Fulham has had a fantastic few weeks, with a last-minute winner at Old Trafford and a convincing victory over Brighton in front of their home fans. Marco Silva is undoubtedly dealing with a difficult season.
One of the most distinguishing features of this time has been the team’s versatility. Fulham are only now becoming more clear on a few points as the season comes to an end. To begin, Rodrigo Muniz has emerged from his growth cocoon, Tom Cairney has enjoyed an Indian summer in the starting XI, and Tosin and Calvin Bassey have proven to be the greatest centre-back pairing.
Rock solid.
The partnership has only started seven league games as a unit. Fulham has won five of those (save for Bournemouth and Burnley). Three of those five were clean sheet performances. The remaining two victories were over Arsenal and Manchester United. So, at this point, neutrals will be wondering why they have not begun more games together. Their combined record is quite good.
We know Tosin is injured, and Bassey has been abroad at AFCON. In some ways, their absence has demonstrated that this Fulham team, with these two in the rear, is capable of much more.
Hopefully, Tosin understands that a defensive collaboration like the one we’re presently witnessing can lead to excellent results. There will be an obvious desire to move away to play football at a higher level. But he has established such strong roots at Fulham that if he stays for two – or even three – years, he will undoubtedly accumulate more achievements and then secure a move once his brilliance is evident. A transfer away now would appear silly considering that he has yet to persuade major teams to invest, he would have to compete for game time, and he might be asked to accept not being a first-choice.
The club can take use of this fact. At this point, with Tosin out of contract in the summer, they are losing money on a player with exceptional skills. He’s still only 26, so portions of his game will continue to grow. He is also an English player who may fit into a very fragile England back line. The sky is the limit, yet he can only travel sideways for the time being.
What if he stayed?
What would Tosin’s contract look like? He will undoubtedly demand a larger salary, and the club may be forced to accept it if they do not want to lose a first-team player for free. The club may have to recommend that he receive a starting XI guarantee. A release clause that will allow him to make that huge transfer if he is indeed granted one. A clean sheet incentive to help you focus during the term? Perhaps a level of clearance bonus?
In any case, Fulham will be grateful that a player of this caliber has yet to demonstrate his full potential this season. There are still two months left in the season, and he’ll need to produce consistently high-quality work to increase his wage. The top teams are unlikely to take a large gamble on him right now, as he still has lapses and sudden lack of concentration. He has lost more than half of his duels and made one direct error that resulted in a goal while wearing a Fulham shirt.
Tosin has made 13 appearances this season, with six victories, three draws, and four losses. Furthermore, he outperforms Ruben Dias and Gabrielle Magalhaes in terms of tackle success. The point to make is that there is potentially genuine underlying value here, which Fulham will hopefully look at when making an offer. They may consider themselves fortunate that he hasn’t played much; the offer would almost certainly be bigger, and the decision may have already been made for them.
What if he leaves?
If he decides not to stay, an inquest will be held to determine how to replace him. Tim Ream has signed an extension to fill in temporarily, and Issa Diop has proven capable of holding his own. However, a long-term solution would be needed. Tosin would cost nothing to replace, and Fulham might opt to sign a young player who could ultimately take over the role, saving money. Otherwise, they’ll have to look to the market, and we know that Marco Silva prefers Premier League experience in his signings. Joachim Anderson would be welcomed back at Fulham, and with Oliver Glasner facing a difficult situation at Palace, he may be enticed to return to the Cottage. Trevor Chalobah is out of favour at Chelsea. Fulham will most likely target these types of marginal players.
With the additional challenges of transfer costs and player integration, I’m sure the club will want Tosin to engage in meaningful discussions about his future. Fulham will promise him what he wants if he is upfront about his ambitions. Marco will want to keep him in the set-up. If Tosin is yearning for a move away, the last thing you want on your roster is a player who isn’t committed to the long term goal. So, selling him more wonderful moments, such as his final penalty against Everton, and reminding him that the club will listen to offers from large clubs while he is still under contract, will undoubtedly be the key to keeping him.
