Kieran turns his attention to who may help Marco Silva supplement his defensive resources as Fulham prepare for their second season in the top flight for the first time in more than a decade.

Right Back

The Whites will be looking for a right back with the potential to break into the first team after the rather disastrous acquisition of Kevin Mbabu, even if the Swiss international did provide a peach of cross for Aleksandar Mitrovic to beat Brentford back in August. Here are five possibilities to push King Kenny Tete all the way.

Matheuzinho
Age: 22
Nationality: Brazilian
Club: Flamengo
Value: £6.5m

A brilliant Brazilian full back who appears cut from the same cloth as Tete. Offensively minded, Matheuzinho is an excellent creator of chances along the right flank and has the rapid pace required to fly up and down the wing. He seems tailor-made to thrive under Silva if Fulham can lure another young talent away from Flamengo.

Playing style:
* Attacking full-back who loves to get into the opposition’s final third

Strengths;
+ Crossing
+ Pace
+ Quick feet
+ Heading
+ Tackling
+ Awareness

Weaknesses:
– Can overplay at times
– Aggression.

Sergiño Dest
Age: 22
Nationality: American
Club: FC Barcelona
Value: £10m

How about two American international full backs at Craven Cottage rather than just Mr. Robinson? Dest appears destined to leave Barcelona this summer but the Catalonians have yet to receive an offer for the 22 year-old, who endured a desperately disappointing loan stint at AC Milan – making only fourteen appearances – last term. The former Jong Ajax graduate has pedigree and Champions’ League experience and could be a cut-price option with Barcelona looking to raise funds.

Playing style:
* Likes to dribble
* Plays short passes

Strengths:
+ Keeping hold of possession
+ Passing
+ Dribbling
+ Concentration

Weaknesses:
– Crossing
– Aerial duels
– Finishing
– Defensive diligence

Gonzalo Montiel

Age: 26.
Nationality: Argentinian
Club: Sevilla.
Value: £10m

This is an ambitious one as Sevilla would require some persuading to part with the spot-kick specialist who helped his country win the World Cup and his club claim another Europa League title from twelve yards in the past seven months. The Argentinian international has been heavily linked with a move to England in the past and was the subject of several attempts to lure him to Serie A after his World Cup success. Sevilla usually move on at least one star each summer – so it could be worth an optimistic enquiry.

Playing style:

* Plays short passes
* Stays on his feet

Strengths:
+ Key passes
+ Blocking the ball

Weaknesses;
– Tackling
– Discipline

Matt Doherty

Age: 31.
Nationality: Irish.
Club: Atletico Madrid.
Value: Free

The former Wolves wing-back would welcome a return to England after being released by Atletico Madrid, having failed to impress Diego Simeone. Doherty, who also struggled at Spurs after leaving Molineux, played just sixteen minutes in Spain and is now seeking to revive his career. Fulham have had success with experienced free agents in recent times (think Willian) and appear to have dropped the no new signings aged 28 rule that used to govern their recruitment. The Irish international was a forward-thinking right back at Wolves and could provide real competition for Tottenham.

Playing style:

Playing style:

* Attacking full back who doesn’t dive into tackles

Strengths:

+ Aerial Duels
+ Passing
+ Key passes
+ Interceptions

Weaknesses:

– One-on-ones

Central defenders

The Whites will need at least two centre backs with Tim Ream recovering from his fractured arm and doubts about Tosin Adarabioyo’s future. Further cover could even be necessary after the departure of Shane Duffy at the end of his short-term deal. Balance will be vital as Issa Diop looked more than a little uncomfortable deputising for Ream on the left side of central defence.

Gonçalo Inácio
Age: 21
Nationality: Portuguese
Club: Sporting CP
Value: £20m

Could Marco Silva raid Sporting for a second successive summer? Inácio has already amassed extraordinary experience for a 21 year-old and enjoyed a dream breakthrough in the first team as the Lions ended their nineteen year title drought by winning the Primeira Liga in 2021. The left-footed centre half helped Sporting to back-to-back Taca de Liga trophies and has made 119 senior appearances for the club. He made his senior debut for Portugal in Roberto Martinez’s first game in charge – a comfortable win over Liechtenstein in March, where he was paired with a certain Joao Palhinha in central defence during the second half. Plenty of clubs covet the ball-playing youngster, who has spoken before of a desire to test himself in England.

Playing style:
* Ball-playing centre back

Strengths:
+ Passing
+ Concentration

Weaknesses:
– Aerial Duels

Mario Hermoso

Age: 27
Nationality: Spanish
Club: Atletico Madrid,
Value: £16m

Hermoso was apparently close to joining Nottingham Forest on loan in January and could well be on the move this summer as he enters the final year of his current contract at the Wanda Metropolitano. A cultured graduate of the Real Madrid academy, the 27 year-old left-sided defender has made 129 appearances since joining Atleti from Espanyol four years ago. He was an integral part of Diego Simeone’s La Liga winning side in 2019/20 but has dropped down the pecking order since – although he featured far more regularly in the second half of last season. A reliable centre half with the ability to deputise at left back, the Spanish international could prove an excellent addition.

Playing style
* Can play raking forward balls
* Comfortable with the ball at his feet
* Penchant for dribbling

Strengths:
+ Keeping possession
+ Passing

Weaknesses:
– Crossing
– Discipline

Igor Zubeldia

Age: 25
Nationality: Spanish,
Club: Real Sociedad
Value: £20m

Any side seeking to tempt Zubeldia away from the Anoeta will need to show La Real the money after the 25 year-old put pen to paper on a new deal last summer. The Sociedad academy graduate, who signed for the White and Blues aged eleven, initially broke into the senior squad as a defensive midfielder but has become a fixture at centre back. Zubeldia, who won the European under-21 championship with Spain four years ago, has passed 200 senior appearances for the club and was a key part of the side that won the Copa del Ray in 2020. Interestingly, the Azkoitia native has been learning English to prepare for a potential move.

Playing style:
* Plays short passes
* Will commit tactical fouls

Strengths;
+ Concentration

Weaknesses;
– Can over play at the back on occasion

Nino
Age: 26
Nationality: Brazilian,
Club: Fluminense,
Value: £7m

Perhaps Nino is the archetypal Brazilian centre back, with a penchant for passing, and excellent reading of the game. He has been a key figure for Fluminese, whom he joined initially on loan from Criciúma in 2019 before signing permanently the following year. He assumed the club captaincy last season and has won consecutive Carioca championships. He played every minute of Brazil’s Olympic Games success in 2020 – helping his country win their second gold medal – and was on standby for the senior side before last year’s World Cup.

Playing style:
* Plays out from the back – preferring short passes

Strengths:
+ Passing
+ Concentration

Weaknesses:
– None

Vitão
Age: 23, Foot: Right, Nationality: Brazilian, Club: Shakhtar Donetsk, Value: €7 Million

This Brazilian centre back could be on the move this summer as he is in a similar situation to Manor Solomon. Vitão returned to his homeland to join Internacional on loan from Shakhtar following the FIFA ruling and will be an attractive proposition to plenty of suitors this summer given his attributes as versatility as the 23 year-old is comfortable in central defence, at right back or as a defensive midfielder. He mixes excellent reading of the game with real physicality and several English sides have been scouting him this year.

Playing style:

* Keen on clearing the ball from defence.

Strengths;
+ Passing
+ Tackling
+ Pace
+ Concentration
+ Marking
+ Natural fitness
+ Aggression
+ Interceptions
+ Aerial duels.

Weaknesses;
– No significant weaknesses

Tiago Djaló
Age: 23
Nationality: Portuguese
Club: Lille
Value: £13.75m

Marco Silva will know Djaló well from his time with Sporting, where he was a highly-rated member of the Lions’ youth set up when the Fulham boss was in charge of the senior side. The 23 year-old started seventeen games as Lille landed the Ligue 1 for the first time a decade and then starred as they beat Paris Saint-Germain to win the Trophee des Champions in Tel Aviv the following August. The Amadora-born defender scored twice in 25 league appearances this season and is reportedly on the radar of a number of continental clubs as heads into the final year of his contract.

Playing style
* Confident in possession

Strengths:
+ Passing
+ Tackling

Weaknesses:
– Aerial duels

Edgar Gonzalez
Age: 26,
Nationality: Spanish
Club: Real Betis
Value: £8.5m

I believe the Spanish enforcer Edgar Gonzalez would be a real Marco Silva type signing as a no-nonsense sort of centre half.
Part of Los Verdiblancos side that won the Copa del Ray last season, the right-sided centre back got his footballing education at Cornelia and Espanyol before joining Betis five years ago. He has become a first team regular since a strong loan spell in the second tier with Real Oviedo and can also operate as a defensive midfielder.

Playstyle;
* Likes to play short passes
* Clears the ball out of defence often

Strengths;
+ Passing
+ Tackling

Weaknesses;
– None

Igor Julio

Age: 25
Nationality: Brazilian
Club: Fiorentina
Value: £10m

The cultured Brazilian centre back has been a star since being brought into the Fiorentina starting line-up by Vincenzo Italiano after the World Cup. Julio starred as I Viola reached the Europa Conference League final and has already been linked with a possible move to Craven Cottage. He has been told he can leave Fiorentina this weekend and the Whites are the front runners for his signature.

Playing style:

* Comfortable in possession

Strengths:

+ Physically strong
+ Dribbling
+ Long-range passing

Weaknesses:

– Awareness
– Positioning
– Occasional over-confidence

Left back

Confirmation yesterday that Joe Bryan will be leaving the club at the end of the month means Fulham will be seeking cover for Antonee Robinson at left back. The new arrival will need to prove more successful that the injury-prone Layvin Kurzawa.

Nuno Tavares

Age: 23
Nationality: Portugal
Club: Arsenal
Value: £15.5m

The Portuguese link means Silva would be aware of ex-Benfica left back and he could be a low-cost squad filler potentially on loan, but I prefer some of the other names on the list as a possible challenger to Antonee Robinson. The former Portuguese under-21 international enjoyed an encouraging loan spell at Marseille last season and could be available again.

Playing style:
* Likes to dribble along the left flank

Strengths;
+ Dribbling

Weaknesses;
– Concentration
– Aerial duels
– Retaining possession
– Tackling

Angelino
Age: 26
Nationality: Spanish
Club: RB Leipzig
Value: £11.5m

Plenty of Premier League sides are reportedly keen on bringing the former Manchester City youngster back to England. Angelino would qualify as a homegrown player under both the Premier League and UEFA rules and has shone in Germany, with his adventurous play from left back allied with excellent crossing ability. The Spaniard could also slot in as a winger as well.

Playing style:
* Loves to get crosses in
* Plays lofted, forward balls
* Stays on his feet

Strengths;
+ Crossing
+ Key passes
+ Set-piece specialist

Weaknesses;
– Aerial duels
– Tackling

Alfonso Pedraza
Age: 27
Nationality: Spanish
Club: Villarreal
Value: £12.7m

Pedraza is every inch the modern full back: he began his career as a winger and still relishes going forward from left back and can whip in a good cross. He’s developed into a diligent defender and has experience of English football, having made seventeen appearances during a 2017 loan spell with Leeds. Pedraza, who helped Villarreal win the Europa League in 2021, had loan stints with Alaves and Betis in recent campaigns but made 29 appearances in all competitions as El Submarino Amarillo finished fifth in La Liga last term.

Playing style:
* A keen dribbler
* Looks for short passes
* Loves to cross
* Stays on his feet

Strengths:
+ Key passes
+ Dribbling
+ Interceptions

Weaknesses:

– Retaining possession under pressure

Zaidu Sanusi
Age: 25
Nationality: Nigerian
Club: FC Porto
Value: £8.7m

Fulham failed to meet Porto’s valuation for the Nigerian international last summer but they could try again this year as the Financial Fair Play picture is far brighter now that the 2018 spending splurge has disappeared from the calculations. The cultured left back has spent his entire senior career in Portugal, winning the league and Cup double with Porto in 2022, but he made only eighteen league appearances under Sérgio Conceição this season as the Dragons were pipped to the title by Benfica.

Playing style:
* Looks for options on the ball

Strengths:
+ Passing
+ Keeping possession
+ Concentration

Weaknesses;
– Tackling

Borna Sosa
Age: 25
Nationality: Croatian
Club: VfB Stuttgart
Value: £12m

The Croatian international has a host of English admirers having been linked with Leeds United, Aston Villa, Manchester United and Arsenal over the past year. Sosa, once again one of the most consistent crossers in the Bundesliga last season, looks set to leave Stuttgart this summer having reportedly said goodbye to his team-mates last week amid rumours linking him with a move to Tottenham before the appointment of Ange Postecoglou. He would be a serious signing as he is much more consistent with his deliveries than Robinson.

Playing style:
* Loves to cross
* Favours a long-range shot
* Doesn’t dive into tackles

Strengths:
+ Crossing
+ Key passes
+ Set-piece specialist
+ Passing
+ Keeping possession

Weaknesses:
– Finishing
– Defensive decision-making
– Tackling

Caio Henrique

Age: 25
Nationality: Brazilian
Club: AS Monaco
Value: £18m

I’m not afraid to admit that Caio Henrique is a firm favourite of mine. I’d have him as one of the most underrated left backs in world football, even though he contributed ten assists with Monaco last term. He managed 13 assists in 49 games in 2021/2022 and fits the profile of an adventurous full-back who comes alive in the final third. Aleksandar Mitrovic would thrive on Henrique’s quality of service, but the problem will be winning the race for the Brazilian’s signature.

Playing style:

* Loves to get forward
* Lofts in consistently high-quality crosses

Strengths:

+ Key passes
+ Set-piece specialist
+ Crossing
+ Keeping possession
+ Passing
+ Blocking the ball
+ Concentration

Weaknesses:

– Aerial duels