🌞Summer Silly Season Transfer thread 2026

[JimmyConway]

Without wanting to state the obvious getting so many players from one source could lead to problems.

It appears after reading todays' 'stuff' that AA top 3 targets all RM loanees.  Not sure how to view that, unless there would be buy options....

Should the question be raised how much recruitment knowledge does Arbeloa have outside of Real Madrid's youth setup? One of my concerns with this appointment is Tony gets to sit back in the drivers seat with no passengers?

[alfie]

Without wanting to state the obvious getting so many players from one source could lead to problems.

It appears after reading todays' 'stuff' that AA top 3 targets all RM loanees.  Not sure how to view that, unless there would be buy options....

Should the question be raised how much recruitment knowledge does Arbeloa have outside of Real Madrid's youth setup? One of my concerns with this appointment is Tony gets to sit back in the drivers seat with no passengers?

No I don't think so, I'm sure he has a good knowledge of players, He is here now so I say let him get on with his job.

[KJS]

Without wanting to state the obvious getting so many players from one source could lead to problems.

It appears after reading todays' 'stuff' that AA top 3 targets all RM loanees.  Not sure how to view that, unless there would be buy options....

Should the question be raised how much recruitment knowledge does Arbeloa have outside of Real Madrid's youth setup? One of my concerns with this appointment is Tony gets to sit back in the drivers seat with no passengers?

More to the point what qualifications do you or anyone else on here have to question the process or this mans ability before he even takes his coat off?

[jayffc]

Without wanting to state the obvious getting so many players from one source could lead to problems.

It appears after reading todays' 'stuff' that AA top 3 targets all RM loanees.  Not sure how to view that, unless there would be buy options....

Should the question be raised how much recruitment knowledge does Arbeloa have outside of Real Madrid's youth setup? One of my concerns with this appointment is Tony gets to sit back in the drivers seat with no passengers?

Its always been said that the invitation to meet TK at the table with transfers is there for managers, just that Silva took that invitation more seriously and diligently than others and due to the trust and relationship he had at fulham, they became more willing to give him even more say on final sign offs and where he felt very passionately about a player, they were willing to back such moves (Muniz, ESR etc.)

I would assume AA coming in would be much the same. End of the day it's never just one thing anyway here. It's Manager + TK + Stats model + Scouting, and it seemingly has been for many years now. Like most managers AA will likely get a list of targets presented by the amalgamation of those departments work and like Marco before him, be invited to watch tape and analyse those targets with TK and offer his own options for consideration.

Given AA is a footballing professional, I'm sure he has plenty of connections around European football as well as an idea of up and coming young players from around europe as he will have watched plenty of tape of his academy products in international action aswell.

He's certainly newer to the transfer world, but he'll have a whole team behind him to assist in presenting targets to add to his own.

[Neutral Zone Ultra]

I can never get my head around, having a player that is doing well and the first thought is to sell him.

Because that's unfortunately the life of a football club these days unless you're one of the big clubs. You have to sell high and buy low, otherwise FFP/SCR/PSR gets you. And if you want to keep hold of your performing player it's a case of you either cough up big wages to keep them (which exposes you to them dropping off in form), or they throw a hissy fit and force their way out.

[alfie]

I can never get my head around, having a player that is doing well and the first thought is to sell him.

Because that's unfortunately the life of a football club these days unless you're one of the big clubs. You have to sell high and buy low, otherwise FFP/SCR/PSR gets you. And if you want to keep hold of your performing player it's a case of you either cough up big wages to keep them (which exposes you to them dropping off in form), or they throw a hissy fit and force their way out.

Yea appreciate that, but it so darn annoying.

[LittleErn]

I would assume AA coming in would be much the same. End of the day it's never just one thing anyway here. It's Manager + TK + Stats model + Scouting, and it seemingly has been for many years now. Like most managers AA will likely get a list of targets presented by the amalgamation of those departments work and like Marco before him, be invited to watch tape and analyse those targets with TK and offer his own options for consideration.

[/quote]

AA+TK+stats+scouts, maybe they should just ask AI 😕

[jayffc]

I would assume AA coming in would be much the same. End of the day it's never just one thing anyway here. It's Manager + TK + Stats model + Scouting, and it seemingly has been for many years now. Like most managers AA will likely get a list of targets presented by the amalgamation of those departments work and like Marco before him, be invited to watch tape and analyse those targets with TK and offer his own options for consideration.

AA+TK+stats+scouts, maybe they should just ask AI 😕

[/quote]

Ha, tbf... I'd be suprised if the scouting data system didn't have some AI element to it in 2026... given data analytics is where it probably would shine 

[sunburywhite]

Knowing our luck he will have an amazing season and Liverpool will come sniffing

[JimmyConway]

Without wanting to state the obvious getting so many players from one source could lead to problems.

It appears after reading todays' 'stuff' that AA top 3 targets all RM loanees.  Not sure how to view that, unless there would be buy options....

Should the question be raised how much recruitment knowledge does Arbeloa have outside of Real Madrid's youth setup? One of my concerns with this appointment is Tony gets to sit back in the drivers seat with no passengers?

More to the point what qualifications do you or anyone else on here have to question the process or this mans ability before he even takes his coat off?

Seriously! The process? Tony Khan? I think any right minded supporter with his track record prior to Silva should be concerned? Or do we just brush that under the carpet?
I don't think it's a case of questioning his ability where Arbeloa is concerned more stating the bleeding obvious he has been a youth team manager! With that in mind I would not expect him to have a strong knowledge of recruitment due to his previous position and my concern is will he get forced fed. If it's young 17 18 or 19 year old Spanish players there's possibly no one better suited.

[demeant0r]

Knowing our luck he will have an amazing season and Liverpool will come sniffing

That's a good problem to have.

[jayffc]

Without wanting to state the obvious getting so many players from one source could lead to problems.

It appears after reading todays' 'stuff' that AA top 3 targets all RM loanees.  Not sure how to view that, unless there would be buy options....

Should the question be raised how much recruitment knowledge does Arbeloa have outside of Real Madrid's youth setup? One of my concerns with this appointment is Tony gets to sit back in the drivers seat with no passengers?

More to the point what qualifications do you or anyone else on here have to question the process or this mans ability before he even takes his coat off?

Seriously! The process? Tony Khan? I think any right minded supporter with his track record prior to Silva should be concerned? Or do we just brush that under the carpet?
I don't think it's a case of questioning his ability where Arbeloa is concerned more stating the bleeding obvious he has been a youth team manager! With that in mind I would not expect him to have a strong knowledge of recruitment due to his previous position and my concern is will he get forced fed. If it's young 17 18 or 19 year old Spanish players there's possibly no one better suited.

Respectfully we had plenty good signings prior to Marcos arrival but the wrong people managing them. Slavs promotion team was goof but he couldn't keep us up...we bounced back though straight away

Then that team under Scott ..again...that team that got relegated under Scott should never had been relegated. Frankly criminal when you look at the squad on paper.

1 went on to be a balloon d'or nominee and European cup winner, another won serie A twice, another plays for Milan...one went to palace then returned to us, 2are popular first team players at forest

Then ya get the fact a number of them formed the basis of the team that helped with promotions and steadying in the prem (TC, Tim reem, Mitro, Tosin, Tete, Robinson)

The idea he's useless or has no process is all abit boring at this point. Since taking over as DOF we've improved alot , and yes a large part of that was certainly down to Silva , whom he also identified, interviewed and extended. Perfect? Certainly not ...useless? Clearly not

[I Ronic]

I can never get my head around, having a player that is doing well and the first thought is to sell him.

Because that's unfortunately the life of a football club these days unless you're one of the big clubs. You have to sell high and buy low, otherwise FFP/SCR/PSR gets you. And if you want to keep hold of your performing player it's a case of you either cough up big wages to keep them (which exposes you to them dropping off in form), or they throw a hissy fit and force their way out.

Yea appreciate that, but it so darn annoying.

Putting aside the money. The other plus is  agents who want to progress their talented  proteges would see Fulham as a club that will advance said talent. Brighton and the like make it work for them.

[JimmyConway]

Without wanting to state the obvious getting so many players from one source could lead to problems.

It appears after reading todays' 'stuff' that AA top 3 targets all RM loanees.  Not sure how to view that, unless there would be buy options....

Should the question be raised how much recruitment knowledge does Arbeloa have outside of Real Madrid's youth setup? One of my concerns with this appointment is Tony gets to sit back in the drivers seat with no passengers?

More to the point what qualifications do you or anyone else on here have to question the process or this mans ability before he even takes his coat off?

Seriously! The process? Tony Khan? I think any right minded supporter with his track record prior to Silva should be concerned? Or do we just brush that under the carpet?
I don't think it's a case of questioning his ability where Arbeloa is concerned more stating the bleeding obvious he has been a youth team manager! With that in mind I would not expect him to have a strong knowledge of recruitment due to his previous position and my concern is will he get forced fed. If it's young 17 18 or 19 year old Spanish players there's possibly no one better suited.

Respectfully we had plenty good signings prior to Marcos arrival but the wrong people managing them. Slavs promotion team was goof but he couldn't keep us up...we bounced back though straight away

Then that team under Scott ..again...that team that got relegated under Scott should never had been relegated. Frankly criminal when you look at the squad on paper.

1 went on to be a balloon d'or nominee and European cup winner, another won serie A twice, another plays for Milan...one went to palace then returned to us, 2are popular first team players at forest

Then ya get the fact a number of them formed the basis of the team that helped with promotions and steadying in the prem (TC, Tim reem, Mitro, Tosin, Tete, Robinson)

The idea he's useless or has no process is all abit boring at this point. Since taking over as DOF we've improved alot , and yes a large part of that was certainly down to Silva , whom he also identified, interviewed and extended. Perfect? Certainly not ...useless? Clearly not

No mention of the dross a fair amount of managers were given? Let's have a balance. Nothing Tony Khan has said or done as convinced me he is a professional DOF. If we are honest here I don't think majority of Fulham fans believe he is. We shall see but I fear he is going to have a lot more influence than he has had for five years with recruitment!

[jayffc]

Without wanting to state the obvious getting so many players from one source could lead to problems.

It appears after reading todays' 'stuff' that AA top 3 targets all RM loanees.  Not sure how to view that, unless there would be buy options....

Should the question be raised how much recruitment knowledge does Arbeloa have outside of Real Madrid's youth setup? One of my concerns with this appointment is Tony gets to sit back in the drivers seat with no passengers?

More to the point what qualifications do you or anyone else on here have to question the process or this mans ability before he even takes his coat off?

Seriously! The process? Tony Khan? I think any right minded supporter with his track record prior to Silva should be concerned? Or do we just brush that under the carpet?
I don't think it's a case of questioning his ability where Arbeloa is concerned more stating the bleeding obvious he has been a youth team manager! With that in mind I would not expect him to have a strong knowledge of recruitment due to his previous position and my concern is will he get forced fed. If it's young 17 18 or 19 year old Spanish players there's possibly no one better suited.

Respectfully we had plenty good signings prior to Marcos arrival but the wrong people managing them. Slavs promotion team was goof but he couldn't keep us up...we bounced back though straight away

Then that team under Scott ..again...that team that got relegated under Scott should never had been relegated. Frankly criminal when you look at the squad on paper.

1 went on to be a balloon d'or nominee and European cup winner, another won serie A twice, another plays for Milan...one went to palace then returned to us, 2are popular first team players at forest

Then ya get the fact a number of them formed the basis of the team that helped with promotions and steadying in the prem (TC, Tim reem, Mitro, Tosin, Tete, Robinson)

The idea he's useless or has no process is all abit boring at this point. Since taking over as DOF we've improved alot , and yes a large part of that was certainly down to Silva , whom he also identified, interviewed and extended. Perfect? Certainly not ...useless? Clearly not

No mention of the dross a fair amount of managers were given? Let's have a balance. Nothing Tony Khan has said or done as convinced me he is a professional DOF. If we are honest here I don't think majority of Fulham fans believe he is. We shall see but I fear he is going to have a lot more influence than he has had for five years with recruitment!

Pre moving into DOF position:

Bottom half championship

Since stepping into DOF position:

Cup semi finals and a couple points off Europe + highest ever points tally.

And we're talking about being balanced? whilst also saying he's doing "nothing" to convince he's a professional DOF? If only he'd done a professional job of it we'd probably have won the champions league.🙈

I think negative sentiment permeats online and negativity is revelled in more than positivity on social media. people love to moan these days so it gives the perspective most people hate everything to be quite honest. This is Fulham, think about it, seriously, the most we've ever done, in our entire history, is reach a Europa and fa cup final- once. Under current DOF tenure we had a great promotion season with slav, a day out I'll never forget with the white wall . .then bounced up and down till we set a record breaking season in the championship, made a couple semis ,and had a couple seasons mostly flirting with European qualification... were not exactly traversing the dark moments caused by our useless overlord DOF are we, but from the way some talk you might think it. I find the insistence in ignoring his contributions and the seeming allergy to giving any credit when it comes to TK really bloody odd at this point.

It appeals to people to pick a villain as a group and pile on, it elevates people's sense of self to endlessly ridicule or underplay others achievements ....And group-think doesn't always reflect reality. (Politics aside ..There are literally millions of people who believe Elon Musk isnt even a good business man or particularly smart....the world's first trillionaire ffs 😅)

The fact under his watch as DOF (part of which was hiring Silva) we have achieved the highest ever points tally in Fulham's entire history and ya still have people acting like the guys useless or has zero process is testament to this tbh

Again,I don't think he's perfect, he absolutely made bad signings too (what club doesn't) but the improvement on that side was already in affect pre Silva imo...some of which remain in the team today, and my god there are far more worse run clubs with infinitely worse DOFs than 11th in the prem Fulham

[SG]

Does anybody else think its peculiar that having made the announcement a couple of days ago there has been nothing else on the website. Makes me think he is not yet in the UK.

[sarnian]

Does anybody else think its peculiar that having made the announcement a couple of days ago there has been nothing else on the website. Makes me think he is not yet in the UK.

Led to believe that non World Cup players and staff back this weekend so probable updates early next week.

[demeant0r]

Does anybody else think its peculiar that having made the announcement a couple of days ago there has been nothing else on the website. Makes me think he is not yet in the UK.

If he's not here yet then who's training the ones who have returned? Pretty sure the team returns today

[sunburywhite]

Does anybody else think its peculiar that having made the announcement a couple of days ago there has been nothing else on the website. Makes me think he is not yet in the UK.

If he's not here yet then who's training the ones who have returned? Pretty sure the team returns today

Apparently he had a pre booked holiday which he informed them about during the interview stage

[bencher]

Does anybody else think its peculiar that having made the announcement a couple of days ago there has been nothing else on the website. Makes me think he is not yet in the UK.

If he's not here yet then who's training the ones who have returned? Pretty sure the team returns today

Apparently he had a pre booked holiday which he informed them about during the interview stage

Is it not like school teachers, that you can only take holidays at certain times? Why would he book a holiday at a time when any new club he would manage would be expecting to start training for the new season? Real Madrid finished weeks ago, I'm sure he would have had enough time to hop over to St Tropez for a little R&R. Quite odd if true.