From Newcastle to Nottingham Forest, rumblings of discontent have of late been felt across the length and breadth of the Premier League – a sure sign that the summer transfer window is drawing to a close.
It’s the time of year when players agitate for moves, managers agitate for signings, and beleaguered owners are just, well, agitated.
Marco Silva’s discontent over Fulham’s lack of activity on the transfer front may not be quite as explosive as Alexander Isak’s talk of “broken promises” at St James’ Park, or Nuno Espirito Santo’s admission that “there is no smoke without fire” where rumours that Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis may about to sack him are concerned, but his frustration is no less real for that.
He articulated it forcefully in advance of Manchester United’s visit to Craven Cottage on Sunday lunchtime, suggesting the club’s summer transfer strategy has failed.
‘The plan has fallen through’
“At this stage of last season we had two, three players in,” said Silva, whose only new acquisition so far is the veteran French goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte, signed as cover for Bernd Leno.
“This season, we had a plan, the plan has fallen through. It’s our fault, not active at all. We cannot be pleased at all. The plan has been there for many many months. We agreed on our direction.
“Now is the moment to take the best decisions we can. We have 10 days; in May, we had almost three months. We’re still working to correct things we haven’t done in the last three months.
“I cannot tell you that someone is going to arrive tomorrow, or in two days’ time, because I’m not sure – and, to be honest, I have big doubts that it’s going to happen.”
The good news for the Portuguese manager is that Rodrigo Muniz, the Brazilian striker whose last-gasp goal rescued a point in the season opener against Brighton, appears likely to stay after being linked with a move to Atalanta.
“I’m counting on him, let’s see what is going to happen,” said Silva. “I cannot guarantee 100% but, yes, Rodrigo is likely to stay with us and let’s hope we can renew his contract.”
Since joining Fulham four years ago, Silva has led the club to promotion from the Championship and made them a mid-table fixture in the Premier League. Last season, he guided Fulham to a club record Premier League points total as they finished 11th.
‘We have to go in a different direction right now’
Unsurprisingly, Silva has himself been the subject of transfer interest over the course of his tenure, reportedly declining lucrative offers from the Saudi Pro League.
Fulham could ill afford to lose him and, while there is no immediate reason to suppose Silva might be considering his future, his frustration at Fulham’s transfer inertia is plain.
“The [summer transfer] plan failed until now, it is clear,” he said. “We need solutions in the forward line, we are short in certain positions there, we need another midfielder to come in as well.
“Some of our targets or the main targets are no more, we have to go in a different direction right now.”
If Fulham don’t, there may just come a point when Silva does.
