There’s a new era in West London.
No, not that one!
If the truth be known, there’s been a new soap opera there every year since 2022 there and none of those have been particularly successful.
No. I’m talking about life at a more tranquil setting across West London by the Thames.
For the last five years, Marco Silva has overseen a quiet evolution and worked wonders to establish the Cottagers as a bona fide Premier League club after a period of ‘yo yoing’ between the top flight and the Championship.
That the Portuguese boss achieved this, making this SBOTOP observer sit up and take notice from their first game back in the big time, is to his credit – especially as he has seen a number of his key performers leave for pastures new.
Now for the next chapter.
That Fulham have attracted, as his replacement, someone who has just spent four months in charge at Real Madrid is a coup.
But then you look closely at the situation in the Spanish capital and ask the question, can Alvaro Arbeloa really take them forward and deliver Premier League 2026 highlights?
Of course, no amount of Premier League 2026 betting odds could have anticipated the managerial merry-go-round trio that has developed here.
Jose Mourinho has returned for the second time to the Real hotseat; Silva has replaced his countryman at Benfica and, to complete the loop, Arbeloa has filled the Fulham vacancy.
I said in January that I felt Madrid were making a huge mistake in parting company with Xabi Alonso and replacing him with a rookie in Arbeloa.
So it proved and now the 43-year-old Spaniard faces a far more realistic test of his managerial worth.
Rather than a matter of months in the pressure cooker of Madrid, he should , though, have time to shape a squad and see if he can maintain and, ultimately, build on the fine work of Silva.
His first foray into strengthening the squad has been frustrating with Real informing them that striker Gonzalo Garcia, who featured under Arbeloa in the second half of last season, is not for sale.
During Arbeloa’s short stint in charge, Garcia scored four goals in all competitions and earned his first and, to date, only senior Spain cap, playing 45 minutes in a 1-1 draw with Iran. He was not called up to the Spanish squad for the World Cup.
Depth in attack is a priority after losing Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez upon the expiry of their contracts. Wilson and Jimenez scored 19 Premier League goals between them last season as Fulham finished 11th.
They’ve also lost centre back Issa Diop who has signed a four year deal to join promoted Ipswich Town following a four-year stint at Craven Cottage.
The 29-year-old, who featured in five of Morocco’s matches as they reached the World Cup quarter-finals, joined the Cottagers from West Ham in August 2022.
While Fulham took up their option to make Jonah Kusi Asare’s move to the club permanent last month, they have still yet to sign a single new player this summer – granted the season doesn’t start for nearly a month.
Incomings could appear as soon as the next few days if reports are accurate.
Fulham are contenders to sign Juventus striker Lois Openda to replace Jimenez (who has returned to Wolves) and, while they are said to be interested in Monaco frontman Folarin Balogun, Openda appears to be in the frame as an alternative option.
There are also rumours linking them with a move to Shea Charles, also wanted by Leeds who have failed to meet Southampton’s valuation.
If Arbeloa can bring him to Craven Cottage, it will be an interesting move.
One thing is certain, they need firepower, a need they identified when they went for but pulled out of a deal to sign PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi towards the end of last season.
As it stands, I think Fulham will be hard pushed to replicate their 11th place finish and Arbeloa is an unproven appointment.
Can he take them to new heights or was the Silva story the best it can get?
We are about to find out.
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