The FFC Rumour Mill: Fulham stagnant again as Marco Silva ponders future?

Jack Stroudley looks at the (lack of) ins and outs over the past week.

I finished my article last week by insinuating that the engine finally appears to be sparking at Fulham. Fast forward a week and the car has stalled and won’t turn back on. Fulham start the season in just under two weeks and we’ve signed a back-up keeper on a free, what’s equally if not more frustrating is the lack of news around the club regarding incomings. As you’ll see shortly there isn’t an awful lot to talk about from an incoming point of view with the main talking point of the week being Marco Silva.

Incomings

The Athletic reported last Friday that Fulham have reignited an interest in AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze, with the club looking at a loan with an option at the end of the season. That report was followed up by Gazzetta dello Sport who have claimed Fulham’s loan bid was rejected and the Italian side are looking for €20M for the Nigerian winger. Chukwueze was someone who was linked heavily on deadline day in January but never came to fruition so this interest doesn’t surprise me. Fulham need two wingers so this is one that could go the distance - if Fulham actually decide to pay a fee.

GiveMeSport have reported that Fulham have made an approach for Arsenal defender/midfielder Oleksandar Zinchenko alongside the previously mentioned Reiss Nelson (which by the way has no new update). The Sun has previously claimed in the summer that Fulham are interested but given the fact no one else has backed GiveMeSport up I’d say the truth behind an approach being made at the time of writing is minimal.

Honestly, that’s it for this week for incoming news. Federico Chiesa and Tyler Dibling have both been mentioned but neither of which to any form of credibility. The clock is ticking Fulham.

Outgoings

Marco Silva’s contract is up at the end of the season so has understandably began to be questioned regarding his future of which he was cryptic about when speaking to O Jago.

On returning to Portugal, he said, "I don't have any major long-term plans in that regard. Throughout my career, there's been that possibility, but the goal is the Premier League. I could have returned already; it's not even worth saying where but those opportunities didn't happen because it wasn't possible, and other times it was a personal decision. But in the short term, I'm looking at Fulham and then we'll see what happens next season. If the opportunity arose? We'll see."

Silva has also come out this week and once again criticised the club for their lack of transfer business in what we all know is a recurring theme. Does he think that he’s hit his ceiling at Fulham? Maybe. Is this going to be something that brews over the season? Definitely.

Newcastle and Atalanta have both got an interest in Rodrigo Muniz with a fee of £40m being mentioned. Craig Hope is a top journalist so there will be some truth to this one. Maybe I’m being blissfully ignorant but I’m still not sure. Newcastle seem to be linked to every striker under the sun at the moment and I think it would take more than £40m to convince us to sell Muniz, just give him a new deal!

Harry Wilson’s contract has once again cropped up with WestLondonSport reporting that while a deal isn’t close talks are currently ongoing. Wilson’s contract runs out next summer and the Welshman is reportedly happy at the club.

Finally, Luc De Fougerolles’s loan move was confirmed with the Canadian international spending the upcoming campaign in Belgium playing for Pro League side F.C.V. Dender. “Fig Rolls” is someone that has a pathway into this Fulham side so minutes in a top European league could be crucial for him and his development into this Fulham team in the future.

Well, there’s another week done! Another week closer to the season starting, another week closer to the window closing and Fulham have once again done nothing! What’s the most alarming thing is the fact there isn’t any whisperings of a signing. Nothing seems close and yes Fulham are usually quite good at keeping things under wraps but Silva is (understandably) frustrated. Tick tock Fulham, get on with it.