Fulham

Drew Heatley
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

It had to be him.

Amid continued interest from Atalanta, Rodrigo Muniz's every move has been scrutinised. Reports early last week asserted he had "said his goodbyes", leading to fans analysing everything from his media day team shots to his team-mates' Instagram posts.

Separate rumours claimed Rodrigo asked not to play in our final pre-season match against Eintracht Frankfurt last week in order to avoid the risk of injury. But these whispers have proved to be false with the Brazilian named on the bench against Brighton.

Muniz is said to be looking for two things in order to stay at Craven Cottage: an improved contract and increased game time.

It is hard to argue against either. He has proved himself to be an integral element of Marco Silva's plans in the last two seasons, scoring 21 goals in all competitions since the start of 2023-24, sharing the goal-scoring load with Raul Jimenez. But at 34, his Mexican strike partner is 10 years his senior, with only a season or two left at this level. Time to pass the torch.

Then there is money. Rodrigo came to Fulham as an unproven 20-year-old back-up striker in the Championship and was paid accordingly. But four years on those terms haven't changed.

An offer is said to be on the table, so the ball is in Muniz's court. Let's just hope the club's contract reflects his importance to us.

If Muniz does go, we would have to replace him immediately. And while there are options to fill his gap on the pitch, off it will prove far harder. Rodrigo has endeared himself to Fulham fans with his UK sightseeing trips, samba dancing and love of fishing. He would be missed.

But for now he is still ours - and he is still proving his worth.

Signing of the summer? It would have to be him.

Find more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish, external

Mark Scott
Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

"Rodrigo Muniz, we want you to stay" was the chant from the away end after the Brazilian's last-gasp strike earned Fulham a point at Brighton, with noise last week claiming Atalanta were looking to sign him.

It wasn't just the fact he scored but the way he converted the chance which caught the eye - an elite piece of clinical finishing, and yet another he has bagged from the bench.

Muniz's seven goals as a sub since the start of last season is more than any other player in the division.

With him having only started a quarter of his Premier League games in 2024-25, Marco Silva must be weighing up making him a more regular fixture from the off - if Muniz is still at the club come the end of the window.

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Atalanta are hoping to negotiate a deal with Fulham to sign forward Rodrigo Muniz for about 40m euros (£34.5m) on Monday. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Brighton and Fulham.

Here are some of your comments:

Brighton fans

Chris: Seeing out games was a real problem last season, and it looks like that hasn't properly been solved with Fulham. No Europe if it continues to happen this season too.

Fran: Just like last season and before that and before that... we just cannot finish a game off. Had enough good chances to be well in front but no, we are too wasteful. It's all very well playing nice, tippy-tippy, backwards football but, at that stage of the game, we should just boot it out. Who cares if it is not pretty? We have got to learn and quickly.

Mark: Very disappointing from the Seagulls. Same problem as last season: can't defend a one-goal lead and can't get the second goal to kill the game. Two points dropped at home again to one of the poorer-quality teams in the league. We can't afford another season doing this.

Jon: This looked like a case of deja vous - slow-paced, sideways passing all the time, throwing a game away in stoppage time. Fabian Hurzeler says he wants more intensity, then sends a team out that he knows play slow-paced football. All that money spent sitting on the bench - changes must be made next week.

Bob: Time and time again we cannot hold on to a lead. We must have lost 12-15 points by letting in late goals. Drop Dunk.

Ben: Thought the manager would have learned from last season. You take off the players doing badly, not the ones doing the job! The first three substitutions basically changed the game and he seemed to be making more to try to sort it out. Can't take off Georginio Rutter. Based on last season, we will now finish ninth. Every point is vital, so shipping two in the first home game is dreadful.

Fulham fans

Larry: Phew! Maybe let's not sell Muniz?!

Rob: Lacklustre up top. Good in possession but go backwards in final third. Need some new faces desperately to freshen up and improve squad. Josh King was superb and we saw some good things from Smith Rowe when he came on. Need him to stay fit. We have to start Muniz to give us a physical presence up top and don't, in any circumstances, sell him. He will be in the Brazil squad in the World Cup, so play him.

Mario: Frustrating. Thank goodness for Muniz. A point is as good as it was going to be. I hope the owners realise they need to get themselves together and sort out the transfers.

Rob: Obviously, as a fan, these are the best moments to get a goal - the extra emotion, laughing at the home end emptying like the proverbial fire drill, a draw feeling like a win. On the flip side, I'm still underwhelmed at our slowish transitions from defence to attack. I think that's an area we can work on more.

Simon: Lucky to grab a point, Brighton dominated but couldn't finish us off. We can play better but a big plus was Josh King, who did well with the limited about of ball he had.

Danny: Neither Jimenez nor Muniz is a 20-plus-goals striker. Without a consistent goalscorer we will struggle to finish in the top half of the table, let alone get anywhere near the European places. The other problem Marco Silva needs to address is our inability to build on an opening goal or hang on to a lead. Far too many points squandered last season.

Pundits Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's opening Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

• Tottenham 3-0 Burnley

• Wolves 0-4 Manchester City

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham have made just one new signing this summer and Silva believes the club have been "passive" in their efforts to strengthen a squad who finished 11th last term.

Muniz, who has been linked with a move away from the Cottagers, showcased his clinical finishing with a well-taken equaliser.

The Brazilian has a reputation as Fulham's super-sub - and once again proved his worth having come off the bench to replace Raul Jimenez in the 66th minute.

Since the start of last season Muniz has more goals (seven) as a substitute than any other player in the Premier League - with only two of his past nine league goals coming when he has started.

Given Fulham's attacking options remain fairly limited, his departure would be a damaging blow for Silva.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Brighton's performance

What did you make of Fulham's display?

Come back to this page on Sunday to find a selection of your replies

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler hands a Premier League debut to left-back Maxim De Cuyper while fellow newbies Diego Coppola and Olivier Boscagli are on the bench.

Brighton XI: Verbuggen, Dunk, van Hecke, Wieffer, De Cuyper, O'Riley, Ayari, Baleba, Minteh, Mitoma, Rutter.

Subs: Steele, Gruda, Welbeck, Milner, Boscagli, Kadioglu, Gomez, Veltman, Coppola.

Fulham's only signing of the summer, goalkeeper, Benjamin Lecomte is on the bench.

Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Bassey, Anderson, Cuenca, Lukic, Berge, Wilson, Iwobi, Jimenez, King.

Subs: Lecomte, Reed, Muniz, Cairney, Adama, Pereira, Castagne, Diop, Emile Smith Rowe.

Five matches make up Saturday's Premier League action and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Aston Villa v Newcastle (12:30)

• Brighton v Fulham

• Sunderland v West Ham - BBC Radio 5 Live

• Tottenham v Burnley - BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Wolves v Manchester City (17:30) - BBC Radio 5 Live

All kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

I had a nightmare predicting Fulham last season because they were less consistent than usual at home, but picked up a few unexpected points away.

They haven't really added to their squad this summer, but under Marco Silva they are still a decent team who play attractive football.

It's Brighton I am backing here though, even if I do wonder what effect Joao Pedro leaving will have on the Seagulls - who were so exciting in attack at times last season.

The Seagulls have signed young Greek striker Charalampos Kostoulas, who has a big reputation but he is only 18 years old, so they will be relying on wily old Danny Welbeck - as well as Kaoru Mitoma - while Kostoulas adapts.

We had Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler on this week's Monday Night Club and it was really interesting to listen to him talk about all aspects of management.

Hurzeler said they had turned down bids for Mitoma in the past. We know Brighton's model is to sell players, but Hurzeler clearly has got ambition himself - and while players like Mitoma are there, they are going to be in the top half of the table.

I was thinking of being bold and starting the season by backing them to get a big win, but I'm going to be sensible - for once.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham ended last season with five defeats in their final seven matches but have failed to strengthen their squad over the summer, prompting concern from head coach Marco Silva.

Speaking ahead of their opening game away to Brighton, Silva said he was surprised by how "passive" the club had been, adding "I knew what I wanted and the plan was there but it hasn't happened – right now we need to reinforce".

The Whites are in talks with Shakhtar Donetsk for Brazilian winger Kevin, who could eventually cost a club-record fee of £40m, but to date they have brought in just one first-team player, fewer than any other Premier League club. Their solitary signing so far, 34-year-old goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte, joined for approximately £400,000, meaning the west London side also rank last for total spending.

Silva admitted on Thursday "in some positions we are very short in numbers" but he can at least take heart from results in pre-season. Fulham have won five of their six friendly games, including last weekend's 1-0 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt courtesy of a Raul Jimenez free-kick.

Brighton's outlay of approximately £68m is the seventh lowest by a top-flight side this summer, but it is worth noting they spent a league-high £196.6m last summer plus a further £40.8m in January.

One of the key questions for Albion boss Fabian Hurzeler is how to replace forward Joao Pedro following the Brazilian's £55m move to Chelsea.

The Seagulls have coped with the loss of star players before. When Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella and Alexis Mac Allister were sold, the profits were reinvested in emerging stars and that's the strategy they will again follow this season.

Two of the latest acquisitions are Greek forwards Charalampos Kostoulas, 18, and Stefanos Tzimas, 19.

Kostoulas arrived this summer for almost £30m after just 35 appearances and seven goals for Olympiakos. Tzimas, meanwhile, was signed earlier this year for over £20m but allowed to remain with Nuremberg for the remainder of the season. He ended the campaign with 12 goals in 24 appearances for the German second-tier club.

Both players are inexperienced and expected to be eased into action gradually but, given Brighton's track record, are likely to make their mark before too long.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's TV and radio commentators have picked a Fulham player who will be worth watching out for in the next few months.

Let's find out who he is.

Josh King

Age: 18 Position: Midfield Country: England

Tom Gayle: The time feels right for Fulham to release the handbrake from underneath Josh King. As I wrote back in February, the club has a history of struggling to keep hold of prodigious talents, so it is no surprise to see they have employed a more cautious, drip-feed approach when it comes to his development and exposure to first-team action.

Reading between the lines, the fact King signed a new long-term deal in July, his second contract agreement in the space of just over 18 months, says or in fact screams to me that a) there has been interest from other teams, and b) Fulham believe he is 'Premier League ready'.

Securing top-flight game time will not be easy, though. Right here and now, the experience of both Andreas Pereira and club-record signing Emile Smith Rowe, means they have a far greater claim to the number 10 position than the teenager.

Still, I have no doubt assurances will have been made to King regarding a significant increase in Premier League minutes over the coming year. Manager Marco Silva knows their demanding schedule will inevitably lead to the youngster being granted a 'next man up' moment. Given his impressive cameos to date, I expect King to flourish when given an opportunity.

Read the full piece here

We have looked into the age profile of Fulham' players for the 2025-26 season and recorded what percentage of minutes each of them played last campaign.

For the purpose of this exercise, we have deemed those under 24 as youth, between 24 and 30 as in their peak years and anyone over 30 to be a veteran.

The green represents new signings, who naturally did not play, red are those that have since left the club and yellow are all those that remain.

Fulham had six players over 30 last season but the majority of their squad was aged between 24 and 30 years old and arguably in their peak.

But Marco Silva does also have an ageing squad with the vast majority of those who played the most minutes last season in their late 20s, alongside older players like goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

Fulham only have two youth players aged under 24, so it can be presumed Silva prefers experience and age to developing raw talent.

With the way the squad is evolving too, now is the window for Fulham to be successful - and a rebuild may be needed in the next couple of years.

Fulham are showing interest in Manchester United and Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund, with AC Milan also pursuing a deal for the 22-year-old. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Karan Vinod
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Brighton at Amex Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There are no injuries but Silva confirmed full-back Antonee Robinson would not be available.

• Silva eased fitness concerns about Ryan Sesssegnon who was substituted during the final pre-season friendly: "It was just a precaution as he felt something. I think he took the right decision, he was involved in the morning session and let us see how he is going to react."

• He explained Fulham had two plans during the transfer window. Firstly, the plan was to renew the contracts of players such as Kenny Tete, Josh King, and Tom Cairney as these were "very important to do".

• The second plan was to improve the squad depth by bringing in numbers. Having only signed one player, Silva said it is "not the ideal scenario" and that the club "has been too passive."

• On whether he expected such a window: "If you ask me if I expected, of course not. It is what it is. The good thing was not having injuries during pre-season as in some positions we are very short. We want to have a squad that can play Premier League and are ready for what the league demands."

• He remains hopeful Fulham will make more signings before the window closes.

• On the future of Rodrigo Muniz following a bid from Atalanta: "It is not for me to comment on any type of offers, but he is going to be in contention for the Brighton game. Rodrigo knows what I think about him and how important he is."

• He said the ambitions for this season are to "want more and try to break records" after finishing with Fulham's highest Premier League points total in 2024-25.

• On Brighton: "Saturday is going to be a very tough game. They have a top and very mature striker. It is going to be demanding, but we are going to be ready for it. Both teams are going to be anxious for the first game of the season."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

BBC Sport's chief football writer Phil McNulty has offered up his annual predictions:

14) Fulham

Last season: 11th

It's been a very quiet summer at Fulham so far, though full-back Kenny Tete's decision to reject Everton stay at Craven Cottage is a big plus.

Fulham are confident there is no need for a big overhaul of Marco Silva's squad, with plenty of talent such as defender Anthonee Robinson, along with midfield players of the quality of Andreas Pereira and others. Harry Wilson can always be relied upon for an important contribution.

As with their summer, this will be another season of stability for Fulham under the tactically astute Silva. Mid-table perhaps - but with the capacity to do more and always trouble teams higher up the table.

There is, of course, plenty of time for Fulham to strike in the transfer market, with suggestions of a deal being discussed for Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian winger Kevin.

Read the full piece

Image source, Getty Images

The draw for the second round of the Carabao Cup has been made.

The EFL Cup remains regionalised in the early rounds, with the draw split into Northern and Southern sections until round three.

Here are the ties involving Premier League clubs:

Northern section

Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United

Burnley v Derby County

Everton v Mansfield Town

Grimsby Town v Manchester United

Sunderland v Huddersfield Town

Southern section

Bournemouth v Brentford

Fulham v Bristol City

Oxford United v Brighton

Wolves v West Ham United

The 23 second-round ties will take place during the week beginning 25 August.

See the full draw over here

Have you got a question about Fulham or is there a topic you want more information on? Have you spotted a theme or trend that needs further investigation?

Well, this season we're making it easier for you to get in touch and ask - and we will do our best to use our expertise here at BBC Sport to give you direct answers.

Our team can call upon a network of contacts - including our reporters, pundits and other experts - to find out everything you need to know.

No question is too big or too small, so fire away using the link below and we will answer the best of them throughout the campaign.

Ask about Fulham here

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