Adama Traore

Sky Sports — 🥇
Rating: ★★★★☆

The player who is currently looking most likely to depart the club for a small fee is Spanish winger Adama Traore, with a move to West Ham being reported. Having produced some assists and goals last season, Traore has seen more limited time on the pitch this campaign, partially due to the arrivals of Kevin and Samuel Chukwueze, and partially due to the good form of Harry Wilson, as well as a decrease in the standard of performance from Traore himself.

Adama’s move to West Ham is one that Nuno Espírito Santo will welcome, and a move that many Fulham fans will also welcome, following consistent frustrations with the winger’s final product that have been evident largely throughout his career. Throughout his career, the Spaniard has clearly shown the potential to become a top player with his strength and speed; however, other limitations have reduced his overall impact. Although he performed well in certain circumstances last season, Fulham fans will likely be satisfied with Traore’s departure, hoping that the next addition will be a more productive one.

Raheem Sterling

Gary Jacob — 🥇
Rating: ★★☆☆☆

The player who is currently looking most likely to fill the void left by Adama Traore is Chelsea’s forgotten man, Raheem Sterling. Reports have suggested that the former England international has turned down a move to West Ham in favour of a move to Fulham; however, the structure of any potential deal, as well as wage demands, are yet to be clarified.

For Fulham to sanction a move for Sterling, wage demands will likely need to be reduced significantly to fit within the club’s financial structure. Should wages be settled and a satisfactory permanent or loan deal be agreed, a move for Sterling may require patience to be successful. Sterling has seen limited game time in recent seasons, resulting in reduced productivity, and it may take time for the winger to rediscover his form. Marco Silva is a manager known for revitalising players, so fans can remain hopeful, though there is an equal chance that this gamble may not pay off.

Tyrique George

Teamtalk — 🥉
Rating: ★★★☆☆

In addition to fellow Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling, Teamtalk have indicated that Fulham are set to return for Tyrique George after the youngster was close to joining the Whites during the summer transfer window. Like Sterling, George has had limited game time, meaning there is only so much that can be concluded about his potential productivity in the Premier League.

George has featured four times in the Premier League this season and eight times last season, starting only one match. He has scored one Premier League goal, which some Fulham fans may remember from last season, when he struck from just outside the penalty box as Chelsea claimed bragging rights. The young winger has shown flashes of talent and potential, and a move away would be welcome for his development. Fulham may be an ideal destination, as his youth suggests he could become a long-term asset, though his consistency at Premier League level remains unclear.

Hayden Hackney

Rating: ★★★★☆

Alongside several other Premier League clubs, Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney has once again been linked with Fulham, with a sizeable fee required to prize the young Englishman away from Teesside. A progressive and energetic midfielder, Hackney has registered three goals and five assists this season as his side push for promotion.

Fulham do not often target young Championship players, and rumours surrounding this move are yet to gain real traction. However, signs suggest that Hackney could be a fruitful addition. Aside from occasional central appearances from Alex Iwobi, progression and dynamism have been somewhat lacking in Fulham’s midfield, particularly in terms of goals and creativity — an area Hackney has demonstrated the potential to improve.

Oscar Bobb

Caught Offside — 🥉
Rating: ★★★★☆

Another move yet to gain real traction, despite an increase in rumours, is one that highlights a young player with significant potential. Fulham have been linked with Manchester City’s Oscar Bobb via Caught Offside. The 22-year-old has recently suffered injuries this season and last, limiting him to just twelve appearances across both campaigns.

Additionally, Manchester City are reportedly set to add Antoine Semenyo to their squad, potentially allowing Bobb to move on, with Fulham and Crystal Palace both linked. Compared to Sterling and George, a move for Bobb carries similar risks; however, the Norwegian showed clear quality when breaking through at City. He may also demand more reasonable wages than Sterling. Pep Guardiola’s side often insert buy-back clauses when selling young players, so avoiding such a clause and negotiating a sensible fee would make this an appealing move for Fulham fans.

Ricardo Pepi

Sky Sports — 🥇
Rating: ★★★★☆

The first player Fulham have formally bid for this window is Ricardo Pepi, another name previously linked with the club during his time at PSV. Fulham’s initial bid of around £30m was rejected, but rumours continue to suggest the Whites may return with an improved offer.

Pepi appears to be a necessary addition, given the limited game time for Jonah Kusi-Asare and the increased strain on Raul Jimenez following Rodrigo Muniz’s injury. Pepi is a tall, mobile striker who could offer more dynamism and presence than Jimenez currently provides. While the 34-year-old’s effort and commitment should be applauded, introducing a younger striker would increase competition, elevate Fulham’s attacking options, and reduce the physical burden on Jimenez.

Conclusion

This transfer window is a pivotal one for Fulham, particularly given the uncertainty surrounding Marco Silva’s future. As stated many times before, this is the moment for the owners to act decisively and address key areas early if they wish to back the manager. Many fans will be hoping that some of the players linked to the club this week become reality in the coming days.

The Outgoings

In a similar manner to previous transfer windows, for most of the schedule, we had to focus on Fulham’s outgoings, as players departed the club before an influx of players. With some players leaving upon the expiry of their contracts, and others departing for loans or transfer fees, the Whites had cleared out some necessary wages to allow for incomings.

Both Carlos Vinicius and Willian were two of the main players who saw their contracts expire, and it could be argued that the departure of both players came at a necessary time in their careers. The saga of Willian and his incomings and outgoings with Fulham appears to have concluded, however, he was able to contribute well in his time with the Whites. When he was signed following promotion back to the Premier League, fans were not expecting a significant contribution from the player, surprised he returned to the Premier League from Brazil. Willian, however played most of the season and was an integral reason behind the Whites’ success that season. Willian’s contributions tailed off in his following spells with the club, and many will argue that acquiring the signature of the player in January once more was a signature too far, or even when he signed the contract before that, however, Willian departs with the fans thankful for his contributions. Carlos Vinicius joined the club in the same summer for a fee of around five million pounds, and certainly showed that he was a character throughout his stay. In his best season with the club, he contributed with five goals, finding himself lower down in the pecking order and unable to contribute significantly aside from that. Vinicius himself has left a time whereby he has shown he can start for a team back in his homeland, in the form of Gremio, and shown that he would welcome a move to play more football, and many Fulham fans will wish him well and be satisfied that he is undertaking the venture.

The following departures involved the future of players on loan, as the club allowed Steven Benda to move to Millwall, and Reiss Nelson’s loan spell with the Whites ended, ultimately leading to the player moving to Brentford on transfer deadline day. In his time with the club, Steven Benda has been the starting figure between the sticks in some cup competitions, however, fans have been left lacking the security that they desire and the confidence in the player. Benda has struggled in his appearances in West London, and a move to the Championship is necessary for his confidence. The saga of Reiss Nelson is a saga that has lasted for most of the summer, and for most of the summer, many fans thought that he would return to the club. This, ultimately, was not the case, and was a move that we may come to rue missing out on in the future, however, it may be one that we are happy to part ways with. Nelson showed quality in his appearances at the club, and brought the best out of Hale End compatriot Emile Smith-Rowe, however, his appearances were very limited due to injury. That has been a recurring factor for the player throughout his career, and therefore, the reliability of other options on the wing may prove to be better for Fulham in seasons to come.

The main outgoings that allowed Fulham to obtain transfer fees came in the form of the departures of Martial Godo and Andreas Pereira. Pereira, similarly to Willian, was a key cog in the machine that allowed Fulham to be successful in the first season in the Premier League following promotion. He showed flair and quality and a maturity in the way he attacked the Premier League, setting the example for other players to follow. Similarly to Willian, in the seasons following that season, he has gradually tailed off, performing at his lowest when he was utilised in the number eight position in the season that has just concluded. Pereira has slowly grown into a player who performs well to draw you in, and then performs in a lacklustre manner to frustrate you in a consistent cycle. These inconsistencies suggest a departure was at a necessary time, returning to his homeland of Brazil, however, the departure should also come with thanks for his significant contributions when he was with the club. Martial Godo, for most of the transfer window, looked to be an unforeseen departure, with many unable to predict his move to Strasbourg on transfer deadline day. Godo has had a notable journey from Margate FC to the Premier League, and Fulham fans have seen glimpses of the player’s talent. The winger has not been able to show the same consistency and maturity as Josh King however, and although many fans would not be against nurturing Godo’s talent and further developing the player, moving to Strasbourg is a very good move for his development, and, although it is sad to part with a talented young player, it is a very good move for him.

The Incomings

For most of the transfer window, it was very clear to fans up and down the country that Fulham were in a similar category to Crystal Palace, propping up the table when it comes to money spent during the transfer window. This was a huge source of frustration throughout, and worries became evident, however, once again, deadline day was a busy occasion to alleviate those worries somewhat.

Benjamin Lecomte was the first player through the door at the end of June, in a transfer that, although not exciting, was a necessary transfer. Lecomte arrived with the experience of the likes of Montpellier and Atletico Madrid on his CV, as well as various other French clubs. The Frenchman has arrived to become the second choice behind Bernd Leno, and, with the experience the player has, he should be a safer option than Steven Benda, as and when we need to turn to him.

For the next incoming, as a fanbase, we had to wait until deadline day, with manager Marco Silva getting less and less hopeful with regards to the deals that could be secured. However, the next deal that was secured came in the form of Samuel Chukwueze from AC Milan, the latest Nigerian to arrive at the Cottage. Chukwueze has had limited gametime in the Serie A recently and thus, limited contributions, however, he plays with a flair and an explosive pace that will attack the defences that play with high lines in the Premier League and become a threat. As has been previously referenced, Fulham fans have had a glimpse of what he offers at the Cottage, when Villarreal were the pre-season opponents in 2022, rounding off preparations for our maiden voyage in our return to the Premier League. Chukwueze has had extensive European and international experience, something which Tony Khan touched on, after the announcement of the signing. This skill and pace also offer a unique style of play that Fulham’s other wingers are unable to offer, in a similar style to a certain Reiss Nelson and thus, Chukwueze should hopefully be a more reliable, consistent option to bring excitement to our flanks.

Fulham’s next addition came in the form of a club-record addition, also completed in the latter stages of the window. The Samba Whites’ newest member came in the form of Kevin, who arrived from Shakhtar Donetsk for a significant fee. This move is a big move for the 22-year-old, having previously plied his trade in Brazil and Ukraine, introducing the player to the top five leagues. Kevin, however, according to many and according to many Shakhtar fans, has well and truly earned the move, after significant contributions in his 57 matches with the club. Kevin is known for his flair and explosive trickery, similar to Chukwueze, and excels in the intricate skills that would be hard for many players to replicate. Chairman Tony Khan echoed this sentiment, tweeting that Kevin is a talented youngster who is quick and will be an important addition to the side. Kevin is also one of the younger players to join the club since the arrival of Marco Silva, at a similar age to when former Shakhtar winger Manor Solomon joined the club. Many fans believe that Kevin has the potential to make more significant inroads on his price tag, and has a notable amount of time left in his career to do so and increase his quality in seasons to come.

The final addition in Fulham’s transfer window was an addition that gave many fans a headache. Young Bayern Munich striker Jonah Kusi-Asare was a name that was not mentioned until the latter stages of transfer deadline day, however, he appeared to have secured a straight loan move to Fulham in a very short space of time, with his transfer being submitted via a deal sheet. Fast forward to roughly 21:00, and it looked like the deal was off, in a similar manner to the signing of Tyrique George, and the fanbase was set for disappointment. However, the deal was suddenly back on soon after, as it became evident that Fulham had negotiated a loan deal with an option to buy, indicating that a straight loan deal would make no sense for an 18-year-old developing footballer. Fulham appear to be intent upon triggering that option to buy, and that may make sense, depending on how the player adapts to English football. Kusi-Asare has not played frequent first-team football by any means, just yet, however, he appears to be 6 ft 4 and mobile with an eye for goal. We can only draw so many conclusions at this stage, however, the buy option for the player appears to be cheap with a buyback option for Bayern Munich that allows this transfer to be profitable and sensible, due to Bayern’s signing of Nicholas Jackson. It is not often under Silva that Fulham sign a player so young, so many fans will be keen to see how he progresses.

The FFN Thoughts: Kieran

I always said that I would be happy with at least three incomings, and three was the magic number this summer.
It’s fair to say it’s been quite a bland and boring window, with a lot of disappointment that our business wasn’t going anywhere. It hadn’t really started until 48 hours before the deadline, and it felt like an endless waiting game. Personally, I think the three players we’ve signed are pure quality, and that fact in itself softens the blow of what many would consider a ‘disastrous’ transfer window. Kevin & Chukwueze really excite me, two wingers with attacking output who can change the way Fulham attack and hopefully add goals to what can sometimes be a toothless attack.

FFN’s Joe Gunning summarised Chukwueze nicely on YouTube, and his insight into the Nigerian international only adds to the excitement of what he can offer on the pitch:

Why Samuel Chukwueze will FIX Fulham’s Attack.

On Jonah Kusi-Asare, the latecomer on Monday night, I think it is another exciting move for a youngster with huge potential to thrive under Marco Silva. Having the option to buy is incredible, as he could absolutely become a breakout star and live up to his nickname as a ‘mini Isak’.

Overall, I’m satisfied with the business we have done, albeit very last-minute, after playing a waiting game all summer. The quality of the players we’ve bought in is one of the leading factors in my rating of this window at a 7/10; if it were any backup targets, that rating would indeed be lower. Marco Silva finally has the additions he needs, and hopefully, we can kick into gear after the international break and start putting points on the board.

The FFN Thoughts: Joe

Summer transfer window 2025 — where do we begin? I suppose it’s probably more fitting to talk about the ending rather than the beginning, as it was a window characterised by late business and shoddy communication.

It was made clear months ago that Marco wanted his targets in early, yet there we all were, refreshing our feeds on Monday afternoon, awaiting our first proper signing of the window.

The players we did bring in, however, will undoubtedly add heaps of quality to our side. There is a lot of attention on the Kevin deal, and rightly so, he is an exciting young winger who has broken our transfer record. But I think the one to particularly watch out for is Samuel Chukwueze. What he brings this side is directness and fantastic ball carrying, something we’ve lacked on the wings for too long.

We have not signed another central midfielder as of yet, so it will be interesting to see if we dip into the free transfer bargain bucket.

Overall, the transfer window was a disappointing 4/10, and if the players don’t bed in soon, more fingers will be pointed at their late arrivals.

The FFN Thoughts : Max

What an ending to this window.

You couldn’t make up the last week of football at Fulham Football Club. After Last Saturday’s controversy (robbery) to an intense deadline day, I simply struggle to contain my thoughts as they change every minute.

Starting with players who have left…

Willian has given us some memorable moments, and now he has left (again), I would not have been surprised if we had re-signed him after this traumatic window experience.

Andreas has put in an excellent shift for the club and will be missed, albeit taking into account how irritating his decision-making can be sometimes, he has definitely been a key figure for the club.

Martial Godo leaving was unexpected, but we can’t blame him at all, he will definitely be missed, and I’m sure he will fulfil his potential.

During this window, we instigated some important contract renewals of several key servants of the club, starting with Kenny Tete. I believe Tete is criminally underrated. He has played such a big role for us, and not retaining him would have cost us massively.

Mr Fulham, Tom Cairney also stayed. I do believe this is his last year for the club, sadly however, so we must make sure we end on a high.

Also, Seth & Josh, both academy boys, signing a contract with the club is very valuable as both are definitely key to the future of this club.

Now Onto Signings…

Realistically, our business should have been done the very latest 3 weeks ago.

However, as this is Fulham and Tony Khan forgets he has a football club until the last day… I didn’t expect anything different.

Our new backup goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte is definitely a good addition, but of course won’t be challenging Leno for the main spot any time soon.

Now for Deadline Day…

After long delays with talks and agents pulling strings, causing me to have five heart attacks, we made two crucial signings with wingers we have been linked to for months — Kevin, who is a new club record signing and secondly, Samuel Chukwueze. Both of these signings I don’t doubt, will have a huge impact in attack and definitely give us more options. Both are pacy, athletic and technically talented wingers, which gives us huge support to help our style of play.

Additionally, a signing no one was expecting, especially after we all thought it had collapsed, in the form of Jonah Kusi-Asare. If I am being honest, I don’t know what to expect from him. However, after researching online, he looks to be full of potential with a lot of Bayern fans seeming distraught he’s been let on loan with an option to us. We will have to be patient, but I’m equally excited for all three signings.

Although these signings were definitely needed. Marco wanted 5 — 6 players, and I think the board definitely needs to look at themselves for the time it took for this to happen. I’m especially worried we haven’t got the 8 we needed, and on top of everything else, the transfer of Tyrique George fell through, which is a signing that I was looking forward to seeing.

These are the consequences of doing business last-minute, unfortunately. In the future, we can’t keep doing this, as other clubs will get ahead of us. Plus, this isn’t good for our health, mentally and physically.

Overall I rate this window 6.5/10.

Conclusion

A lot of the business the Whites have done in this transfer window is sensible and adds quality, however, complexities ensure that many people are questioning Tony Khan and are frustrated once more.

Benjamin Lecomte is an upgrade on Steven Benda, Kusi-Asare is an upgrade on Vinicius and Chukwueze, and Kevin are upgrades on Reiss Nelson and Willian, however, the timing of those transfers has once again been a source of frustration.

Fulham have consistently not done transfer business before the end of June, and Marco Silva consistently believes he has not had the resources available when he wants them, and to do so many deals late on in the window is unsustainable in terms of running a football club and does leave us short often. Andreas Pereira has departed without a direct replacement, much like when Aleksander Mitrovic departed and even Joao Palhinha, with many believing that neither Sander Berge nor Sasa Lukic was a direct enforcer or replacement for that role.

However, the deals that have been done are positive, adding youth and quality to the side, and we continue to hope that in the next transfer window, they will be done earlier and cover all bases to ensure that all parties are fully happy.

Overall, this transfer window may be rated a 6/10, which would’ve been a 8/10, should these deals have taken place earlier.

Kevin

Fabrizio Romano — 🥇

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In an unexpected transfer announcement on Wednesday evening, Fabrizio Romano announced to his followers that Fulham had a bid rejected for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Kevin. There were no previous links to the Brazilian, however, the bid by Fulham has sparked excitement due to his potential. The fee quoted by Fabrizio Romano was an initial bid of thirty million euros, rising to a package deal that may total fourty million euros, with some suggesting that Shakhtar require an upfront fee of thirty-three million euros, thus indicating that Fulham are not far off the deal should they pursue it. Kevin appears to be an exciting winger, well known for his ball control, pace and skill, as well as his desire to take on his man and produce lively performances from the left-hand flank. Such is the notoriety of the player, Fulham’s interest is set to be contested by Napoli to secure his signature. Last season with his club side, Kevin was able to score six goals and assist four, however, he has explosively opened this season, scoring four and assisting two in three Europa League qualifying games. This bid from Fulham is encouraging, showing that there is still potential for investment this summer, and that Fulham are looking to attract quality from clubs that have played in the Champions League, with a player who is still youthful and has room for growth. The flair that the Brazilian possesses should excite Fulham fans should he join the club, and many will be hoping that Fulham continue to pursue the deal.

Ricardo Pepi

Santi Aouna — 🥈

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another 22-year-old player that has been the subject of a rejected Fulham bid this summer, according to rumours, is PSV striker Ricardo Pepi, a player who Fulham were interested in earlier this transfer window, with this bid appearing to reignite potential for the player to join the Whites. According to Santi Auona, the American was the subject of a bid totalling thirty million euros and therefore a similar fee to Kevin, however, so far, there has not been an indication of what fee may be required to sign the player. Pepi is known to score at a high rate in the Eredivisie, as represented by his 11 goals in 18 matches last season, and is a tall, dynamic presence up front. Also, in a similar manner to Kevin, Pepi is another player who has featured in the Champions League and has scored twice in that competition, indicating that he can perform against some of the very best defences. With all these factors considered, Pepi represents another potential investment for the future who possesses notable qualities to bring to the side at this stage of his career. However, as will be evident to many, for various reasons, Fulham’s business has been slow this window, therefore, the likelihood of deals for both Kevin and Pepi being completed imminently is small.

Nicolas Gonzalez

Tutto Sport — 🥉

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another player that has been previously linked with Fulham this window and has seen rumours resurface this week relates to the possibility of Juventus winger Nicolas Gonzalez departing the club and joining Fulham. Current Juventus manager Igor Tudor has adopted a formation that utilises five players in his defensive unit, decreasing the need for wingers, thus, Fulham have registered their interest in the player, as well as Samuel Mbangula, who has since departed Juventus for Wolfsburg. Gonzalez is 27, thus he has less room for growth in comparison to the two players previously mentioned, and registered three goals and two assists in the league last season which is also less than the previous two players, however it has to be noted that Gonzalez was plying his trade in Serie A, in comparison to the Ukranian League and the Dutch League. However, the player still possesses the quality that he has represented over his career in Italy and Germany, and his 2022/23 Conference League campaign with Fiorentina perhaps best represents that. He helped the Italian side reach the final and, although they lost that final, he was a consistent danger and threat to West Ham, earning many plaudits with that performance. Taking various factors into account, his SofaScore valuation of 25 million euros should be a sensible fee for a player of that quality nowadays, however, the player would need to unlock his potential and some of his Fiorentina performances so Fulham can see him flourish.

Reiss Nelson

Sami Mokbel — 🥇

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Reiss Nelson is a player who has been consistently evaluated throughout the summer, and the BBC’s Sami Mokbel has issued an update this week, in a similar manner to what has previously been suggested. Mokbel has alluded to the fact that a loan deal has been discussed, and both Fulham and Arsenal are determining whether to add an option to buy or an obligation to buy into the deal. This update is similar to what has been suggested previously, indicating that this deal may still very much go ahead, however, Fulham are approaching it with patience to acquire the player on their terms.

Samuel Chukuwueze

Tutto Sport — 🥉

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another player who has been consistently evaluated this summer is Milan’s Samuel Chukuwueze, with Tutto Sport indicating this week that Fulham are still pushing for the transfer. The stumbling block for this move is similar to the Reiss Nelson transfer, as Fulham reportedly want a loan with an option to buy rather than a permanent sale or obligation to buy, therefore, talks are ongoing. Both Reiss Nelson and Samuel Chukuwueze are similar players, therefore, it would be surprising if Fulham acquired both, however Chukuwueze is a skilful, exciting winger who would add quality on the flanks for Fulham.

Raheem Sterling

Four Four Two — 🥉

Rating — ⭐️⭐️

According to Four Four Two, Fulham have opened talks to sign Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling, a player who is looking to move on from Chelsea and may even take a wage cut to revitalise his career. If Fulham opt to sign the player, it should be approached as a loan with an option to buy, or a permanent addition, but for a low fee, with his wages negotiated to a more reasonable number. Therefore, Marco Silva has been known to revitalise some players and get the best out of them at various stages of their career, and this is a deal that many may be uncertain about, however, it should be a deal whereby Fulham minimise expenditure if they pursue it and Sterling fails to hit the ground running.

Oleksander Zinchenko

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another ex-Arsenal player that Fulham have been linked with is Oleksander Zinchenko. Zinchenko may not represent the most exciting addition, however, the player may play a useful role with his experience. Zinchenko would not join, expecting consistent minutes, however, if Fulham are looking for depth and options in both left-back and central midfield, the player would bring great experience and consistency to each position when he fills in, becoming a viable, cheap option to bolster the Whites.

Conclusion

Although there can be no big conclusions drawn from this week’s transfer activity, there have been signs of life from the Whites and some indications that Lecomte may not be the only addition this summer. Many fans will be hoping that is not the case and hope the squad will be bolstered over the coming weeks.

This summer, like many others for Fulham fans, has been a frustrating one as the Whites fail to secure the signature of a number of transfer targets that had been rumoured to join the Whites. However, many will notice that a consistent rumour with regards to those transfer targets is that Fulham have been looking to secure those players on loan with an option to buy, with those proposals directly correlating to Fulham’s status with regards to the trial of SCR or “Squad Cost Rules” in the Premier League.

What is SCR?

Due to the contention of PSR, SCR has been trialled, which is a new financial system for Premier League clubs, based on various fees and wages, divided by the sum of operating revenue and profits from each of the clubs.

The factors that are involved with SCR calculations are named under Article 93 of UEFA’s club licensing and financial sustainability regulations and relate to four different areas.

The first two areas relate to the sum of the wages of players and head coaches, which has increased significantly for Fulham over previous seasons after returning to the Premier League and acquiring notable assets, including Emile Smith-Rowe. This is followed by player amortisation and impairment, thus, the overall value of the player is broken down into several installments and whether or not the asset (player) has had a significant drop in value. Aside from the likes of Joao Palhinha and Aleksander Mitrovic, Fulham do not often sell tangible assets, thus, players may depreciate in value (impairment) due to factors including age. Furthermore, many players have had large portions of their fees paid up front by Fulham, rather than spreading it out into add-ons and instalments, aside from the likes of Bernd Leno.

In addition to this, potential termination payments are totalled (payments that may be received when players or managers leave the club), as well as agents’ fees and costs of other intermediaries. Agents’ fees and fees for intermediaries would also have increased for Fulham over previous seasons, due to the increase in value of assets that Fulham have acquired, like Smith-Rowe.

To complete the calculations for expenditure to be in line with SCR regulations, the factors that have been referenced have to be divided by three. These three factors include the operating revenue for the club, any profit that has been made from player sales, and other transfer income/expenses. Fulham appear to have spent most of the value of their operating revenue on wages. In addition to this, profit from player sales only totals half of the money spent on incomings, leaving an inadequacy in value.

Why might this be a limiting factor in Fulham’s transfer window?

Therefore, although Fulham’s status is stable with regards to PSR regulations, it is sensible for Fulham to be more cautious to stay in line with SCR regulations, as Fulham’s status is less stable in that respect.

As reported by journalist Kieran Maguire, Fulham’s losses before tax total £32m, which can be determined after taking into account revenue and wage expenditure as well as player sales and other factors that have been mentioned. Therefore, as Fulham’s total sums equal a loss, this indicates that Fulham are close to limits on some of those factors (for example, wage expenditure is very close to the total figure of revenue), thus limiting potential with regards to SCR regulations.

The likes of Bournemouth and Brighton are in a more stable position with regards to SCR, as they have sold tangible assets which have increased funds in that respect. For Bournemouth, although their revenue may be smaller, they have sold the likes of Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen, and replaced them with cheaper players, thus freeing up financial stability. The Cherries also spent less than Fulham on wages and have fewer underlying losses than Fulham.

Fulham are currently unlikely to sell any tangible assets, after expressing a desire to retain the services of striker Rodrigo Muniz, therefore, Fulham’s SCR position will not change in that respect. Younger players may move to different clubs, however, wage expenditure looks like it may be similar to last season, and Fulham may be close to limits.

Conclusion

From my interpretation of SCR, the introduction of it appears to be one of the factors that has limited Fulham’s transfer business this summer, thus indicating why players are being viewed on loan with an option to buy. Fulham do have the expenditure opportunity, however, if there is no sale of tangible assets, expenditure may be small, meaning that Fulham’s deadline day may be busy, like so many other transfer windows for the Whites.

For more information, please refer to the following links:

Goodbye PSR? A look at the new financial control systems being trialled by the Premier League from 2024/25

(1) Kieran Maguire on X: “Fulham spent £85 in wages for every £100 of revenue, add in amortisation and it goes to £117. https://t.co/ATa7FNMD07" / X

Unilateral termination of a football player’s contract | EA Sports Law

Impairment in Sporting Franchises and Player Contracts — Management Study Guide

Seth Ridgeon Contract Extension

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The first piece of news to note this week is that of a contract extension for young midfielder Seth Ridgeon. It was announced by the club on Thursday of this week that the 16-year-old had penned a long-term deal following interest from many notable names. The likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool, along with Manchester United, showed interest in the player, who operates as a box-to-box central midfielder. Ridgeon is captain of the England U17’s side, and made the step up to U21’s football with Fulham last summer, aged just 16. Ridgeon brings a dynamic presence to midfield, often carrying the ball and driving the team forward, with a goalscoring touch, along with the fight and physical presence required of a central midfielder. With all these accolades to his name, it is easy to see why the Whites were keen to tie the player down to a new deal and why many fans are pleased that the extension has been triggered. Many fans have also noticed that the extension was also announced via the senior team’s social media account rather than the academy account, so it will be intriguing to see if Ridgeon can feature in the cup for the first team this season.

Steven Benda departure

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This week, Fulham have also been in contact with Millwall to get a deal over the line for Steven Benda to join the Lions on loan with no option to buy. Since he signed for the club, the German has not featured regularly, and for many, this is no surprise. Benda has proved to be volatile in the matches he has featured for Fulham, including taking part in the EFL cup defeat against Preston, where he conceded 16 penalties as the Whites lost in the longest EFL cup shootout in history, in addition to conceding against the likes of Wigan and Watford in the FA Cup. Many fans are not reassured by the German’s shot-stopping abilities as well as his ability with the ball at his feet, thus fueling worries should Bernd Leno have been injured and Benda be required to step up in the long term. As a result, Benda is returning to a league whereby he has previously been lauded as a good goalkeeper, and a league that may help boost the goalkeeper’s confidence as he should feature regularly for Millwall. This deal should allow Alex Borto to fill a void that has been left, however, it has also allowed for the a goalkeeping arrival.

Benjamin Lecomte signs

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The replacement for the departing Steven Benda has been revealed as Benjamin Lecomte, who has joined the Whites as a free agent on a two-year deal, firstly announced by Calvin Bassey’s Snapchat. The 34-year-old has an extensive CV that includes the likes of Montpellier, Monaco and Atletico Madrid, most recently Montpellier. The goalkeeper was relegated with Montpellier, unfortunately, conceding goals frequently in the process, however, he averages 3.6 saves per game with 109 saves overall. With the experience that Lecomte will bring to Fulham, this may not be regarded as the most exciting signing, however, the player will bring more reassurance in goal, should we need to turn to him instead of Bernd Leno. For Lecomte to arrive as a free transfer, this may be regarded as a sensible piece of business, as the goalkeeper still has some years left in him and may be able to remain at the club for longer than two years should he be required to do so.

Raheem Sterling

Mike McGrath — 🥇

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another rumour for the Whites that appears to be gaining further traction relates to Chelsea winger Raheem Sterling. After some below-par performances for both Chelsea and the likes of Arsenal in recent years, the England winger appears to be accepting that a change is required, and a move across London may be vital to revitalise his career. The 30-year-old was able to feature in 17 matches for Arsenal in the Premier League last season, however, he only started seven of those matches, assisting two. The Englishman was also only successful in 50% of his dribbles per game and lost possession on average 4.8 times per ninety minutes. However, it is easy to forget the success that he has had over the years, as he was pivotal to many of Liverpool’s successes as well as Manchester City and, although many fans will be against the signing due to his recent performances, it is important to remember what the winger may be capable of. In a similar manner to Reiss Nelson, if this deal is done, it is a deal that should be approached with caution by the Whites. The wages that Sterling are currently on should be drastically reduced, and the fee involved in this transfer should be a low fee or a loan deal, as there are no current assurances over what Sterling may be able to produce. This means that the Whites may cut their losses should Sterling join and not perform well, or secure a good deal should Sterling revitalise his form with the team.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Dharmesh Sheth — 🥇

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fulham also appear to be looking at acquiring the services of Sterling’s Chelsea teammate Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, as the midfielder appears to be lacking game time, thus leading to a potential move away from the club. Operating in the number eight position, the English midfielder has often proved to be a standout player in various teams he has featured for, including Leicester and Luton. Dewsbury-Hall is often a goalscorer and a creative midfielder who looks to drive the team up the pitch, which he was able to show in the Conference League with Chelsea, scoring four and assisting two. However, the player started nine more matches in the Conference League this season in comparison to the Premier League and appears not to be a part of Enzo Maresca’s plans in the League. Valued at 22 million euros as per Sofascore, the midfielder would be a very good addition for Fulham, who many believe would slot seamlessly into Marco Silva’s system. The player is available for a reasonable fee and would add something different to the side in comparison to Sasa Lukic, and may complement the play styles of the likes of Emile Smith-Rowe, allowing him to flourish and making the player a suitable addition for the Whites.

Reiss Nelson

Fabrizio Romano – 🥇

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another player that has been noted as in contact with the Whites this week is Reiss Nelson. This deal appears set to take place in the coming days as both Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein have indicated that it is at it’s final stages. Nelson showed glimpses of what he is capable of at the Whites last season and proved similar in a recent cameo for Arsenal against Milan on their pre-season tour. As previously alluded to in the Sterling deal, however, this may be treated with caution. Should Reiss Nelson remain fit, the winger may prove to be a top-quality addition for Fulham, and a player, still at the age of 25, with room to grow. However, the winger’s lack of success with Fulham last season was a result of injury, and that may continue to be an issue for the player. With all this taken into account, Fulham have to negotiate to ensure the fees involved are reasonable to allow for potential injuries and lack of playing time from the player.

Alysson

Ekrem Konur — 🥉

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fulham appear to be assessing wingers abroad still, in addition to English wingers, as the Whites look to bolster that area of the pitch. Ekrem Konur has linked the Whites with Gremio winger Alysson, who is also linked to Wolves and Southampton. The 19-year-old appears to be a talented player for the Brazilian side, and has featured 43 times for their senior side, along with their U20’s. Overall, he has scored seven goals and assisted six, from operating predominantly on the right-hand side of midfield. The player still has a relatively low market value, as he has yet to display his full qualities, however, a move to England may help in that regard to allow the player to display his potential. This move seems an unlikely one for Fulham to explore and may be better suited to Southampton, as he is unlikely to provide an immediate solution to Fulham’s issues on the wing, however, he may be a talented player in the future, and a move to Fulham may allow him to develop.

Nico Gonzalez

Ciro Venerato — 🥉

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another winger abroad that has been linked to Fulham is Juventus winger Nico Gonzalez. Fulham appear to be tracking the player after missing out on teammate Samuel Mbangula, in a deal that may excite many. The 27-year-old has proved over the years that he has quality, in matches for Stuttgart, Fiorentina and Juventus. He has featured in the Champions League, as well as frequently in the Conference League for Fiorentina, predominantly as a right winger, however, he has also played off the left and through the middle. Throughout his career, the Argentine-born winger has scored 77 goals and assisted 35 in 289 matches and may add quality to Fulham’s ranks if he is available to the Whites. Following the departure of Willian and the uncertainties regarding Reiss Nelson, this deal may be explored, however, it appears that the likes of Raheem Sterling and Reiss Nelson are more likely to join the club at this current stage. Therefore, the acquisition of those players may stop this deal from happening.

Conclusion

Marco Silva and Tony Khan have previously indicated that the retention of players in this transfer window is of paramount importance, and more progress has been made in that regard. Although the Whites have not yet made their first acquisition of the window, deals appear to be getting closer, as the start of the League season gets closer as well.

Tom Cairney

Captain, leader, legend. Club captain Tom Cairney has put pen to paper on a new deal that sees him spend an 11th season with Fulham FC. Fulham took time to announce this deal following the supposed end of his contract, however, this was a deal that was mostly never in doubt, albeit supposedly Wrexham may have been interested in the player. Cairney will have reduced game time this season due to the natural progression of a player as they get older, however, many will note that he still may be able to come on in games and bring an element of control to the game and dictate play. Last season, Cairney was able to produce highlights, including a terrific cameo at home against Bournemouth, as well as coming on to score against Brentford to ensure that Fulham came back to do the double over our West London neighbours. This deal is also a lucrative deal for Fulham as the captain knows the club inside out, and the leadership and expertise that he may be able to share with new arrivals is invaluable — if the Whites only get fifteen minutes from Cairney each game, he makes up for that in so many ways and for many it is great to see our captain with us another year.

Josh King

One player who starred last season and may benefit from the guidance of Cairney is Josh King. The youngster has put pen to paper on a new deal that sees him extend his contract by four years and remain with the club until 2029. King is set to see an increased role in the first team following a season whereby he made eight appearances in the Premier League, starting one game. Although King has not been able to score or assist yet in the Premier League, the youngster has shown plenty of flair and desire that has convinced many that he will be able to make the step up to the first team. King has also shown an element of maturity to his game, which was displayed by his solid ball retention in the win against Brentford, exchanging passes with Tom Cairney and slowing the game down to see out the win. The development of Josh King may also be a positive for the likes of Emile Smith-Rowe and Andreas Pereira, ensuring that both of those players are made to work for their place in the team and reminded that King may be able to fill their boots at a moment’s notice.

Seth Ridgeon

Following interest from the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool, Jack Kelly and Sky Sports are reporting that youngster Seth Ridgeon is set to agree a new deal at Fulham following rumours he was set to leave. To keep both Josh King and Seth Ridgeon, many Fulham fans regard as a statement by the Whites, ensuring that talented players continue their development with Fulham. Captain of the England U17s, Ridgeon has featured 18 times in the U18 Premier League, scoring six and assisting five, in addition to five appearances in the PL2. Ridgeon primarily operates in central midfield as a box-to-box midfielder who likes to dictate and control the play, often arriving to add the goalscoring touch. Ridgeon is also a ball-winner, showing qualities of both a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder. Next season, many will hope that Seth Ridgeon furthers his progress, and, although he is two years younger than Josh King, many will hope that he appears in the first team sometime in the future.

Reiss Nelson

Sky Sports — 🥇

Jack Kelly — 🥇

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️

A transfer saga that has been continuing all summer, yet maybe nearing its conclusion, relates to the conundrum of whether or not Reiss Nelson may return to Fulham. Many reports have suggested that Fulham have approached Arsenal over a potential loan deal, however, details remain to be sorted as Fulham want an option to buy, but Arsenal would like an obligation. For Fulham, an option to buy may be the more viable option as the young winger has continually struggled with injuries throughout his career, however, this may also contribute to the reason whereby Arsenal are looking for an obligation to buy. Although Reiss Nelson was previously regarded as one of the best talents to come out of Hale End, the player has struggled and if Arsenal believe that they may not be able to operate with the player due to his injuries, a permanent transfer may make sense. For Fulham, however, Reiss Nelson may feel that he has unfinished business with the club after impressing in the first part of the season before injury. Nelson would bring a different profile in comparison to Fulham’s other wingers, dribbling and taking on his man in a direct manner. Nelson operates with speed and skill, and, if he can get a good run of games, may be a suitable option for Fulham, however, this remains unclear with his potential injuries.

Granit Xhaka

Tbrfootball — 🥉

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fulham also appear to be in the market for another central midfielder, and the latest name to be mentioned to fill that role is ex-Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka. The 32-year-old appeared in 33 games for Bayer Leverkusen last season and scored two goals, assisting seven. Xhaka also registered 91% of his passes accurately, along with 1.5 tackles per game. He is valued at 12.7 million euros, which is a shrewd fee for the player, who would also bring leadership to the side, however, Xhaka will not bring an element of youth to the team, which is an area Fulham need to strengthen. This may be a move that sees the player feature off the bench as he is similar in style to Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic, however, Xhaka may come into the side as the defensive midfielder and allow Berge to move further up the pitch. Fulham may have to compete with Sunderland for this signing, however, it remains to be seen if a move back to the Premier League is on the cards for the player this summer. Although Xhaka may not be a particularly exciting signing, he may be a shrewd addition to bolster the ranks and depth in central midfield.

Kerem Akturkoglu

Jorge Des Transferecias — 🥉

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

According to Jorge Des Transferecias, Fulham and Sunderland are set to battle it out for Benfica winger Kerem Akturkoglu, who may be on the move this summer for around £25m. The winger is an exciting, energetic player, known for his high pressing and playmaking, with a total of nine assists last season in the Portuguese League. The Turkish forward also contributed with 11 goals as his side finished 2nd in the League behind Sporting Lisbon. Akturkoglu would also bring Champions League experience to the club, having played 12 times in the competition last season, scoring four goals. It is often noticeable with Marco Silva that Fulham opt for wingers who operate on the side of their weakest foot, allowing them to cut inside and strike on their strongest foot, an attribute which Akturkoglu possesses. Although it would require a fairly substantial fee to acquire the services of Akturkoglu, the player would bring a level of quality to the Fulham side, with a goalscoring touch and creativity. However, it is notable that Fulham operate predominantly with Alex Iwobi on the left-hand side, as well as the fact that they are currently in negotiations for the return of Reiss Nelson, thus making it interesting to see how Akturkoglu would fit in should he join the club.

Samuel Chukwueze

Luca Bianchin — 🥈

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The rumours of Samuel Chukwueze to the Whites continue to rumble on, with the latest link being reported via Italian Journalist Luca Bianchin. Bianchin reports that Fulham remain interested in the player, however, no negotiations have taken place to bring him to West London. Chukwueze is a player who has been previously evaluated, and would be an exciting addition to the Fulham team. A tricky winger, who operates with flair and pace, Chukwueze appears to be out of favour to an extent at AC Milan, having appeared in 26 matches but only started nine of those fixtures. In a similar manner to Akturkoglu, Samuel Chukwueze, however, would also bring Champions League experience to the side and, having previously operated with Villareal, further European experience. Chukwueze’s market value appears to be 10.3 million euros, and thus it would require a smaller fee than Akturkoglu to tempt Chukwueze to link up with Super Eagles teammates Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey, however, this deal appears to have been in the rumour mill for a while with no negotiations, detracting from the likelihood of a deal taking place. Chukwueze, as previously referenced, however, would be a good quality addition to the side and give the Whites a new dimension off the right-hand flank.

Conclusion

Although the rumours concerning new additions for Fulham remain fairly quiet, similarly to recent weeks, the Whites appear to be making moves in order to retain the current crop of players. Alex Howell from the BBC has indicated that this is the current focus, which makes sense as many will believe Fulham have a good Premier League core of players at this current stage, however, there is still room for additions to the squad to bolster the quality available, and hopefully this comes to fruition in the coming weeks.

As another week in the transfer window passes, Fulham remain quiet in the transfer window, ahead of the players’ return to training. This week has been quieter than usual on incomings; however, there has been a notable shift with regards to players that may be leaving the club, but who may be leaving and who may be joining?

Seth Ridgeon

The Athletic – 🥇

Laurie Whitwell — 🥇

England Under-17 captain Seth Ridgeon is reportedly not among the new scholars at Fulham, sparking rumours of a move away from the club. Manchester United are currently in talks with the player, who is regarded as one of the hottest prospects in the Fulham academy setup, with a highly anticipated first-team future. The 16-year-old predominantly operates as a central midfielder; however may operate in defensive and attacking midfield when required, and has previously appeared in 18 Under 18 Premier League matches. Ridgeon performed well in those matches, scoring six goals and assisting five with 1,233 minutes. He also appeared in the Premier League 2 for five matches, scoring three goals, indicating that the young midfielder is capable of performing at a higher level. Under Marco Silva, Fulham FC have been known for their lack of proficiency with regards to integrating youngsters into the first team, and as a result, there have been some damaging losses. Therefore, depending on the upcoming developments with this matter, the transfer of Seth Ridgeon may be a further loss.

Luc De Fougerolles Contract Extension

In better news, Fulham FC have confirmed that 19-year-old centre back Luc De Fougerolles has signed a new contract, keeping him at Fulham FC until 2029. This move hopefully indicates that the player will have increased involvement in the first team in the coming years, following brief appearances, including against Ipswich in the Cup at Portman Road. De Fougerolles was named man of the match in that appearance in the EFL Cup, with many praising the composure that was shown by the young centre-half. The Ipswich match is the solitary appearance for the 19-year-old in first-team competitive matches; however, Fulham fans were also able to capture a glimpse of De Fougerolles at the Summer Series in 2024. The Canadian featured heavily against some of the Premier League’s best strikers as he gained more experience alongside senior compatriots. Furthermore, he has made seven appearances for the Canadian senior team, most recently obtaining plaudits for his performances in the Gold Cup for his side. The extension of Luc De Fougerolles’ contract is a positive move for Fulham and for the player, who seems very comfortable at this current stage, and therefore, it hopefully remains positive in the years to come.

Jorge Cuenca

Sport24 — 🥉

Sacha Tavolieri — 🥈

Rumours have also started to circulate this week regarding Jorge Cuenca. The Spanish centre back has reportedly attracted interest from Benfica and Olympiacos as new options for the respective clubs. Cuenca has had his game time at Fulham limited this season by the stellar form of Calvin Bassey; however, Cuenca has impressed in his time on the pitch for the Whites. Jorge Cuenca managed to appear eight times in the Premier League for Fulham last season, and featured twice in the EFL Cup and the FA Cup, performing assuredly in most instances. Cuenca notably has some learning to do with regards to English football; however, he performed remarkably at Anfield in his first ever Premier League start to help Fulham to a 2–2 draw, also performing well as Fulham managed to come away from Molineux having defeated Wolves 2–1. The transfer of Jorge Cuenca would be a disappointing one, as many Fulham fans see promise in the player; however, many may understand if he desires a loan move due to the current irreplaceable form of Calvin Bassey.

Luke Harris

Sky Sports — 🥇

Sky Sports have reported that Welsh youngster Luke Harris is linked with a move away from Fulham, with Charlton and Derby being named as the notable clubs vying for his signature. Harris spent last season on loan with Birmingham, alongside Fulham academy graduate Jay Stansfield; however, it was Stansfield who impressed the Blues. Luke Harris has appeared five times for the Fulham first team; however, in all those matches, minutes have been limited aside from an away match at the Etihad, where Fulham lost 5–1 and Luke Harris accumulated 74 minutes as Fulham underwent a midfield injury crisis. The Welshman has also previously made the Welsh senior squad, indicating that the 20-year-old is a talented footballer. He notably became a bit part player for Birmingham after Christmas, however, and currently does not attract the attention he previously has done, indicating that a loan move to Charlton or Derby would provide the player with a big boost, should he be looking to continue at Fulham. If this move is unsuccessful, however, then Fulham may consider permanently parting ways with the player.

James McAtee

Tbrfootball — 🥉

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Manchester City youngster and England Euro U21 winner James McAtee has once again been linked with the Whites, as TBR Football have reported Fulham’s interest in the player. McAtee would cost a sizeable fee for the Whites, should he join; however, the quality that the promising midfielder possesses would be a useful asset for the Whites. In a match that was viewed by millions of English people, McAtee performed well against Germany in the 21st Euros final and instigated many pieces of attacking play that allowed the likes of Omari Hutchinson and Harvey Elliott to flourish, both of whom have previously been linked to Fulham. A move for James McAtee may not materialize however, as the player was linked with a move in January, and since then, he featured in Manchester City games more prominently, suggesting that Pep Guardiola may still consider McAtee to be a useful asset, however the likes of Fulham will hope that Guardiola ensures the player is available for a transfer.

Mehdi Taremi

Gazetta Italy — 🥉

Rating — ⭐️⭐️

Similarly to McAtee, Inter Milan striker Mehdi Taremi has once again been linked with Fulham FC, most recently via Gazzetta Italy. The Iranian is 32 years of age and may be allowed to leave the Milan side for free this summer as multiple teams battle for his signature. As has previously been referenced, Taremi brings a high level of experience with him, having featured at World Cups and in the Champions League; however, it is notable that he has had limited minutes this season. Taremi has been battling for starting spots with the likes of Marcus Thuram and Lautaro Martinez and thus has not been utilised frequently. A move for the player would make sense, however, with his age and current minutes, this is not a move that may excite Fulham fans. Should Taremi be joining to occupy the spot as third-choice striker, this low-expense transfer may be a sensible move; however, it is unlikely that Taremi would accept that as the case.

Looking Ahead

In the past few seasons, it is notable that Fulham have made their first summer signing around the 25th July, and therefore, it is pivotal that the Whites make their first move soon. Last season, Fulham’s first signing came out of the blue in the form of Ryan Sessegnon, and the addition of Jorge Cuenca was a relatively quiet rumour before the player was signed, therefore the optimist may believe that Fulham have similar signings in the pipeline, however it is crucial that there may be so. Although the squad does not need a significant overhaul, various positions have been touted, whereby the Whites may be looking to add quality, and should do so.

Nearer the start of the transfer window, it was suggested that Fulham had reasonable funds available to spend on players, and, as the players return, it seems sensible to strike whilst the iron is hot and bring in new faces who may therefore get up to speed at a similar rate to his new teammates. If moves are left too late, then the Whites may start the season slowly or miss out on key targets, so it is integral that players are added sooner rather than later.

It is also important to note that following last season whereby the Whites were challenging for Europe consistently, the next optimal move for the owners would be to spend good money and back manager Marco Silva to ensure that Fulham are at least in a similar position once again. This has not been the case so far; however, it has to be the case soon, otherwise manager Marco Silva will soon grow to have a level of discontent with transfer proceedings.

Samuel Mbangula

Matteo Moretto — 🥇

Mirko Nicolino — 🥉

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Fulham are looking to strengthen on the wing this summer and have identified young Juventus winger Samuel Mbangula, a winger who operates primarily on the left-hand side, as a player who may fill that void. Reports from Matteo Moretto suggest that Fulham have asked for information on the player, whereas Mirko Nicolino suggests that Fulham are readying a 10 million euro bid. At 21 years of age, the Belgian winger has appeared 23 times in the Serie A this season for his club, starting only seven of those matches. Mbangula has netted three times and assisted three times, however, which indicates that the youngster is still producing respectable figures from off the bench. Known for his pace and trickery, Mbangula has been noted as one of the young talents in the Serie A to watch out for, attracting interest from the likes of Fulham. The market value of the winger is estimated to be 12.7 million euros as per Sofascore, which many will deem to be a reasonable fee for a youngster of his talent who has a significant amount of room for growth in his game. Depending on the level of recruitment, the Whites may be anticipating on the wing, a move for the player may be a sensible one. Should Fulham be looking for a winger that is not ready-made to start consistently, however, will be in the future, this is a void that Samuel Mbangula will fill to a good level of ability and may hopefully develop into a star in the future should Fulham acquire his services.

Zeki Celik

Calcio Mercato — 🥉

Rating — ⭐️⭐️

Following the news this week that Fulham have extended Kenny Tete’s contract for an additional three years, it seems bizarre to be documenting an additional link in the right back position, with Calcio Mercato indicating that Fulham continue to retain an interest in Roma full-back Zeki Celik. Fulham now have two solid options in the right back position going into next season, with Timothy Castagne as well as Tete, as well as young right backs that may fill the void should both players gain injuries. Celik has appeared 31 times for his side this season, with an average rating of 6.97 as per Sofascore, and respectable stats of 2.4 ball recoveries per game and 2.3 clearances per game. Celik’s stats appear to be fairly similar to those of Timothy Castagne, a player who is accustomed to the Premier League and a player who features regularly for Fulham, due to the injuries of Tete. Should Celik join the Whites, it seems unlikely that he would displace Tete as the first choice right back, and, should he obtain the position of second choice ahead of Timothy Castagne, this move may force a desire from Castagne to leave the club. In addition to this, at the age of 28, it seems unlikely that Zeki Celik would grow and develop his game and therefore become Fulham’s first-choice right back, further indicating that this move may make no sense following the confirmation of Kenny Tete’s new contract. Should Fulham look to recruit in that position, it may be more sensible to recruit a player similar to Kyle Walker Peters, who may deputise in both full-back positions.

Evan Ferguson

Footy insider — 🥉

Rating — ⭐️⭐️

20-year-old Evan Ferguson has recently returned to his parent club Brighton, following an unsuccessful loan spell at West Ham. The Irishman appears to have regressed in recent years as a player, enduring a confidence loss following his first senior appearances with Brighton. Such was the suggested quality of the player, Ferguson was receiving valuations of £100m as a result of transfer interest, unsurprisingly from Chelsea. Once this interest never materialised into a transfer, the player was gradually phased out of the team by Roberto Di Zerbi and Fabian Hurzeler due to the addition of Joao Pedro and English striker Danny Welbeck, who acquired some form. Ferguson has scored one goal this season in 21 appearances and was never able to gain a consistent starting spot at West Ham, with his former manager Graham Potter preferring the likes of Nicholas Fullkrug and even Jarrod Bowen to lead the line for the Irons. This is a move that may not make sense for Fulham, as many will still believe that there is talent there; however, it will require high levels of patience as the striker seems devoid of confidence, as represented by a miss at home one on one against Leicester that comes to mind for West Ham. Should Fulham be required to have that patience, Marco Silva may not be afraid to use Rodrigo Muniz or Raul Jimenez to deputise for the Irishman. With a transfer value of 27 million euros as per Sofascore, this is a sizeable fee for a player that may lack confidence and may be easily replaced in the side — frustration may grow amongst the fanbase if a player of that value spends a significant amount of time on the bench, which he may do so if he does not hit the ground running quickly should he join the club.

Rocco Reitz

Plettigoal — 🥇

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many football fans in England will have recently viewed the fantastic Euro U21 win for England, who played Germany in the final. Some quality football was on display that day, not only from England but also from the young German side they faced, and particularly Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Rocco Reitz. The youngster was a constant, dynamic, progressive presence in the side, with a playmaking ability that caused England issues. Reitz is 23 years of age and has featured 27 times in the Bundesliga for his club last season, operating in defensive and central midfield. Fulham have been indicating that they may look to strengthen with a player who has the attributes of box to box midfielder, and Reitz appears to tick that box, whilst retaining a hunger and a desire to engage in ground duels and tackles for his side. The German, should he join Fulham, will lower the average age of the side, which is another move Fulham may have a desire to make, indicating that this may be a sensible move for all parties.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin

Footy insider — 🥉

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Dominic Calvert-Lewin announced that he was leaving Everton, some Fulham fans (including myself) believed that there may be an inevitability that the forward was to be linked with a move to West London, and Footy Insider believe that a move to Fulham or Newcastle may indeed take place. The 28-year-old has been a long-standing servant for the Toffees, having joined the club in 2016 following his departure from Sheffield United. Calvert–Lewin has netted frequently during his time with Everton; however, his most successful season was in the 2020/21 season, whereby he netted 16 goals, a level of form that he has not been able to replicate since. The Englishman has been on a gradual decline since that season and only netted three goals last season as managers of the Toffees, including new manager David Moyes, started to prefer operating with the likes of Beto. The Portuguese striker scored five more goals in the Premier League last season in comparison to Dominic Calvert, Lewin having only appeared in four more matches, starting four fewer matches. Calvert — Lewin however, should he be added to the Fulham side, may become a shrewder addition than Evan Ferguson if he is brought in to operate in a limited role and allow Rodrigo Muniz to flourish ahead of him, as he has played in the Premier League for a significant amount of time and is available for free. There is always the chance that Marco helps him rediscover the form of the 2020/21 season; however, many will deem it unlikely that he is brought in and operates to that level as the side’s main striker.

Tolu Arokodare

The Sun — 🥈

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A name that many Fulham fans may get more excited about in the striker department, however, is Tolu Arokodare, the current talisman and number nine for KRC Genk in Belgium. The Nigerian stands at six feet four and would be a stellar presence for the Whites up front, coming off the back of a momentous season with his side, whereby he netted 21 times in 40 games and achieved an average match rating of 7.26 over the course of the season. Arokodare would bring a level of youth to this Fulham side, joining at the age of 24, and would provide a high level of competition for Rodrigo Muniz, indicating that Raul Jimenez would operate as the third choice going into next season. The striker is known for his anchor play and strength in retaining possession of the ball in high areas, something which Marco Silva has utilised greatly in recent years through the likes of Muniz and Aleksander Mitrovic. The transfer of Arokodare may draw similarities to that of Paul Onuachu when he arrived on the South Coast for Southampton after scoring freely in the Belgian Pro League, thus drawing some level of apprehension when it comes to the addition of Arokodare for Fulham, however the forward evidently has talent and, should he join the club, he should add quality and goals to the side.

Douglas Luiz

Fabrizio Romano/ Matteo Moretto – 🥇

Rating — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Douglas Luiz is another player that has been evaluated in recent weeks in transfer roundups; however, he continues to be linked with the side, with the latest rumours being released via Fabrizio Romano and Matteo Moretto, indicating that the player is no longer part of Juventus’ plans and Fulham and Everton have made inquiries. Many will remember the quality of Luiz that was on show when he was operating at the heart of midfield for Aston Villa (and his headbutt on Aleksander Mitrovic), thus earning the player his move to Juventus. Luiz has since had his playing time reduced, however, in a season that may be deemed underwhelming for a young Juventus side that is in an adjustment phase. Luiz has appeared in 19 matches for Juventus this season; however, he has started only three and is therefore looking for a move. Many will believe that a return to the Premier League may make sense for the player, and a move to Fulham may be ideal as the player would likely start ahead of Sasa Lukic and operate alongside Sander Berge. A sizeable fee would be required to secure the Brazilian’s services; however, that is a fee that Fulham should consider paying to upgrade to the number eight and add a level of quality to help climb up the table.

Conclusion

This week evidently, the transfer rumours have slowed slightly with regards to any additions for the Whites, and, although patience should be required as many fans have got used to how the club seems to operate in the summer, frustrations may soon start to creep in as Fulham are one of only a small number of clubs to have not added to their side this summer. However, names including Douglas Luiz and Tolu Arokodare are good quality names to be linked with the club; therefore, hopefully, the club makes progress on those deals in the coming weeks.