Attacking midfielders

Marco Silva is looking for reinforcements in the number ten role with Andreas Pereira looking likely to miss the start of the new season as he recovers from his broken ankle. Tom Cairney filled in admirably in the final weeks of the season, but the skipper is probably more suited to the deeper midfield role, which is also where January acquisition Sasa Lukic has slotted in. Luke Harris has made a handful of senior appearances and it is no surprise that the Whites have been linked with several number tens, including a mooted loan return for Fabio Carvalho.

Christoph Baumgartner

Age: 23
Nationality: Austrian
Position: Attacking midfielder/striker
Club: Hoffenheim
Value: £17.5m.

The Austrian international is rumoured to have a £27.4m release clause in his Hoffenheim contract, which RB Leipzig are reportedly keen on activating. Last season was Baumgartner’s most successful Bundesliga campaign in terms of goalscoring – he found the net seven times and added three assists – as the Sinsheim side finished three points clear of the drop zone. Speculation in Germany suggests the 23 year-old, who scored the goal that took Austria to the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time at Euro 2020 two years ago, may chose this summer to move on after five years with Die Kraichgauer.

Playing style:
* Loves a dribble
* Hits lofted passes
* Cuts inside regularly
* Commits frequent fouls

Strengths:
+ Headed attempts
+ Finishing

Weaknesses:
– Passing

Ludovic Blas
Age: 25
Nationality: French
Position: Central midfielder; attacking midfielder; striker
Club: Nantes
Value: £15.5m

The fleet-footed Frenchman was linked with a move to West Ham last summer and could certainly shine in the Premier League. Versatile enough to play in a conventional central midfield role, out on the left flank, as a number ten or a striker, Blas is supremely technically-gifted and would have the energy to lead Fulham’s high press like Pereira does. He has scored 45 goals – and added nineteen assists – in 159 games since joining Nantes from Guingamp in 2019. He scored the winning goal from the spot against Nice as La Maison Jaune lifted the Coup de France in 2022.

Playing style:
* Plays lofted, long balls
* Loves to drift inside
* Dribbles regularly
* Shoots from long range
* Wins frequent fouls

Strengths:
+ Long shots

Weaknesses:
– Aerial ability
– Tackling

Thiago Almada
Age: 22
Nationality: Argentinian
Position: Attacking midfielder
Club: Atlanta United
Value: £17m.

The Argentinian attacking midfielder has been scouted regularly by a host of European sides since moving to the MLS from Velez Stansfield for a league-record fee last February. Almada, who won the World Cup in Qatar, has been in sensational form for Atlanta, scoring seven goals and making seven more in fifteen MLS appearances this term. The 22 year-old has been lauded as the best MLS player ever and his intelligence both with and without the play would surely see him thrive in England.

Playing style:
* Plays long balls
* Loves to run with the ball at his feet
* Roams inside regularly
* Lays the ball off to team-mates
* Doesn’t dive into tackles

Strengths:
+ Through balls
+ Key passes
+ Dribbling
+ Long shots
+ Passing
+ Holding on to the ball
+ Taking set-pieces

Weaknesses:
– Aerial ability
– Defensive contribution
– Tackling

Oscar

Age: 31
Nationality: Brazilian
Position: Attacking midfielder
Club: Shanghai Port
Value: £6.5m

Fulham had successful last season by bringing a Brazilian veteran who once plied their trade at Stamford Bridge back to the Premier League, so could we reunited Willian with Oscar this summer? Many respected observers felt he had taken the Chinese cash too early when it was announced the gifted Brazilian playmaker had agreed to join Shanghai Port for an Asian transfer record £67m in December 2021. Oscar is only 31 and still possesses that those sensational dribbling skills and a strong first touch – and could be up for a last hurrah in England.

Playing style:

* Plays lofted, long balls
* Leads lightning counter attacks
* Consistent crosser
* Loves to dribble

Strengths:

+ Through balls
+ Key passes
+ Set-piece expert
+ Passing
+ Long shots
+ Finishing
+ Dribbling
+ Crossing

Weaknesses:

Weaknesses;

– Tackling

Charles de Ketelaere

Age: 22
Nationality: Belgian,
Club: AC Milan
Position: Attacking midfielder; right winger; striker
Value: £22.5m

The terrifically talented Belgian attacking midfielder has been linked with a move to the Premier League after enduring a testing first year in Italy. de Ketelaere arrived at AC Milan with expectations sky high after winning three titles in a row with Club Brugge, but he failed to score and registered a solitary assist in 32 appearances for the Rossoneri. Recent Italian reports suggest de Ketelaere’s shocking season was one of the reasons for the departure of technical director Paolo Maldini and the bright Belgian could be on the move permanently or on loan after playing in the European under-21 championships.

He is available for a loan move with Premier League clubs such as Burnley are interested in him.

Playing style:

* Loves to run with the play at his feet
* Hits lofted balls
* Cuts inside often

* Likes to cut inside

Strengths:

+ Dribbling
+ Key passes
+ Keeping possession

Weaknesses;

– No significant weaknesses