Filed under: Fulham, Europa League (UEFA), Premier League, Football, Transfer News
Martin Jol said he would treat his Fulham players to "a little holiday" after their 3-0 Europa League first qualifying first leg victory over NSI Runavik. Which was fitting, considering the time of year, because that is exactly what his players should have been doing rather than playing competitive football.Jol himself might have been expected to be formulating transfer targets for his team, which, if they take the Europa League seriously, could be in for a season in excess of 60 games - even without taking into account domestic cup runs.
But he looks likely to be able to put his feet up as well this week, giving him an opportunity to indulge in his other sporting passion, tennis, after revealing there will be precious little movement of players into the club.
His predecessor Mark Hughes was interested in signing Eidur Gudjohnsen, who spent the second half of last term on loan at Craven Cottage, but when Jol was asked whether that was now dead in the water, he simply folded his arms and nodded.
Similarly when Birmingham's Liam Ridgewell was mentioned, as he has been linked with a move to the west London club, Jol merely smiled and said: "No."
So are there any players coming to Craven Cottage? In short, it seems not, because Jol is happy with who is already there.
His two strikers on Thursday night Andy Johnson and Bobby Zamora looked sharp and could have had at least a couple of goals each against the Faroe Islands outfit of NSI Runavik if it wasn't for the form of keeper Andras Gango. And afterwards Jol was effusive about that pair, as well as Mousa Dembele, the Belgian forward who is currently nursing an ankle injury.
When asked whether there was any transfer news in the offing to make fans happy, Jol said: "I think we will make them happy anyway. We have a good squad here. Andy and Bobby were good tonight, they are both terrific players. And you cannot forget Mousa. He is a very good player, a good talent. I am happy I can pick two players from them."
He is right: Hughes did leave him with a decent squad, especially when Clint Dempsey ("he was last season's most productive player," said Jol) and Mexican left-back Carlos Salcido return from international duty.
So it seems that it will be quiet at Fulham this summer, to match the suburban surroundings of their Motspur Park training ground. The only man who Jol would say may make an arrival at Craven Cottage is Hungarian goalkeeper Csaba Somogyi, who the manager already knew about while at Ajax.
Jol said: "He came in when I was at Ajax and the goalkeeping staff said he was terrific, but I had four keepers. But I thought he is worth a look here."
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