Fulham still have eight Premier League games to go this season but there will already be considerable excitement about the summer transfer window.
Fulham came from 3-1 down to claim a 3-3 draw at Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon and have been in decent form of late.
Arsenal, Manchester United, Brighton and Hove Albion and Tottenham Hotspur have all suffered defeats to Fulham in recent months.
The quality is there and Marco Silva will have aspirations of taking Fulham further next season, the club’s third since returning to the top flight in 2022.
The transfer window will be key to those hopes and Fulham appear to already have some targets in mind for the coming months…
Marco Silva on Fulham transfers
Silva has told The Athletic that the plans are already in place in terms of Fulham’s transfer window.
The Fulham boss admitted that it’s difficult to know some things, such as Fulham’s budget, how aggressive the club want to be and whether some players stay or leave.
Silva does though believe that the ‘main picture’ of Fulham’s transfer plans is ‘already there’, hinting that targets have been picked out even at this early stage.
Silva didn’t name any specific positions but Fulham appear to have done plenty of homework ahead of trying to bolster the squad this summer.
“They are (in place),” he said of the club’s summer plans. “But depending on what the budget is for us, and what type of approach you can have. Can you be more aggressive or not? That is not something that is decided already. But targets and what we think is going to happen is all planned and the board already knows that. That’s a normal thing.”
“We don’t know what will happen with some players — some are out of contract that we are trying to renew. So depending on what happens there may change some things. But the main picture is already there,” he added.
Which positions could Fulham bolster?
A centre back will surely be wanted given that Tosin Adarabioyo is out of contract this summer and looks set to leave despite Fulham’s attempt to keep him.
Tim Ream isn’t getting any younger and another centre back to challenge Ream, Calvin Bassey and Issa Diop is likely to be a priority if Adarabioyo moves on.
Left back is a tricky one; Antonee Robinson has attracted interest from Chelsea and backup Fode Ballo-Toure is only on loan from AC Milan but hasn’t even started a Premier League game.
Timothy Castagne’s ability to play at left back is helpful but Fulham would be wise to have a number of left back options in mind in case Robinson leaves and if Ballo-Toure is sent back to Milan.
Joao Palhinha is bound to have lofty suitors once again this summer and defensive midfield targets must be identified in case the Portugal international lands a big transfer.
Willian is out of contract this summer and could move on, leaving Fulham to potentially target another left-sided winger as a replacement.
Armando Broja’s loan move from Chelsea will come to an end this summer and we can’t see him sticking around for next season.
Another striker to supporter Rodrigo Muniz and Raul Jimenez will be considered but Jay Stansfield’s return from Birmingham City will be a factor.
Fulham are never going to be one of the top spenders in the Premier League but Silva will be hoping for some key additions, even if he is ultimately having to wait to find out the future of some of his own players in a number of scenarios.