Fulham have a bit of a habit of starting slowly in the window only to slam their foot down onto the accelerator during the final few weeks.
On the eve of the 2023/24 Premier League campaign, Cottagers boss Marco Silva was happy to tell anyone who would listen that he was presiding over a Fulham squad with more holes than a block of Swiss cheese.
Silva, then, would have been delighted to see three first-team signings – Alex Iwobi, Timothy Castagne and Adama Traore – arrive between mid-August and the start of September.
12 months on, it appears that history could repeat itself. While West London neighbours Chelsea appear to seal a mega-money signing every other day at present, Fulham again seem to be taking the ‘slow and steady wins the race’ approach.
Heading into the first weekend of the season, Fulham had signed only Emile Smith Rowe, Jorge Cuenca and the returning free-agent Ryan Sessegnon.
Three, however, could become five or six pretty quickly.
Fulham set to sign Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen
The former UEFA Cup finalists have brought in Sander Berge from Burnley. HITC have been told that they have made a £12 million bid for Lyon winger Rayan Cherki.
What’s more, an agreement is very close to being struck regarding Joachim Andersen, the popular centre-half who spent the 2020/21 season on loan at Fulham before moving south with Crystal Palace.
HITC understands that Fulham will stump up £30 million for Denmark international Andersen. And while some have described this as a ‘sidewards move’ from the 28-year-old’s perspective, from a Fulham point of view this feels like a terrific piece of business.
A proven, reliable Premier League centre-half. One who is as good as they come on the ball, and who may arguably represent an upgrade on the departed Tosin Adarabioyo.
Former Arsenal, Aston Villa and Portsmouth playmaker Paul Merson – taking to X – describes Andersen as a ‘great signing’ even at such a hefty fee.
Presuming Andersen can replicate the form of his previous spell at Craven Cottage – standing out as an uber-talented squad somehow suffered relegation under Scott Parker – then you won’t find many supporters disagreeing with Merson’s take.
Crystal Palace eye Oliver Glasner fave Maxence Lacroix
HITC have been told that Crystal Palace could move for Maxence Lacroix or Chelsea’s Trevoh Chalobah when Andersen finalises his departure. The latter is out of favour at Stamford Bridge – seemingly suffering the same fate as Raheem Sterling – while the latter has only one year left on his Wolfsburg contract.
Lacroix may also be keen on the idea of reuniting with his former Volkswagen Arena boss Oliver Glasner, having confirmed after April’s 1-0 win at Liverpool that he was still in contact with the Eagles coach.
Ex-Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan, however, has his reservations about Andersen’s sale.
“I can only assume that Glasner doesn’t fancy Andersen because that does not feel like much of a move for Palace,” Jordan tells talkSPORT (21 August, 10am), his beloved Eagles only banking a profit of £12 million for a very reliable performer who could still have a number of years left at the top level.
“They bought him for £20-odd million, they are selling him for £30 million. He’s been a good acquisition. A good player.
“Ultimately, at 28 years of age, players are going for a significant sum of money. I am assuming the manager doesn’t fancy him.
“With due respect to Fulham, it’s a sideways move,” Jordan adds. “It’s not an upwards move for the player performance-wise or economically. It’s not as if he is being lured away to Arsenal or somewhere of that significance.
“My reading of this is that Glasner is not that bothered about Andersen.”
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