Tim Ream and Neeskens Kebano have been rewarded for their superb form during Fulham’s promotion campaign with contract extensions, according to the Athletic’s Peter Rutzler.
Ream had been tipped to return to the United States this summer with his contract running down but the 34 year-old centre back, who began the campaign deputising for the injured Tom Cairney as captain, was an ever-present through Fulham’s Championship winning season, starting all 46 league fixtures. The St. Louis native is a valued member of the dressing room and will remain in SW6 for a further season, although the Whites are prioritising the recruitment of at least two further centre halves.
Congolese international Kebano has been transformed by a combination of Marco Silva and Luis Boa Morte – producing comfortably his most consistent form in five and half years at Craven Cottage. The tricky winger scored nine goals and added six assists in 40 Championship appearances and will remain as part of Silva’s first-team squad next season.
It’s not necessarily so they can stay, it’s also so that can’t leave for free. Would be happy with both staying though, even if they aren’t starters anymore.
This is not what we want to read. Ream is not EPL standard, he proved it last time and this season has been caught out so many times. Kebano is Ok but again not what we want for the step up. The club just does not learn from past mistakes, add to that the continual mismanagement of academy contracts. Why bother? When contract priorities are for the likes of Ream?
Totally agree our priority is getting players of the right calibre for next season this Smells again of Mr Tony Khan getting involved again pleased for Tim and Neeskens but they are both now squad players and that’s all come on Marco let’s start seeing some positive news about new players for this great club
So they have a resale value so that’s fine. If they end up playing much in the Prem then we’ve misunderstood what we need to survive…again.
If Ream features in our squad next season we are doomed. He is not good enough for the Championship let alone the Premier League. Any other 34 year old non American would be gone – a clear case of favouring one of the owner’s nationals.
I despair.
There are some misguided opinions here, I think. Especially as the season hasn’t even ended yet, so contract renewals are much more likely than new signings.
Ream should not be starting in the Premier League but if he left we’d be left with just Hector and the walking sicknote that is Kongolo. I assume we’ll sign a new CB to start alongside Tosin, but I would much rather retain Ream as a sub than spend money on another Hector or Mawson for the bench. Kebano is similarly not going to start much next season, but he’s a better option than Cavaleiro, Knockaert or Decordova-Reid (or even the likes of Lookman) as a sub. We don’t have much money to spend, why waste it on replacing perfectly serviceable squad players like Ream & Kebano?