Fulham expecting Joao Palhinha replacement before transfer window closes

Marco Silva has revealed Fulham will sign a replacement for Joao Palhinha in the last weeks of the transfer window.

Portugal international Palhinha joined Bayern Munich last month for a reported £42.3million fee, plus a potential £4.2m in add-ons.

Cottagers boss Silva acknowledged Sasa Lukic and Harrison Reed can play the holding midfielder role, but a new face is expected in that position before the August 30 deadline.

Speaking ahead of Fulham’s Premier League opener against Manchester United on Friday night, Silva said: “We are going to sign a player.

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“We are pleased that we have Sasa Lukic and Harrison Reed who can play in that position, but yes, we are going to sign a player in that position.

“I would prefer to have the players that we need during pre-season, but the Premier League is tough on and off the pitch and sometimes we have to be patient.

“The most important thing is that we know what we want and what we need.

“The board are pushing, working hard and hopefully they can sign the players we need and we are working all together to achieve it.”

Fulham enjoyed a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford in February courtesy of Alex Iwobi’s late strike.

The reverse fixture at Craven Cottage saw United captain Bruno Fernandes snatch the points for Erik ten Hag’s side, but Silva wants Fulham to make it difficult for their opponents once again.

“They know what we are capable of doing every time we play them,” Silva added. “Hopefully we can repeat at least the same type of performance that we did in the last two seasons. I will be pleased as a manager if I see my team play in that way.

“Bruno Fernandes is a top player, I think he’s a crucial player for them, he’s their captain, every time he’s on the pitch he can have an impact, he can make assists and has tactical knowledge of a really high level.

“We need to be aware of his qualities because he can decide the match in any moment of the game.”

Tosin Adarabioyo, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Willian, Tim Ream and Palhinha are notable exits from west London this summer.

After Fulham splashed out a club-record fee on Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal, Silva believes they need to continue their rebuild ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

He said: “The squad is far from completed. We lost players like Tosin, Tim Ream, Bobby, Joao, Willian, these were starting XI and crucial players for us. We have to rebuild again like last season when we lost Aleksandar Mitrovic.”

Silva reported no fresh injury problems for Friday’s clash.