Wingers
Fulham have signed more wide men than players in any other position since Tony Khan took charge of the club’s transfer policy in 2016 and the Whites could well be targeting even more wingers this summer. Dan James has returned to Elland Road after his loan spell and it remains to be seen whether we will have another year of Manor Solomon to enjoy at Craven Cottage. Cult hero Neeskens Kebano is out of contract at the end of the month and can Marco Silva conjure up another year of excellence from Willian?
Here are a few suggested additions out wide …
Gustav Isaksen
Age: 22
Nationality: Danish
Club: FC Midtjylland
Position: Right winger
Value: £4.5m
The Hjerk-born wonderkid is set to leave FC Midtjylland this year with a host of top European clubs tracking his availability. The 22 year-old winger won the Danish title in 2020 and helped Midtjylland win the Danish Cup a year later. He has scored 33 goals in 136 appearances – as well contributing eighteen assists – since breaking into the first team aged only eighteen. Isaksen has Champions’ League and Europa League experience, scoring twice against Lazio and also finding the net against Feyenoord this season.
The Hjerk-born wonderkid is set to leave FC Midtjylland this year with a host of top European clubs tracking his availability. The 22 year-old winger won the Danish title in 2020 and helped Midtjylland win the Danish Cup a year later. He has scored 33 goals in 136 appearances – as well contributing eighteen assists – since breaking into the first team aged only eighteen. Isaksen has Champions’ League and Europa League experience, scoring twice against Lazio and also finding the net against Feyenoord this season.
Playing style:
* Rapid
* Loves to run with the ball at his feet
* Dangerous on the break
Strengths:
+ Vision and creativity
+ Makes intelligent runs beyond the opposition defence
Weaknesses:
– Keeping the ball
Jesper Karlsson
Age: 24
Nationality: Swedish
Club: AZ Alkmaar
Position: Left, right winger; second striker
Value: £12.5m
Fulham have already been linked with the Swedish international this summer – although this weekend brings further reports that Manchester United and Lazio are lining up a move for the 24 year-old. Karlsson scored thirteen goals and added eight assists in 33 appearances for AZ Alkmaar, who appear ready to cash in on the man they bought in from Elfsborg three years ago. A regular Eredivisie goalscorer, Karlsson’s versatility can see him operate on either flank or as a striker.
Playing style;
* Likes to cut inside
* Lines up long range shots
* Plays lofted passes
* Consistent crosser
* Likes to cut inside
* Likes to shoot from distance
* Plays the ball off the ground
* Likes to cross
* Doesn’t dive into tackles
Strengths:
Strengths:
+ Long shots
+ Set-piece specialist
+ Finishing
+ Crossing
+ Passing
Weaknesses:
+ Technical ability
+ Defensive diligence
Christian Pulisic
Age: 24
Nationality: American
Club: Chelsea
Position: Right Winger
Value: £25m.
Pulisic probably needs to leave Chelsea for the good his career after only starting nine games in their hilariously dire 2022/23 campaign. Fulham have revived the careers of plenty of former Stamford Bridge stalwarts, with Bjarne Goldbaek becoming a key player in Jean Tigana’s promotion winning side two decades ago, and have also been a happy home for American talent in the past. Could they win a bidding war for the prodigiously-talented Pennsylvanian?
Playing style:
* Wins fouls frequently
* Loves to run with the ball at his feet
* Plays short passes
* Doesn’t dive into tackles
Strengths:
+ Keeping the ball
+ Finishing
+ Long shots
Weaknesses:
– Passing
– Aerial ability
– Crossing
– Defensive work ethic
Lucas Moura
Age: 30
Nationality: Brazilian
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Position: Right winger
Value: £7.5m
Given how Marco Silva got Willian rolling back the years so soon after he cancelled his Corinthians contract, you can see where I’m going with this one, can’t you? Moura will be a free agent at the end of the month, and although his last season at Spurs was far from memorable, he hasn’t become a bad player over night. He’d probably jump at the chance of proving himself again in the Premier League and would fit the profile of winger the Whites are looking for.
Playing style:
* Loves a dribble
* Wins fouls frequently
* Plays short passes
* Lays the ball off for team-mates
Strengths:
+ Aerial ability
+ Key passes
+ Dribbling
Weaknesses:
– Crossing
Kamaldeen Sulemana
Age: 21
Nationality: Ghanian
Club: Southampton
Position: Left winger
Value: £18.5m.
The Ghanaian winger arrived at St. Mary’s in January but struggled to make an impression in his early months in English football – he was far from the only one who appeared inhibited by the grind of what ultimately proved an unsuccessful relegation battle. The 21 year-old, a consistent performer for Nordsjælland and Rennes, showed a tantalising glimpse of his potential in that crazy final day draw against Liverpool – and undoubtedly has the ability to shine in the top flight.
Playing style:
* Likes to dribble
* Likes to play long balls
* Likes to shoot from distance
Strengths:
+ Dribbling
Weaknesses:
– No significant weaknesses
Kerem Aktürko?lu
Age: 24
Nationality: Turkish
Club: Galatasaray
Position: Left winger
Value: £11.5m.
Statement:
Would be a very impactful player coming on from the bench.
Playstyle;
The Turkish international has been a regular source of goals, assists and creativity since breaking onto the domestic scene by scoring 20 goals in 34 games for Erzincanspor in a stunning 2019/20 campaign. He was voted the Super Lig’s best left winger in his second season at Galatasaray, who helped lift the Turkish title in 2021/22. A dangerous dribbler with an ability to score from distance, Aktürko?lu may need to used off the bench initially but has the ability to make an impact in England.
* Gets fouled often
* Likes to cut inside
* Likes to dribble
* Doesn’t dive into tackles
Strengths;
Playing style:
+ Plays lofted, through balls
+ An expert at unlocking defences
+ Loves a shot from long range
+ Likes to dribble
+ Through balls
+ Key passes
+ Long shots
+ Dribbling
Weaknesses:
– Aerial Duels
– Passing
– Keeping possession
– Defensive contribution
Diego Rossi
Age: 25
Nationality: Uruguayan
Club: Fenerbahce
Position: Left winger; right winger; attacking midfielder; striker
Value: £10m
The versatile Uruguayan international has enjoyed a couple of excellent seasons with Fener, who he helped to Turkish Cup success last term, after establishing himself as one of the stars of the MLS during his time with Los Angeles FC. The winger, who can operate right across the forward line and also as a number ten, would provide quality depth in a number of positions and is a serial winner with still untapped potential having won back-to-back titles with Peñarol after breaking into the senior side aged just 17.
Playing style:
* Leads counter attacks with pace
* Plays short passes
* Cuts inside frequently
Strengths* Doesn’t dive into tackles
Strengths;
+ Passing
Strengths:
+ A consistent creator of chances
+ Retaining possession
+ Finishing
Weaknesses:
– Defensive contribution
– Tackling
Tete
Age: 23
Nationality: Brazilian
Club: Shakhtar Donetsk,
Position: Right winger
Value: £21m
Who wouldn’t love a pair of Tete’s on the right flank? The Brazilian winger is in a similar situation to Manor Solomon as he ponders his next move having moved to Leicester after taking advantage of the FIFA ruling to escape the Russian invasion of Ukraine only for the Foxes to go down on a frantic final day. He won back-to-back league titles with Shakhtar as well as the Ukrainian Cup and scored the opening goal before setting up Solomon as the Miners’ stunning Real Madrid in the Champions’ League in 2020. He enjoyed two eye-catching loan spells with Lyon before scoring once in fourteen games at the King Power.
Would love the two Tete’s on the right
Playing style:
* Loves to cut inside
* Consistent crosser
Strengths:
+ Finishing
+ Passing
Weaknesses:
– Aerial ability
Gabriel Strefezza
Gabriel Strefezza
Age: 25
Nationality: Brazilian
Club: Lecce
Position: Right winger
Value: £8.5m
Another brilliant Brazilian with plenty of flair, Strefezza has helped both SPAL and Lecce win promotion to the Italian top flight in recent years and didn’t look out of place in Serie A with the Wolves last season, scoring nine goals and adding seven assists in a strong campaign. He has spent his entire senior career in Italy having come through the Corinthians youth set up and could be a bit of a bargain if the Whites are seeking depth on the right flank.
Playing style:
Playstyle;
* Plays the ball off the ground often
* Long ball specialist
* Wins frequent fouls
* Roams inside
* Shoots from long range
* Tenacious tackler
Strengths:
Strengths;
+ Through balls
+ Tackling
+ Finishing
Weaknesses:
– Holding onto the ball
– Aerial ability
– Passing
