It is no secret that Fulham are looking at centre back as an area in need of strengthening over the summer. Shane Duffy’s departure for Norwich and the talks between Tottenham and Tosin Adarabioyo mean it would be managerial malpractice were the Whites not considering spending on a central defender in the close season as they prepare for another Premier League season. You could argue it would be necessary without any outgoings as surely Tim Ream can’t keep up his impressive displays forever. A left-sided centre half is certainly a must.

Os Três Mosqueteiros – The Three Musketeers; Igor Julio, Roger Ibañez and Morato

Igor Julio                                    

Age: 25

Height: 1.85m/6’1

Foot: Left

Nationality: Brazilian

Club: Fiorentina

Value: €11 Million

Roger Ibañez

Age: 24

Height: 1.86m/ 6’1

Foot: Right

Nationality: Brazilian

Club: Roma

Value: €30 Million

Morato

Age: 22

Height: 1.92m/6’3

Foot: Left

Nationality: Brazilian

Club: Benfica

Value: €13 Million

Comparison between the three center backs (League Stats ONLY)

2022/23	Igor Julio	Roger Ibañez	Morato
Appearance	23(4)	32(1)	7(2)
Minutes	2060	2797	648
Goals	0	3	1
Assists	0	0	0
Yellow	8	9	2
Red	1	1	0
SpG	0.3	0.9	0.4
Total	0.3	0.9	0.42
Pass Success %	88%	88%	90%
AvgP	48.6	49.8	65.52
LongB	3.4	2.6	–
ThrB	–	0.1	–
Key Passes	0.1	0.2	–
Tackles	1.6	2	1.25
Fouls	1.1	1.3	1.34
Fouled	0.5	1.5	1.34
Interceptions	0.9	2	–
Blocks	0.5	0.3	0.69
Clearance	2	2.8	2.64
Offside	0.7	0	0
Aerials Won	1.4	1.8	2.64
Bad Control	0.3	0.8	–
MoTM	0	1	0
Rating	6.47	6.87	6.34

Comparison between the linked players and the current players at the club

2022/23	Ibañez	Tim Ream	Issa Diop	Tosin	Igor Julio	Morato
Appearance	32(1)	33	21(4)	23(2)	23(4)	7(2)
Minutes	2797	2899	2009	2084	2060	648
Goals	3	1	1	1	0	1
Assists	0	0	0	0	0	0
Yellow	9	2	2	4	8	2
Red	1	0	0	0	1	0
SpG	0.9	0.1	0.1	0.6	0.3	0.4
Total	0.9	0.1	0.1	0.6	0.3	0.42
Pass Success %	88%	87%	87.1%	82.4%	88%	90%
AvgP	49.8	57.6	55.8	51.4	48.6	65.52
LongB	2.6	4.2	2.4	3.6	3.4	2.1
ThrB	0.1	–	–	0.1	–	–
Key Passes	0.2	0.1	0.1	0.2	0.1	–
Tackles	2	0.9	1.1	1.2	1.6	1.25
Fouls	1.3	0.5	0.6	0.7	1.1	1.34
Fouled	1.5	0.2	0.3	0.2	0.5	1.34
Interceptions	2	1.2	1.4	1	0.9	0.8
Blocks	0.3	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.5	0.69
Clearance	2.8	3.4	3.4	5.5	2	2.64
Offside For	0.2	0.7	0.6	1	0.7	0.6
Offside Against	0	–	0.1	0.1	–	–
Aerials Won	1.8	1.5	1.3	2.4	1.4	2.64
Bad Control	0.8	0.5	0.4	0.2	0.3	0.2
MoTM	1	1	0	0	0	0
Rating	6.87	6.68	6.65	6.72	6.47	6.34

Data Per 90 minutes

A more in depth defensive stats of the linked players and current players at the club

2022/23 league stats	Ibanez	Igor	Morato	Ream	Diop	Tosin
Passes Attempted	1644	1252	489	1923	1402	1170
Passes per AVG 90 Mins	51.54	55.97	65.52	57.98	61.81	53.58
Pass Completed	1466	1102	442	1654	1215	966
Passes %	88%	88%	90%	87%	87.1%	82.4%
Interceptions Completed	68	25	7	41	35	26
Clearances Completed	92	52	18	112	86	138
Aerial Battles Won	60	39	19	48	33	59
Tackles Attempted	83	49	11	43	40	29
Tackles Completed	67	42	9	30	28	30
Tackle Success %	81%	86%	82%	70%	65%	90%

Playstyles, Strengths and Weaknesses

2022/23	Igor	Ibanez	Morato
Playstyle	Likes to have the ball at this feet	Commits fouls often	Likes to make forward run
Strengths	Physical Dribbling Long-range passing	Passing Ball interception 1v1 Cover Positioning Physical	Composure Long-range passing Player awareness Ball interception Passing Dribbling Physical
Weaknesses	Awareness Positioning Too Confident	Communication Concentration Awareness	Concentration Too Confident

Igor Julio, the first player linked out of the three and initially the Cottagers’ main target. He looked the most likely to join until we identified an alternative in his companion Roger Ibanez from Roma. Conflicting reports leave us nowhere nearer knowing whether Igor Julio remains high up the Fulham target list. He had an impressive season with Fiorentina having finished 8th in the league and making the final of the UEFA Conference League. Igor would command a lower fee compared to others as he enters the final year of his contract of his contract, with Fiorentina apparently willing to cash in.

It would be unfair to judge the defender on the back of the Viola’s last-gasp defeat in the UEFA Conference League final. One moment, where he might have brought down Jared Bowen, doesn’t give us the full story of what type of player Igor is.

On the back of the loss in the final of the Conference League he was harshly judge by Fulham fans due how he allowed the scorer to get through. One game doesn’t make up the type of player he is.

According to Whoscored He is ranked in the top three defensive asset for his club. He registered a top ranking for tackles made (49), interceptions (25) and clearances (52) completed per 90 in the Italian top flight. He was Fiorentina’s most selected players last season, ranked 3rd for Passing Succession % at the club while sitting second for Blocks.

Roger Ibanez was Roma’s best defensive asset last season – and Fulham would jump at the chance of signing him if, as it seems, Jose Mourinho is looking to revamp his own rearguard ahead of the forthcoming Serie A season. Silva is rumoured to eyeing a more natural combination at the heart of his back four having had to play Issa Diop on the left side of his central defensive partnership late last season: to that end, Fulham have been linked with Wolfsburg’s Bornauw and the former Everton defender Yerry Mina.

So why Ibanez? Firstly, he is versatile and can play on either side of the defence. He is fast, he is strong and very difficult to get past. The tall centre half is also comfortable with the ball at both of his feet. Ibanez is also a technically accomplished defender in the mould of Thiago Silva and Leonardo Bonucci, to whom he has been compared during his time in Italy. He can carry the ball forward, with a good eye for a pass and likes to play in a high line, which is something Silva clearly wants to do.

League Ranking between Igor and Ibanez

League Rankings 2022/23	Igor	Ibanez
Yellow Cards	35th	25th
Passing Attempted	80th	35th
Passing Completed	69th	23rd
Passing Succession %	35th	36th
Tackles Attempted	135th	42nd
Tackles Completed	88th	25th
Fouls committed	108th	26th
Interceptions Completed	79th	2nd
Blocks Completed	65th	84th
Clearance Completed	76th	18th
Aerial Duels Won	67th	44th

On paper, Ibanez is far the better player and it clear why he is the first choice. Fulham getting Ibanez will be the true statement of what directions we are taking as a Football Club. We planning not just to stay in the League but to finally bring back Europa football under the cottage lights something fans have truly missed. I wouldn’t necessary rule out moves for Igor and Morato as they both offer something else compared to Ibanez. Morato is still young and despite not playing as many games as the other two options he looks like a future leadership player, a definite upgrade on Tosin and Ream. It will be exciting to see what directions we take with these three Brazilians. I wouldn’t dismiss the possibility to have all three at the club but the cost will not be in our best option.

Who would you take and why?