Fulham’s Leading Striker, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Set to Join Saudi Pro League After Disappointing Defeat
In a disappointing turn of events for Fulham in the Premier League, their prominent striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is set to leave the club. Manager Marco Silva broke the news after Fulham’s 3-0 defeat against Brentford on Saturday. Mitrovic, who has been the top goal-scorer for Fulham in four out of the last five seasons, was absent from the lineup due to an injury sustained in their season opener against Everton.
Silva revealed in a press conference at Craven Cottage that he had received information before the match, which was later confirmed by the club, about Mitrovic’s departure. He stated, Both clubs have reached an agreement, signifying the end of Mitrovic’s tenure with the club.
According to Silva, Mitrovic has shown strong determination in seeking a new challenge. He added, He pushed for this move and expressed his desire for a fresh start.
The specifics of the transfer between Fulham and Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal were not disclosed by the manager. Reports suggest that despite having three more years on his current contract with Fulham, Mitrovic chose to join Al-Hilal.
Earlier, Al-Hilal had made a bid of £25 million for the Serbian footballer, but Fulham rejected the offer, showing their intention to retain Mitrovic. However, recent rumors claim that Al-Hilal returned with a much larger offer of around £46 million, eventually convincing Fulham to agree to the transfer.
Silva acknowledged the difficulty of replacing a player of Mitrovic’s caliber and output, especially within the limited timeframe of the transfer window. He admitted, Our challenge is to find four or five quality additions to the squad in just 15 days, and finding a suitable striker is the most challenging aspect of that.
Despite facing strong competition from other clubs in their pursuit of new signings, Silva assured fans that Fulham would spare no effort in finding the right replacement. He stated, Many other clubs are facing similar challenges, but we are committed to making our best efforts to secure the best possible replacement.
While relying on their current squad to face the challenges of the Premier League, Silva emphasized the importance of finding the right player to compensate for Mitrovic’s absence. He concluded, If we cannot find a suitable replacement for Mitrovic, we may have to face the Premier League with the players we have.
As Fulham and Mitrovic part ways, the upcoming days will reveal whether the club can successfully fill the void left by their leading striker’s departure. Fans will keenly await further updates on Fulham’s recruitment efforts as they aim to strengthen their squad for the Premier League campaign.
