Fulham announced the appointment of the former Real Madrid manager earlier this week and are looking to make their first signing in the Alvaro Arbeloa era.
After arriving, Arbeloa said: “I am truly honored to be taking on a new role at London’s oldest club, Fulham FC. I feel a huge responsibility and am deeply grateful to Mr. and Tony Khan for the trust they have shown in me at Fulham in the Premier League.”
“I’m really looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere at Craven Cottage with the Fulham fans and starting pre-season with the players next week. I’m sure we’ll enjoy a great journey together.”
With Marco Silva’s successor in place, the Cottage’s next task is to strengthen their squad in the transfer market, and they are currently in contention to sign Southampton midfielder Shay Charles.
Football Fancast Verdict | |
|---|---|
reliability | Fulham are known to be keen on signing midfielders, as well as centre-forwards and wingers. Strengthening the center of the park could be particularly important given the interest in Sander Berge, so Charles could be a smart addition. |
finances | The Northern Irishman is valued at around £25m, with interest from Premier League rivals Leeds United, meaning the Cottage may have to pay a relatively high fee to seal the deal. |
insight | The midfielder has only made one appearance in the Premier League, but has experience at Championship level, scoring four goals and providing seven assists in 106 appearances. |
impact | Like Berge, the Southampton star primarily plays in a defensive role and could be used as a direct replacement for the Norwegian international. |
Fulham keen to sign Southampton’s Shay Charles
According to a report from Sky Sports, Fulham are in the race to sign Charles, along with Leeds and Crystal Palace.
The 22-year-old has just one year left on his contract at St Mary’s, but Saints have the option to extend it by a further year, putting them in a good position in negotiations.
Shay Charles could be an ‘outstanding’ addition to Arbeloa’s midfield
The Northern Ireland star, who has 35 caps, could be a great addition to Arbeloa’s first signing, with national team manager Michael O’Neill praising him: “I have to say Shay was outstanding. The amount of ball he recovered and won from second favorite when he didn’t have the ball. And using the ball the way he did.”
In last season’s Championship, the Southampton star showed off his defensive solidity, averaging 2.1 tackles per 90, while Berge averaged 1.8 tackles per 90 at Fulham in the Premier League.
Importantly, the Manchester-born midfielder is also a versatile midfielder, as evidenced by his attacking flair, which saw him score six goals and provide two assists in 38 appearances in all competitions last season.
Ville Berge has attracted interest from Manchester United and it may be difficult for Fulham to keep hold of him this summer, but Charles has the makings of a solid replacement.
