Fulham’s 2024/25 Premier League campaigns kicks off with a Friday night clash away to Manchester United in the top flight curtain-raiser…and it’s only three short weeks away folks.
Since Marco Silva led the Cottagers to promotion from the Championship in 2022, they have settled nicely, with two mid table finishes, and now the challenge is to become firmly established as a Premier League outfit once again and a top ten finish will be the aim again this season.
The pre-season Premier League 2024 betting odds say it’s on for Fulham; but it isn’t easy even to survive in the toughest league in the world, and every team from top to bottom must constantly strengthen to keep pace with the competition. While West London neighbours Chelsea have been spending liberally, the Cottagers have made a slower start in the summer market but for head coach Silva, it’s a case of evolution and not revolution.
The Cottagers already have an experienced group of top flight players and, while there are sure to be at least one or two additions, Silva knows he can trust the players who have delivered so well under his tenure. Let’s take a look at the five SBOTOP picks of the players who will have a big part to play as Fulham look to step on.
Antonee Robinson
Last year’s Fulham’s Player of the Year has really flourished under Silva and the 26 year old USA international is now widely regarded to be one of the best left backs in English football. An Everton Academy player, Robinson gained experience with loans at Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic but his £2m move to the capital city in 2020 was a turning point. And now that fee looks to be one of the deals of the century; even when he won a place in the Championship Team of the Season in 2022 coaches at the club realized Robinson has a high ceiling. A speedy player who likes to join the attack he will be a key man at both ends of the pitch once again this season.
Harrison Reed
The departure of Joao Palhinha to Bayern Munich has left a hole in the Cottagers’ midfield and Fulham are looking for a replacement, with Sporting CP’s Morten Hjulman currently on the radar. But in the meantime Silva has a more than capable operator in a defensive midfield role in 29 year old Harrision Reed. Like Robinson, Reed had a number of loans in the Championship before signing for Fulham in 2020 and, after establishing himself as a first team regular he has made 159 appearances in his four seasons at the club. Last season he was rewarded with a new four year contract ad Mr Dependable will be in the midst of the action again this season.
Bernd Leno
The signing of Leno from Arsenal in 2022, at a price of £8m, proved to be a masterstroke. The Germany international is a commanding last line of defence and a brilliant shot stopper. Leno started his career at Bayer Leverkusen before making over 100 appearances for Arsenal between 2018 and 2022, and he too has signed an extended contract last summer, keeping him at the Cottage until 2027. Leno’s calm demeanor gives his defence confidence and he has been a crucial part of Fulham’s success over the last two years.
Rodrigo Muniz
One player we can guarantee to make some sparkling Premier League highlights is Brazilian striker Muniz who had a breakout season in 2023/24, scoring ten goals. A rich run of form won him the Premier League Player of the Month Award for March and he stepped up superbly following an injury to Raul Jimenez. Muniz made his name as a teenage star at Flamengo in Brazil, scoring nine goals in his debut season and that persuaded Fulham to take a punt on the young striker. Now 23 years of game he has one good Premier League campaign under his belt and 2024/25 could be a big year for Muniz.
Ryan Sessegnon
Our last pick is a reported new signing of an old favourite. Sessegnon’s impending return to the Cottage has delighted fans. He spent three seasons as a teenage star at the Cottage, making 106 appearances and scoring 22 goals as an exhilarating left winger or attacking left back. In 2019 he moved to Tottenham Hotspur in a £25m deal but it didn’t work out in North London for Sessegnon and he made only 38 appearances for Spurs, spending a season on loan at TSG Hoffenheim.
Now the prodigal son is returning home to find the left back position has been taken by Robinson; but Sessegnon is likely to play on the left side of a front three as he often did during his first spell at the Cottage. He’s still only 24 years old and this move has Fulham fans really excited.
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