2022 Summer Transfer Window

Oh dear. I'm famous in my house for going off about how worthless Neal Maupay is as a striker. If this deal goes through I'm going to take a lot of grief here. Why isn't Tony considering MY feelings in this?!

 

Neal Maupay has never been a favorite, but if he joins I'll get on board and be a fan. I'll have to get over his face which defines "punchable." This makes me think Silva is considering switching to more of a false-9ish approach on occasion, but the problem is Maupay isn't good enough. Still, he's better than Cav, and that's progress.

The price that's thrown around does bother me. 15M pounds? We almost missed out on Diop because we were resisting laying out that much for him. It could be the payments will be structured based on milestones and our staying up--that's the only way that amount would make sense to me.

I got excited when I heard a rumor about Brereton (the Blackburn guy), but that's been quiet for a few days. That I would have liked to see.

 

Does this make sense?
https://www.westlondonsport.com/fulham/bryan-looks-set-for-fulham-exit

I don't see how. It would leave us without a senior-level backup to Jedi. Unless there is a left back in the works. Or unless Silva thinks one of the U21 boys can do better than Joe.

 

“Joe knows everything that has happened, I was clear with him from the first day back (in pre-season), so let’s just see what will happen this month.”

It makes sense to me if Marco thinks Joe can be replaced. No slight to Joe, but I got the feeling last season that he wasn't the bomb up and down the pitch kind of full back that Marco seems to prefer and that doesn't bode well for his playing time this season after promotion. There have been a lot of left back rumors this off season, so it doesn't seem that shocking to me.

 

Everton have signed Maupay. While I'm not upset about that since I think he's kind of terrible, I am worried about lack of depth at another position with Muniz out on loan.

 

The window closes on Wednesday, and we need help. Here's a rundown of the incoming links that still seem alive, the best I can tell:

Willian - appears to be on his way, with a medical under way (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/f...ian-closing-Premier-League-return-Fulham.html)

Justin Kluivert - apparently the talks back on, and there is progress (https://insidefutbol.com/2022/08/30/fulham-in-fresh-contact-with-club-over-signing-target/576412/)

Layvin Kurzawa - seems close; would compete with Jedi (https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/08/...eal-for-defender-who-once-scored-a-hat-trick/)

Houssem Aouar - no idea if it's more than speculation, but it's a solid mid (http://sportwitness.co.uk/midfielder-courted-fulham-already-exchanging-ideas-set-sights-pl/)

I am not aware of a striker being close; perhaps others are. I am not clear whether the Musa Barrow link is completely dead. If we don't get anyone, we may need to dip deeper into the academy, but I really am high on Terry Ablade and, of course, Jay Stansfield, though Jay is not a like-for-like Mitro replacement.

Exciting couple of days coming up.

 

Justin Kluivert deal is reportedly off due to inability to get a work permit and they are saying Fulham can’t appeal the decision.

 

I really hope this isn't accurate. As of just a few hours ago, all the British outlets were saying the deal was agreed and Kluivert was having a medical tomorrow. There must be a person at Fulham in the recruiting office whose job it is to check the prospects' basic eligibility. Or, perhaps, there isn't.

 

I did notice that Kluivert was not in the squad for Roma's match today.

 

Supposedly it was originally reported by The Athletic. Noted in the link below. From what I’ve read in multiple places, the terms between all parties were agreed to this morning and later in the day Fulham were told no work permit would be issued.

 

Fabrizio with different news. FWIW, I hope the deal is not off too.

 

I don't understand how a serious business negotiates for a month without having all the basic i's dotted and t's crossed regarding the legal environment.

But I hope it's not as bad as the Athletic paints it, and we get Kluivert.

 

True, but also, have you ever dealt with a massive bureaucracy?

 

Absolutely, including those of the UK. And what you are saying, by implication, is 100% fair. My comment came from frustration and was too harsh. I know from experience that British regulations can be written poorly and are interpreted differently from official to official.

 

And obviously the official working Kluivert's paperwork is a QPR fan.

 

Dont think youre being too harsh! Its utterly vexing. Either we're getting hosed with some esoteric technicality, or someone in either front office really dropped the ball here.

Update: its both?

 

What’s comical is Roma isn’t playing him so he doesn’t get hurt so they could unload him…common sense as usual is the loser.

 

Here's what I think might have happened with Kluivert.

A player needs 15 GBE points to automatically qualify for a work permit. 10-14 to apply for an exemption with a note of exceptional circumstances. https://brandsmiths.co.uk/blog/view/new-fa-points-based-system-explained

Kluivert is at 11 points. (https://www.transferroom.com/gbe?hsLang=en#calculator). I read elsewhere that Roma provided a letter attesting to the fact that they haven't played him this season so he would be healthy and able to transfer. It appears those circumstances weren't exceptional enough.

According to the same calculator, Kurzawa is at 0 points, which makes sense since he hasn't played anywhere. If this is accurate, it's an automatic fail. How is that going to play out?