Premier League winner, Claudio Ranieri, replaced Slavisa Jokanovic as Fulham manager last week.
Jokanovic had guided Fulham to safety in his first season as manager before earning promotion to the Premier League after defeating Aston Villa in the playoffs. He had gained plenty of praise for his style of football at Craven Cottage but was unable to produce results in England’s top division. With Fulham rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table, a change was ultimately necessary.
The Fulham board have decided that Ranieri was the best option to steer the club away from the danger zone. Ranieri is no stranger to England following spells with Chelsea and, of course, the amazing Leicester City. However, the Italian faces his biggest challenge yet with the Cottagers.
The January transfer window is the first opportunity that the former Inter Milan boss will have to bolster his ranks. With conceding goals being a significant issue, defensive reinforcements should be a priority.
Therefore, Ranieri must make a move for Liverpool outcast – Joel Matip. Valued at £19.8m by Transfermarkt, the Cameroon international was signed on a free transfer by Jurgen Klopp after his contract at Schalke expired. Matip became a key player upon joining the club but has since slipped down the pecking order following the arrival of Virgil van Dijk and the emergence of Joe Gomez at centre-half. He has been restricted to just one Premier League start so far this season and could seek a move in January.
Matip remains a top defender who would add some much-needed stability to the Fulham defence. Standing at 6’ 5”, the 26-year-old would bring some power to Ranieri’s defence and also add a significant goal threat from set-pieces. Strong in the tackle and excellent at reading the game, Matip also excels with the ball at his feet, making him ideal for Ranieri’s counter attacking style.
Should he become available in January – this should be a no-brainer.
Fulham fans, thoughts?