Fulham should prioritise Mitrovic and Targett this summer

Follow us on Google Discover

Aleksandar Mitrovic was a key player for Fulham while on loan.

According to a report by Sky Sports, Fulham are keen on giving five players who joined the club last season on loan permanent deals this summer following their promotion to the Premier League.

The report names Newcastle United’s Aleksandar Mitrovic, Chelsea duo Lucas Piazon and Tomas Kalas, Southampton’s left-back Matt Targett and Brighton and Hove Albion’s Oliver Norwood.

The Whites were in stunning form during the second half of the season and they deservedly won promotion to the Premier League, defeating Aston Villa 1-0 in the play-off final at Wembley.

Their transfer business in January and the addition of players on loan certainly played its part in Fulham’s promotion, and now the club should be pressing to make the necessary additions ahead of next term.

But of the five players who joined on loan, only two of them really took Fulham to the next level, and that is why they must prioritise signing both Mitrovic and Targett on permanent deals over the other three.

Mitrovic managed to score 12 goals in 20 games in all competitions for Fulham, but it was his presence and ability to link up with his teammates that ultimately made him such a key component.

The Serbia international may end up costing the west London side a fair whack this summer, but he would be totally worth it as his presence is vital in making Slavisa Jokanovic’s system work.

The other key loan signing was left-back Targett, as his inclusion allowed Fulham to push Ryan Sessegnon into a more attacking position where he could make a telling difference in the final third.

Sessesgnon assisted Tom Cairney for the only goal in the play-off final, while the 17-year-old wonder-kid managed 15 goals over the course of the campaign.

The other three, while playing a part, were not key members and can be replaced with other additions, but Mitrovic and Targett were the two final pieces of the promotion jigsaw and signing them now would give Fulham a much better shot at Premier League survival next term.