Premier League: Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic set to leave for Saudi Pro League, confirms manager Marco Silva
In a disappointing turn of events for Fulham in the Premier League, Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is set to part ways with the club. Manager Marco Silva shared the information after the side’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brentford on Saturday. The striker, who was Fulham’s leading goal-scorer in four out of five previous seasons, was absent from the lineup having sustained an injury in their season opener against Everton.
“I received information before the match, and got the confirmation post-match from the club, that he’s on his way to leave,” informed Silva in a press conference at Craven Cottage. “Both clubs came to an agreement, indicating the end of Mitrovic’s tenure with the club.”
Mitrovic has appeared quite resolute in his decision to seek pastures new, according to Silva. He said, “He pushed for this move, he expressed his wish for a fresh challenge.”
The manager though did not delve into the specifics of the transfer arrangement between Fulham and the Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal. Reports suggest that Mitrovic’s departure comes even as his current contract with Fulham extends for three more years.
In an earlier bid, Al-Hilal had allegedly offered 25 million pounds for the Serbian footballer. However, Fulham stayed firm on their decision to retain Mitrovic. The Saudi Arabian club is also credited with Neymar’s recent transfer from Paris St Germain.
However, media updates from Britain now speculate that Al-Hilal came back with a significantly larger offer of about 46 million pounds, finally persuading Fulham to agree to the transfer.
Silva acknowledged that replacing the caliber and output of a player like Mitrovic, particularly within the constraints of a transfer window, stands as a formidable task. “Our challenge is finding four or five quality additions to the squad in just 15 days, and the striker position is the most difficult aspect of that,” admitted Silva.
Amidst strong competition among clubs seeking similar recruitment, the manager assured that Fulham would spare no effort in securing the right replacement. He said: “Many other clubs are navigating similar waters. But we remain committed to delivering our best efforts in securing the best possible replacement.”
Although banked on the team’s existing line-up to face the Premier League’s challenges, Silva acknowledged that finding the right player to make up for Mitrovic’s absence is crucial. “We may need to face the Premier League with the players we have if we cannot find a suitable replacement for Mitrovic,” he concluded.
