Wednesday Fulham Stuff - 15/04/26...

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Aston Villa battling Fulham and West Ham to re-sign former player with favourite named
Aston Villa are battling Fulham and West Ham to re-sign a former player, and a favourite has been named in the race for his signature.

Villa locked in fierce European battle with Champions League possible
Fourth place belongs to Villa for now, but the points cushion between them and the clubs below is slender.

 Sunday's 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest did not add to their tally, but with Liverpool three points behind in fifth and Chelsea further back again, the ground Unai Emery's side have built over the course of the season remains intact.

The Premier League's confirmation that a fifth Champions League spot is available for 2026/27 has also changed the calculation slightly — fifth place is now enough to qualify directly, which means the pressure on Villa is somewhat less acute than it might otherwise have been.

The Europa League provides another route entirely.

Villa host Bologna on Thursday in the quarter-final second leg, protecting a 3-1 advantage from the away fixture in Italy last week.

Progress would take them into the semi-finals with a genuine chance of a run to the final in May — and with it, an automatic Champions League berth regardless of where they finish domestically.

Six league games remain after that, a run that includes Sunderland, Fulham, Tottenham, Burnley, Liverpool and Man City.

It is a schedule with genuine difficulty at both ends, and the visit to the Etihad on the final day will likely matter.

In the meantime, Emery is beginning to think about the squad he wants available for next season's potential European campaign, and one area of interest has emerged from Monday's transfer reporting.

Aston Villa battling Fulham and West Ham to re-sign Axel Disasi
According to The Sportzine, Villa are among the clubs interested in signing Axel Disasi from Chelsea on a permanent basis this summer, with West Ham and Fulham also keeping tabs on the French centre-back.

 West Ham are described as leading the chase for their current loanee, though Chelsea's determination to sell permanently means the final destination will depend on which club is prepared to meet their asking price.

Disasi is familiar territory for Villa.

He spent the second half of last season at the club on loan, contributing seven league appearances during the run-in.

The move did not lead to a permanent one at the time, but the experience means Villa know exactly what they would be getting — a physically imposing, technically assured centre-back who was regarded as one of the better defenders in Ligue 1 before his move to Stamford Bridge in 2023 for £38.5m.

His time at Chelsea under Enzo Maresca turned into a complete write-off. He was excluded from squads and training groups, going months without competitive football before deadline day rescued him with a loan to West Ham.

At the London Stadium he has rebuilt his form considerably, featuring regularly and playing 90 minutes in several consecutive league outings.

At 28, he is in the prime years of his career and has an argument that the Chelsea period represents an aberration rather than the full picture of what he can offer.

For Villa, adding defensive cover and depth ahead of a season in which they expect to compete in the Champions League makes clear sense.

Chelsea are expected to accept significantly less than the £38.5m they paid Monaco, given the circumstances of his departure and his contract status.

Whether Villa can move ahead of West Ham in what looks like a straightforward competition for his signature will come down to price, and to what the player himself wants.

In terms of alternative centre-backs, Villa are said to be one of the many clubs chasing Marcos Senesi on a free transfer.



https://www.footballfancast.com/aston-villa-transfers-fulham-west-ham-axel-disasi/

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Everton and Fulham disagree with £15m fee – Discount wanted on 17 G/A star
Everton and Fulham are chasing Watford star Imrân Louza for the summer.

The France-born Morocco international's form for Watford have seen Everton, Fulham and several other clubs take notice.

Last November, the 26-year-old talked about his desire to leave Watford in the winter market or the summer. He also said the Hornets are aware of his transfer wish.

A move never took shape in January, meaning he could change clubs after this season. The midfielder has starred for the Championship side this season, managing seven goals and 10 assists.

His Championship stats this season are as follows:

    Appearances: 38
    Starts: 38
    Total minutes: 3,280
    Minutes per game: 86
    Goals: 7
    Assists: 9
    Big chances created: 9
    Big chances missed: 3
    Interceptions per game: 1.0
    Tackles per game: 1.4
    Ball recovered per game: 6.0
    Clearances per game: 0.7
    Duels won per game: 4.0

Last week, Sport Witness covered claims from France that two unnamed Premier League sides made contact.

Everton and Fulham don't want to pay £15m
Africa Foot now pick up on that and name the Toffees and Marco Silva's side as his suitors from England. It's quite possible these two clubs would have made approaches for him.

Watford seem to be aware it would be difficult to retain the player who has already talked about his transfer wish.

Edward Still's side have set a non-negotiable price of £15m [€17.2m] for Imrân Louza and plan to use these funds to improve their squad for next season.

This is excessive for Everton and Fulham as the two clubs would be looking for a discount from Watford. That isn't the case for Al-Ittihad and Al Qadsiah FC as the Saudi Arabian clubs are willing to meet the Hornets' demand.

However, the player says no to moving to the Middle East. He is prioritising staying in Europe and specifically moving to the Premier League. This gives David Moyes' side and Fulham encouragement to sign him for a fee less than £15m.

For now, there's a clash between Watford's demand and the Moroccan's personal wish for the summer and it'll be interesting to see who will give up first.

Contract, value and agent info
Imrân Louza will have two years left on his contract after this season and Transfermarkt now value him at €14m, the highest so far in his career.

P&P Sport Management, owned by agent Federico Pastorello, are taking care of his future and interest.



https://sportwitness.co.uk/everton-and-fulham-disagree-with-15m-fee-discounted-wanted-on-17-g-a-star/

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It is crunch time for Marco Silva
Whatever side of the fence you are on, you can't deny that the next six games decide everything.

25 years ago today, goals from Louis Saha and Luis Boa Morte at the McAlpine Stadium in Huddersfield secured our promotion to the Premier League for the first time.

There have been plenty of ups and downs in the quarter of a century since, with many moments we look back on and say "that was a significant moment even if we didn't realise it at the time". Think Swansea away under Martin Jol on the final day of the 2012/13 season.

Brentford at the weekend feels like one of those moments. I think it decides the course of next season - and potentially many after that.

It's crunch time for Marco Silva. The back-and-forth over his future this season has certainly impacted our emotions as fans - and it is hard to argue against the fact that it has impacted us on the pitch.

To all intents and purposes, we have regressed from last season. Almost every single column in the Premier League table shows that. It will take more than our record points total of 54 to secure European football, which means we need more than 10 points from 18 to have a chance.

It's tough, but not impossible. The problem is, we're not showing much to convince anyone that we're up for the challenge. We certainly didn't against Liverpool.

I love Marco Silva. I have even dubbed him our second-greatest manager ever. But he has played this season wrong.

All this cloak-and-dagger nonsense about a potential new deal has been selfish. And, sure, that's his prerogative; it is his career. But this is our football club, and we deserve to know if there is a plan in place to succeed next season before it actually arrives.

We know it is a good deal. If David Ornstein is to be believed (and I'd suggest he should be), Fulham have offered Silva financial terms on par with the top six. That in and of itself is a huge statement of intent. Our cards are firmly on the table. And I have heard from a good source that Marco has no desire to leave Fulham, or at least London. So, why the hold up?

Silva's non-answers in his pre-match press conferences have long started to grate. I said this week on X that he has gone to the Tony Khan school of dealing with the press: give 200-word answers that say absolutely nothing. It is time to have a poo or get off the toilet.

From all of his waffle, one line has raised alarm bells.

"We are preparing everything for the next season. Since last year, really, from September, November, meetings, preparation. All pre-season is already prepared and everything that we can prepare. The future of the club is completely in a normal way," he told Sky Sports.

If no deal is signed, this could be completely wasted time. I hope beyond hope that the club has a contingency plan. But there has to come a time when they decide to make this decision themselves. Marco Silva deciding he wants to leave Fulham FC on 30 June helps no one but Marco Silva.

Which leads us to Brentford. A loss in the West London derby effectively ends our hunt for Europe - and leaves Marco with no cards left to play.

So, does the balance of power then shift back to the club? Do they look at things and decide that, actually, it's time for a change?

It feels like we have been chasing our Portuguese gaffer all season like a love-sick puppy, because we believe he can deliver us something era-defining - be that a major trophy or a return to midweek continental football.

But once the chance of any of that is gone, maybe the allure dissipates. Maybe the lights in the club turn on and this once-passionate tryst turns into regret and the urge to exit stage left?

A win on the weekend doesn't guarantee anything, of course. But it sets us up for a scrap. it shows we're up for the fight.

But if we lose and we continue to meander to the end of the campaign with no decisive action taken, I feel like it shows that we're just content maintaining the status quo. And last time we did that, after that sunny final-day win in South Wales, well - we all know what followed.

25 years ago today was the most euphoric many of us have ever felt following this great football club. And we all want to feel that again. But for that to happen, we need everyone pulling in the same direction - and right now someone isn't rowing with full gusto.



https://www.fulhamish.co.uk/p/it-is-crunch-time-for-marco-silva

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2001 Reunion: Tigana's Title Winners

This season marks 25 years since Jean Tigana's Fulham team dazzled their way to the 2001 Division One title.

Playing a fluid, slick style of play not previously seen in England's second tier, the Whites blew sides away with their flair and fitness, ending the season comfortably clear at the top of the standings on 101 points.

Considered by many to be one of the finest campaigns in the history of Fulham Football Club, we will be celebrating 2000/01 with a reunion dinner at Orange Box in Fulham Pier on Thursday 7th May.

Tigana will be in attendance – marking his first return to Craven Cottage since departing in 2003 – along with two vital members of his backroom staff in Christian Damiano and Roger Propos.

Hosted by Felix White and Ivan Berry, the event will also have members of the playing squad in attendance, who will be regaling guests with their memories and insights from that famous season.

Tickets for this intimate event are priced at £150 (inclusive of VAT) and include a welcome drink, three-course meal, and a ½ bottle of wine per person, beginning at 6pm and with an 11pm curfew.

These go on sale to all supporters from 10am on Thursday 16th April. There are 10 seats to a table, and so the maximum number of tickets that can be purchased in one single transaction is 10, to ensure that groups can secure a table exclusively to themselves.

Fans purchasing multiple tickets, but fewer than 10, can request to be sat together, and the Club will try to seat you together where possible. A form will be sent to ticket purchasers to fill in this information, and submit any dietary requirements.



https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/april/14/2001-reunion-tiganas-title-winners/

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'Premier League Pressure' – Everton And Fulham Hunt 'Monstrous Performance' Star
Udinese midfielder Arthur Atta is wanted by Premier League sides Everton and Fulham following his 'monstrous performance' for the Bianconeri against AC Milan.

The 23-year-old has caught the eye this season, scoring four goals and providing four assists in 28 appearances for the Italian side.

Udinese only snapped Atta up on a permanent basis last summer, following a successful loan spell and locked him down to a four-year contract in northern Italy.

He was in superb form last weekend as Udinese visited AC Milan and ran out 3-0 winners in Serie A, with Atta scoring and assisting.

The display was a 'monstrous performance' according to Italian daily Tuttosport, with now 'Premier League pressure' for his signature.

Everton and Fulham are both interested in snapping up the Frenchman, amid an asking price of €40m being placed on Atta's head.

Atta is a versatile midfield player who can play in the centre, on the right side, and as an attacking midfielder.

Given Atta's contractual status, Udinese are in a strong position to dictate the terms of any departure, though the midfielder is likely to be drawn by the prospect of playing in the Premier League.

Everton have seen the quality of their recruitment criticised of late, though scored a hit with the capture of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Toffees boss David Moyes will want to further strengthen his squad in the summer and will need more depth if his side qualify for Europe.

Everton are firmly in the mix to bring European football to the Hill Dickinson Stadium next season.

Fulham meanwhile sit in mid-table after another comfortable campaign under Marco Silva and Atta could be drawn by the lifestyle offered by a move to the English capital.

The midfielder has only so far played his club football in France and Italy, while on the international stage he was capped by France Under-20s.

Udinese are currently 10th in Serie A and under manager Kosta Runjaic, have secured notable victories over Inter Milan, AC Milan, Roma and Atalanta this season.



https://insidefutbol.com/2026/04/14/premier-league-pressure-everton-and-fulham-hunt-monstrous-performance-star/710473/

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https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2026/april/14/award-winning-seasonal-hospitality-on-sale-now/