Marco Silva frustrated by Fulham transfers as Aleksandar Mitrovic returns to squad

In charge: Marco Silva
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Nizaar Kinsella29 July 2023

Marco Silva has vented his frustration at Fulham’s transfer activity but has no concerns over reintegrating Aleksandar Mitrovic after his return.

The 28-year-old is back training with Fulham in the United States after seeing two bids from Al-Hilal rejected.

Mitrovic wants a move to Saudi Arabia which would see him triple his wages but Al-Hilal are reluctant to pay over £50m.

Silva is happy to have Mitrovic back with the group and dismissed concerns about his mindset.

He told reporters: “Yes, Mitrovic is back. It is a process and it is not an easy situation. I am not here to talk about the negotiations and clubs that are linked with him. He is with the group since two days ago. Let’s hope we get him as fit as we can in the next few days.

“For me, Mitrovic never was hard to manage. Never, never, never. A lot of people say he has an aura around him but people who know him know he was never a problem or difficult to manage.

“He was so easy to manage in the beginning of the pre-season and he will be if he stays. Mitro knows me, I know him very well -- he knows the group we are working with. Everything I said to him and everything he said to me will be between me and him.”

Fulham have signed Raul Jimenez and Calvin Bassey but Silva still wants a host of other players amid ongoing talks for both Callum Hudson-Odoi and Fode Ballo-Toure.

“Unfortunately, we need many still. We have some important players injured,” he said. “I hope they can come sooner. We have just two full backs, we need a midfielder too and we have just two wingers so we need another two wingers.

“We have completed our central defenders. I needed these players 15 days or 20 days ago, not now.”

Silva also gave an update on his midfielder Joao Palhinha, who suffered a shoulder injury in the recent friendly against Brentford.

He said: “It will be difficult for him to be available for the first Premier League match.

“We have to see week by week how he is going. He is getting better every day. He is not working on the pitch. He is doing some gym and we will see if we can get him on the pitch next week.”

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