"Disrespectful" – Pundit stunned as Leeds eye new manager to replace Farke

Former England international Carlton Palmer has reacted to a “brilliant” manager being linked with replacing Daniel Farke at Leeds United, calling the situation “disrespectful”.

Corberan linked with replacing Farke at Leeds

The Whites’ start to the season has seen the pressure build on Farke, with the 3-3 draw at home to newly-promoted Portsmouth on the opening weekend immediately leaving some supporters restless.

In fairness to the German, Leeds are still sixth in the Championship, however, and considering how early in the campaign it still is, there is no reason why they can’t climb further up the table as the months pass, having reached the playoff final last time around.

That being said, West Brom manager Carlos Corberan has emerged as a rumoured target for the Whites, with the 41-year-old continuing to shine at the Hawthorns. His Baggies side are top of the league currently and are looking like one of the front-runners to seal automatic promotion to the Premier League, only dropping two points.

Pundit reacts to Corberan to Leeds rumour

Speaking to Football League World, Palmer gave his take on the situation, saying he finds it strange that Leeds would want to replace Farke with Corberan:

“I think it’s disrespectful. Daniel Farke took them to the play-off final and, obviously, people are disappointed that they weren’t promoted last season, but he had a lot of work to do and got 90 points. If he delivers 90 points again this season, they will be promoted.

“Why are they saying that he’s not safe, and who is saying that? Is this coming out of Leeds or is this coming out just from the media? I mean, they’ve played six games, won three games, drawn two. They’ve only lost one game so far. They’re on 11 points and only five points off West Bromwich Albion after six games. So, I find it incredible that we’re even having this conversation.”

West Bromwich Albion manager Carlos Corberan.

This is a tricky situation where it is easy to see both sides of the argument, with Palmer certainly making some fair points about the job Farke is doing at Leeds. Granted, it hasn’t been a perfect start to the season, but sixth place and only one defeat in the league suggests he is doing plenty right.

On the flip side, it could be argued that another manager could be getting even more out of an extremely talented squad, with Corberan’s performance as West Brom manager suggesting he could be a potential upgrade on Farke.

Late last year, Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman heaped praise on the Spaniard, saying: “He’s doing a brilliant job as far as I’m concerned. West Brom are doing better than I expected – I had them somewhere between 8th and 12th, which may still be the case as they’re up against other decent teams. I think Carlos is doing a brilliant job.”

49ers plotting new contract talks for "magnificent" £2.6m-a-year Leeds star

This would be brilliant news for the Whites.

1 ByHenry Jackson Sep 23, 2024

For now, Farke deserves more time to keep proving himself, showing that the only way is up for Leeds this season, but if poor results occur in the coming weeks and months, Corberan could be a superb option to replace him, should he eye a West Brom exit.

Crystal Palace star has become undroppable after just 155 minutes of action

Crystal Palace’s only two wins this season have both come in the EFL Cup, beating Norwich 4-0 and QPR 2-1. Their Premier League season, however, has gotten off to a slower start, losing two and drawing two of their opening four fixtures.

This leaves Oliver Glasner’s side 16th in the Premier League after four games played, on two points, only one point from the relegation zone. However, it is very early days, and Glasner even pulled out a new formation in the second half against Leicester – their most recent Premier League game – deploying a 4-2-2-2 in the second half.

Eberechi Eze celebrates for Crystal Palace

Eberechi Eze and Daichi Kamada played as the attacking midfielders, with the ability to drift wide, but also come narrow, with Adam Wharton and Will Hughes behind them in the double pivot, leaving Jean-Philippe Mateta upfront alongside the Eagles’ new star, a certain Eddie Nketiah.

The striker has made an instant impression at Selhurst Park, moving on from pastures where he was perhaps underappreciated.

Eddie Nketiah at Arsenal

Nketiah came through the ranks at Arsenal, having been released by Chelsea in 2015. The young Englishman made 60 appearances across the various youth levels for the Gunners, scoring 46 goals, providing 11 assists, and totalling 4,349 minutes played.

The striker then spent some time on loan at Championship side, Leeds United, during the 2019/20 season, making 19 appearances for the club where he was rarely selected from the start. He was an impact sub, however, scoring five goals and supplying one assist across 667 minutes.

Nketiah went on to make 168 senior appearances for Arsenal in all competitions, scoring 38 goals and providing seven assists in his 7,000 minutes played. However, having struggled to sustain a starting spot in the Arsenal XI, Alan Brazil claimed the striker was “not good enough” for the Gunners.

A move to Palace certainly made sense then.

Nketiah's move to Palace

The 25-year-old striker will be keen to prove people wrong, securing a £30m move to Crystal Palace this summer, with a £25m initial fee, plus £5m worth of performance-related add-ons.

Nketiah has already opened his account for the Eagles, scoring in Palace’s 2-1 victory over QPR in the EFL Cup. The Englishman played 65 minutes, scoring one goal, having two shots on target, and making one key pass, in a successful evening for his side.

It would appear that Glasner moving into a 4-2-2-2 could be a stroke of genius with it allowing the boss to play with two strikers, something we haven’t seen regularly in a long time in the Premier League.

Mateta and Nketiah boast very contrasting profiles, which could make for a very effective partnership upfront. Here’s what the numbers tell us.

Goals

0.38

0.66

Assists

0.19

0.17

xG

0.37

0.43

Progressive Carries

1.94

1.14

Progressive Passes

1.57

0.98

Total Shots

3.14

1.75

Goals/Shot

0.12

0.34

Shot-Creating Actions

2.24

2.56

Touches (Pen Area)

6.79

4.02

Aerials Won

1.79

1.97

The 6 foot 3, bulky frame of Mateta, and the 5 foot 9, more slender frame of Nketiah, allow them to play off each other, doing different things for the team.

Mateta is more of a hold-up play striker, bringing others into play, winning his duels and aerial battles, before then attacking the box and having the decisive touch (0.66 goals per 90 last season).

Nketiah, on the other hand, can progress play via carrying and passing better than Mateta, take more touches in the penalty area due to his close control, and movement in the box, and offer more assists for the side, averaging 0.19 per 90, compared to the 0.17 of Mateta.

This duo could prove difficult to stop, with a brilliant blend of strength, movement, and finishing ability between them. Let’s see if Glasner takes the punt, and uses the 4-2-2-2 system more often. Based on how Nketiah has fared in his first two games, he should do. The new signing has only played 155 minutes of football for them but is immediately undroppable.

Crystal Palace flop left the club in 2022, now he's outscoring Eze & Mateta

He’s found his goalscoring touch after leaving Selhurst Park.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 13, 2024

Nottingham Forest eye free agent with best in the world defensive metrics

Nottingham Forest could be about to sign a free agent who ranked in the top 20% in all seven of the major defensive metrics last season – the only player in world football to do so.

The Reds continued their impressive start to the new Premier League season by pulling off a shock 1-0 win against Liverpool at Anfield this past weekend, a result that continues their unbeaten run.

Nottingham Forest star now set to miss next 11 games after injury update

He’ll be a big miss for Forest…

ByTom Cunningham Sep 16, 2024 Man City interested in Morgan Gibbs-White

Forest’s start to the season is bound to gather attention, as they are unbeaten in their opening four games of the league season and their players are performing at a very high level. One player who is really impressing and has been for some time now is Morgan Gibbs-White, as he’s continued his fine form from last season into the new campaign. The 24-year-old has scored one goal in four league games, and he has been rewarded with a call-up to the England squad earlier this month, making his debut in the break.

Nottingham Forest player Morgan Gibbs-White

But unfortunately for Nottingham Forest, this may be costly, as it is now being reported that Manchester City are keeping a close eye on Gibbs-White. The report states that the Blues have been compiling a detailed dossier on the midfielder after his impressive performances, and the club’s scouting network are said to be huge admirers.

Apps

84

Goals

12

Assists

18

But while City have their eye on Gibbs-White, the Reds are planning to do some transfer business of their own as they weigh up a move for a free agent.

Free agent defender may join Nottingham Forest

According to HITC, Nottingham Forest are among the teams interested in signing free agent Oumar Solet. The 24-year-old was in the final year of his contract at Red Bull Salzburg, but the Austrian side decided to part ways with the player on Saturday and terminate his contract.

Solet had been with Salzburg since 2020 and was an important figure in the club’s recent success, winning three league titles in four seasons, and he now finds himself without a club but not short of interest. The defender is being eyed by Forest, Aston Villa, Wolves, and West Ham, while there are also teams from around Europe such as Marseille and AC Milan looking at the player.

The 24-year-old was ranked in the top 20% in the top seven major defensive metrics last season; he stood in the 98th percentile for passes completed, 97th for progressive passes, 96th for progressive runs, 89th for aerial win rate and 88th for defensive duel win rate. Furthermore, he was ranked 83rd percentile for defensive actions and 82nd for forward passe rate.

Given those numbers, he may not have to wait long to find his next side. Forest already have Murillo, Morato and Nikola Milenkovic as their first choice trio, but it appears as though Nuno Espírito Santo may want to add one more depth piece in that area of the pitch as they try to continue their solid start to the season.

Club chief wants to attempt to sign "incredible" Man Utd ace post-deadline

Despite the summer transfer window coming to a close in England, Manchester United could still lose one of Erik ten Hag's midfielders amid interest from a European side.

Man Utd transfer news

The Red Devils, on paper at least, can dub this summer a success, having welcomed defensive reinforcements in the form of Leny Yoro, Noussair Mazaroui and Matthijs de Ligt; an attacking addition in Joshua Zirkzee; and a potential solution to their midfield problem in Manuel Ugarte. Arriving on deadline day, the Uruguay international could make an instant impact to end United's Casemiro issue in the middle of the park.

Meanwhile, on the departures front, the Red Devils' two major exits were Scott McTominay and Jadon Sancho, who left for Napoli and Premier League rivals Chelsea respectively.

Jadon Sancho in action for Man United in the Premier League.

However, that could yet change, with Belgium's extended transfer window compared to England's potentially resulting in yet another Old Trafford exit. According to Belgian outlet Het Belang van Limburg (via Sport Witness), Anderlecht CEO Jesper Fredberg now wants to make a "persistent attempt" to sign Christian Eriksen before Belgium's deadline on 6th September.

Eriksen's exit after England's deadline would be quite the twist, of course, given that Manchester United reportedly rejected Real Betis' attempt to sign the Dane on loan late in the window due to his place in Ten Hag's plans.

However, at 32 years old and with just one year left on his current Old Trafford contract, it's now or never for the Red Devils to cash in, potentially presenting Anderlecht with an opportunity to get their man.

With options such as Mason Mount, Casemiro, Ugarte and Bruno Fernandes all ahead of Eriksen in the pecking order, the argument could be made that United are better off cashing in on the veteran midfielder in the coming week.

Man Utd should cash in on "Incredible" Eriksen

There was once a time when many believed Eriksen's career in football was over after his on-pitch collapse at Euro 2020, only for the midfielder to make an extraordinary comeback at Brentford and earn his way back to the top in a move to Manchester United. The Dane has been at the centre of one of football's most admirable stories in the last four years, but it is a story that he can tick off as complete in the Premier League.

At 32 years old, United would be wise to cash in amid Anderlecht's reported attempts, in a move that would see Eriksen become one of the main men one last time in Europe.

The former Tottenham Hotspur star earned the praise of Thomas Frank during his short but impressive Brentford spell. The Bees boss said after Eriksen made his comeback (via talkSPORT): "I would say incredible, I would say the 90 minutes [was] fantastic.

"As I said earlier and in some of the press conferences, it would take him some time to get up to that top level. But you still saw three, four, five top actions, I think the delivery for the first goal, I think there were some balls in behind for his teammates where you could just see 'wow, that’s another level'. But also in situations where he could have done a bit better, done better on the ball, which is good."

Arsenal Monitoring ‘Elite’ £68m Timber Alternative

Arsenal, with their work in the market as flawless as ever, seem to have a readymade alternative should one of their top deals fall through.

What's the latest on Ousmane Diomande to Arsenal?

Although the talks to tempt Jurrien Timber from Ajax are seemingly progressing smoothly, Edu is living up to his reputation as a fine sporting director by ensuring that he is ready should the unthinkable happen and the deal falls through.

As per CaughtOffside, the man they have chosen as his like-for-like replacement is Ousmane Diomande, who has shone as a ball-playing rock at the heart of the Sporting CP defence.

It is said that the defender is far from a priority target, but he is being monitored by other Premier League clubs as well as the Gunners. His £68m price tag will likely put most off though.

Who is Ousmane Diomande?

Whilst currently a little-known name across European football, it is expected that this 19-year-old sensation will soon be recognised by many, as the interest in him seeks to only grow.

Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig has attempted to bring his talents to light on numerous occasions, writing only in May: "Ousmane Diomande. You rarely see a player with such high ball-playing and pure defender skills. There are some tactical improvements but I'm quite sure this kid will play for the best teams in the world. The signs of elite talent."

With just 17 senior appearances to his name for the Portuguese outfit, the Ivory Coast colossus has already announced himself as an integral figure in the future of this club. After all, with a 6.88 average rating in Liga Portugal last term, supplemented through 1.7 clearances and tackles per game, this 6 foot 3 teenager has taken to top-flight football with ease, via Sofascore.

What makes him so desirable is not his experience at such a level already, but his confidence on the ball for someone so young and so physically impressive. For context, only two players in the Arsenal squad last term managed more tackles per match; Thomas Partey and Jorginho.

It is these qualities that make him such a similar player to Timber, who has shone for Ajax in numerous roles. However, when compared to other centre-backs across the eight best leagues outside of Europe's major five, the Netherlands international sits in the top 1% for passes attempted, pass completion, progressive passes and progressive carries per 90, via FBref.

jurrien-timber-arsenal

Diomande has managed to attain similar figures despite boasting far less experience. When compared against the same group, this exciting ace also ranks in the top 1% for passes attempted, the top 3% for pass completion, the top 2% for progressive passes and the top 4% for progressive carries per 90, via FBref.

It is, therefore, no surprise to see Timber listed atop his 'similar players' list too, as if to emphasise their similarities further.

Although the 22-year-old's time at the top of the game far outweighs his counterpart's, with 121 senior appearances for the Amsterdam outfit, Diomande offers a fine alternative should Arsenal fail to secure their ideal man for this role.

Villa could sign £62k-p/w "maestro" this summer

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in a La Liga gem, as Unai Emery looks to bolster his squad ahead of his first full campaign in charge at Villa Park.

The Spaniard will be joined by Monchi, who could deliver the Villans a host of exciting signings this summer if he is to repeat history with his impeccable track record of orchestrating upgrades in the transfer window.

The Midlands side have been linked with a host of talent from La Liga, with several names cropping from Emery’s previous club Villarreal, with the latest link being one of the Yellow Submarines' staple individuals.

What’s the latest on Dani Parejo to Aston Villa?

According to reports in Spain, via Sport Witness, Aston Villa remain a club interested in Villarreal midfielder Dani Parejo.

Last month, Sport Witness relayed further news from Spain that Villa had ‘set their sights’ on the 34-year-old, with the Villans named once more this week as a club that could steer the Spaniard away from signing a new deal with the Yellows.

Barcelona are another club mentioned to be monitoring the midfielder, who will become a free agent next summer should an extension not be agreed.

What could Dani Parejo offer to Aston Villa?

With 457 La Liga appearances, the 34-year-old offers experience in abundance with attributes that cannot be bought in a player that has played at the top level in a formidable career.

Despite being older than most competing among Europe's elite, the Spaniard ended the league season ranked as Villarreal’s second-highest performing player with an average Sofascore match rating of 7.24.

In 37 appearances in La Liga, the former Real Madrid man contributed three goals and four assists, and most importantly demonstrated why he remains as a highly regarded player through his playmaking instincts.

Villa have already confirmed a fellow midfield playmaker this transfer window, with Leicester City ace Youri Tielemans set to join the Villans following the expiry of his contract with the Foxes.

Hailed as a player with the ability to “launch attacks” by former Anderlecht and Belgium gem Paul Van Himst, Tielemans could form a duo powered by their playmaking intel if paired with Parejo.

Averaging 1.4 key passes per game this season in La Liga, the Coslada-born star has recorded 104 career assists to highlight his talents when dispatching the ball and seeking the runs of those around him.

Lauded as a “midfield maestro” by scout Antonio Mango, the 34-year-old maintained a passing accuracy rate of 91% last term, averaging 70.38 attempted passes per 90 showcasing the talents Emery could recruit for his midfield alongside Tielemans.

When comparing the duo via FBref, it’s clear to see what they could bring to any side, with the Belgian averaging 6.95 progressive passes per 90 to Parejo’s 6.85, presenting as two players that excel in dispatching the ball.

Emery could reunite with his former player, with the Spaniard hailing his former coach as being “several steps above” to reinforce the relationship between the two professionals.

Monchi could deliver Villa an experienced master in the middle of the park in the £62k-per-week ace, as a player that could add more than just his impressive exploits on the field to the squad.

Andre Onana Shows Ability On The Ball Amid Man Utd Links

Amid links to Manchester United, fans online have been reacting after a viral video emerged highlighting just how impressive Inter Milan’s Andre Onana is with the ball at his feet.

What’s the latest on Andre Onana to Man Utd?

The Red Devils are competing with Chelsea for the goalkeeper’s signature this summer, according to Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian. And the latest news is that the English club have made a second bid for the goalkeeper worth €50m (£43m) but that’s still not enough to seal the deal.

Despite suffering the heartbreak of a Champions League final defeat against Manchester City, Onana enjoyed a season to remember at Inter Milan last season, as his stock increased once more.

Keeping eight clean sheets in 24 Serie A appearances, Onana also played a key role outside of action in the league, picking up silverware in the Italian Cup and Italian Super Cup last season.

After a successful campaign, the goalkeeper has earned interest from both Manchester United and Chelsea, as per Steinberg. And, with David de Gea’s contract at Old Trafford now technically expired, the number one spot could be available for the first time in a decade.

De Gea’s ability has been questioned in recent times, too, particularly after United’s FA Cup final loss against Manchester City, in which he was potentially at fault for the second Ilkay Gundogan goal. Given recent mistakes, now could be the perfect time for Onana’s arrival.

Statistically speaking, Onana is also better with his feet than De Gea. According to FBref, Onana completed 34.9 passes per-90 last season, whilst De Gea completed just 22.8, half of the amount that Onana managed.

Such is the modern-day need for a top side to play from the back and involve the goalkeeper, too, perhaps swapping De Gea for Onana wouldn’t be such a bad idea for Erik ten Hag, who worked with the Inter number one at Ajax.

The Cameroon shot-stopper’s significant ability on the ball has been further backed up by the video posted on Twitter by @Yung_leslie, which you can see below:

Fans were certainly in awe of Onana’s ability, which is great news for MUFC supporters with their side reportedly in pole position to get a deal across the line.

Here are some of the best reactions below…

He would no doubt be an interesting addition to the Premier League.

Forest: Cooper could sign "impeccable" former PL titan at City Ground

Nottingham Forest are reportedly ready to turn to the transfer window to make reinforcements this summer, as Steve Cooper prepares for another season in the top-flight.

The Red's left it late to confirm their safety, securing three vital points in the penultimate game week to secure their Premier League status.

With the transfer window officially open, a familiar face to the league has appeared as a potential target at the City Ground.

What’s the latest on Romain Saiss to Nottingham Forest?

As reported by Foot Mercato last week, Nottingham Forest remain interested in Besiktas centre-back Romain Saiss.

Forest held interest in the defender in January, and according to the report are still ‘strongly interested’ in the 33-year-old, facing competition from Everton.

A separate report speculated that a price tag of €5m (£4m) is expected from the Turkish giants for their player.

What could Romain Saiss offer Nottingham Forest?

Having made 110 Premier League appearances, the Moroccan is a centre-back with the program to succeed in the English top-tier already installed.

After six seasons at Wolves, the 6 foot 3 defender opted for change and joined Besiktas and now looks set to be on the move again this summer, with Forest hoping to finally secure his signature.

Once lauded as “impeccable” by former international teammate Medhi Benatia, the 33-year-old has enjoyed an emphatic season illuminated by him captaining his country to a fourth-place finish at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Away from his success with Morocco, the £48k-per-week ace has been a monster in defence for Besiktas, winning an average of 59% of his total duels in the Super Lig, making him a promising addition for Forest.

Despite being 33, Saiss could provide worthy competition for the Reds' current central defensive colossus Moussa Niakhate, should he be able to replicate his form playing in the Premier League last season.

romain-saiss-premier-league-nottingham-forest-transfers

When comparing the statistics of the Moroccan last season to the Senegal international this campaign in the league, the numbers suggest that the veteran could come out on top if presented with a chance to shine at the City Ground.

As per FBref, Saiss averaged 1.93 interceptions and 5.26 clearances per 90 at Molineux, with Niakhate falling slightly short in both areas with an average of 1.47 interceptions and 4.64 clearances per 90 this term.

The Moroccan also came out on top in terms of his ability in the air, winning 2.40 aerials to the Senegalese talent’s 1.47 per 90 via FBref, showing the level of authority he could bring to Cooper’s backline.

Praised for his efficiency in the final third, attributable to his six goals scored that season, Saiss could be a shining light in Forest’s system when it comes to transitioning play, as told by his numbers.

As per FBref, the Moroccan averaged a huge 4.56 progressive passes per 90 in the 2021/22 campaign, incomparable to the 1.16 Niakhate averaged per 90 this term, which suggests that he would be a valuable asset in progressive play from the back.

After failed efforts to sign the star in January, only time will tell if Cooper can try his luck once more and secure the signature of the experienced defender.

Middlesbrough: Carrick could lose 28 y/o whiz this summer

After failing to secure promotion to the Premier League, there are doubts about the future of Middlesbrough striker Chuba Akpom according to a report from Football League World.

What is Chuba Akpom's situation at Middlesbrough?

Akpom was the surprise package of the Championship season after being reintegrated into the fold at Boro. Originally the belief was the Englishman would leave after a loan spell to Greek side PAOK Salonika the previous season.

However, injuries and depth issues meant that then-manager Chris Wilder turned to Akpom to lead the line, and the 28-year-old never looked back, especially following the arrival of former Manchester United assistant manager Michael Carrick.

The forward scored 28 goals and assisted two in 40 games in the division, with 24 coming under his new manager, as Middlesbrough finished in fourth place. It earned Akpom a sport in the Championship Team of the Season, whilst he also won both the Golden Boot and Championship Player of the Season.

Soccer Football – FA Cup Third Round – Middlesbrough v Brighton & Hove Albion – Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, Britain – January 7, 2023 Middlesbrough’s Chuba Akpom celebrates scoring their first goal with Jonny Howson Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Despite his incredible form under Carrick, it wasn't enough to fire the club to promotion, with Boro experiencing play-off heartbreak at the hands of Coventry City, losing 2-1 across two legs.

Midway through the season, the former Arsenal man was the subject of interest from a number of clubs including Everton, Southampton and Crystal Palace, according to the Daily Mail, however, the northeast outfit exercised the one-year extension clause in the player's contract, taking his current deal to the summer of 2024.

Will Chuba Akpom leave Middlesborough this summer?

Football League World reports that the Boro striker will be 'gettable' this summer when it comes to a transfer as the club will not want to risk losing the player for free following the expiry of his contract next summer.

Middlesbrough forward Chuba Akpom.

Due to missing out on promotion, it is reported that Middlesbrough will have to sell players this summer in order to fund Carrick's transfers this summer, much like their situation from the previous summer, which resulted in the sales of Marcus Tavernier to Bournemouth and Djed Spence to Tottenham Hotspur.

According to Alan Nixon on Patreon, the contract extension that was triggered in January does very little to secure the striker's long-term future at Boro, with the Championship side set to demand a fee of £15m, to part ways with their Player of the Season, who was hailed as "remarkable" by journalist Oluwashina Okeleji for his domestic exploits this term.

If Carrick and co were to lose the former Arsenal youngster, then it would certainly be a massive blow to their chances of going one better next season. Of course, his goals would leave behind a major void but as Boro's highest-rated player, per WhoScored figures, his influence right across the frontline will be felt, having also ranked second for dribbles per game and fifth for key passes per game too.

It is expected that the majority of clubs that held an interest in the 28-year-old will return this summer, and Akpom may well get his chance at the Premier League level for the first time in his career.

Fulham: Whites Planning Move For International Star

Fulham are now plotting a move for Wolfsburg star Patrick Wimmer off the back of his "hugely impressive" season in the Bundesliga, according to reports.

Who could Fulham sign this summer?

Marco Silva, after guiding the Whites through an impressive first campaign back in the Premier League, will be looking to strengthen in key areas and ensure his side's solid position.

It was arguably a season to remember for Fulham, who even finished above west London rivals Chelsea in the table and secured safety very, very comfortably and with many games to spare.

They were even contending for a place in Europe over a significant period of 2022/2023, but were ultimately beaten to the punch by Liverpool, Brighton and Aston Villa.

Fulham must build upon last season's efforts and reports suggest they intend to do exactly that, with FC Porto midfielder Mateus Uribe and Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek linked in the last few months.

Fulham manager Marco Silva.

This comes as star midfielder Joao Palhinha attracts interest from a host of top clubs, including Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Man United.

Gil Vicente striker Fran Navarro is also a player of interest to Fulham, while Man United duo Harry Maguire and Fred have been mentioned in parts as well.

Now, according to Football Insider, there appears to be a new target in the frame as Silva's side take a real interest in Wolfsburg star Wimmer – who has been "hugely impressive" this season.

It is believed Fulham are "plotting a move" for the Austria international and have him down as a concrete target, with officials being sent to run the rule over him on multiple occasions.

Wimmer won't leave the Bundesliga side unless they receieve a "strong bid", but according to this report, they'r expecting offers to come in the weeks ahead.

Who is Kevin Wimmer?

The 22-year-old was a star player for Wolfsburg over 2022/2023, having made more key passes per 90 than any of his teammates in the German top flight (WhoScored).

Wimmer also completed more successful take-ons per 90 than any other Wolfsburg player except Omar Marmoush, highlighting his real quality in the forward areas (WhoScored).

He finished last season with more assists than any Wolfsburg player, too, racking up 12 goal contributions (four goals and eight assists) in the Bundesliga alone.

It's hardly surprising that, with numbers like these, Fulham are now taking a real interest in his potential signing for Silva.

Game
Register
Service
Bonus