Why have Fulham re-signed Jonah Kusi-Asare?
Jack Stroudley takes a look at our first signing of the summer.
Well, I for one wasn’t expecting that.
A signing before we’ve even appointed a manager - we’re firmly in uncharted territory. Fulham have made a signing before July and it’s Jonah Kusi-Asare.
The 18-year-old signed from FC Bayern Munich for a fee worth around €6m following his loan last season. He hardly pulled up trees during his loan spell, so why are Fulham going ahead with this one?
Another Tony Khan signing?
Tony Khan gave a fantastic interview to Jack Kelly earlier this month in which he hinted that Fulham’s transfer strategy wouldn’t be changing but he had learned lessons from his time working with previous managers and making signings without their full backing - but has he?
When speaking to JK about JKA (confusing I know), he said the following. “I think Jonah can be a great asset potentially, so I am open to that and interested in that for sure. I think Jonah still has a lot of development in his young career and I think he's doing fantastic."
It appeared to everyone that Jonah was signed without Marco’s full backing last summer, so has TK hit the button again without speaking to a prospective manager? Has Arbeloa been consulted?
A financial win
Buckle up people, it’s time to put the accountant hat on. The Premier League SCR rules mean that clubs must spend a maximum of 85% its total football revenue. JKA appears to be a good financial opportunity for Fulham, a young prospect who looked good for our U21s and has a buy-back clause with Bayern Munich. It’s the type of business that would be hailed as a success down at Brighton, Bournemouth or Brentford.
I’m not saying that JKA will come in and set the world alight immediately but for €6m we could do a lot worse than him. He’s incredibly raw and will be given space to develop in our U21s while serving as a third-choice striker (because surely we won’t start the season with just him and Muniz).
Not the finished article - but that’s OK
Expanding more on my last point, the club cannot look at JKA as the answer. Because if he is, I’m unsure on the question. Fulham still need a striker regardless of this signing, and JKA needs time with Hayden Mullins in the youth setup.
Arbeloa (if he ever signs) reportedly wants to bring youth through so this presents a fantastic opportunity for JKA and a fantastic opportunity for Fulham to start to become a more sustainable club in the transfer market. Buy low, sell high, rinse and repeat. It’s worked for other clubs who have knocked down the European door, why not Fulham?