Marco Silva is not a happy man. If you've watched his post-match pressers lately, you can see it in the way he adjusts his jacket. He’s restless. The January 2026 window is open, and for a club sitting 11th in the Premier League, Fulham feels like it’s at a massive crossroads. The big talking point right now—the one everyone is whispering about at the local pubs near the Cottage—is the hunt for a new striker.
Raul Jimenez is 34. He’s been a warrior, honestly, but he can't carry the load alone, especially with Rodrigo Muniz sidelined by injury. Enter Ricardo Pepi.
The fulham football club latest transfer news is currently dominated by this £35 million tug-of-war with PSV Eindhoven. Fulham already slapped a £26 million bid on the table. PSV said no. They’re 11 points clear at the top of the Eredivisie and basically told Fulham to go away unless the money gets closer to £40 million.
It's a classic January stalemate.
The Pepi Gamble and the Striker Crisis
Why Pepi? He’s 22, he’s fast, and he’s been clinical in the Champions League this season. Fulham needs that "box poacher" energy that's been missing. Marco Silva knows his squad is thin. He’s been vocal—maybe too vocal for the owners' liking—about how the summer business was "too little, too late."
The Whites only brought in four players in the summer of 2025. Only one cost more than a half-million pounds. That’s not exactly "pushing for Europe" money.
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Current Striker Options at the Cottage:
- Raul Jimenez: The aging veteran. Reliable but needs his minutes managed.
- Jonah Kusi-Asare: On loan from Bayern. He’s talented but raw.
- Rodrigo Muniz: Currently out.
If Pepi doesn't happen, the backup plan is looking a bit murky. There are whispers about Manchester City’s Oscar Bobb. He’s 22 and has had a nightmare with injuries, but the talent is undeniable. City might let him go because they just signed Antoine Semenyo from Bournemouth, which crowds their frontline even more.
The Winger Merry-Go-Round: Traore and Sterling
Then there’s the Adama Traore situation. It feels like we’ve been here before, doesn’t it? Reports are getting louder that he’s heading to West Ham for a small fee. Nuno Espirito Santo wants him, and frankly, a lot of Fulham fans seem ready to say goodbye. The "final product" frustrations have just become too much.
Who replaces him?
The name Raheem Sterling is doing the rounds. Yeah, that Raheem Sterling. He’s the "forgotten man" at Chelsea right now. Word is he turned down West Ham because he prefers a move to Fulham. But—and it’s a big but—his wages are astronomical. He’d have to take a massive pay cut to fit into the structure at Motspur Park.
Silva is great at revitalizing "broken" players. He did it with Willian. He did it with Iwobi. Could Sterling be his next project? It’s a gamble that could either get Fulham into the top seven or leave them with a very expensive bench warmer.
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Midfield Concerns and the AFCON Hole
Honestly, the biggest headache for Silva right now isn't even the transfers—it's the absences.
Nigeria is deep into the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and they’ve taken Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze with them. That’s three starters gone in one go. Silva slammed the club’s strategy in December, saying they should’ve been better prepared for this.
You can see why he’s annoyed.
Midfield Targets to Watch:
- Hayden Hackney: The Middlesbrough star is the big one. He scored against Fulham in the FA Cup recently and looked like the best player on the pitch. Boro wants a "sizeable fee," but he’s exactly the kind of progressive, energetic body Fulham lacks when Iwobi is away.
- Brazilian Midfielders: There are vague links to a €20m-rated Brazilian playing in Turkey (Galatasaray), but those feel more like agent talk than concrete deals right now.
- Chibuzo Nwoko: He’s already gone the other way, joining Forest Green Rovers on loan to get some senior minutes.
What Most People Get Wrong About Fulham’s Strategy
There's this idea that the Khans don't spend. They do. They've written off hundreds of millions in debt. The issue is timing.
Silva wants his players in July, not at 11:00 PM on Deadline Day. He takes forever to "bed in" new signings. If Pepi or Sterling arrives on February 1st, we might not see them start a game until mid-March. That’s just how Marco rolls.
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Also, watch the contract situations. Harry Wilson is in the form of his life—seven goals and four assists this season—but his deal is winding down. Same with Tom Cairney. If Fulham doesn't secure these guys soon, they might find themselves having to replace half a squad in the summer, which is a recipe for disaster in the Premier League.
The Verdict on the Winter Window
This window is everything for Marco Silva’s future. His contract is up soon. He wants to see ambition. If the board doesn't land a striker like Pepi or a high-quality winger, he might decide he’s taken this team as far as it can go.
Actionable Insights for Fulham Fans:
- Watch the Pepi Valuation: If Fulham goes to £32m-£35m, expect movement. If they stay at £26m, the deal is dead.
- The Boro Connection: Keep a very close eye on Hayden Hackney. He’s the "Silva type" of player—technical, hard-working, and ready for the step up.
- The Sterling Factor: Don't expect this one early. This feels like a "Deadline Day Special" where Chelsea blinks on the wage contribution.
Fulham is only three points off the European places. One or two smart additions could turn a "good" season into a historic one. But if they dither like they did in the summer, it'll be another case of "what if" at the Cottage.
Immediate Next Steps:
Keep an eye on the official club announcements regarding Adama Traore’s medical at West Ham; his departure is likely the "green light" the club needs to finalize an incoming winger. Additionally, monitor PSV’s squad selection for their next match—if Pepi is left out or starts on the bench, it’s a massive signal that negotiations have intensified.