Fulham manager Jean Tigana has pledged to keep spending even if Steve Marlet arrives at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
The Premiership newcomers are waiting on the outcome of intensive talks between the French international, his representatives and Lyon officials before learning whether their latest £13m offer will be enough to fill Fulham’s vacant number nine shirt. Tigana, frustrated by his side’s failure to score at the weekend despite making all the running against defensively-minded Derby County, insisted even success in the pursuit of Marlet would not prevent him from splashing the case again.
Tigana told the Evening Standard:
But even the arrival of Marlet would not put an end to Fulham’s spending.
“At this moment my priority is to take the good young English players, who are aged between 14 and 17, and to build for the future. But also I want to buy three of four more players for the squad who have experience. And, of course, if I have the opportunity, I will also buy young players like Jon Harley.
“We have been unfortunate at the start of the season to lose Lee Clark because of injury and Rufus Brevett and Luis Boa Morte because of suspension. If Louis Saha had also got injured we would have had a big problem. It shows why we must have a big squad.
When we went to Old Trafford, Manchester United had very good players, not only on the bench but also in the stands. Such as Dwight Yorke and Roy Keane. Liverpool and Arsenal also have big squads like this.”
Tigana referenced the comments of United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez following Fulham’s 3-2 defeat at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the season as a reason why he is still seeking to spend big after the start of the season.
“Fabien Barthez, the United keeper, said to me that he was very impressed with Fulham. But my main concern was that we could have scored more goals. Now we are in the Premiership we must take any chances we can make. At the top level, if you have two or three chances you must score immediately. That is what the top players in this league will always do.”
