Fulham are mulling over making an offer for Mainz midfielder Jean-Paul Boëtius, who is set to leave the German outfit on a free transfer.
The Championship winners had approaches for the Dutch international turned down two years ago and could move again for the 28 year-old, after it was confirmed that would move on from Mainz this summer. Boëtius scored thirteen goals and added 23 assists in 129 appearances during his four years at the MEWA Arena, but has opted for pastures new after prolonged talks about a contract extension broke down.
Boëtius made his senior debut for his hometown club Feyenoord at the age of eighteen when Ronald Koeman named him as a shock starter in De Klassieker in October 2012. The teenager scored the equaliser in a 2-2 against local rivals Ajax and helped Feyenoord finish third, although his season was cut short after 20 appearances by an untimely knee injury. He helped the Rotterdam outfit qualify for the Champions’ League again in 2014, before joining Basel the following year.
Boëtius was an immediate success in Switzerland as Basel won the domestic double in 2016 and landed more trophies after making an emotional return to Feyenoord, lifting the Dutch Cup in 2018, before signing for Mainz for £3m. He has won a single senior cap for the Netherlands national side, having been picked for a friendly against France by Louis van Gaal in 2014, and is believed to be keen on playing in the Premier League. Boëtius is the cousin of Dutch international Urby Emmanuelson, who enjoyed a brief loan spell at Craven Cottage in 2013.
Fulham are set to sign Oldham teenage defender Damon Park in a deal worth around £150,000, according to the Sun.
The Championship winners have agreed a fee – which could rise with significant bonuses applicable depending on the success of the 16 year old’s career – with the Latics for the highly-rated young centre back. Park has been watched by a number of leading sides and is considered one of the best ball-player defenders in his age group in the country.
Oldham, beset by turmoil on and off the field, were relegated from League Two amid chaotic scenes at Boundary Park earlier this month with supporters staging protests against unpopular owner Abdallah Lemsagam.
Fulham are one of a number of Premier League sides looking at signing Derby skipper Tom Lawrence, according to the Mail on Sunday.
Lawrence seems set to leave Pride Park this summer following Derby’s demotion to League One – with the Welsh midfielder proving influential in Wayne Rooney’s battle against adversity. He scored eleven league goals as the Rams bravely fought a points deduction, but the 28 year-old is weighing up his options with his current contract expiring at the end of next month.
Bournemouth and Fulham have both been tracking the playmaker for some time, but the Mail says there is also significant interest from the likes of Burnley, Everton, Leeds United, Watford, Norwich City and Anderlecht. Lawrence has made 185 appearances in five years with Derby, having begun his career in the Manchester United youth set-up. He is desperate to try and force his way into Robert Page’s thoughts for the World Cup this winter, having not represented Wales since a friendly against Mexico last March.
Fulham want to turn Neco Williams’ successful loan move from Liverpool into a permanent deal – and are confident of concluding a £12m transfer in the coming weeks.
The Welsh full back was a revelation after arriving at Craven Cottage on the final day of the January transfer window. Williams immediately displaced Kenny Tete, reprising his partnership at club and international level with Harry Wilson along the Whites’ right flank. The 21 year-old made fourteen appearances, scoring twice and adding two assists, as Marco Silva’s side surged to the Championship table before a knee injury ruled him out of the final three games of the campaign.
Williams has returned to Merseyside following the completion of Fulham’s season but the Londoners are keen to agree a permanent switch ahead of their return to the Premier League. The Wrexham-born defender is desperate to play first-team football to retain his spot in the Welsh side ahead of the World Cup this winter – and he will find his path to the senior side at Anfield blocked by Trent Alexander-Arnold.
One of the talking points of the pre-summer window is the goalkeeper positions. Reports in Italy this morning suggest Fulham are on the verge of signing Lazio’s Thomas Strakosha to come in and compete for the no.1 position. The Greek born Albanian international has 11 clean sheets in 29 games for a Lazio team looking to hold off fierce rivals Roma for 5th place in Serie A.
Thomas’ father Foto Strakosha was also an Albanian keeper playing 73 times for the national side over a 15 year international career whilst his 20 year playing career saw him play for Olympiacos when Thomas was born.
Thomas at 27 is already having a glittering career of his own with 19 Albania caps and has been Lazio’s number one for the majority of the past six years. He has 2 Coppa Italia’s and 2 Supercoppa Italiana’s in his 6 seasons at the Stadio Olimpico having played in 3 of the fixtures and on the bench for his earliest Coppa Italia win in 2013.
The move would be a free transfer as Thomas Strakosha’s contract is ending in the summer seeing Fulham add to a goalkeeper room with Marek Rodak and Paolo Gazzaniga.
Fulham goalkeeper George Wickens wants a loan with a Football League club in the weeks before the start of the new season after his outstanding performances for Wealdstone this term.
Wickens was voted the Stones’ player of the year by the club’s fans last weekend and the 20 year-old turned down the chance to leave Wealdstone in the new year as he preferred to keep his current employers in the National League Northern Premier League. Wickens, who has kept twelve clean sheets for Stones in 39 appearances, told West London Sport:
“Don’t get me wrong, it was a tough decision and I thought there were both a lot of positives and risks going into the League in January. In the end I just went with my gut.
I was in a place where I’d set myself a goal of finishing the season with 40 games under my belt and knowing that if I do that well enough, there could be League One or League Two interest next season. It’s been really good for my development and it’s been very different to Under-23s football.
It’s much more physical and there’s a lot more things you’ve got to deal with like playing in front of crowds every week which is much better. There’s more pressure because there’s people with jobs on the line. “I just want to finish the season strongly and once that’s done, then I can set my sights on the next season.”
Wickens, a lifelong Fulham fan, says his ultimate ambition is play for the senior side.
The end goal is to play for Fulham one day but I know that for goalkeepers it’s a longer journey. I’ve always supported them and used to have a season ticket with my dad from the age of four or five-years-old until I went in there full-time when I was about 15 or 16 I think.
I think we only missed one year out of those where we didn’t have a season ticket. I remember watching all the European games and have good memories there so I’ve always kept up with them wherever I’ve been. Obviously having someone like Fabio (Carvalho) around the first team who you’ve got that connection with. It’s been good keeping an eye on people like that, they’ve done brilliantly,”
Margate have confirmed this evening that they will face a Fulham XI on Wednesday 20 July at Hartsdown Park following Martial Godo’s move to the Whites.
The Championship winners have activated a clause in both players’ deals that will keep them at Craven Cottage for another twelve months after the pair enjoyed outstanding seasons under head coach Marco Silva. Ream started all 46 league games as the Whites secured an immediate return to the top flight, deputising for the injured Tom Cairney as skipper at the start of the season, whilst Kebano enjoyed his best year since signing for the club in 2016 – scoring nine goals and adding six assists.
Fulham vice-chairman and director of football operations, Tony Khan, said: “Tim Ream and Neeskens Kebano have been instrumental in our promotion this season, playing every game they’ve been involved in with passion and professionalism. We have exercised the option to extend both of their contracts for a further year, and we are all happy that they will be part of the squad next season. Come on Fulham!”
Fulham have began talks with towering centre back Tosin Adarabioyo over a new deal at Craven Cottage, according to the Sun.
Marco Silva is keen to secure his main ball-playing centre half on a long-term contract after Adarabioyo’s excellent season helped the Whites bounce back to the top flight at the first attempt. The 24 year-old has just a year left on his current contract and has attracted admiring glances from elsewhere after playing 41 league games this season as Fulham cruised to the Championship title.
He made 33 Premier League appearances after signing from Manchester City towards the end of the summer transfer window in 2020, but an impressive partnership with Joachim Andersen wasn’t enough to keep Scott Parker’s side up. Adarabioyo, who still holds of ambitions of playing for England, had been linked with moves to Newcastle and Arsenal following Fulham’s relegation – but no side triggered his £10m release clause.
West Ham United and Tottenham are looking to lure Fulham’s young Irish starlet Ollie O’Neill away from Craven Cottage as his contract runs down this summer, according to various reports this afternoon.
The Irish under-21 international, who was previously linked with a move to Arsenal, has failed to agree terms over a new deal at Fulham and the Hammers are interested in taking him to the London Stadium for a nominal development fee when his current contract expires at the end of June. The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealed West Ham’s interest in the talented midfielder this morning. O’Neill has starred for Steve Wigley’s under 23s, who won the PL2 Second Division this season, scoring six goals and adding three assists in 23 league appearances.
The 19 year-old was yet to make his senior debut, but was an unused substitute when the Whites were knocked out of the League Cup on penalties by Leeds United in September. Tottenham are tracking the Ealing-born midfielder, according to the Sun, who scored a last minute winner on his under-21 international debut against Sweden earlier this season. Losing O’Neill, who is a natural central midfielder or number ten, but has excelled on the left wing under Wigley would be a big blow to Fulham’s academy – especially with Fabio Carvalho poised to join Liverpool in July.
