🌞Summer Silly Season Transfer thread 2026

[jayffc]

Diop has been a good servant for us but at 70kpw we are clearly releasing funds from higher/ older earners to hopefully get in hungry cheaper players. I think the starting team age must have dropped to about 25-26 now.

Not yet - id say our current starting 11 without any signings would still be around 27.5 years old. but....

Leno
Norton Cuffey
Nwaiwu
Bassey
Robinson
Berge
Shea Charles
Emile Smith Rowe
Oscar Bobb
Kevin
Muniz

Average age: 25.2 years

Really only jacked up by Leno who's the GK so less of an issue.
Swap in Sess for Robinson
King for Emile and it gets even younger

One can of course slightly push it up by playing Iwobi/Tete/Anderson but principle remains that we could indeed put out a quality and relatively young starting 11 if we get some of these most linked targets in


Add in a Garcia/Franculino for Muniz
Cestero/Palacios for Berge and it gets younger still

[C Block]

It's being reported today that Sunderland have dropped out of the race for Folarin Balogun,
Would be a great signing for us and one that I can see our American owners being interested in 👍🏻

[Thailand Mick]

https://x.com/theMadridZone/status/2079925190855909410?s=20
Gonzales Garcia

[jayffc]

https://x.com/mariocortegana/status/2079923806810915231?s=46&t=iVz7dmle6zKoKlpU0KS3Cg

Comes from a report in the Athletic/NY times - so legit source

👀

Fulham are in talks to sign striker Gonzalo Garcia from Real Madrid.
The potential move would see the 22-year-old follow new Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, regarded as his football mentor and actively involved in discussions, from Madrid to west London.
Arbeloa was appointed by Fulham earlier this month after leaving Madrid, where he was replaced by Jose Mourinho.
Garcia, who has received attention from multiple clubs across Europe this year, would be Fulham's first new arrival of the summer. Swedish forward Jonah Kusi-Asare joined on a permanent basis from Bayern Munich after spending the 2025-26 season on loan at Craven Cottage.
Madrid are expected to retain some power or preferential right over his future as part of any potential deal.

The 21-year-old has shone while deputising for Kylian Mbappe, making good on the ambitious mindset he cultivated in Madrid's youth ranks
Sources with knowledge of the situation indicated Madrid had decided months ago that Garcia would leave this summer — but the process was put on hold after Mourinho's arrival as the new head coach wanted to see the striker in pre-season. The Portuguese liked the player but is not able to guarantee a prominent role in the team next season as it stands, leaving the choice on his future up to Garcia.

A product of Madrid's academy, Garcia made his senior debut in November 2023 under Carlo Ancelotti and has appeared 51 times for the club, scoring 13 goals and providing seven assists. He enjoyed a first-team breakthrough in Madrid's run to the semi-finals of the Club World Cup last summer, winning the Golden Boot with four goals, and was rewarded with a new contract until 2030.

Last season, Garcia scored eight goals in 39 appearances though made just nine starts in La Liga, with France captain Kylian Mbappe the first-choice striker.
Garcia has been capped once by Spain at senior level, coming on as a substitute in a friendly against Iraq in June, and was not selected by Luis de la Fuente for this summer's World Cup.

[Porthogs FC]

Stop getting my hopes up. I thought I read that he's staying, but I guess if he's not in the starting Eleven there, he definitely would be here.

[jayffc]

Stop getting my hopes up. I thought I read that he's staying, but I guess if he's not in the starting Eleven there, he definitely would be here.

From FFN:

"Both are correct. Mourinho wants to keep him but Garcia wants to play.
Oscar Ribot was here yesterday to discuss it & other RM clients." (Arbeloa and several RM prospects agent)

"Cestero, Palacios and Garcia all discussed. Ribot is very hands on."

[bencher]

From Wikipedia: Gonzalo Garcia is the second grandnephew of Rita Hayworth. Now she would get bums on (and off) seats at the Cottage.

[Jim©]

The best thing about this gossip is that the athletic are reporting it, more or less the only source that I trust.
Let's hope it's true, he's got a load of talent.

[sunburywhite]

Check my pulse please

I think I have died and gone to heaven

If true then AA is amazing to have pulled this off

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=a45e3a50e3e1080f&sxsrf=APpeQnsq954QBsVS-fupJWonzjgkVGQ4xw:1784729779277&udm=7&fbs=ABfTbFVyMZGZf1hfvX9uKjN_-G8c4u0nXx4bEIpwm1lnNH832VTJOOCxW_fyN-Q_ezyf8gKCPb62Sv4Y60wQDsMxJw_GJhmzYxr_DVZD64TqIxcJ5Ie6EoIFQqPk224vX3ZuNIjt3Tc7yKtXkoHMKTTbOXRt6va2y6XvRSUV_C017XnMzkwGvklldwHds14XJU-dTrBp45fzEMhsdqmboHD0jGEKd28jCg&q=Gonzalo+Garcia&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj95o3EvOaVAxVuUEEAHUrqIv0QtKgLegQIExAB&biw=1920&bih=911&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&ip=1&vld=cid:931689a0,vid:HZdRA5RN7-A,st:0

[jayffc]

Check my pulse please

I think I have died and gone to heaven

If true then AA is amazing to have pulled this off

https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=a45e3a50e3e1080f&sxsrf=APpeQnsq954QBsVS-fupJWonzjgkVGQ4xw:1784729779277&udm=7&fbs=ABfTbFVyMZGZf1hfvX9uKjN_-G8c4u0nXx4bEIpwm1lnNH832VTJOOCxW_fyN-Q_ezyf8gKCPb62Sv4Y60wQDsMxJw_GJhmzYxr_DVZD64TqIxcJ5Ie6EoIFQqPk224vX3ZuNIjt3Tc7yKtXkoHMKTTbOXRt6va2y6XvRSUV_C017XnMzkwGvklldwHds14XJU-dTrBp45fzEMhsdqmboHD0jGEKd28jCg&q=Gonzalo+Garcia&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj95o3EvOaVAxVuUEEAHUrqIv0QtKgLegQIExAB&biw=1920&bih=911&dpr=1#fpstate=ive&ip=1&vld=cid:931689a0,vid:HZdRA5RN7-A,st:0

I's say calm down for now - we are no where near signing him just yet and there will be plenty interested.

currently
1. we're interested
2. he's allowed to leave if he wants to seek gametime
3. his agent has had dicussions with the club.

No talk of a distinct offer etc yet.

Would be excited by it though if it were to happen. He has come back this summer in absolutely incredible shape by the looks of things too, kid means business.

[RAY Rock]

Took Chelscum 2 days to sign Rogers while we are scratching around trying to sign Spanish youngsters. The squad we have now with the departures scored 20 goals last season couldn't make this 💩 up if you tried the season starts in 4 and 1/2 weeks 🤷�♂️🤦�♂️

Chelsea spent £117 million on Rogers. With that amount of money I'd say it's quite easy to get a player over the line. I suspect that Villa didn't need to give the deal much thought at that ridiculous price.

We are trying to loan in players and can't get it over the line. Embarrassing inept and bordering on incompetence

[jayffc]

Took Chelscum 2 days to sign Rogers while we are scratching around trying to sign Spanish youngsters. The squad we have now with the departures scored 20 goals last season couldn't make this 💩 up if you tried the season starts in 4 and 1/2 weeks 🤷�♂️🤦�♂️

Chelsea spent £117 million on Rogers. With that amount of money I'd say it's quite easy to get a player over the line. I suspect that Villa didn't need to give the deal much thought at that ridiculous price.

We are trying to loan in players and can't get it over the line. Embarrassing inept and bordering on incompetence

Lol

🎣

[RAY Rock]

Took Chelscum 2 days to sign Rogers while we are scratching around trying to sign Spanish youngsters. The squad we have now with the departures scored 20 goals last season couldn't make this 💩 up if you tried the season starts in 4 and 1/2 weeks 🤷�♂️🤦�♂️

Chelsea spent £117 million on Rogers. With that amount of money I'd say it's quite easy to get a player over the line. I suspect that Villa didn't need to give the deal much thought at that ridiculous price.

Agreed, we really have some fans that just want Fulham to happily overpay and moan about waiting. We haven't the financial lure of the funding cheats down the road, so our negotiations take longer and no doubt have to be more sensibly structured.

Why are fans bothered it isn't your money if teams want to spend that amount it is up to them . We are scratching around down the back of the sofa trying to sign a championship player it is embarrassing if we get relegated how much money do we lose best to be proactive standing still gets you relegated

[SG]

From Wikipedia: Gonzalo Garcia is the second grandnephew of Rita Hayworth. Now she would get bums on (and off) seats at the Cottage.

She was my pin up when I was a primary school kid !

[Neutral Zone Ultra]

Took Chelscum 2 days to sign Rogers while we are scratching around trying to sign Spanish youngsters. The squad we have now with the departures scored 20 goals last season couldn't make this 💩 up if you tried the season starts in 4 and 1/2 weeks 🤷�♂️🤦�♂️

Chelsea spent £117 million on Rogers. With that amount of money I'd say it's quite easy to get a player over the line. I suspect that Villa didn't need to give the deal much thought at that ridiculous price.

Agreed, we really have some fans that just want Fulham to happily overpay and moan about waiting. We haven't the financial lure of the funding cheats down the road, so our negotiations take longer and no doubt have to be more sensibly structured.

Why are fans bothered it isn't your money if teams want to spend that amount it is up to them . We are scratching around down the back of the sofa trying to sign a championship player it is embarrassing if we get relegated how much money do we lose best to be proactive standing still gets you relegated

It is our money in a sense, we pay for tickets/merch/food/etc and have an emotional stake in the business. Therefore it's in our interest that the money is being spent appropriately.

[jayffc]

Took Chelscum 2 days to sign Rogers while we are scratching around trying to sign Spanish youngsters. The squad we have now with the departures scored 20 goals last season couldn't make this 💩 up if you tried the season starts in 4 and 1/2 weeks 🤷�♂️🤦�♂️

Chelsea spent £117 million on Rogers. With that amount of money I'd say it's quite easy to get a player over the line. I suspect that Villa didn't need to give the deal much thought at that ridiculous price.

Agreed, we really have some fans that just want Fulham to happily overpay and moan about waiting. We haven't the financial lure of the funding cheats down the road, so our negotiations take longer and no doubt have to be more sensibly structured.

Why are fans bothered it isn't your money if teams want to spend that amount it is up to them . We are scratching around down the back of the sofa trying to sign a championship player it is embarrassing if we get relegated how much money do we lose best to be proactive standing still gets you relegated

Enjoying the fishing trip today Ray?

[alfie]

Took Chelscum 2 days to sign Rogers while we are scratching around trying to sign Spanish youngsters. The squad we have now with the departures scored 20 goals last season couldn't make this 💩 up if you tried the season starts in 4 and 1/2 weeks 🤷�♂️🤦�♂️

Chelsea spent £117 million on Rogers. With that amount of money I'd say it's quite easy to get a player over the line. I suspect that Villa didn't need to give the deal much thought at that ridiculous price.

We are trying to loan in players and can't get it over the line. Embarrassing inept and bordering on incompetence

Lol

🎣

I was having a laugh as well.

[FFC007]

So that's three gone, effectively none in so far with JKA still around.

[Angus Telford]

Diop has been a good servant for us but at 70kpw we are clearly releasing funds from higher/ older earners to hopefully get in hungry cheaper players. I think the starting team age must have dropped to about 25-26 now.

I think the ostensibly small margins between and old squad like ours (average age say 27.5) and typical PL squad (average approx 25.5) belies how big a problem it really is. To move the dial between those numbers across the squad we'd have to ship out 9-10 players like Diop (29) and bring in 9-10 like Nwaiwu (23). It's a 3-4 year project. The last few youngsters we've signed like Bobb and Kevin have hardly made a difference, with players like Stansfield going the other way. That's just to bring us around the middle range, not even a particularly young squad.

[Jim©]

Diop has been a good servant for us but at 70kpw we are clearly releasing funds from higher/ older earners to hopefully get in hungry cheaper players. I think the starting team age must have dropped to about 25-26 now.

I think the ostensibly small margins between and old squad like ours (average age say 27.5) and typical PL squad (average approx 25.5) belies how big a problem it really is. To move the dial between those numbers across the squad we'd have to ship out 9-10 players like Diop (29) and bring in 9-10 like Nwaiwu (23). It's a 3-4 year project. The last few youngsters we've signed like Bobb and Kevin have hardly made a difference, with players like Stansfield going the other way. That's just to bring us around the middle range, not even a particularly young squad.

Raul out- JKA/Garcia replace him.
Wilson out- Real Madrid youngster to replace him.
Castagne out- Norton-Cuffey to replace him.
Diop out- Nwainu in

You can't really deny that they're all positive changes in terms of looking to the future?