How Do Fulham Go About Selling Muniz, Should Taremi Replace Rodrigo?

Like it or lump it, all roads lead to Burgamo. Muniz has said his Motspur Park goodbyes; all roads lead to Rodrigo Muniz departing Fulham. It’s a shame – I feel Muniz is on the cusp of putting it all together as Fulham’s talismanic number nine this campaign – but Muniz, unlikely to sign a long-term deal at the Cottage, has Rodrigo’s Bergamo demands leaving Fulham with no real choice. Fulham have to sell. So, how do Fulham proceed with the sale of their samba striker? Is Medhi Taremi the right man to take up Muniz’s number nine mantle?

How Do Fulham Proceed With Muniz’s Sale

Fulham must hold firm on their £50m valuation – not a penny less. Fulham are well within their rights to charge top dollar for a developing number nine entering the prime of their career. Atalanta sold star striker Mateo Retegui for €68M; if the Bergamese side want their man, they’ll pay the fee Fulham desire.

The Lombardy side are forcing Marco Silva and co. to enter a high-stakes striker market. At this stage in the window, clubs inflate prices of players being headhunted, especially strikers. Clubs in ownership of centre-forwards the Whites bid for will be no different. Other sides will sense our desperation – so should Fulham with Atalanta. Don’t forget, they are in the same predicament as London’s Original.

Is Taremi the Solution to Fulham’s Muniz Void or Another Raul-Like Cut-Price Stopgap?

The similarities to Raul’s transfer don’t stop at just being an ageing, cut-price striker. In 23/24, Jiménez was sold to the fans as a secondary striker acquisition in the wake of another talismanic Fulham nine’s departure, with a big-money signing also promised. Taremi will follow suit. Despite suggestions of Medhi being introduced as the precursor to a major striking buy, I very much doubt that Medhi Taremi will be Silva’s third-choice centre-forward in the upcoming campaign.

In answer to, “Is Medhi Taremi the Answer?” – it is to an unambitious football club. Bringing in the Iranian international does have his merits. In an inflated striker market, like Raul two years ago, Taremi allows Tony Khan a cut-price, low-risk option up front, but that isn’t how Fulham should look to replace a player Marco Silva was so desperate to keep. Now Fulham have recouped £140M in player sales in the past three seasons, accounting for Flamengo’s 25% sell-on clause via Mitrovic, Palhinha, Stansfield, and Muniz, there is no excuse to do anything but begin to bring players in that fit the criteria of being good players Marco Silva can make great for years to come.

Taremi doesn’t do so. Will Marco get Medhi scoring? I’m sure he will – he fits the billing of what Marco Silva has been given at striker down to the minute detail. I can see Raul and Taremi combining next season for 20-ish goals, no problem. But, question: does Taremi fit the billing of what Marco wants up top?

No. I, as have many others, have talked to no end on why Fulham have to bring down the age of the squad. It’s safe to say replacing a 24-year-old Brazilian striker on the verge of putting it all together with a 33-year-old Egyptian that tallied up one league goal last season doesn’t exactly fire London’s Original into the future or inspire optimism.

Taremi Atypical of Fulham’s Transfer Strategy: Bargain Basement for a Reason?

The likely imminent Taremi signing is just an excuse for another bargain-bin basement buy from Fulham Football Club, one that just further lends itself to my theory from an article I put out on London’s Original yesterday: “Are the Khans Gearing Up to Sell Fulham?” £50M Mitrovic was replaced with a £4M, 32-year-old Raul; £50M Muniz will be replaced with bargain-basement, 33-year-old Taremi.

Do you sense a pattern? You should do – it points towards an owner preparing the club for the sale, reminiscent of how Al Fayed did the same. Fulham have to sell every year. If Antonee Robinson didn’t suffer an injury late last season, he likely would be leaving too.

Taremi Not the Answer: How Should Fulham Replace Muniz?

Fulham need a long-term striker Marco Silva can develop. The case of Rodrigo Muniz presents what bringing in a younger profile of striker can do for the club, especially under Silva. Muniz showed that Silva can turn the most unpolished striker into a £50M asset. This will just move Silva closer to leaving at the close of 25/26. Tony Khan has to back Silva with a statement striker – a long-term option.

I’ve previously screamed out for Mitrovic to be the heir to the throne of his that we never replaced; the incoming Taremi closes that case. The chances of signing two high-earning, 30+ year-old strikers are next to zero. If you go and get Taremi, partner him with a younger striker with upside – 20-year-old Luca Stassin from Saint-Étienne fits the mould. In a striking trio, I can be made content on the Taremi deal, but he cannot be Muniz’s sole replacement. Continuing to disregard the future leaves Fulham open to age catching up with the squad in a catastrophic manner – just like 13/14.