Fulham manager Marco Silva has revealed that the arrival of Oscar Bobb at the club in the January transfer window will not affect the club’s plans for Samuel Chukwueze at the end of the season, SportPremi reports.
Bobb, 22, joined the Cottagers last month in a £27 million deal from Manchester City, following the departure of Adama Traore to West Ham United.
The London club are still linked to PSV Eindhoven striker Ricardo Pepi and are hoping to complete a transfer before the end of the transfer window.
The transfers have made Chukwueze’s future at the club uncertain, with the club yet to agree a permanent deal with AC Milan for his transfer.
The Super Eagles winger joined the club last summer on an initial loan deal with an option for a permanent transfer at the end of the season, but the Cottagers have yet to exercise that option.
The 26-year-old has scored three times and provided four assists from 12 matches across all competitions since his move to England, although the arrival of Bobb and the potential signature of Pepi might limit his minutes and chances of joining the club on a permanent deal.
Silva reacts to Chukwueze’s future amid Bobb’s arrival at Fulham
Fulham suffered a last-gasp 3-2 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday with Chukwueze playing 79 minutes in the clash.
The Nigerian winger was impressive during his time on the pitch and have added another assist to his tally, but was controversially adjudged to be offside in the buildup to Jorge Cuenca’s goal.
“It’s a normal day for me. Everything is so clear; we have been completely aligned since the end of November”, Silva said.
“There’s time, we are very pleased with him [Chukwueze]. He’s been able to show quality. He’s a great lad, a nice boy. He’s adapting to what we need. We are going to have time to do it.”
Meanwhile, Silva had explained why Fulham spent massively on signing Bobb ahead of Sunday’s Premier League clash at Old Trafford.
“I’m very pleased, because I think it’s a very, very good move from us. Since Adama left, or was coming close to leaving, I had some players in mind as targets, and Oscar was one of them for sure”, the 48-year-old stated.
“He’s a clear replacement for the player that left the club. It’s a great move from us. Very talented player, quality, individual quality as well.
“I have to congratulate the club and the board for the move and to be able to sign a player and to react in a way to replace a 30-year-old with a 22-year-old, for the present and the future too”, he concluded.
Fulham will be back in action next weekend when they face Everton, hoping for a return to winning ways.
