Tete's retention hints at a shift in transfer policy

Is our right-back's renewal a sign of things to come?

Kenny Tete signed with Fulham in 2020 and stuck with the club through relegation and our subsequent promotion. He established himself immediately; it was noted by many pundits and fans alike that he had a knack for one-on-one defending. It was no surprise that in the second year of his four-year deal, he managed to be included as a regular in a record-breaking Fulham side as they were crowned champions of the Championship.

Since Fulham re-entered the topflight under Marco Silva, the right-back position has been an area of competition within the squad. Timothy Castagne proved to be worthy competition for Tete. The Belgian international had a few more Premier League appearances under his belt - and we should always bear this in mind when assessing the two. The fact that Kenny Tete has managed to convince all of us that he is the number one pick is testament to how important he has become.

A change in tack

Other areas of the squad have experienced the same level of competition. For example, Aleksander Mitrovic and Carlos Vinicius or Joao Palhinha and Sasa Lukic. However, each time, we've seen a clear winner for a coveted position within the squad, Fulham have opted to sell up. Cashing in where, effectively, one player in the team stands out.

Although Kenny Tete is not a name that crops up within the stats related to results and team performance, his name does crop up in discussions about integrity and solidity within the defensive line. His absence is felt not only by those left wingers who find themselves worrying about a defensive duel they're likely to lose, but also by our right-sided centre-back and the right side of the double pivot at the base of midfield.

Tete’s value is likely to have impacted those around him directly; that is why clubs across Europe in both Holland and England made respective approaches for his services. Fulham may have acted differently if Kenny Tete already had a contract for the next two years. We may have chosen to negotiate a fee and seek a replacement on a budget who would then have to integrate into the team. This would be a follow on for the normal routes taken by players at the club. Players who are in high regard at Fulham, often leave.

In certain situations, Fulham have even failed to put money on the table for an established first-team player. Sometimes it's not the thought of a fee that forces Fulham to part ways with a first-team regular. Tosin left last year on a free after failing to agree a new deal. Bobby De Cordova-Reid also failed to agree to more time in black and white come the end of his deal. So, when Kenny Tete let his contract run down, many of us could be forgiven for thinking that this was the end of the road for our time with this beloved right-back.

Build rather than replace

But this time Fulham and Tete have managed to come to an agreement. It’s a break from the norm and a possible statement of intent from the club, that they can commit to secure a valuable, in-demand player. Is this a sign of a transfer policy decision that will be evidenced further this summer?

Perhaps Fulham have learned that selling doesn't always have to be the modus operandi of a growing football club. Sometimes when you sell you may stand to lose something you just can’t replace. For two summers Fulham have lost highly impactful players. Many fans are still bemoaning the lack of an Alexander Mitrovic, who was without a doubt an out and out goal scorer; who would have changed our fortunes at certain moments this season.

The base of our midfield has been the subject of so much debate with an unconvincing number eight where Joao Palhinha could be. If Fulham were to go into the market and search for a player who had first-team quality, I'm sure they could find such a player. However, there are some traits in certain players that are just not present in other players.

The attributes of another right-back could expose Fulham. We know that Marco Silva’s right-backs are great at getting forward, brilliant one-on-one, good in the air and quick. This suits the style that Fulham like to play. Finding another right-back that fits the style simply may not be possible at this moment in time. We've seen that in other positions, with the introduction of Raul Jimenez. Fulham are no longer pose the same threat from set pieces. Fulham’s midfield core is more penetrable than it used to be.

That is why this deal is so significant, not only because Fulham have chosen to keep a player they value and effectively outbid other clubs, but it also shows that Fulham want to back Marco Silva and the current squad.

Each summer since returning to the Premier League, the Fulham transfer team have rolled the dice working towards a seemingly better profit margin as well as better team performance. Each summer so far has gone well whilst adopting this strategy, however, there is the inevitable ‘bedding in’ period that comes with big change.

Fulham have still got plenty of players to bring in, and players to pin down on new deals this summer. Ultimately though, the decision to keep a player of quality shows us that the board believe that Marco Silva and the current squad can hit new heights without reshuffling the pack. There are many important players with one year left on their deals; this shift in transfer policy won't go unnoticed.

Let it set a precedent for keeping a great group of players, only adding to that group when strictly necessary.