Fulham fans waited months to see Manor Solomon posing arm in arm with Marco Silva at Craven Cottage, a black-and-white scarf wrapped around his neck.
Now, after the Israel international suffering a knee injury after his debut in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool, patience will once again be required. Solomon, according to The Athletic, could be out of action for several weeks; His stop-start 2022 stalling once again.
Fortunately, with Fulham making progress in their pursuit of two new forwards, it seems unlikely Silva will have offer an olive branch to the out-of-favour Ivan Cavaleiro or Anthony Knockaert. Two players who are not part of his Premier League plans.
Justin Kluivert and Willian could be on their way to Craven Cottage
According to The Standard, Fulham are accelerating their pursuit of Roma’s Dutch international Justin Kluivert. The former Ajax wonderkid could arrive on an £8 million loan-to-buy deal before Saturday’s trip to Wolves.
Like Cavaleiro and Knockaert, Kluivert is training alone, crying out for a fresh start and a new challenge.
And assuming Kluivert will fill Solomon’s place on the left-hand side at the Cottage, then a two-time Premier League champion could step in for the similarly-crocked Harry Wilson on the opposite flank.
Willian’s dreadful spell at Arsenal may be fresh in the memory. But Fulham are reportedly willing to hand the 33-year-old Brazil international the chance to bounce back, with Willian keen on a return to his beloved London after a troubled spell at Corinthians (Goal).
A 30-something attacker on big wages; That is the sort of signing that just screams desperation. But there is method to this perceived madness. Willian, as recently as 2019/20, was one of the division’s most feared forwards at Chelsea. If a footballer of such lavish talent, vision and guile can find some semblance of form, he’d represent a colossal upgrade on the likes of Knockaert, Cavaleiro and the industrious but inconsistent Bobby Decordova-Reid.
Willian produced 39 Premier League assists in Chelsea colours. His wicked deliveries – either from open play or set-pieces – should serve up plenty of opportunities for a ravenous, blood-thirsty Aleksandr Mitrovic.
A potentially relegation-dodging partnership.
A busy end to the window for Fulham
Marco Silva, ahead of Saturday’s opener at Anfield, sparked concern amongst the Fulham fanbase when he highlighted the lack of central defensive options at his disposal.
“We, as a squad, are not ready,” Silva told West London Sport.
“We have 16 senior players in our squad. No-one competes at this level with 16 senior players in your squad. I will tell you one more (thing). No-one can prepare for one season with just two central defenders. We have two central defenders at this level.”
Since then, the Cottagers have signed Shane Duffy on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion. A solid, if not spectacular arrival. Issa Diop should also arrive from West Ham United after a £15 million fee was agreed. Better late than never, right?
A much stronger – and deeper – defence
And Fulham might not be finished there either. According to Tuttomercatoweb, a bid for Galatasaray’s £17 million-rated Denmark international Victor Nelsson is also in the pipeline. Nelsson, a leading target for a Sevilla side looking to replace Jules Kounde, wants to leave his Super Lig employers, as confirmed by Galatasaray’s deputy chairman this week.
It remains to be seen whether Fulham see Nelsson as an alternative to Diop, or someone who would arrive alongside him. Another central defender would certainly do Fulham no harm. Especially when you consider Diop’s worrisome fitness record, and Tim Ream’s perceived lack of top-flight nous.
Sao Paulo’s Luizao and Leicester City misfit Jannik Vestergaard are two more names to keep an eye on between now and September. Ditto Bayern Munich forward Joshua Zirkzee. The rangy goal-poacher, who scored 18 times on loan at Anderlecht last term, would choose join Fulham over Southampton, according to the Evening Standard.
So while Fulham might have approached the new Premier League season with a sense of trepidation, fear could turn to faith if Kluivert, Diop, Willian and co arrive beef up Marco Silva’s carpaccio squad.
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