Apparently Liverpool won't loan Downing to us, but may sell: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...pool-transfers-stewart-downing-fulham-1905356 Not sure how I feel about that.
Me neither. I think he's a better player than his critics over the last couple of years think, but I can't imagine Liverpool would sell him for any kind of fee that we would pay. Given that they will want to recoup a lot of the £20million they paid Villa for him, I can't see them asking for much less than £10mil, which would be ridiculous. I'm also not sure that he's what we need at the moment. Even if we don't sign Babel, another expensive winger isn't where we should spend the bulk (probably) of our transfer kitty. If we're spending big money, it should be on a creative central midfielder and a striker, with smaller money going on a left back, keeper (Stek, hopefully) and perhaps a lower profile creative midfielder to add options to the squad. We were linked with Harry Arter of Bournemouth in January, and I've heard that Norwich and Swansea are also sniffing around him. He shouldn't be the only creative midfielder we sign, but he'd be a good signing as back up to someone like Huddlestone with the possibility of him claiming a first team shirt in time. Jose Baxter from Oldham is another who would fall into the same category.
Well said Cappy. I actually quite rate Downing, sure Liverpool isn't the right level for him but I feel he would excel at Fulham, much like he did at Boro and Villa, however, I too can't see Jol paying whatever it is Liverpool require. Just bring in one of Babel/Sakho for the wing and move onto the more important areas like an attacking minded midfielder.
Daily Express 25/05/13 Fulham are preparing to make a £4m move for Aston Villa's 29-year-old striker Darren Bent, while the Cottagers next week expect to complete the signing of Roma goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, 30, in a £2m deal. I can't see Aston Villa letting him go for that amount, let's hope the Stekelenberg is true this time, the last minute transfer in January was holted when Roma couldn't agree a fee with his replacement.
French daily L’Equipe is reporting that we have enquired about Marseille attacking midfielder Morgan Amalfitano. Despite the name, he is a French international valued at around £5m. please log in to view this image "The 28-year-old footballer has a contract until June 2015 at Stade Velodrome and was not too happy about being left out of their Champions League side. It is believed he would be tempted by an offer from English Premier League, provided Fulham can reach an agreement with his current employers. Amalfitano joined Marseile from Lorient on a free transfer in the summer of 2011, but he hasn’t quite managed to live up to his potential at Stade Velodrome. He has made a total of 58 Ligue 1 appearances for OM, but could only score two goals in the process."
If he joined on a free and has underwhelmed, why do Marseille think they can charge £5m for his services? And at 28, I'd rather we looked elsewhere.
There is a story that Liverpool are interested in Bent. However, when I tried to look at the article in The Shields Gazette Google said there was "a problem translating the page" - which made me giggle.
I'm really not sure on Bent, he's a clinical finisher, or at least was, but who knows how him being out of the loop for most of the season has affected both his confidence and ability. He's also 30 and would be on considerable wages, not to mention his transfer fee would take up a large part of our limited budget. He's also a poacher, and we don't need one of those, we have Berbatov for that, we need a runner, like Dempsey was.
Not Bent,this story cannot be put to bed,lets forget him. I am afraid we could be going down the bargain basement road as far as transfers go. Are we trying to self finance the new stand with the monies in the kitty ? a good idea, but only if we retain our premiership status,time will tell.
The latest rumour is an attacking midfielder from France - Monaco's Yohan Mollo. please log in to view this image "The best pound-for-pound assist provider in the French league is officially on the market this summer. The midfielder's profile is attracting serious Premier League interest, particularly from Craven Cottage Ranked 3rd in the official assist table (behind Marseille’s Valbuena and Lille’s Payet). He delivered 11 assist in 25 games. Unsteady as his whole career has been so far. Born in 1989 near Marseille, he joined the famous youth academy in Monaco aged 14. There he quickly made his way up the various youth teams as a right midfielder, until he was crowned U18 national champion with the red and white shirt. His dribbling, passing and speed skills were already obvious to most. Being a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo, he confesses that he often tries to replicate the Portuguese tricks on the training pitch as much as on the main stadium. Right after the end of his period within the academy, he was included in the first team group and did not have to wait a long time before enjoying his first taste of Ligue 1 football. He made his debut in October 2008, and was offered his first starting position two weeks later. Then he would gain more and more playing time, taking part in 28 games for his first season in the top tier. His second season would be a lot less interesting, being disturbed by a few injuries keeping him sidelined for weeks. Following this unconvincing season, he was sent on loan to newly promoted side Caen. There he settled himself on the left wing and added the set pieces to his list of abilities. He indeed scored 3 times on a direct free kick during his loan spell. His performances helped the club to secure another season in the top flight whereas his main employer, Monaco was relegated. The Normandy side could not afford the 8M€ requested by the Cote d’Azur side and Mollo had to make his way back towards Monaco."
Another French fella - Morgan Amalfitano, on loan from Marseille. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...e-midfielder-Morgan-Amalfitano-loan-deal.html
A loan deal for a player who is disillusioned with his current continental club? Amalfitano sounds exactly like a Jol signing. My understanding is that Mollo is a winger rather than an attacking central midfielder. I think he'd be a great signing, but I'm not sure he's the best use of our budget.
Not a prob Bidley. I was just remarking on your update that he would be a loan deal. I've got reservations about loans but if money is tight getting a £5m rated player with his potential, on loan, would be quite a fillip. A kind of an aside, but I see the Club are extending the date for 'Early Bird' discount season tickets. Looking at the official site there are an awful lot of unsold tickets (surprising so in the Hammy End). http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/may/28/early-bird-extension Increased cost for fans is no doubt one consideration. Associated with that could be games free with BT broadband. Whatever, a "landmark" signing would surely boost sales. While I'm not suggesting this guy is a "Berba", bringing in decent talent and bringing them in early would at least be a sign of intent.
Need to get the Goalkeeper problem sorted out sooner rather than later, because I think it takes time for a keeper to gel with his back four. According to Italian papers we have competition from Valencia and Real Madrid for the signature of Stekelenberg. He didn't play in the Italian cup Final for Roma against Lazio in their 1-0 defeat. Does he have injury problems ? No further talks with Schwarzer planned as he is adamant he wants to be first choice. Man Utd Lindegaard has said he would like to move to be a first team player and papers have linked us with him. Hull have turned their attention to Kasper Schmeichel, so will Stockdale stay or be moved on, leaving us with Etheridge.
Quite agree SBMcB,i am sick and tired of will he, wont he,give him and all those concerned say a 2 week ultimatum, if transfer not concluded, forget all about him.
Shay Givan,a stop gap for 1mil. Stockdale take the 2 mil from Hull,with appearances or sell on clause,we can then take a good look at whats around. "ah" for the days when we paid 7mil for the top of the pile keeper.
He does SuperBri - "Roma will be without goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg for two weeks because of a thigh strain. The Dutchman picked up the injury during a training session last week and sat out the Italian club's 4-0 home win against Siena in Serie A on Sunday. Subsequent medical tests have now revealed that the 30-year-old has suffered a strain to his left thigh that will sideline him for the next 15 days." Source: http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/roma/news/stekelenburg-out-for-two-weeks_82191.html A wee bit worrying if this is a recurrence of the previous injury that put him out for quite a while a year or so ago. This whole business of goalkeeper is so frustrating. One minute we've got eight on the books (three at international level) and the next minute we're struggling to name one in the first team squad.
