Fulham are in advanced talks with Arsenal over a transfer for Bernd Leno, who may be one of six signings to start against Liverpool on the opening day of the Premier League season.
Marco Silva will welcome the Reds to Craven Cottage on August 6 as they raise the curtain for the 2022/23 season. The Cottagers returned to the top-flight at the first time of asking last term, after winning the Championship title ahead of AFC Bournemouth with 90 points.
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Fulham will hope Silva can now avoid an immediate return to the second-tier, having fallen out of the Premier League in 2018/19 and 2020/21 after success in the Championship play-offs. The Cottagers finished in 19th and 18th respectively after edging the Wembley affair.
Fulham close in on deal to sign Leno from Arsenal despite Leicester challenge
Craven Cottage chiefs have already backed Silva substantially to build a side they hope can avoid another relegation. Four players have so far arrived in west London this summer, as Fulham remain in talks with Arsenal over a deal to sign Leno among a clutch of late targets.
Sky Sports journalist Dharmesh Sheth reports Fulham have an agreement in principle with Arsenal to sign Leno for £8m. The German has entered into the final year of his contract at the Emirates Stadium, where he fell to second-choice behind Aaron Ramsdale last season.
Leno will undergo a medical with Fulham once the Craven Cottage outfit have finalised the structure of their payments. His move from north to west London will also see Silva edge a late rival challenge from Leicester City, who GFFN report are considering the 30-year-old.
Fulham could still further build on their influx of summer signings once a deal with Arsenal for Leno is finalised. So, with that in mind, what could Silva’s XI look like against Liverpool?
Bernd Leno (GK): Fulham to beat Leicester and sign new goalkeeper from Arsenal
Leno could make his Fulham debut on the opening day of the new Premier League season against Liverpool once signed from Arsenal. Mikel Arteta is prepared to lose the German as he only played four top-flight games last term, after 35 for 11 clean sheets during 2020/21.
Kevin Mbabu (RB): Fulham sign new defender from Wolfsburg
Fulham have signed Kevin Mbabu from Wolfsburg to afford Silva a new first-choice option at right-back. The £6.5m arrival played 31 games last term and will fill Neco Williams’s void after his mid-season loan from Liverpool, having now joined Nottingham Forest for £17m.
Issa Diop (CB): West Ham still open to Fulham signing defender
West Ham United are waiting for Fulham to make a £15m bid, plus £3m in add-ons, to sign Issa Diop, per Foot Mercato. The Cottagers are interested in a deal for the 25-year-old with Silva keen on a new centre-back ahead of the season, yet have so far only offered £14.5m.
Diop is open to leaving the London Stadium to anchor the Portuguese’s line, having fallen out of favour last season. But David Moyes is reluctant to sanction a deal as Nayef Aguerd will miss 12 weeks through injury, per Jacob Steinburg, without first getting a replacement.
Tosin Adarabioyo (CB): Star of Championship title win to anchor Cottagers line
Tosin Adarabioyo was one of the stars of Fulham’s Championship title win and will now be a leading light in the top-flight. The 24-year-old started 41 of 46 league games last season, whilst offering two goals and two assists, and made 33 Premier league outings in 2020/21.
Antonee Robinson (LB): Silva to hope for magic on the pitch, not just off it
Silva will hope to see Antonee Robinson produce magic on the pitch, not just off it, for the Cottagers. The USMNT full-back dazzled with his card trick during pre-season, but Fulham will need his creativity after offering four assists and two goals over 36 second-tier outings.
Joao Palhinha (CDM): Fulham sign new midfielder from Sporting Lisbon
Fulham have signed a new midfielder from Sporting Lisbon with Joao Palhinha completing a £20m transfer earlier in July. The 26-year-old has agreed a five-year contract with Silva’s side, and will now anchor his engine room after locking down the Leoes’ unit in 38 games.
Andreas Pereira (CDM): Fulham sign new midfielder from Manchester United
Andreas Pereira has signed a four-year contract at Fulham after leaving Manchester United for £8m, plus £2m in add-ons. The Cottagers have also handed the Red Devils a 20% sell-on fee for the 26-year-old, who spent last term on loan in the Brazilian Serie A at Flamengo.
Harry Wilson (RM): Silva to hope forward can deliver same creativity in 22/23
Silva will hope Harry Wilson can now take the stunning levels of creativity he offered in the Championship into the Premier League. The 25-year-old helped the Cottagers win the title with 10 goals and 20 assists over 41 games after his £12m transfer from Liverpool last July.
Tom Cairney (CAM): Cottagers captain will want to avoid his third relegation
Tom Cairney will be desperate to avoid enduring a third relegation with Fulham after their demotions in 2018/19 and 2020/21. The Cottagers captain only played 10 times during the club’s last top-flight term, too, after suffering for 10 months with knee issues during 2021.
Manor Solomon (LM): Fulham agree one-year deal as winger leaves Shakhtar
Fulham have signed Manor Solomon on a one-year deal after the winger used a Fifa rule to suspend his contract with Shakhtar Donetsk. The 23-year-old will now give Silva a new left-winger with Champions League skill after he faced Real Madrid and Inter Milan last season.
Aleksandar Mitrovic (ST): Championship top-scorer must deliver in top-flight
Aleksandar Mitrovic must now deliver for Fulham in the Premier League after producing a record-breaking Championship campaign with 43 goals. The Serbian has previously failed to make the step up to the top-flight, and only scored three goals in 27 games in 2020/21.
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