council sources said that even if a cheque was written today, the detailed work, including removing the pedestals at the end of the bridge to make it safe for the 21st century, would take another five years.



A council spokesman said: "We are committed to the full reopening of the bridge to motor vehicles including buses. But we are a small local authority with very limited funding, and we must have the financial support of the Department for Transport and Transport for London, as well as an agreement to fund our share via a toll.

"The cost of repair is estimated at £250million. In contrast spending on all the maintenance and repair of all London road and river bridges was just £100million between 2010 and 2021, according to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

"Unfortunately, the DfT has once again delayed consideration of Hammersmith and Fulham's business case for the full restoration of the bridge. It was formally submitted to the DfT one year ago and had been expected to be agreed before Christmas and then again in the new year.

"However, it was dropped from the agenda for both investment board meetings due to issues within the DfT."

Hammersmith and Fulham leader Steve Cowan said he vividly recalled the moment one of his senior officials said she needed an urgent meeting about the bridge five years ago: "She sat down and said, 'We need to close Hammersmith Bridge.' I said, 'What! That will cause chaos, what's going on?'

"She told me ultrasound equipment that we had brought in had found microcracks and that the structure could shatter like glass and cause a national catastrophe. I said, 'How long have I got to make the decision?' She said, 'I can give you 30 seconds.'"

A DfT spokesman said: "The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, as Hammersmith Bridge's owner, is in charge of this project. The Government has already given nearly £13 million to help restore the bridge — including almost £3million announced this week for a new cycle lane. Any business case needs to be viable and offer value for money for taxpayers."

London minister and Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands has called for the bridge to be brought under the control of TfL.

The Liberal Democrats yesterday marked the five-year milestone with an "anniversary party" complete with cake and balloons, as they urged the Government to repair the bridge.

The event was led by Sarah Olney, Lib-Dem MP for Richmond Park, who said: "Five years ago, the Conservatives vowed that they would not let Hammersmith Bridge remain closed should they form the next government. However, once the ballots were counted at the 2019 election, they clearly lost interest."

She told the Standard: "There's no doubt in my mind — we need to see something from the Government, in order to get things moving for Hammersmith Bridge.

"We've been in conversations with the council, who own the bridge, with TfL, who have strategic responsibility [for London's transport], but the fact remains there's no money to fix the bridge unless the Government is prepared to come to the table with a proper proposal for funding."

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "Five years on I understand the frustration that a lot of residents and businesses have felt around the closure of Hammersmith Bridge.

"TfL continue to work with the council to support its full reopening. But the bridge is a major bit of council-owned infrastructure that will cost of tens of millions of pounds to repair, and despite all the work of the local council it will need central government to finally fulfil its promise to provide the major funding that this project requires."

While the disruption has caused headaches across west London, some residents living closest to the bridge told the Standard the closure had brought benefits.

Carol McFarlane, a semi-retired tax adviser, said: "I love it being closed. I live on Castelnau and it's ever so quiet. There's no pollution, and it's beautiful."

But university student Elizabeth McDonald, who lives in Barnes but went to school in Hammersmith, said the closure had forced her to cycle miles out of her way, via Putney Bridge.



https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/hammersmith-bridge-reopen-cars-fifth-anniversary-closure-london-b1150824.html

[WhiteJC]

The genius West Ham free agent swoop that could seriously scupper Liverpool and Tottenham transfer plans
The Hammers have been linked with a move for Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo.

It was always going to be a gamble. By refusing to sell during the January transfer window, Fulham essentially took one look at Tosin Adarabioyo's contract situation, sighed a heavy sigh, and shoved all of their plastic chips into the centre of a big felt table. Early reports would suggest that their Hail Mary has backfired a little.

According to Football Insider, the Cottagers have presented a number of prospective extensions to their talismanic defender, but the 26-year-old has, thus far, rejected all of them. The expectation is that negotiations will continue in this vein until, inevitably, Adarabioyo becomes a free agent in the summer. Suddenly, a player who would once have fetched a pretty penny will be permitted to leave for absolutely nothing.

Of course, that is bad news for Fulham, but that faint noise you can hear in the distance is David Moyes squealing in delight from the other side of the capital. You see, Football Insider also state that West Ham are monitoring Adarabioyo's situation closely, and are eager to provide him with a new home, if and when he leaves Craven Cottage.

They are not alone, though. It is understood that a number of Premier League clubs, including Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, are also keeping an eye on the centre-back, with view to potential charm offensives of their own. Meanwhile, on the continent, the likes of AS Monaco, AC Milan, and a smattering of other Serie A clubs watch on intently. In short, Adarabioyo, presuming he does indeed decide to leave Fulham in the coming months, will not be lacking in willing suitors.

But for all of the interest in him, this is a race that West Ham must be looking to win. Defensively speaking, the Hammers are not short on first team talent at the present moment in time. Kurt Zouma is trusted to such an extent that he sports the captain's armband these days, while Konstantinos Mavrapanos and Nayef Aguerd are also perfectly decent options to partner the Frenchman. Even the veteran Angelo Ogbonna, now 35, is capable of putting in a shift.

That being said, the Italian will not be around forever, and with Thilo Kehrer out on a loan that could quite easily morph into a permanent departure, the notion of bringing in another high quality centre-back is one that makes sense - especially when they are available on a free transfer, and especially when they are as good as Adarabioyo.

Because, in truth, the Fulham stalwart would arrive at West Ham with both the potential and the pedigree to seize a regular starting role for himself. Adarabioyo would not just be cover and competition, but a signing worthy of challenging his new teammates for frequent minutes. Presumably, that will be the pitch presented to him, and may even be the advantage that the Irons hold over the likes of Liverpool or Spurs.

If all goes to plan, West Ham could be in the running to pull off one of the bargain coups of the summer transfer window. And while it will be low down on Moyes' list of priorities, their gain could very well be to the detriment of some of their more auspicious Premier League rivals.



https://www.3addedminutes.com/sport/football/west-ham/the-genius-west-ham-free-agent-swoop-that-could-seriously-scupper-liverpool-and-tottenham-transfer-plans-4587082

[WhiteJC]

Tottenham Hotspur To Press Accelerator In Pursuit Of Newcastle Target
Tottenham Hotspur are set to press the accelerator in their pursuit of Newcastle United target Tosin Adarabioyo, according to football.london.

The 26-year-old centre-back will be out of contract at the end of the season and is expected to leave Fulham on a free transfer in the summer.

His contract situation is attracting interest from clubs in Italy but he is also wanted at top clubs in the Premier League.

Adarabioyo is a key target for Newcastle but Tottenham have also been keeping tabs on the centre-back for several months.

It has been claimed that Spurs are now prepared to step up their efforts to sign the Fulham defender.

Tottenham are keen to move early and try and convince the player to move to the north London club.

The Fulham defender is also claimed to be open to a move to Spurs and compete with Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin for a place in the team.

The potential arrival would also help Spurs to have one more player for their homegrown quote in their squad.



https://insidefutbol.com/2024/04/11/tottenham-hotspur-to-press-accelerator-in-pursuit-of-newcastle-target/641979/

[WhiteJC]

Castagne: Aiming High

Timothy Castagne would love a repeat of the last time we faced West Ham United, but recognises that London Stadium will represent a very different test.

Fulham claimed a second 5-0 win at Craven Cottage in a week when we hosted the Hammers back in December, but Castagne knows David Moyes will not allow a similar scoreline in East London.

"That would be great, but it's going to be difficult to have the same," our Belgian full-back admitted.

"It will be a lot more difficult [away from home], they will be expecting us and they will want revenge as well, so it's going to be tough, but it would be a great place to do it, it's a great stadium, so it would be good to win there.

"We will have to start very strong and not make the same mistakes we did last few games, especially the last away games when we were not at our best, so we need to change that."

After the trip to Stratford, Fulham have five fixtures remaining in 2023/24, including against title rivals Liverpool and Manchester City at the Cottage.

Rather than fearing those ties, Castagne is relishing the opportunity to have a say in who wins the league, while being motivated to help the Whites finish as high as possible ourselves.

"It's going to be nice to play these teams," he said. "We've done well against big teams in the past, especially at home, so it would be nice to get another win, and maybe change the course of the fight at the top.

"We want to be as high as possible, we don't want to just let the games go by and not care, we want to play for wins and try to get as many points as possible this season.

"If you end the season strong then you have a good feeling for the start of next season and you can keep the momentum going."



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/april/11/castagne-aiming-high/

[WhiteJC]

Club Make Decision On Fulham Loan Star
Galatasaray have decided they will not look to keep Fulham striker Carlos Vinicius following the end of his loan.

The Brazilian striker was snapped up on loan by Galatasaray in the winter transfer window earlier this year.

He has failed to make an impression in Turkey though and been handed under five minutes of action in each of Galatasaray's last four Super Lig games.

The Istanbul giants have seen enough of the Fulham man to know they do not want to keep hold of him beyond the loan, according to Turkish daily Sabah.

Vinicius has found the back of the net once for Galatasaray and there is still time for him to attempt to add to that.

He could also be on course to scoop up a Turkish Super Lig winners' medal, with Galatasaray top of the table and two points clear of fierce rivals Fenerbahce.

Once the 29-year-old returns to Fulham he will have another year left on his contract at Craven Cottage.

In the first half of the campaign, Vinicius turned out in 13 Premier League games and found the back of the net against Luton Town and West Ham United.



https://insidefutbol.com/2024/04/11/club-make-decision-on-fulham-loan-star/642001/

[WhiteJC]

West Ham, Aston Villa and Fulham all sending officials tonight – PL clubs start shopping ahead of summer
Aston Villa, Fulham and West Ham United will all have scouts in attendance for tonight's clash between Club Brugge and PAOK.

That's according to journalist Tomas Taecke, who says the Premier League trio are one of 12 from England sending representatives to the game.

The Het Laatste Niuews journalist reports that Aston Villa, Fulham and West Ham will all be at the game alongside Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester United, Brentford, Bournemouth and Brighton.

Brugge are taking on the Greek side in the first leg of their Europa Conference League quarter-final tie, with the second leg scheduled for next week.

Taecke makes no mention of who the Premier League clubs may be there to scout, just that they've all decided to attend the game.

The obvious answer, at least from Club Brugge, would be Antonio Nusa, who has been heavily linked with a move since last summer and is known to have admirers in England.

It would be strange for anyone to be planning a move for him, though, given his injury issues over the last few months and the fact he's been in no kind of form whatsoever. Any interested clubs would need him to be convinced that he can play for an extended period and he's yet to do that.

Perhaps Aston Villa, Fulham, West Ham and all the others have different targets, or more likely a tonne of invites were sent out by Brugge and the clubs Taecke names are simply the ones who accepted.

Either way, a Premier League contingent will be in attendance, so it'll be worth keeping an eye on who performs well for either side in front of the scouts watching.



http://sportwitness.co.uk/west-ham-aston-villa-fulham-sending-officials-tonight-pl-clubs-start-shopping-ahead-summer/

[WhiteJC]

Man City Televised

Fulham's match against Manchester City at Craven Cottage has been selected for live television coverage on TNT Sports.

The game will still take place on Saturday 11th May, but will now kick-off at the earlier time of 12.30pm.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/april/10/man-city-televised/

[WhiteJC]

Timothy Castagne identifies what Fulham 'need to change' against West Ham
Fulham travel to West Ham United on Saturday, with Timothy Castagne hoping to repeat the 5-0 win over the Hammers from earlier in the season

Fulham full-back Timothy Castagne is setting his sights high as he looks forward to a rematch with West Ham United at London Stadium.

He fondly recalls the 5-0 victory Fulham claimed against the Hammers at Craven Cottage in December, but acknowledges that David Moyes' side will be a different beast on their home turf. "That would be great, but it's going to be difficult to have the same," he told Fulham's official website.

"It will be a lot more difficult [away from home], they will be expecting us and they will want revenge as well, so it's going to be tough, but it would be a great place to do it, it's a great stadium, so it would be good to win there.

"We will have to start very strong and not make the same mistakes we did last few games, especially the last away games when we were not at our best, so we need to change that."

With five fixtures left in the 2023/24 season, including clashes with title contenders Liverpool and Manchester City, Castagne is eager to influence the outcome of the league while pushing Fulham to finish as high as possible. "It's going to be nice to play these teams," he said.

"We've done well against big teams in the past, especially at home, so it would be nice to get another win, and maybe change the course of the fight at the top."

The Whites are not content to coast through the remaining games, instead aiming to rack up as many points as possible. Castagne believes a strong finish to the season can provide a positive springboard into the next campaign.

"If you end the season strong then you have a good feeling for the start of next season and you can keep the momentum going," added the former Leicester City defender.

"It will be a lot more difficult [away from home], they will be expecting us and they will want revenge as well, so it's going to be tough, but it would be a great place to do it, it's a great stadium, so it would be good to win there.

"We will have to start very strong and not make the same mistakes we did last few games, especially the last away games when we were not at our best, so we need to change that."



https://www.football.london/fulham-fc/timothy-castagne-identifies-what-fulham-28980818

[alfie]

Hammersmith Bridge: 'At least five more years until it reopens', Londoners told on 5th anniversary of closure
The Grade II* listed crossing was hurriedly closed to vehicles five years ago

Londoners have been warned on the fifth anniversary of the closure of Hammersmith Bridge that it will be at least another five years before it can be reopened to cars, even if the £250 million estimated cost of fixing it is found today.

The Grade II* listed crossing was hurriedly closed to vehicles five years ago after its owner, Hammersmith and Fulham council, found that its wrought-iron structure was riddled with cracks. Pedestrians and cyclists were temporarily banned the following year.

The shutdown has brought worse congestion to much of west London, isolated residents in Barnes on the south side of the river, and prompted global ridicule because of Britain's inability to repair a vital piece of transport infrastructure in its capital.

The estimated cost of making it safe for cars and buses has ballooned from an initial £20million to the current £250million. Around £30million has already been spent by the Labour-run council and the Department for Transport in stabilisation work that has allowed the bridge to reopen to pedestrians and cyclists.

However, a more ambitious plan to fully restore the bridge — which would include a toll for drivers — has been caught in political wrangling and is still being considered by DfT officials a year after it was submitted by the local authority.

But council sources said that even if a cheque was written today, the detailed work, including removing the pedestals at the end of the bridge to make it safe for the 21st century, would take another five years.



A council spokesman said: "We are committed to the full reopening of the bridge to motor vehicles including buses. But we are a small local authority with very limited funding, and we must have the financial support of the Department for Transport and Transport for London, as well as an agreement to fund our share via a toll.

"The cost of repair is estimated at £250million. In contrast spending on all the maintenance and repair of all London road and river bridges was just £100million between 2010 and 2021, according to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

"Unfortunately, the DfT has once again delayed consideration of Hammersmith and Fulham's business case for the full restoration of the bridge. It was formally submitted to the DfT one year ago and had been expected to be agreed before Christmas and then again in the new year.

"However, it was dropped from the agenda for both investment board meetings due to issues within the DfT."

Hammersmith and Fulham leader Steve Cowan said he vividly recalled the moment one of his senior officials said she needed an urgent meeting about the bridge five years ago: "She sat down and said, 'We need to close Hammersmith Bridge.' I said, 'What! That will cause chaos, what's going on?'

"She told me ultrasound equipment that we had brought in had found microcracks and that the structure could shatter like glass and cause a national catastrophe. I said, 'How long have I got to make the decision?' She said, 'I can give you 30 seconds.'"

A DfT spokesman said: "The London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, as Hammersmith Bridge's owner, is in charge of this project. The Government has already given nearly £13 million to help restore the bridge — including almost £3million announced this week for a new cycle lane. Any business case needs to be viable and offer value for money for taxpayers."

London minister and Chelsea and Fulham MP Greg Hands has called for the bridge to be brought under the control of TfL.

The Liberal Democrats yesterday marked the five-year milestone with an "anniversary party" complete with cake and balloons, as they urged the Government to repair the bridge.

The event was led by Sarah Olney, Lib-Dem MP for Richmond Park, who said: "Five years ago, the Conservatives vowed that they would not let Hammersmith Bridge remain closed should they form the next government. However, once the ballots were counted at the 2019 election, they clearly lost interest."

She told the Standard: "There's no doubt in my mind — we need to see something from the Government, in order to get things moving for Hammersmith Bridge.

"We've been in conversations with the council, who own the bridge, with TfL, who have strategic responsibility [for London's transport], but the fact remains there's no money to fix the bridge unless the Government is prepared to come to the table with a proper proposal for funding."

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: "Five years on I understand the frustration that a lot of residents and businesses have felt around the closure of Hammersmith Bridge.

"TfL continue to work with the council to support its full reopening. But the bridge is a major bit of council-owned infrastructure that will cost of tens of millions of pounds to repair, and despite all the work of the local council it will need central government to finally fulfil its promise to provide the major funding that this project requires."

While the disruption has caused headaches across west London, some residents living closest to the bridge told the Standard the closure had brought benefits.

Carol McFarlane, a semi-retired tax adviser, said: "I love it being closed. I live on Castelnau and it's ever so quiet. There's no pollution, and it's beautiful."

But university student Elizabeth McDonald, who lives in Barnes but went to school in Hammersmith, said the closure had forced her to cycle miles out of her way, via Putney Bridge.



https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/hammersmith-bridge-reopen-cars-fifth-anniversary-closure-london-b1150824.html

I don't understand why it would cost £3mill to make a cycle lane, surely just paint a big white line, not only that but why is a cycle lane needed when there are no motorised vehicles on the bridge, ?

[filham]

Wouldn't it be nice to have a few days free of Tosin Talk. Rumours about the various clubs interested on signing Tosin on a free have gone on and on all year.

[alfie]

Wouldn't it be nice to have a few days free of Tosin Talk. Rumours about the various clubs interested on signing Tosin on a free have gone on and on all year.

I know he is a good player, but are all these clubs really interested in him?

[btffc]

Wouldn't it be nice to have a few days free of Tosin Talk. Rumours about the various clubs interested on signing Tosin on a free have gone on and on all year.

I know he is a good player, but are all these clubs really interested in him?

He's homegrown, PL proven, is very good with his feet which all top clubs desire and on a free when he would normally be 25m+ given his age and profile. Plus at minimum he is a quality back for pretty much any side. Yes, all those clubs are and should be interested. At a time when finances are tight due to FFP, he's basically an ideal signing for nearly every top club who needs CB depth.

[alfie]

Wouldn't it be nice to have a few days free of Tosin Talk. Rumours about the various clubs interested on signing Tosin on a free have gone on and on all year.

I know he is a good player, but are all these clubs really interested in him?

He's homegrown, PL proven, is very good with his feet which all top clubs desire and on a free when he would normally be 25m+ given his age and profile. Plus at minimum he is a quality back for pretty much any side. Yes, all those clubs are and should be interested. At a time when finances are tight due to FFP, he's basically an ideal signing for nearly every top club who needs CB depth.

Only asked 🤣