Fulham are looking to strengthen their side ahead of the 2024/25 Premier League season, following the departure of fan-favourite João Palhinha.
After academy graduate Ryan Sessegnon was announced days ago, a quiet Fulham window has fast become an exciting one for the fans. Sessegnon, who left the Cottagers in 2019 for Tottenham Hotspur, returned to Fulham on a free transfer following the expiration of his Spurs contract.
Although Sessegnon was a free transfer, the sale of João Palhinha has freed up some funds for the London side, and moves are being made behind the scenes. Palhinha, 29, finally got his dream move to German side Bayern Munich last month after Fulham shut down the transfer in 2023.
The Portuguese international was Fulham’s player of the season in his first year (2022-2023) and won more tackles than any other Premier League player in both of his Fulham seasons.
From Spurs players to their North London rivals, Emile Smith Rowe is reportedly very close to making a move across London to Fulham. The 24-year-old was excluded from Arsenal’s matchday squad when they faced Manchester United in preseason on Sunday.
A Gunners academy graduate, the winger wants first-team football which he is not likely to get at Arsenal, who seem to have a set starting 11. The move is rumoured to be around £35 million including add-ons. A medical has not yet been completed as Smith Rowe is still with Arsenal on their pre-season tour of the USA.
With Palhinha leaving, there is a clear hole in Fulham’s defensive midfield position. However, Andre of Fluminense is edging closer to a move to SW6. Fluminense are believed to value the 23-year-old at around £25m and is highly appreciated by Fulham.
Marco Silva’s Fulham had the seventh highest passes completed in the Premier League last season, more than Manchester United, Aston Villa and Newcastle, so will need to improve their midfield options to both remain at that level and keep a high standard of physicality that they lose without Palhinha.
Although these are heavily rumoured transfers, there are also small rumours around Craven Cottage, such as Manchester United's Scott McTominay. His name is being passed around as a possible move from Manchester to London. The Scottish international scored seven Premier League goals for the Red Devils last season, but as of now, Fulham's first bid has been rejected.
With Tosin Adarabioyo leaving for SW6 neighbours Chelsea, Fulham look sparse at the centre-back position. Tim Ream is linked with a move to the USA, so reinforcements are needed. After acquiring Tosin for free, a sale will help Chelsea with their FFP, and Trevor Chalobah is a name on many fan's lips.
Chalobah, 25, missed the first six months of the 2023/24 season with a hamstring injury but impressed at the end of the campaign, and Fulham are interested again after having him on their list of targets last summer.
The Whites are expecting competition from Manchester United for the centre back though, and Chelsea value their homegrown defender at £25 million.
As we approach August, it is the last month that clubs have to make moves in this Summer transfer window so expect the next few weeks to be very interesting, especially for a Fulham side that will want to secure their fourth season in the Premier League.
