Midfielders:

Fulham are definitely in need of reinforcements in the engine room. Harrison Reed had an outstanding season at the heart of Marco Silva’s midfield, but he’s still not a fully fledged creator to carve open defences. Sasa Lukic should be better next term for the experience of playing in the Premier League, but aside from Tom Cairney and Luke Harris, the Whites have little depth in the centre of midfield. Perhaps that’s why social media was set abuzz when Silva was seen in prolonged conversation with Fred following our defeat at Old Trafford last month.

Whether the Brazilian makes his way to SW6 or not remains to be seen and I’ve conjured my own wishlist for Hammyend readers to take a look at.

Defensive midfielders:

Unai Vencedor
Age: 22
Nationality: Spanish
Position: Defensive midfielder
Club: Athletic Club
Value: £13.5m

Bilbao’s golden boy might not totally fit the Silva mould but he’s a classy operator as a midfield anchor. Hand-picked for the academy after starring for Santutxu FC, Vencedor has made well over a hundred appearances for Athletic, helping them win the Supercopa and reach consecutive Copa del Ray finals and won admirers right across Europe. The 22 year-old is under contract at the San Mamés until 2027 unless somebody triggers his £34.25m release clause.

Playing style:
* Hits lofted balls forward
* Likes a long-range shot
* Stays on his feet in the tackle

Strengths:
+ Blocking the ball

Weaknesses;
– Aerial duels
– Tackling

Manuel Ugarte
Age: 22
Nationality: Uruguay
Position: Defensive midfielder
Club: Sporting CP
Value: £21m

The tenacious Uruguayan looked as if he might be calling SW6 home next season, only for Paris Saint-Germain to blow Chelsea out of the water with a big offer for Ugarte. The latest tough tackler set to move on from Sporting, he will be an asset to whoever emerges with his signature this summer.

Playing style:
* Pulls the trigger from long range
* Brings the ball forward
* Draws fouls cleverly
* Prefers to play short passes
* Loves a tackle
* Commits fouls often

Strengths:
+ Tackling
+ Passing
+ Dribbling
+ Interceptions

Weaknesses:
– Difficult to find any

Nicolo Rovella
Age: 21
Nationality: Italian
Position: Defensive midfielder
Club: Juventus
Value: £10.5m

Another gem to emerge from the Juve youth set-up, Rovella reminds many seasoned observers of a young Andrea Pirlo, which is probably one of the hardest comparisons to live up to in Italian football. He has gained senior experience at Genoa and Monza and has demonstrated an exceptional ability to read the game as well as dictate play from a deep-lying midfield position. It remains to be seen what Rovella’s next move is but he has been lauded as ‘the future of the national team’ by Monza manager Raffaele Palladino and the Turin giants could sanction a loan move if they aren’t still sour after Clint Dempsey’s famous chip.

Playing style:
* Hits raking passes forward
* Shoots from distance
* A tenacious tackler

Strengths:
+ Passing
+ Unlocking a defence with a through ball
+ Set-piece specialist
+ Making interceptions

Weaknesses;
– Aerial duels
– Discipline

Wilfred Ndidi

Age: 26
Nationality: Nigerian
Position: Defensive midfielder
Club: Leicester City
Value: £25m

Powerful Nigerian international Ndidi appeared destined for a big move at point, with rumours linking him to Manchester United as well as a coterie of European clubs. Now, he’s looking for a new club after dropping into the Championship with Leicester City after a nightmare season. He shone against Newcastle to show he’s still got it, but those types of performances were too few and far between when the Foxes badly needed their big players to stand up. Would he be worth a punt this summer?

He was a big player who had multiple interests with one of the clubs, Manchester United at one point. I do believe he can get back to his best under a proper manager in Marco Silva, Ndidi x Palihina partnership is mouthwatering.

Playing style:

* Likes to shoot from distance

* Prefers to play short passes

* A strong tackler, who can commit frequent fouls

Strengths:

+ Reading the game and interceptions
+ Winning aerial duels
+ Blocking the ball
+ Tackling

Weaknesses:

– Concentration

Tyler Adams

Age: 24
Nationality: American
Club: Leeds United
Value: £17.5m

The American international had a chastening first taste of the Premier League, struggling to impose himself on proceedings for a struggling Leeds side after the departure of Jesse Marsch at Elland Road. He has been linked with moves to Newcastle and Manchester United this summer, but will need to improve on his discipline as he is partial to a card or two with his occasionally over-zealous tackling. That makes him one to avoid for me, ultimately.

Playing style:

* Shoots from long range
* Picks out a short pass
* Tough tackler who can find himself in the book regularly

Strengths:
+ Passing
+ Aerial duels
+ Tackling
+ Interceptions

Weaknesses:
– Discipline
– Concentration

Ibrahim Sangare

Age: 25
Nationality: Ivorian
Position: Defensive midfielder
Club: PSV Eindhoven
Value: £29.5m

A dominant figure at the heart of the PSV Eindhoven midfield, the Ivorian international has been linked with a move to England for years – reportedly coming close to joining Leicester City on a couple of occasions. Genuinely world class in my view and could be considering his future after the shock of Ruud van Nistelrooy’s resignation, when he apparently stormed to his car in fury.

A world class player in my opinion was linked with Leicester City in recent years but never made the move is now the time for a move to English football.

Playing style:

* Insatiable appetite to win the ball back

Strengths:

+ Tackling
+ Through balls
+ Aerial Duels
+ Passing
+ Dribbling
+ Interceptions
+ Blocks

Weaknesses;

– Concentration

Central midfielders:

Exequiel Palacios
Age: 24
Nationality: Argentinian
Position: Central midfielder
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Value: £13.5m

The Argentinian playmaker appears to have gone a little under the radar despite being a consistent performer of late for Leverkusen. Palacios possesses an excellent range of passing and would probably be a stronger weapon in the final third than Reed, even though the Ginger Iniesta has been remodelled magnificently under Silva.

Playstyle;
* Lines up shots from long range
* Lays the ball off for team-mates
* Wins fouls
* Plays short passes
* Loves a tackle

Strengths:
+ Passing
+ Interceptions
+ Long shots
+ Tackling

Weaknesses:
– Concentration

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
Age: 28
Nationality: Serbian
Position: Central midfielder; attacking midfielder
Club: Lazio
Value: £30m

I had to include him for the Serbian connection that has seen Lukic team-up with Mitrovic. Milinkovic-Savic would be an audacious coup, but he is probably destined for a bigger move than to Craven Cottage. He is set to enter the final year of his deal with Lazio and the Italian giants are rumoured to be ready to accept something in the region of £25m-30m rather than lose him for nothing.

Playing style:
* Wins fouls regularly
* Lays the ball off for team-mates
* Serious set-piece threat

Strengths:
+ Aerial duels
+ Key passes
+ Passing
+ Concentration

Weaknesses;
– None

Nicolas De la Cruz
Age: 25
Nationality: Uruguay
Position: Central midfielder; attacking midfielder
Club: River Plate
Value: £10.5m

Arguably something of a hidden gem plying his trade in Argentina, de la Cruz has helped River Plate win the Copa Argentina, Supercopa, the Copa Libertadores and the Recopa Sudamericana in recent seasons whilst making over 180 appearances for Los Millonarios. Tipped as a talent from an early age, the classy playmaker captained Uruguay to under-20 South American Cup success in 2017 and has gone on to win nineteen caps for his country, scoring two goals.

Playing style:
* Wins fouls frequently
* Prefers to play short passes
* Cuts inside frequently
* Likes to get a foot in

Strengths:
+ Passing
+ Keeping hold of the ball
+ Finishing
+ Key passes
+ Dribbling
+ Long shots
+ Crossing
+ Defensive contribution
+ Tackling

Weaknesses:
– Few and far between

Wendel

Age: 25
Nationality: Brazilian
Position: Central midfielder; attacking midfield; left midfield
Club: Zenit St. Petersburg
Value: £19m

Opting for the Brazilian might seem as if it comes from left field, but Wendel has been a star for Zenit St. Petersburg in recent years, racking up goals and assists – even if the Russian league has become something of a procession of late. Wendel, whose versatility could prove valuable, was also part of the Sporting Lisbon side who ended their title drought in 2021 to cap a strong three years in Portugal.

Playstyle;
* Gets fouled often
* Likes to play short passes
* Does not dive into tackles

Strengths;
+ Passing
+ Through balls
+ Dribbling
+ Holding on to the ball

Weaknesses;
– Aerial Duels
– Finishing
– Tackling