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

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Rangers confirm departure of former Leeds United star linked with Sheffield United and Fulham
Rangers have confirmed the departure of former Leeds United forward Kemar Roofe.

The 31-year-old has been plagued by injury at Ibrox but is leaving with a respectable record nonetheless, having scored 38 goals in 102 appearances for the Gers.

He is leaving the Scottish giants alongside fellow senior figures Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, John Lundstram and Jon McLaughlin. In a statement, Rangers said: "Rangers Football Club can today confirm the departures of Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack, John Lundstram, Jon McLaughlin and Kemar Roofe following the expiry of their contracts.

"With a combined 23 seasons at the club, all five players have represented Rangers with commitment and dedication over a number of years. They were all part of the squad that guided Rangers to the UEFA Europa League final in Seville, with Borna Barisic, Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe lifting the league title with the club in 2020/21.

"Everyone at Ibrox and Rangers' Training Centre thank the departing players for their time at the club and wish them all the very best for their future careers."

He moved to Scotland in 2020, a year after he swapped Leeds for Anderlecht. He had been a key figure for Leeds, racking up 122 appearances and notching on 33 occasions.

It had been expected for some time that he would be seeking pastures new this summer, having managed just six league starts last term. Despite his fitness struggles, it would not be a surprise to see the marksman have offers on the table.

He has been linked with a host of clubs, with Sheffield United and Fulham among those credited with interest in April. However, clubs could be forgiven for having concerns over his injury record.

Leeds signed Roofe in 2016, prising him from Oxford United ahead of Garry Monk's first season at the helm. Despite initially struggling for goals, he soon became a regular source of them for the Whites.



https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/rangers-confirm-departure-of-former-leeds-united-star-linked-with-sheffield-united-and-fulham-4650003

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Chelsea hoping to pip Newcastle in race for Fulham's Tosin Adarabioyo
Chelsea are confident of beating Newcastle to the signing of the Fulham centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo on a free transfer.

Newcastle were leading the race for the former Manchester City defender and have been working on a deal for several weeks. But they have not been able to see off a late move from Chelsea, who are working to complete what would be the first signing of the Enzo Maresca era after offering Adarabioyo a bigger financial package than Eddie Howe's team.

Related: Men's transfer window summer 2024 – all deals from Europe's top five leagues

Adarabioyo is keen to test himself at the highest level and is available on a free transfer after deciding not to renew his contract at Fulham.

Chelsea want a new centre-back after the departure of Thiago Silva and they have the added advantage of being able to offer the 26-year-old European football after pipping Newcastle to a Europa Conference League spot.

Part of the appeal to Chelsea, who have been lavish spenders in the past two years, is that Adarabioyo is not hugely expensive and has ample Premier League experience. His ability on the ball should make him suited to Maresca's football, which places a heavy emphasis on possession.

Maresca is due to be announced as Chelsea's new head coach soon. The club's lawyers are working to finalise paperwork for the 44-year-old and his backroom staff. Chelsea will pay Leicester City around £10m in compensation for the Italian, who has been chosen to replace Mauricio Pochettino.

One early issue for Maresca to contend with could be Chelsea's desire to sell homegrown players as they look to avoid problems with profitability and sustainability regulations. Conor Gallagher, the England midfielder, is a target for Aston Villa and Tottenham. Adarabioyo's impending arrival could also hasten the departure of Trevoh Chalobah. The versatile defender has emerged as a target for Manchester United and could bring in around £25m.

Chalobah was a regular at the end of the season but Chelsea bolstered their central defensive options by signing Benoît Badiashile and Axel Disasi last summer and can also call upon Levi Colwill and Wesley Fofana, who has been out with a long-term knee injury.



https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/chelsea-hoping-pip-newcastle-race-110821966.html

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'I'm not trying to stop' - Iwobi wants more after breaking PL record held by Chelsea icon Mikel
Super Eagles midfielder Alex Iwobi has paid homage to Chelsea legend Mikel Obi, upon breaking his record for most minutes played by a Nigerian player in Premier League history.

The Hale End Academy product broke the record when he featured in Fulham's 1-0 loss to Newcastle on matchday 32 of the just concluded campaign which was played at the Craven Cottage.

He lasted the entire duration of the game and has a result took his number of minutes played in the English top-flight to 16,289 minutes, surpassing the number accumulated by Mikel while playing for Chelsea.

The 28-year-old made his Premier League debut in the 2015/2016 season for Arsenal and has gone on to feature prominently for the Gunners, Everton and now Fulham in the English top-flight.

Speaking in an interview with KISS Fresh, Iwobi expressed his elation upon breaking Mikel's history and also revealed that the Chelsea midfielder used to be one his idols.

"That's (breaking Mikel's record) crazy, but I'm not trying to stop. I'm trying to increase that, keep going, and whoever is going to come for that title has got to put in hard work," Iwobi said.

"That's a big achievement because John Obi Mikel is a legend in the game. The fact that I've played with him makes me feel old. He was actually my idol at one point. He's a legend."

The Fulham midfielder has not only surpassed the number of minutes played by the 2012 UEFA Champions League winner but also exceeded the number of matches the latter played in the English top-tier division.

He has now played 253 matches in the Premier League, which is four more than Mikel's but still has a long way to surpass the highest number of matches played by a Nigerian in the competition.

Shola Ameobi hold the record at the moment having featured in 299 games for Newcastle and Crystal Palace.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid



https://www.allnigeriasoccer.com/read_news.php?nid=51709

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Tosin to take Chelsea medical next week
Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo will have a Chelsea medical next week after reaching a provisional agreement with the Blues over the last 48 hours.

The centre back had been expected to join Newcastle United when his contract at Craven Cottage expires next month, but Chelsea's willingness to match his wage demands and the imminent appointment of Enzo Maresca as head coach means he will make the shortest of journeys down the Fulham Road. Tosin worked under Maresca when the Italian managed Manchester City's development squad.

The 6ft 4in defender, who made 129 appearances in four years with Fulham, was dropped by Marco Silva at the tail end of the season having turned two contract extensions. Fulham are actively looking for replacements at the heart of their defence.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/06/tosin-to-take-chelsea-medical-next-week/

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Stuart Armstrong in Fiorentina and Fulham transfer tussle as Serie A sizes up another Scottish raid
Armstrong is out of contract at Southampton and has offers to remain in the UK or head to Italy.

Fiorentina and Fulham are two of the clubs battling it out for Scotland star Stuart Armstrong.

The midfielder - who is part of Steve Clarke's squad for Euro 2024 - is out of contract at Southampton this summer. Armstrong helped Russell Martin's side gain promotion to the Premier League and the Scots boss is keen to keep him at St Mary's. But Mailsport understands the 32-year-old has several suitors and is currently weighing up his options.

One of them is Serie A side Fiorentina, who have been Conference League finalists in the last two seasons. A move to Florence could see Armstrong become the latest Scot to head for Italy's top flight, following the likes of Aaron Hickey and Lewis Ferguson. Fulham are also interested, as well as other Premier League outfits who want Armstrong to stay in the UK. The former Celtic and Dundee United playmaker will be a free agent at the end of June and will go to the Euros with his future up in the air.

Southampton believe they can keep Armstrong at the club for their latest Premier League tilt - but they'll have to fight off bids from England and abroad to persuade him to sign an extension on the South Coast.



https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-transfer-news/stuart-armstrong-fiorentina-fulham-transfer-32940616

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Fulham fancy Armstrong swoop
Fulham are eyeing a summer swoop for Southampton's out-of-contract midfielder Stuart Armstrong, according to the Sunday Mail.

The 32 year-old, who helped the Saints secure an immediate return to the top flight as Russell Martin's side beat Leeds United in last week's play-off final, is exploring his options in light of interest from across Europe. Southampton are keen to keep him at St. Mary's but the Scottish international has already attracted enquiries from Fiorentina and the Whites – with the former Celtic star a long-term target.

Armstrong began his senior career with Dundee United, making 149 appearances at Tannadice, before moving to Celtic Park in February 2015. The Inverness-born midfielder scored 28 goals in 144 games for the Bhoys, winning four Scottish league titles, two Scottish Cups and two Scottish League Cups. He signed for Southampton in June 2018 and has scored 25 goals in 214 games on the south coast.

Armstrong, who has scored five goals in 50 senior caps for his country, featured in Scotland's squad for Euro 2020 and has been named in Steve Clarke's party for this summer's European Championships. He would be an attractive Bosman signing for Marco Silva, with a wealth of Premier League experience and the versatility to play in a number of midfield positions.



https://hammyend.com/index.php/2024/06/fulham-fancy-armstrong-swoop/

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Armstrong reportedly in future talks with Fiorentina and Fulham
SAINTS midfielder Stuart Armstrong is reportedly weighing up his options with several clubs interested in signing him.

 Italian Serie A side Fiorentina and Fulham are named as having made offers to the 32 year old, who is out of contract this summer.

Saints boss Russell Martin wants to keep Armstrong at St Mary's but admitted it will come down to what approaches the Scot gets.

Armstrong missed Southampton's play-off success after picking up an injury at Cardiff City more than a month ago.

 It threatened to keep the former Celtic man out of this summer's European Championships but he is expected to be fit.

Scotland boss Steve Clarke has named Armstrong in his squad for the trip to Germany, meaning he could delay a decision on his future.

The Scottish publication Daily Record reports that Armstrong has several suitors for a free transfer this summer.

They detail back-to-back UEFA Conference League finalists Fiorentina and Fulham as among several clubs interested.

 The report adds that Saints believe they can keep Armstrong at St Mary's but know they will have to fight off interest.

Armstrong, who has 44 caps for his country, has made 214 appearances at Saints since arriving from Celtic in 2018.

Saints were promoted back to the Premier League at the first time of asking after a 1-0 win over Leeds United at Wembley last week.

Scotland teammate Che Adams and experienced goalkeeper Alex McCarthy are also on Saints deals that expire this summer.

Speaking after the match, Martin said: "I know that there will be offers for all of them and probably offers that will pay them more.

"Hopefully, the feeling they have and all that stuff will outweigh financial gain but maybe there'll be other things about it too.

"Whether that is location, club, how they feel about it - but we'll do our very best to try and keep all three." 



https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/24360298.armstrong-reportedly-future-talks-fiorentina-fulham/