13 players Fulham could target in the January transfer window

Christmas is over, and although the days of reminiscing about Rodrigo Muniz’s Boxing Day winner are far from over, the new year is upon us.

For many, this means New Year’s resolutions, mixed with a sprinkling of the January blues, but down at Fulham, all that January entails is seeing what players Tony Khan will be putting a deal sheet in for in the dying embers of the winter window.

So, who could Fulham target this January? Will Dwight Gayle finally put pen to paper at Motspur Park? Will Bordeaux finally answer Fulham’s desperate calls for Youssouf Sabaly? Or will Ernest Numuah dry his eyes and finally emerge from the shadows of Lyon’s training ground?

Let’s find out.

Long-term striking solutions

Despite Raul Jimenez and Rodrigo Muniz notching up a combined 10 goals in the first half of this campaign, to sustain success in the top half of the Premier League, Fulham need a striker to rely on in the long term. Something that is certainly easier said than done, especially in January, but if Tony Khan decides to splash out on a target man this winter, who could it be?

Ricardo Pepi – PSV

Hailing from El Paso, Texas, adding another player to Fulhamerica’s ranks isn’t the reason Ricardo Pepi is on this list, although it is certainly an added bonus.

Pepi came through the FC Dallas academy, scoring 13 goals in 31 appearances as an 18-year-old. The USMNT international subsequently moved to Europe with FC Augsburg, but after six months in Germany, Pepi was loaned out to FC Groningen, where the then 19-year-old bagged 12 goals in 28 appearances.

After his first successful season in Europe, Pepi earned a move to Dutch giants PSV. This season, the 21-year-old’s numbers have exploded, scoring 10 goals in just five starts, averaging a goal every 63 minutes, as the American sits in the ninety-nine percentile for shots, at almost five a game, and touches in the opposition penalty area, both stats that show that Pepi will be aggressive in the 18-yard box, forcing the issue, rather than waiting for the ball to be placed into his feet, the perfect attributes for a Premier League poacher.

When you pair his recent form this season with his six-foot-one stature, youthfulness at just 21, and possible Eindhoven’s willingness to sell, with Peter Bosz still putting Luuk De Jong ahead of the Texas native in the pecking order, Ricardo Pepi could certainly be the long-term answer to Fulham’s striking vacancy this January for somewhere around £21m.

Joshua Zirkzee – Manchester United

It’s no secret Joshua Zirkzee hasn’t lived up to the hype his debut promised after his £35m move from Bologna in the summer.

After being booed off after being subbed at halftime by Ruben Amorim against Newcastle, Zirkzee’s reaction tells you all you need to know: he wants a move, and the Manchester United faithful want him to move on.

If you’re going through a rough patch in your career and you need a manager to revive your career, Fulham is your club, and Marco Silva is your manager. The Dutchman was renowned throughout his young career for his technical ability with the ball at his feet. Zirkzee has been suggested to somewhere between a number nine and a 10 in his first six months in Manchester, but I’d suggest his physical assets, and impressive goal record everywhere outside of the North West, with some development and an arm round the shoulder by a career revival specialist, Silva could utilise Zirkzee in a similar way we see Raul Jimenez currently used for Fulham, and if Fulham feel they can find what could be a younger version of 24/25 Jimenez, would you say no?

Alongside scoring 12 goals in 37 outings for Bologna last term, Zirkzee showcased his ability with the ball at his feet last season, ranking in the 63rd percentile for ball retention and the 70th percentile for progressive carries, a remarkable feat for a striker standing at six foot four. 

The former Anderlecht academy prodigy’s attributes point to a striker that would relish an opportunity to play in a Marco Silva system built around Zirkzee’s strengths, and with rumours of a loan move out of Carrington swirling and Manchester United fans openly desiring his exit, a loan move this winter, followed by a permanent move in the summer, looks like the path a undoubtedly talented footballer in Joshua Zirkzee is set to undertake, and Fulham needs to be the side to capitalise.

Lorenzo Lucca – Udinese

Standing at six foot five, Lorenzo Lucca has scored seven goals goals in 15 starts at Udinese this season. His physical frame has allowed him to score four out of his seven goals this term with his head, while also being in the 86th percentile for aerial duels won across the Italian top flight, something that certainly curtails to the direct nature that Marco Silva demands from his strikers. 

Despite his impressive first half of the campaign, Transfermarkt value the former Ajax centre forward at around £15m, and while I think the Italian would set the Whites back closer to £20m, he is certainly one of the better value for money options in this article.

Evan Ferguson – Brighton & Hove Albion

Netting 10 goals in 25 games as a bright-eyed18-year-old from rural Bettystown, Ireland, Evan Ferguson was drawing plaudits from clubs across Europe.

Six-foot-four and bullish in the air, but still blessed with a wealth of speed and technical ability, Ferguson on his day, is everything you could want in not only a modern striker, but a striker in Marco Silva’s system.

Ferguson would keep the continuity of a target man up top, but the Irishman would give Silva’s side an added element of speed to break behind opposing defensive lines as Fulham play on the break.
Since the former Bohemian’s prodigy had his breakout season on English shores, Ferguson has stagnated with just seven goals in his last fifty appearances.

In defence of the 20 year old, his downturn in form has coincided with numerous changes of Brighton’s system, as while the Seagulls were never a direct side, but under the stewardship of Graham Potter, Brighton played to Ferguson’s tall frame in a more structured style, with the more recent De Zerbi, and now Fabian Huerzler now preferring a more free flowing style of football.

This change in style is what has seen Ferguson go from being linked with permanent moves to Old Trafford to loans with options to buy moves to Craven Cottage, and despite his recent goal drought, there is certainly a player in there somewhere, and in the hands of Marco Silva, I’m certain Ferguson can smash his ceiling.

Talent on the wing and at number 10

With numerous clubs reportedly circling Andreas Pereira and rumours abounding that Adama Traore is angling for a move away, the Whites could be in the market to find replacements.

Dilane Bakwa – RC Strasbourg

Diliane Bakwa has been essential in the way former Fulham man Liam Rosenior has set up at Strasbourg.
Labelling the twenty-two-year-old a speedster would be a disservice to the plethora of talent the Frenchman has shown in the past two seasons. 

Bakwa has maintained stats within the top 10 throughout the entirety of the French top flight for attempted take-on stats, progressive carry stats, carries into the final third, and carries into the penalty area. 

These stats show how integral Bakwa has been for ‘Les Bleu,’ as Rosenior has entrusted the 22-year-old with being the primary ball carrier in Strasbourg’s counterattacking system.

Valued at just £12.5m by TransferMarkt, adding a player with the raw explosiveness and ball-carrying ability to this Fulham side would present a like-for-like replacement for Adama Traore, with an actual position on the right, while being right-footed, setting up Bakwa to be a mainstay on Fulham’s right side for years to come.

Romain Esse – Millwall

Romain Esse has played at every age group for the Lions from U9s upwards.

This season has been the 19-year-old’s breakout campaign. He’s the primary attacking outlet for the South East Londoners, driving inside using his favoured left foot from the right wing.

Don’t let his five-foot-eight frame fool you, in a side that rarely dominates the ball, the Lambeth native has had to become proficient in working off the ball, with Esse ranking in at the 99th percentile for tackles by wingers in the second tier, at nearly three a game.

When you partner his defensive output with the fact that the England U20 international has had the second-most successful take-ons in the championship, you have a player that has a sky-high ceiling.

It has long been said that Fulham need to look further into the Football League for younger talents, and the play style Esse posses is a style built for a Marco Silva system, but with murmurings of Crystal Palace getting closer to having a £14m bid accepted, Tony Khan and his motley crew will have to move quickly to move the youngster across the capital.

Alberto Moleiro –  UD Las Palmas

Born and raised on the island of Tenerife, the fact that Alberto Moleiro is just 21 is unbelievable, as the Las Palmas star has already racked up 130 appearances at senior level.

Courted by a host of Spanish giants in recent years, Moleiro has chosen to stay in the Canary Islands instead of heading to the mainland, but could the riches of West London tempt the Spanish U21 international to leave the Canaries?

Like Diliane Bakwa, slight in build, blessed with lightning quick speed, but unlike his French counterpart, Moleiro likes to come centrally with the ball and create for his teammates, ranking top 10 in La Liga for both take-ons and shot creating actions.

Valued at €25m by TransferMarkt, the Spaniard isn’t cheap, but Moleiro’s versatility to play on the left, and in attacking midfield also provides the possibility of a one stop shop to replace both Pereira and Traore.

If both players leave this January, Fulham will have the means necessary for yet another headline-grabbing attacking addition. 

James McAtee – Manchester City

With rumours heating up around James McAtee leaving Manchester City within the next fortnight or so, Fulham have been named as the front-runners for the former Sheffield United loanee’s services.

McAtee gained a reputation in the steel city for being an industrious yet creative midfielder who primarily operated in the 10. The England U21 international excelled on loan at Sheffield United, building much-needed physicality in both the Championship and Premier League, shown by his hugely impressive standing in the 98th percentile in successful take-ons.

McAtee’s adeptness in numerous positions across the 10 and eight would make him the perfect Pereira replacement, and his unique blend of assets of progressive carries, successful take-ons, and receptions of progressive passes shows how instrumental the Manchester City academy product is in all phases of play, having the needed acumen to play in the eight when dominant in position or tuck in more defensively when Fulham doesn’t have possession, something the Englishman has plenty of experience with the Blades.

With Fulham likely forced to stump up around £20m to £30m, McAtee would be a fascinating tactical asset for Marco Silva’s men, and I fully expect the 22 year old to be the latest youngster Manchester City regrets letting go as years pass.

Gaetano Oristano – Venezia

After being cast out of Inter Milan in favour of loan moves to FC Volendam and Cagliari before being let go on a free transfer to Venezia at the start of this season, Internatzionale may already be regretting their decision to let Gaetano Oristano head to the floating city.

The now 22-year-old has been a shining light in a Venezia side facing the drop. Primarily starring in 10, the former Cagliari loanee has gained the trust of Venezia boss, Eusebio Di Francesco, to essentially be Di Francesco’s entire attacking system.

Oristano has put up four shot-creating actions per ninety, whilst also completing the most successful take ons in the Italian top flight.

If you can convince the Venicans cash in on their star man in a team that seems destined for the drop, in a cash strapped Italian football pyramid, I have no doubt a top man manager and tactician in Marco Silva could hone Oristano’s superstar level talent into a player that could unlock games for not only on-rushing Fulham strikers, but his creative counterpart in Emile Smith Rowe, with two creators becoming mainstays of this Fulham side for years to come.

Midfield reinforcements

As Captain Cairney’s iconic Fulham tenure looks to be coming to an end, and Harrison Reed seems to have started to be phased out of Marco Silva’s plans, Fulham may want to add either a proper number six, something Fulham doesn’t currently have, or add quality to compete between both the eight and 10 roles in the middle of the park.

Cristian Casseres – Toulouse

Joining from New York Red Bulls in 2023, Cristian Casseres has become a mainstay in a good Toulouse team over the past two seasons.

He has played as the deeper-lying midfielder in ‘Les Violets’ midfield, being implemented as a true number six in the majority of his outings, screening the back three whilst racking up the most tackles and interceptions in the entirety of France, or the third highest in the top five leagues outside of the Premier League.

Whilst the Venezuelan is hardly a household name, his dogged industrious nature has seen him become a fan favourite in New York and, more recently, at the Stadium de Toulouse.

The addition of a player of the prototype of Casseres gives Fulham a type of player Marco Silva doesn’t currently have, which gives Fulham even more added tactical flexibility, and valued at just £4m by TransferMarkt, the 24-year-old could be the next bargain the Whites’ recruitment team uncovers.

Samu Costa – Mallorca

Samu Costa has been a major reason for RCD Mallorca’s recent resurgence to a Copa del Rey final and semifinal since joining from Almeria at the start of 23/24.

Costa has put up the fourth most tackles and interceptions of any midfielder in La Liga in the opening half of the Spanish season, while sitting at the base of Jagoba Arrasate’s Mallorca midfield.

A product of the Braga academy, the 24-year-old’s native tongue being Portuguese may just give him the edge over Casseres if Marco Silva wants to add a true number six to the makeup of this Fulham team for around £12m.

Douglas Luiz – Juventus

Perhaps the biggest name on this list, Douglas Luiz needs little introduction. One of Aston Villa’s best players before this summer, he was touted by Europe’s most esteemed clubs, ending up at Juventus.

Despite being one of the best number eights in the Premier League last season, this term Luiz has started just twice under the new old lady boss Thiago Motta.

This has seen Luiz look to push for a move, and while Fulham face stiff competition from both Nottingham Forest and Manchester City, I’m sure Fulham’s Lusophone contingent could play a huge role in the 26-year-old ending up on the banks of the Thames in the next three weeks, most likely on an initial loan deal.

Luiz’s versatility between predominantly the six and eight roles will see the Brazilian receive a multitude of minutes at the Cottage, as similarly to the two aforementioned number six options I mentioned, in Cristian Casseres and Samu Costa, the technical ability the former Girona loanee possesses will be vital in Fulham being more effective against high-intensity presses and at set pieces, once again adding another option to Marco Silva’s tactical repertoire.

Kieran Dewsbury Hall – Chelsea

A major part in Enzo Maresca’s title-winning side at Leicester, this summer Kieran Dewsbury-Hall joined Chelsea for £30m. The 26 year old broke out on loan at Luton Town in 2020/21, playing 40 times.

Dewsbury Hall was Maresca’s most trusted squad member, but fast forward to today, and the Englishman is yet to make a start at Chelsea. A move to the right side of Fulham is not only convenient but also makes footballing sense for Kieran.

Fulham plays a similar midfield pivot to what Dewsbury Hall first played with Youri Tielemans in, with his potential midfield counterparts in Sasa Lukic and Sander Berge giving the ex-Leicester man opportunities to advance on forward to utilise his undoubted technical ability.

Silva’s system could further unleash Dewsbury Hall in the ten position, as not only is Dewsbury Hall a real threat from open play, and dead ball situations, his tenacity off the ball is something that further lends Hall into the role that Andreas Pereira usually occupies, as the highest presser when Fulham don’t have the ball, a role that Hall would excel in.

Players of the calibre of Kieran Dewsbury Hall don’t become available on a potential loan-to-buy basis much, and if the now Chelsea man is looking for first-team football, is there a better team that Dewsbury Hall can be guaranteed minutes with?

I mean, just look at what happened on Boxing Day…