Joao Palinha has become the key player at Fulham. The defensive midfielder is so instrumental as a destroyer in Marco Silva's side that in the summer Bayern Munich were willing to pay mega bucks for the Portuguese international. That move collapsed as the transfer window closed but it's highly anticipated that the move will complete during the upcoming January window.
Palinha will be very difficult to replace. But Fulham are going to have to try. Here's a trio options that come somewhat close to Joao Palinha's profile that Fulham should consider as a replacement, ranging from domestic based established players to youngsters from the continent.
Kalvin Phillips, 28 (Manchester City)
Johann Lepenant, 21 (Lyon)
Eric Martel, 21 (FC Koln)
Kalvin Phillips needs a way out of Manchester City. He'll want to play regular football in the run up to the European Championships as he looks to cement a position in Gareth Southgate's England starting XI, let alone squad. A loan move to Fulham could suit both the player and the London club if they a short term, stop gap solution to the Palinha problem. A permanent transfer would work also. Phillips may not be viewed as good enough for Guardiola but he's too good to be bench warming. Medal collecting he may be but playing enough football, he isn't.
Two players from the continent who show up well on defensive data from a midfield position are France under 21 international, Johann Lepenant at Lyon and Germany under 21 international Eric Martel at FC Koln. Both players are playing in struggling sides, fighting relegation in their respective divisions yet and a deal could be there to be done. Martel came through at RB Leipzig and after a loan to Austria Vienna he moved to current club Koln in July'22 for just over one million euros. In a struggling Bundesliga side, Martel has stood out and Fulham could do worse than look to the future with him. Similar comments apply to Lepenant, although he hasn't featured as much for Lyon as Martel has for Koln. He signed for Lyon for just over four million euros from Caen in July'22.
Maybe a loan for Phillips and the signing of either Martel or Lepenant is the way Fulham should approach future proofing the impending Palinha departure?
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