Whose contracts should Fulham renew this summer?

It was a quiet January for Fulham. This should be taken as a good sign. I’ve never been a big fan of the January window. It is usually the clubs that are delivering below expectations that resort to spending money in last-minute deals that can often be forgotten by the season’s conclusion.

So, it’s no surprise then that this window has been quieter than the summer. Fulham spent big in 2024. The new signings have been largely successful; players have begun to gel. But I wouldn’t say the side is full of players playing at their peak.

Emile Smith Rowe is still getting back to his best, and we’ve seen only glimpses of that. Sander Berge is proving to be a very controlled and physical presence, but he can give more. Joachim Andersen has been great in patches, but still finding consistency. Reiss Nelson has been injured of late but has proved he is the kind of winger the club need in the squad. Ryan Sessegnon has been great value, purely for the vibes. Like a lot of clubs, a settled squad is only settled for a while. With the entrance door shut, the exit door is creeping open.

Calling time on Tete?

Fulham have two players out of contract in the summer: Kenny Tete and our captain Tom Cairney. Fulham also have two players with one-year options that can be triggered – Raul Jimenez and Adama Traore. So, we have ourselves with another contract situation. Last summer Tosin, Willian, and Bobby De Cordova Reid were all out of contract in June. Fulham lost all three players come August. A similar pattern could be emerging, depending on the talks that ensue as the season draws to a close.

Judging by Kenny Tete’s early performances, and the fact that the club want to sign another right-back, we might be able to tell that his position is seen as a bit of a weak link for the team. Timothy Castagne has been a great understudy, but Tete’s injuries and his age are factors that suggest offering him a long-term deal is not the long-term solution.

Perhaps Fulham offer him a short-term deal while signing a hot prospect looking for first team minutes? Or maybe Kenny Tete is left looking for another club in the summer, with Fulham opting to strengthen in that position. If Kyle Walker’s loan spell at AC Milan goes well, then the club may look to Emerson Royal. Fulham have made themselves first in the queue for his services if Walker’s loan is made permanent. Either way, I think the club are preparing for some movement in the right-back position. Both Castagne and Tete are great players, but Tete’s situation offers food for thought.

Raul a dead cert

Raul Jimenez’s performances this season have been remarkable. There have been occasions where he has been, by far, the outstanding performer in our group. Each of his nine goals have put Fulham ahead or have put us level. That is a player you want to keep. So, I suspect that is a no-brainer for the club. Fulham are likely to trigger the one-year extension and spend that time looking for a quality replacement if the last year of his deal proves to be the twilight of his career at this level. Rodrigo Muniz is a great player no doubt and will continue to improve, but Jimenez has proven himself as the starting number nine. He could get 15 goals this term. He would make the fanbase look slightly sheepish if he does.

Adios Adama?

Adama Traore is a tricky one. It will largely depend on what he wants to do. The club are no doubt happy to have him, he is a unique player with primed Premier League attributes. There is a conversation to be had about this season being one of his most successful since his days at Wolves. The club have indicated they want to strengthen in this position too. Adama has achieved a lot at this level, there are games where he could tear opposition teams apart with his powerful running, however if he is tempted by a move away from the Premier League I wouldn’t blame him. A different challenge elsewhere could be the kind of environment he needs to prove all the doubters wrong.

Fulham have rehabilitated him somewhat after some disappointing performances at Wolves, is he now ready for one final move to push on to higher levels? There will probably be lengthy conversations with the player to understand his motivations. If the club are convinced he wants to remain part of the project, then there is no harm in giving him one more year. Especially when the club spent so much last summer. But if he’s not up for another year of potential criticism about his final product in a team where there is strong competition, then a hungrier player could be an option the club choses to explore.

A captain’s conundrum

Tom Cairney is the hardest and most challenging player to discuss. He’s just had a sharp new trim. He must be thinking, what can I do to prove I’ve still got bags of quality to offer? He is a leader off the pitch, and his influence as a finisher on the pitch is brilliant. He is so gifted in possession; I wonder if feels as though he could have played at one of the top clubs. The problem he has is that he is not exactly the kind of midfielder Marco Silva likes. Silva likes dynamic football, quick passing, and high pressing. Tom Cairney can come on for 20 minutes in a game when Fulham are level. He can slow the game down, relieve pressure by buying a foul and occasionally look a threat going forward.

However, as Fulham begin to be a club that looks up the table, do Fulham think that is the kind of position they want to have a long-term solution for? Would they rather find a talented individual who can play Cairney’s role in the team, but can do it for the next three to five years at an increasing level of quality. So often Cairney has been brought on with full the confidence of his manager to help the team. For the club to invest in another player, who will need to be trusted in a similar way, would likely be a risk because…ain’t nobody like Tom Cairney.

Unless Marco Silva can pull another Joao Palhinha out of the hat, I wouldn’t twist on TC just yet. A nightmare situation would be Cairney going to a Premier League rival next year and finding success in a system that suits him slightly better than the one he is currently playing in. Whatever happens next summer, we all know he is a class act, he deserves a testimonial when the time comes.

Fulham can be grateful that January has been quiet, as contracts run down once more among first team players. They can turn their minds to the summer now and start to prepare. This group still has a lot to prove this season. If Fulham make Europe, they’re going to need all the squad depth they can get. At that point, you’d like to think all four will probably be staying. Things don’t always turn out that way though, and come the summer, sacrifices may be made to one or two fan favorites if the club wants to push for Europe again next year.