Fulham

Fulham are in talks with Arsenal over a deal for goalkeeper Bernd Leno. (West London Sport), external

Want more transfer news? Read Thursday's full gossip column

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Fulham have snapped up Joao Palinha from Sporting Lisbon for an undisclosed fee - but who is Marco Silva's latest addition?

The 26-year-old is a right-footed defensive midfielder with 14 caps and two goals for Portugal.

He regularly makes Fernando Santos' squad but has found it tough to get into the starting line-up over the likes of Joao Moutinho, Ruben Neves, Bruno Fernandes and Bernardo Silva.

For his club, he played 27 times last season as Sporting finished runners-up to Benfica in the Portuguese top flight and was a constant fixture under boss Ruben Amorim.

A determined tackler, he was in the 99th percentile for pressure and 92nd percentile for blocks in 2021-22, according to fbref.com, external.

At the other end, he has only scored 15 goals in his club career, so Silva will presumably be counting on him to keep the back door shut, allowing his flair players to thrive in the attacking third.

Only two teams conceded fewer in the Championship last season than the Cottagers (fellow promoted sides Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest).

However, with the jump up in quality in the Premier League, Fulham needed to stiffen their backline and it is likely Palhinha will slot straight in as one of Silva's two holding midfielders.

Fulham are close to signing Israel winger Manor Solomon, 22, on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's gossip column

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Too good for the Championship, not good enough for the Premier League?

For the third time in five years, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Fulham come up to the Premier League looking to emulate their Championship form.

In 2018-19, the Serb scored 11 Premier League goals. In 2020-21, it was just three.

But last season was his best Championship campaign by far, with a record 43 goals in 44 games. Is this the season he finally cracks the top flight?

Find out who else has a point to prove this season here

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham have signed Switzerland youth international Kristian Sekularac from Juventus.

The 18-year-old midfielder spent his youth career at Servette FC before making the move to Turin.

He made 23 appearances for Juve's under-23 side last season and has been brought in to feature for Steve Wigley's Cottagers U23s.

After signing, Sekularac told the club website:, external "I'm feeling great and I'm super excited to join this club. I've admired Fulham for a very long time and I can't wait to crack on and start playing games.

"The fans can expect a creative player who likes to put on a show. I can play anywhere in midfield and I'm a technical player."

What are your hopes for pre-season?

The Fulham players are now back at Motspur Park to begin their preparations for a return to Premier League football in August.

With a swathe of intriguing pre-season fixtures on the horizon, what are you hoping to see from Marco Silva's side?

• Saturday, 16 July - Nice v Fulham, Faro - 20:15 BST

• Sunday, 17 July - Benfica v Fulham, Faro - 20:15 BST

• Sunday, 24 July - Estoril Praia v Fulham, Estoril - 18:00 BST

• Sunday, 31 July - Fulham v Villareal, Craven Cottage - 15:00 BST

Which young players should get the chance to impress the boss?

Let us know here

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham have completed the signing of Joao Palhinha from Sporting Lisbon for an undisclosed fee.

The Portugal midfielder spent six years at Sporting, helping them progress to the knockout stages of the Champions League last season.

"I’m very glad to be here. It’s a big opportunity for me, for my career, to play in what is – in my opinion – the best league in the world," Palhinha told FFCtv., external

“I’ve signed with a great club. The club wanted me, and I chose the club, so I promise the fans that I will do my best, and I hope we can win so many things in this season.”

Fulham have agreed a £20m deal with Sporting Lisbon to make Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha, 26, their first summer signing. (Sky Sports), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Fulham have held talks over an £8m move for Wolfsburg and Switzerland's 27-year-old right-back Kevin Mbabu. (Mail), external

Meanwhile, the Cottagers have been given permission to speak to Manchester United's Brazil midfielder Andreas Pereira after agreeing a fee, but the 26-year-old would prefer to stay at Flamengo, where he is on loan. (90 Min), external

Want more transfer rumours? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Fulham are confident of wrapping up deals for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Manor Solomon for £7m and Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha, for £20m. (Mail), external

Want more transfer news? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Image source, James Maddison Instagram

Remember the days when football's elite names used pre-season as a chance to put their feet up and indulge, perhaps packing on some timber in the process?

Our modern-day professionals seem to have shunned it fully as in their time off, Leicester City's James Maddison, Fulham's Harrison Reed, Aston Villa's Calum Chambers, and Liverpool duo Jordan Henderson and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have been working out as a group at a complex in Portugal.

Maddison has shared snaps of himself whipping free-kicks into the top corner and images of him generally working up a sweat alongside other Premier League names.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is packing plenty into his summer break as his partner Perrie Edwards announced he proposed to her while on holiday over the weekend., external

Image source, James Maddison Instagram

The 2022-23 season has been adjusted to accommodate the 2022 World Cup, which takes place in the middle of the domestic calendar.

It starts a week earlier than normal - 75 days after the final day of the 2021-22 campaign - and finishes a week later than usual on 28 May.

Fifa, world football's governing body, has already stipulated that players must be released on 14 November for the World Cup.

It means the mid-season break will last more than six weeks.

There will be 16 matchdays before Qatar - five in August, three in September, six in October and two in November.

Image source, BBC Sport

• Liverpool have won their first league match in the past four seasons, the longest ongoing run in the top flight.

• Fulham were unbeaten against Liverpool in the Premier League in 2020-21, drawing 1-1 at home and winning 1-0 at Anfield. Though they were relegated, the Cottagers’ four points from those games was their joint-most against an opponent (also four against Sheffield United and West Brom).

Image source, Getty Images

Ex-England defender Laura Bassett says players need a proper break in order to perform at a high level.

After a busy post-season international schedule, the domestic 2022-23 season starts just 50 days after Premier League fixtures were released on Thursday.

Bassett says recent international performances have shown that players need a longer break.

She told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily: "It’s tough isn’t it? But over recent years it's something players have had to get used to, rightly or wrongly.

"I just think the clubs are so refined in their processes and their research. The amount of staff that they have now, you really have to give the players as much support as possible.

"But sometimes, as a player, it’s the psychological and mental aspect that you just can’t take away - and underestimate and downplay, to be honest.

"We saw from recent games that it’s tough. These players are human - you can’t forget that. You can’t just roll out performances at such a high level and intensity. Players need a break in order to perform."

 Hear more from 18'17 on BBC Sounds

Fulham and Wolves are both interested in signing Sporting Lisbon and Portugal midfielder Joao Palhinha, 26. (90min), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

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Obviously Fulham have to play everyone twice - but what's your reaction to their fixture list?

Which run of games will be particularly tough for Marco Silva? What do you make of the Christmas schedule? And how are the London derbies looking?

See Fulham's Premier League fixtures in full here

Have your say here