Fulham

Even though most of January's transfers are over, news and developments regarding player exchanges are still ripe across the world of international football.

Stoke City boss Michael O’Neill has confirmed Dutch defender Terence Kongolo is training with the club, though a deal is ‘a long way from coming to fruition’. Stoke City have already made some fresh additions to their defensive ranks ahead of the new campaign.

Premier League promotion chasers Fulham are through to the fourth round of this season's FA Cup after they saw off Bristol City away from home. In the battle of two teams from the English Championship, Fulham needed extra time to progress into the next round thanks to a 1-0 scoreline.

Fulham have dropped down on the English Championship table after the big defeat suffered at the hands of Coventry City in their last game in the competition. The Cottagers were on the receiving end of a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of the Sky Blues. Fulham were convincingly beaten by their hosts.

Championship favorites Fulham continued their good start to the season as they cruised to a 4-1 victory against 10 man Reading.  Scott Parker’s side has been labeled as one of the favorites after managing to keep the core group of players after last season relegation.

Fulham defender Ryan Sessegnon has said that the players within the squad want Scott Parker to take over as the permanent manager of the club at the end of the season. The ex-Cottagers player was handed with the head coach role on an interim basis following the sacking of Claudio Ranieri but this has not improved the club’s results with four successive league defeats.

Speaking exclusively to Standard Sport, he said: "He's changed the mentality [of the squad] in terms of defending the goal and catching teams on the break especially the top six teams. He's really engaged with the fans as well, staying together and not giving up. Yes, of course. I think everyone does, really. He's come in and changed the way we play, you can see again [his impact] around the stadium. It would be good for the club."

Fulham manager Scott Parker acknowledged that he cannot take positives from the second half display against Leicester City, given they were made to pay for costly defensive mistakes in the end.

The Cottagers found themselves trailing 1-0 at the break but they came back strongly after the interval with Floyd Ayite levelling the scores in the 51st minute.

Claudio Ranieri knows precisely that the task of keeping Fulham in the Premier League it is a very difficult one. In the last weekend, the Cottagers suffered yet another defeat (2-0) against West Ham, and they are now rock bottom with serious issues in defence: Fulham are the only side in England without a single clean sheet in this season so far.

The way Robert Snodgrass and Michail Antonio scored at the weekend surely wouldn't have impressed the Italian manager whose the first task is to ensure the defence will improve significantly so that the Cottagers can have a chance of retaining the Premier League status.

England international Calum Chambers has expressed his excitement after joining Fulham on a season-long loan move. The 23-year-old had only recently signed a new long-term deal with Arsenal but he could up the opportunity of a temporary challenge after failing to receive assurances of regular gametime at the Emirates.

Speaking to Fulham’s official website, he said: “I watched a lot of Fulham last season, I really like the way they play football, there’s a good manager, it’s a great club, so I’m really excited for the season ahead. Everyone can see that Fulham is a club that likes to play football, play football from the back, through the lines. That’s the style of football I like as well, so I think it fits me and suits the way I play.”

Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic has tipped Ryan Sessegnon to make the England World Cup after showing extreme progress over the past 18 months. The 17-year-old continued his fine vein of form with his 10th goal in 12 games versus Derby County this weekend, and this sees Fulham within five points off the automatic promotion places, though with an additional game played.