Former City boss Mark Hughes to take over at Craven Cottage
Mark Hughes, the former City manager, is most likely to replace Roy Hodgson at Fulham, and would be unveiled as the new boss in the near future. Many high profile managers were linked for a move to Fulham, with names like Sven Goran Eriksson, Bob Bradley, Jurgen Klinsmann speculated to take the helm at the English club. However, Hughes has beaten the odds and is to be become the manager in the very near future. The 46 year old former Manchester United and Barcelona player was sacked from his former club Manchester City owing to a string of poor results, and was replaced by the current manager, Roberto Mancini.
It is reported that Hughes is already planning out his transfer for the new club, with Manchester City striker Craig Bellamy suspected to be his first signing at Craven Cottage. Hughes has had a long relationship with the player, and has worked with Bellamy in his time with the Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City as well as on the international level for the Welsh National team. Mark Hughes is a known admirer of the player, and was part of his first team everywhere he went.
Hughes and Bellamy met back when Hughes managed the Welsh national team from 1999-2004. It can be derived that both of them developed strong respect for each other, and Bellamy has perhaps has his best time as a footballer while playing under Mark Hughes. Bellamy is also unsettled at Manchester City since Hughes got sacked, and would be looking to free himself and move to Fulham. Many coaches have failed to comprehend what Bellamy wants and it has been a constant source of controversies and issues wherever he went.
Hughes however isn’t the only one looking for the services of the Welsh International. Tottenham Hotspurs manager, Harry Redknapp, has voiced his opinion of snapping up the forward and has prepared a 4 million pound move for the unsettled striker. Manchester City would be tempted to sell off the player, as their squad already possesses many strikers. Bellamy would fail to feature as a starting eleven player, and would also want to switch clubs. Many fans and transfer experts expected Bellamy to do fairly well for the Spurs, it may however be easier said than done for the North London club. With Hughes in the market, looking for Bellamy, it would be hard to convince the hot headed 31-year old to join the Spurs.
If Redknapp, however, does convince Bellamy to ink a deal at White Hart Lane, Hughes may sign Robbie Keane, whom is seemingly unwanted by the Spurs. Nonetheless, Hughes is looking for a high profile striker to form a great striking partnership with Fulham’s top forward, Bobby Zamora.
Speaking Fulham, Arsenal is still looking to sign Fulham’s brilliant shot stopper Mark Schwarzer, who greatly impressed everyone last season. Arsenal has had the greatest goal keeping issues, and would want to replace their current goal keepers. Schwarzer would come for cheap, and is most likely to join the Gunner. Hughes would therefore be thinking about that department as well, with English international Robert Green one of the favourites to join him at Craven Cottage. That may well prove difficult as the Hammers are not interested in selling the 30-year old England international.
Also, Manchester City would be looking to offload thirteen of its players, owing to the new premier league news. Hughes would be therefore looking to sign a few of the rejects, as he has worked with all of them. Players like Steven Ireland, Nedum Onuoha and Wayne Bridge would be the players on Hughes’s wish list, and would be looking to negotiate with City manager Roberto Mancini on the matter.
Roy Hodgson left a legendary legacy at Fulham, as they reached last year’s Europa league final. Mark Hughes would want to lift his new team’s spirit and use his famous tactics he used at City which made him popular among players and officials alike. The former United player would need to up their spirits following Hodgson’s departure, and achieve more than what they achieved last season. If Hughes is able to sign the said player in time, Fulham has a strong chance to do better in the Europa league and finish higher in the Premier league.
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