Following two seasons of consolidation and flattering to deceive, Fulham’s transfer window may not have been the statement of intent that the Whites faithful were looking for, but there was some shrewd business on display, nonetheless.
After a slow start to proceedings, the Cottagers turned things around in a matter of days with the arrivals of Emile Smith-Rowe, Ryan Sessegnon, and Jorge Cuenca.
A club-record fee of £34million for Arsenal’s Smith-Rowe softened the blow of losing midfield maestro Joao Palhinha to German giants Bayern Munich.
While it was an emotional exit for club legend Tim Ream who returned to the United States on a free transfer to Charlotte FC, catalysing reunions with Sessegnon and Joachim Andersen, the latter a major coup for the club.
Silva secures “main target” for club record fee
Smith-Rowe ended a 14-year association with Arsenal when he completed a move to the Cottagers for a club-record fee of £34m.
The 24-year-old Hale End graduate made 80 Premier League appearances for the Gunners, scoring 12 times.
Despite the three-capped England international playing a major role early on in Mikel Arteta’s reign and subsequently being rewarded with a new contract as well as the No 10 shirt for his efforts at the end of the 2021-22 campaign, a seven-month injury layoff in September 2022 stalled his progress.
Returning in the new year, he was limited to substitute cameos and would not make his first start in the league until the 5-0 victory over Sheffield United in October.
Much the same followed for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign and when the North London side confirmed they were selling the attacking midfielder, Marco Silva revealed he became Fulham’s “main target”.
Silva has already made reference to the rarity of a player like Smith-Rowe, complementing his ability to play between the lines, inject some much-needed creativity in those spaces, arrive late in the box, and provide a goal threat.
It may be early in his Fulham career, but the 24-year-old has impressed so far, netting in pre-season and getting on the scoresheet in the Whites 2-1 league win over Leicester last week.
Featuring in all three league matches to date, it is important Smith-Rowe is given licence to drift in the No 10 role, so fans can witness the best of the Arsenal academy product.
Silva’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation with the Englishman as the central attacking midfielder and flanked by two outside midfielders will ensure this happens, suiting him perfectly.
All in all, Fulham have acquired a top talent who has his best years ahead of him.
The boss has a history of regenerating the career of players that have fallen by the wayside at big clubs, Andreas Pereira, Alex Iwobi, and Willian at Manchester United, and Arsenal respectively are prime examples of this.
And, as Silva has alluded to himself, it is important not to judge him by the price tag but to “share the responsibility”.
Emotional exit for Ream as defensive upgrade ensues
Nine years, over 300 appearances, and captaining Fulham back to the Premier League, the Tim Ream love affair came to an emotional end over the summer when the American returned to his homeland with Charlotte FC as the destination.
Ream’s timely exit alongside fellow centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo to Chelsea left the Whites short in that department, with only Issa Diop and Calvin Bassey remaining.
Cuenca, a relatively unknown entity in England, was the first of the central defensive reinforcements to arrive when he completed a £6m switch from Villarreal.
Despite the 24-year-old failing to nail down a starting spot in the Yellow Submarine’s team last season, the 6ft2” Barcelona academy product is good with the ball at his feet, and strong in the air. He is also a threat from set-pieces, scoring three goals in 2023-24.
What’s more, Cuenca is left-footed, so he is expected to deputise for Bassey. And with bags of potential as well as time to grow given his rotational role there is a lot to like about the deal.
If Fulham found themselves having to cut their losses in the future, £6m is a minute fee in today’s market, which is an added bonus. That being said, the defender's very promising display in his debut in the Carabao Cup victory over Birmingham suggests otherwise.
Despite starting the first game for Crystal Palace against Brentford, Andersen had sealed a £30m move to the Bees bitter rivals the following week out of nowhere.
The Dane, who boasts 113 appearances for the Eagles, is a marked improvement on Diop and Bassey.
One of the best ball-playing centre-backs in the Premier for the last few seasons, the 28-year-old was pivotal under Patrick Viera when there was a heavier emphasis on his wonderful passing range, stepping up and spraying long balls out wide.
The centre-back also possesses leadership qualities that saw him handed the armband on numerous occasions at the south London side and during his first stint at Craven Cottage in the 2020-21 season when he was on loan from Lyon – something that cannot be understated.
While the fee may be a little high, at 28 years old he is regarded to be in his prime years as a central defender.
To summarise, competition is healthy and together Cuenca and Andersen not only add depth but also an upgrade in quality.
Berge a downgrade on Palhinha, but not for Fulham
It was always going to be a tough ask for Fulham to replace midfield maestro Palhinha when he inevitably departed Craven Cottage; however, Sander Berge could prove to be very shrewd business from the Whites.
Always a top performer in struggling sides, having applied his trade at Burnley and Sheffield United, it will be exciting to see how he fairs at a club that is consolidated in the Premier League and should aspire to push Europe.
While the Portuguese international is obviously levels above the Norwegian, the 26-year-old impressed in the Clarets 2-0 win at the Cottagers in December.
A much more progressive player who likes to carry the ball forward and create chances, Berge will offer something different to the Fulham midfield.
In Fulham’s 4-2-3-1, the Scandinavian will likely replace Pereira and form a steady partnership with Sasa Lukic in the double pivot.
Capable of carrying the ball forwards and defensively sound, being in the top 20% for tackles as well as clearances and aerial duals won last campaign, £25m is a fair price for a player reportedly linked to Manchester United not long ago.
The disappointment of Stansfield’s departure
Jay Stansfield completed a shock Deadline Day move to Birmingham City for a record-breaking League One fee of £15m plus a potential £5m in add-ons much to the dissatisfaction of the Fulham supporters.
After Silva confirmed that he intended to give Stansfield an opportunity in the Premier League following a stellar loan spell in the Midlands that saw him score 12 goals in 43 games, fans were eager for the 21-year-old to join the first team.
There was also a genuine feeling among the Cottagers faithful that Stansfield was the solution to their centre-forward issues with Rodrigo Muniz and Real Jimenez both struggling to find the back of the net.
Despite the reasonable fee and 20% sell-on clause, it is difficult not to think about what could have been had the Exeter-born midfielder remained under the stewardship of Silva, especially with his growing potential.
Verdict
Overall, it feels like the dawn of a new era is on the horizon for Fulham, which will likely bear fruit in January and beyond.
Six incomings for the sum of £91.55m at an average age of 25.5, £26.65m under their total market value is smart business. Sessegnon on a free will prove his worth if he can stay fit, while Reis Nelson adds to Silva’s options on the wing.
On the other hand, 12 outgoings, mostly free's, bagged £68.80m thanks in large part to Palhinha and Stansfield, making £30m profit on the former, and it could and should have been more.
Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Kevin Mbabu, and Willian’s sales were active attempts to freshen up the team and cut the dead wood.
