Everton make enquiry for midfielder Jean-Michael Seri
By Dom Toner | The Boot Room | Published on December 28, 2019
Everton have reportedly made contact about Fulham midfielder Jean-Michael Seri, who is currently out on loan at Turkish club Galatasaray. The Ivory Coast international left Craven Cottage in the summer on a season-long loan to join Galatasaray.
According to Foot Mercato, both Everton and Monaco have started discussions with the 28-year-old's representatives about a potential move in January.
The report explains they have enquired about his future and it's believed that Toffees manager Carlo Ancelotti was already eyeing him when he was Napoli boss. It's unclear whether Seri's loan deal could be ripped up midway through the season, but it looks like he's in demand ahead of the January transfer window.
Seri is a tenacious central midfielder full of energy and also has an eye for goal when he drives forward. (Editor's note: Have any of these people actually seen him play in the last eighteen months?)
The Boot Room's View:
It would be a smart move for Ancelotti to strengthen his midfield at Goodison Park in the January window, as it seems a little lightweight at the minute and a fresh body should help the squad.
Seri is an intriguing target that is building his reputation back up in Turkey with Galatasaray and has played Champions League football with them this season.
He was an exciting midfielder that was the total package when he was previously at Lille, but his spell in England so far saw him flop with Fulham and suffer a relegation from the Premier League.
There would definitely be a risk behind bringing him to Merseyside, but Ancelotti should be backed to sign the players he wants.
(Photo by ANP Sport via Getty Images)
Fulham loanee informs club he's not happy,
now likely to leave next month
By Nihat Emre Kocaaslan - SPORT WITNESS | 24th December 2019
According to Haberturk reporter Ayhan Sensoy, Fulham's Jean Michael Seri has informed the Championship club he's not happy at Galatasaray.
The Ivorian midfielder joined the Turkish side on a season-long loan deal during the last transfer window, but it's safe to say his move to the Super Lig has been far from a success.
He's now struggling to get regular games under his belt, and is widely seen as one of the reasons Galatasaray have struggled in their defence of their league title this season.
Sensoy adds it's very likely the Fulham loanee will leave the Turkish side once the January transfer window opens and it seems the 28 year old needs to find himself a new club once again.
With Fulham in the second tier it's unlikely he will return to London in January and he may need to find another club willing to take him on loan.
Seri has made 17 appearances in all competitions for Gala and scored one goal. His Fulham contract will expire at the end of June 2022.
http://sportwitness.co.uk/fulham-loanee-informs-club-hes-not-happy-now-likely-leave-next-month/
'I'm looking forward to playing them' Leeds United's rivals smell blood amid changing promotion picture
https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/im-looking-forward-playing-them-17716599
Brentford and Fulham could potentially move ahead of Leeds in midweek
By Nestor Watach | Leeds Live |13:15, 9 FEB 2020
'Everything is slipping away' The national press weigh in on another Leeds United defeat
https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/everything-slipping-away-national-press-17715651
The Championship has a reputation as one of the most open and competitive leagues in the world and it’s certainly living up to that billing with seven teams within six points of one another at the top of the table.
The race for automatic promotion had threatened to be something of a dead rubber after Leeds and West Brom moved 11 and 12 points clear of third following long winning streaks going into December, but both sides have since suffered slumps that have allowed the chasing pack to catch up.
Fulham are now level with Leeds on points, behind on goal difference, while Forest and Brentford are one and two points behind, respectively. Preston North End and Bristol City - who Leeds welcome to Elland Road next Saturday - are both five points behind, sixth and seventh in the table.
On Tuesday evening, Leeds face Brentford, who beat Middlesbrough 3-2 yesterday. It will be the club’s last-ever visit to Griffin Park, a ground they’ve failed to win at since 1950.
"I'm looking forward to that game,” said Frank following Brentford’s win, in which they found a late winner having been pegged back twice by Jonathan Woodgate’s Smoggies.
“It's going to be a fantastic one to be part of. It'll be between two of the best teams in this division.
"Both want to dominate, both want to press high and play aggressively. So I hope it will be a top game to watch and be part of and, hopefully, we will get three points.
"And what character, attitude and mentality are in this team. We created the final goal just by outplaying them.
"That is the biggest thing for me to take out of this game — the way we kept going to get that winner."
Leeds have now lost four of their last five games in the league, and another defeat in midweek would see them fall out of the top two for the first time since October.
They could potentially fall as low as fifth, with third-place Fulham away at Millwall and Nottingham Forest at home to Charlton in midweek.
Back-to-back defeats over the week ahead might even see Leeds fall out of the top six altogether, with Bristol City potentially in with a chance of leapfrogging the Whites if they can beat Derby on Tuesday.
This is from @liveleedsunited
Leeds had an opportunity to move 15 points clear of Fulham when they visited Craven Cottage shortly before Christmas, but Fulham won 2-1 and have since kicked on from there, taking advantage of Leeds’ slump in form by winning five of their last seven games.
"I'm really pleased to keep the pressure on near the top," said Parker after Fulham moved level with Leeds with a 1-0 win away to Blackburn Rovers.
"At one point we were 13 or 14 points off it. But in this league if you take your eye off the ball for one second you get a jab on the nose."
Fulham manager Scott Parker and Brentford boss Thomas Frank have given their assessment of the table after it changed complexion with Leeds United’s 2-0 defeat at Nottingham Forest.