Five potential replacements for Tosin

Jack Stroudley looks at five players that Fulham could replace Tosin with following his impending departure.

According to Fabrizio Romano on Friday, Tosin has decided to leave Fulham at the end of his contract. Romano also stated that Fulham proposed multiple contracts to the 26-year-old but he’s made his final decision and already informed the club. Silva took no time in removing him from the side with Issa Diop coming in and doing a solid job against Crystal Palace on Saturday. Given the positive performance and how late we are into the season it wouldn’t surprise me if we didn’t see Tosin start another game for Fulham.

That being said, Diop isn’t a long-term solution in my opinion and we do need another central defender in, so here are five players that Fulham could look at this summer with some more realistic options and one ambitious option.

Trevoh Chalobah

Let’s start with the most touted name so far to replace Tosin. Trevoh Chalobah for me makes a lot of sense as a ‘safe’ option. A right-sided central defender who’se’s comfortable on the ball and is a very similar to the profile of Tosin. Chalobah’s stats (for albeit very limited minutes) are relatively promising as well being in the top 8% for passes attempted and top 20% for progressive passes.

His defensive numbers leave a little to be desired but he has played for a cataclysmically poor Chelsea side (what a shame). Chelsea will need to sell in the summer you’d imagine and Chalobah will be one of those that will probably be out the door and at only 24, Fulham could do a lot worse.

Teden Mengi

This one is very dependent upon if Luton Town are relegated but if they are, I’d be all over signing Teden Mengi. Aged just 21, Mengi has fit into the Premier League like a glove with some astute defensive performances. He is in the top 2% for interceptions and 9% for clearances playing for a struggling Luton Town side. His passing stats leave a little to be desired but that can be accounted to Luton’s average possession sitting at 42% with more onus on counter attacking quickly rather than progressive build-up.

Mengi is a player who I’d have liked Fulham to sign even if Tosin was staying at the club, but with his imminent departure I would be all over this one. A young defender who has already shown his worth in the Premier League and has a serious amount of scope to grow.

Kevin Danso

Danso is a player that’s been linked with Fulham a few times and with Tosin out the door, it could be time to take the plunge and bring him in. At 25, Danso has improved season on season and is now a key player for a Lens side who sit in sixth place in Ligue 1. Similarly to others on this list, Danso is comfortable on the ball with an 88% pass completion rate and averages 4.33 progressive passes per 90 minutes.

Defensively he’s certainly not the finished article, but he’s a player Fulham could snatch for a decent fee and alongside Calvin Bassey they could form quite the partnership.

Dan-Axel Zagadou

I’ll get the immediate worry out of the way with this one: he’s a left-footer and I’m asking him to play on the right-hand side. He’s also someone whose been injured since the start of January, but hear me out, Zagadou could be the answer for Silva. Zagadou is playing for a Stuttgart side who have been brilliant this season sitting in third place with the third highest average possession in the league at 59.3%. Zagadou is an embodiment of the success that Stuttgart have had being in the top 4% for passes completed and top 21% for progressive passes while also being in the top 2% for aerial duels and top 20% for interceptions.

Aged just 24, Zagadou is player who I’ve liked for a while now but has really come into his own this season for Stuttgart (before his injury) and under the right guidance could compliment Bassey well.

Antonio Silva

This one could be slightly ambitious but someone that if we have the disposable income, we should be looking at as a marquee signing. Aged just 20, Silva has been brilliant for a Benfica side who currently sit in second. Both his passing and defensive stats are very good reading with a 92.4% pass accuracy and 4.43 progressive passes per 90. Silva also averages 2.3 key tackles per game and has also picked up two goals this season in a Benfica shirt.

I think Silva will demand a high fee but it’s someone that Silva (confusing I know) should be looking at. He’s shown in the past he can convince top players from Liga Portugal and Antonio Silva is certainly one of them. Surely we have some disposable income and given that we probably don’t need to spend big on a number nine, why not go all out on a defender and Silva would be a brilliant option for Fulham.

Whichever way you slice it, replacing Tosin is a huge decision for the recruitment team. The positive is that there’s plenty of talent out there, and if we’re shrewd, we could turn this into a huge positive going into next season.