Fulham have reached a verbal agreement to sign 23-year-old United States forward Ricardo Pepi from PSV Eindhoven, with personal terms also agreed. (Fabrizio Romano), external
Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column
Drew Heatley
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesIt is still a little chilly outside to be on the beach, but Fulham seem to manage it earlier each year.
It could be worse, of course. Having virtually nothing to play for means you are not scrapping for every point at the bottom of the table. And all Fulham fans are thankful for that.
But it does mean there is little sense of jeopardy going into games now - and there is a general feeling that we just need to wrap this campaign up and start looking towards next season.
Sunday's game against Nottingham Forest felt like that - from a Fulham fan's perspective at least. Forest are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the league, but we arrived at the City Ground with little to aim for.
Seventh - and Europe - is mathematically possible, but it would take a huge uptick in form with some tough fixtures on the horizon.
And the scoreline - a goalless draw - reflected the inertia among Fulham fans.
It is our topsy-turvy form that has kept us at the back of the pack racing for Europe. Four wins and five losses since our last league draw tells the story perfectly.
But perhaps more worryingly, we are without a goal in three games.
A win against Burnley next weekend would no doubt reignite talk of the Europa League or Conference League, but with Liverpool, Aston Villa and Arsenal coming up, and a west London derby against seventh-placed Brentford in the middle of it all, we have a mountain to climb.
It may all be unlikely, but we are all still dreaming that Fulham swap this trip to the seaside for some midweek jaunts to Europe.
Find more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish, external
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We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Nottingham Forest and Fulham.
Here are some of your comments:
Nottingham Forest fans
Steve: Another weekend where we failed to capitalise on other results. It's going to be a scrap to the final day. VAR is killing football- the joy of that goal wiped out. Onto Denmark for what I hope isn't our last EL game but we all know Spurs is the bigger game.
Luke: At this point in the season we are what we are. A team who plays well but struggles to score, and therefore won't win often. That's what we were today. You can still look at this performance and use it to suggest we'll pick up 8-10 points over the last 8 games. But our chances to do so are diminishing. Next week is huge.
Marc: Another dismal and disappointing result. Completely devoid of creativity and intensity. No real desire to make something happen to in the final few minutes. Must play the back up players in Europa League as for some reason our players have a lack of energy to play at tempo that is going to challenge opponents for 90 minutes despite having no domestic cup run. Another uninspired managerial appointment.
David: We have to find our goal scorers and asap. We are playing with fire, and we all know what's going to happen. Oh, and VAR has to go!
Fulham fans
Gerry: Typical mid season mediocrity from Fulham. Another season that promised much but that again has petered out into dull, predictable football.
Malcolm: Much better performance all round, more effort and a solid line up.
Tim: Classic Fulham going into our shells around March, Marco ruined all momentum with silly changes against West Ham and Southampton, and now we're suffering with another lacklustre performance.
Phil: Poor. Not sharp enough. Have the players booked their summer holidays already?
Pundits Wayne Rooney and Micah Richards join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Sunday's Premier League fixtures.
And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Fulham boss Marco Silva, speaking to Sky Sports after the goalless draw with Nottingham Forest: "First half was very balanced. We had one great chance from a wide free-kick. It probably needed a goal from one team or the other to open up. The first half wasn't very quick. The second half was more broken. It was very windy."
On keeping a clean sheet: "It was good. We knew it would be a tough game, even if they are in a position that doesn't reflect the individual quality that they have. The ability they have up front is at a very good level. We play to win games, it is our way but some games are very tight. It is important for us to keep the feeling of the clean sheet being positive.
"We were close to the three points. My approach is always the same, we didn't win, we got the point. Next week we have another game and we want to be back to winning ways at home before we go to the international break.
On talking with Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira post-match: "With him and his staff. The people that we know are trying their best, like we are trying our best. It is always good to see familiar faces."
Did you know?
Fulham have ended their run of 11 Premier League matches without a clean sheet, becoming the 20th and final Premier League team to record a clean sheet in 2026.
Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport journalist
Image source, PA MediaLast weekend's FA Cup fifth-round defeat by Championship club Southampton left Fulham with one solitary objective this season - to secure qualification for European competition next term.
They are among a group of clubs tightly packed on the fringe of the top six, with Brentford in seventh and 14th-placed Crystal Palace separated by only five points.
If Fulham are to compete on the continent for the first time in more than a decade, they will need to improve their inconsistent results in the closing weeks of the campaign.
The stalemate at Nottingham Forest was their first league draw since 4 January. During the intervening period, they won four and lost five of their nine league fixtures.
They were in the game throughout but struggled to create clear opportunities after Calvin Bassey failed to convert his first-half chance, heading straight at Matz Sels from six yards.
The visitors remained resolute at the other end, though, to ensure they clinched a point.
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Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.
Have your say on Nottingham Forest's performance
What did you make of Fulham's display?
Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies
Nottingham Forest make three changes from the side that lost in the Europa League to Midtjylland on Thursday - Neco Williams, Nikola Milenkovic and Ibrahim Sangare replace Morato, Jair Cunha and Omari Hutchinson.
Forest XI: Sels, Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Williams, Sangare, Anderson, Dominguez, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi, Jesus.
Subs: Gunn, Morato, Awoniyi, Ndoye, Hutchinson, Yates, McAtee, Netz, Bakwa.
There are nine changes to the Fulham starting XI that was knocked out of the FA Cup last weekend by Southampton. Joachim Andersen and Oscar Bobb are the two players to keep their places.
Fulham XI: Leno, Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Iwobi, Berge, Wilson, King, Bobb, Jimenez.
Subs: Lecomte, Reed, Muniz, Cairney, Chukwueze, Lukic, Castagne, Sessegnon, Diop
There are four games in the Premier League on Sunday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.
Crystal Palace v Leeds - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2
Man Utd v Aston Villa - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Nottingham Forest v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Liverpool v Tottenham (16:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live
Kick-offs 14:00 GMT unless stated
Follow all of the action and reaction here
You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Crystal Palace v Leeds" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Liverpool v Spurs", for instance.
Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds
This is a huge game for Nottingham Forest.
They got a good draw against Manchester City last time out, but what they need is a win - I know I keep pointing this out, but Forest boss Vitor Pereira still hasn't won a Premier League game this season, after 11 attempts with them and Wolves.
This is a great chance for Forest to put that right, but I don't think they will take it.
You just don't know what you are going to get from Fulham but they can play with a bit of freedom here.
Sutton's prediction: 1-1
Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist
Relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest take on a Fulham side seeking to avoid a third straight defeat. BBC Sport examines some of the key themes before Sunday's match (14:00 GMT).
Anderson key to Forest's survival hopes
Nottingham Forest remain winless under Vitor Pereira following Thursday's 1-0 defeat by Midtjylland. The Reds spurned a host of chances against the Danes, failing to build on the momentum from last week's 2-2 draw at Manchester City, which gave them their first league point under the new head coach.
Pereira said his team showed "lots of personality" in twice hitting back from a goal down against City and praised his players for keeping their shape and "waiting for the right moments to hurt" Pep Guardiola's men.
Forest have lacked cutting edge this season, with their tally of 28 goals the second lowest in the top flight. Last year's top scorer, Chris Wood, has missed most of the campaign with a knee injury and while his replacement, Igor Jesus, has shown promise in the cups, he has scored just twice in the league.
Goals will, therefore, need to come from elsewhere, and it was Morgan Gibbs-White and Elliot Anderson who stepped up at Etihad Stadium.
Anderson has not been a regular goalscorer for Forest, netting four times in 66 Premier League appearances for the club, but he has earned plaudits for his all-round game, particularly his crisp passing. He has made 303 line-breaking passes – forward balls that bypass the opposition's midfield or defensive line to find a team-mate in space. That is more than any other midfielder in the Premier League this season.
Fulham look to rebound against favourite opposition
After back-to-back home defeats by West Ham and Southampton, Fulham need a swift response to stop their season petering out. That was their fate last year, when a disappointing FA Cup loss to Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage was followed by six losses in their final nine league games, scuppering any hopes of challenging for Europe.
Head coach Marco Silva admitted his side simply were not good enough in Sunday's cup exit to Championship side Southampton and had to defend his decision to make nine changes to the starting line-up.
The good news for Fulham is key man Harry Wilson could return after missing the previous two games, while the Whites can also take heart from their excellent record in this fixture. The Cottagers have won six of the seven Premier League meetings between the sides, including a 1-0 victory when they met on 22 December.
Raul Jimenez scored the winner from the penalty spot on that occasion and has regularly been a thorn in Forest's side. The Mexican has registered four goals and an assist in four previous appearances against Sunday's opponents.
Grace Wheeler
BBC Sport
Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Nottingham Forest at The City Ground (kick-off 14:00).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Silva updated us on team news, stating: "Harry Wilson is going to be in contention for the game, we have another session and we do have to assess him again."
He added: "We have some doubts if one player will be ready for the game but we don't want to mention who yet."
Fulham striker Raul Jimenez trained on Friday despite the recent death of his father. Silva said: "It is really sad news and a moment for us to support him. He knows what he needs from myself, from team-mates, staff and the football club, he will get all of the support he needs."
The boss offered comments on the fans' reaction at the end of Fulham's last game: "The fans react. I am not concerned about their faith because everything we have done in this football club is clear and the ambition is there."
He added: "You are going to get more than boos. They were not happy and that is why I stayed longer on the pitch and that was a moment for us to be seen. I think we deserved the boos. If I was in the stand, I would do the same."
What do you want to know about your club? Send us a question
Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
Drew Heatley
Fan writer
Image source, Getty ImagesWe really are our own worst enemy.
You can point to a number of potential reasons for Fulham meekly surrendering their place in the FA Cup.
Was it the nine changes Marco Silva made to the starting XI? Not for me. Modern football is a squad game; each and every player that started on Sunday was more than capable of turning over second-tier opposition.
Were we wasteful? Undoubtedly. More than two-thirds of the ball and 24 shots, but we did little with it against a Southampton side that was as industrious as it was resolute, and that was more up for it on the day.
Do we have a mental block? Quite possibly. We had the opener chalked off early on, and not for the first time this season, we failed to turn the sense of injustice into fuel.
Whatever the reason, the Whites find their season all-but over with more than two months left to go.
We sit on the mythical 40-point mark. We are four points off Brentford in seventh, which is widely believed to be enough for the Europa Conference League. But after games against relegation-battling duo of Nottingham Forest and Burnley this month, five of our final seven games are against teams above us in the top half of the table. It feels like a tough task.
All of which leads me to wonder if this really is the end of Marco Silva's time at the club. He will not want to out-stay his welcome and taint his incredible five-year stay, during which he took us from yo-yo club to top-half challengers.
And with murmurings of discontent after our cup exit, that possibility feels more concrete that it did a few weeks ago.
It could lead to an era-shifting summer. Let's hope we don't self-sabotage if it is.
Find more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish, external
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We asked for your views on Sunday's FA Cup fifth round defeat by Southampton.
Here are some of your comments:
Richard: Silva should have put out his strongest team but opted instead to make eight changes from the poor display against West Ham including plumping for a slow midfield of Cairney and Reed both of whom were ineffective. Southampton created more clear cut chances and deserved to win on the day. Huge opportunity missed for Fulham to advance to the sixth round. The guile and craft of Wilson was badly missed.
John: All down to team selection. Why not field the normal first team? We do not have a match until next Sunday and the FA Cup was our main chance to win a trophy since a European place is unlikely. In my opinion the manager must take the blame due to poor team selection.
Kevin: I would suggest, not based solely on the last two performances, that Silva has taken the team as far as he can. We are becoming perennial bottlers. We get some hope of trophy success or European qualification, only to fall away at the business end of the season. One team wanted FA Cup success today and it didn't look like us at any stage!
Martin: Get played all over the pitch, bring on Josh King to play against defenders far bigger and stronger than him then only even consider attacking subs when we go 1-0 down. Says it all really.
Paul: Took an average opposition team for granted and looked second best all afternoon. Sat next to Harry Wilson in the posh seats - he had his head in his hands most of the second half. Marco too slow to make changes and pick up the pace - for the second second time this week.
Glen: A second toothless performance at home within five days against a weaker opposition. Becoming a bit of a seasonal tradition. As much as I'm thankful to Marco for everything he's done these last few years, again I'm left frustrated by his tactics and reluctance to make subs earlier. He may have taken us as far as he can.
Norman: Why did Silva make so many changes? We were going nowhere in the league. We were not in danger of going down. Why not play your strongest team in the cup?! Also, he took much too long to make changes in the match. Crazy!
Former Southampton striker Billy Sharp has been speaking about Fulham's FA Cup defeat by the Saints on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.
He said: "I think Fulham will be really disappointed.
"It happens. It is a game of football, 90 minutes.
"Sometimes when the levels have dropped and the other team maybe wants it a little bit more, it happens.
"But that's why we love football and that's why the FA Cup is still magic."
You can listen to Monday Breakfast Club on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Telegraph's Luke Edwards says Marco Silva's heavy rotation of his Fulham side for Sunday's FA Cup fifth round defeat by Championship Southampton at Craven Cottage "doesn't make any sense".
The Cottagers made nine changes to the side that lost to West ham in the Premier League in midweek but saw their chances of silverware slip away for another season after a nervy defeat.
"Silva has done a very good job but there's been friction there," Edwards told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
"There was friction in the summer over lack of transfer business.
"They are the definition of mid-table, they are safe. What I do not understand is why have they made so many changes for a home FA Cup game.
"It doesn't make any sense to me. You're safe, at home, got a big chance to get into a cup quarter-final and are then one game away from a semi-final at Wembley.
"These are things that are not normal for Fulham. These are exciting things they could have done.
"Silva has heavily rotated his team and they end up losing at home to a Championship team. I will never get my head round that.
"They were booed off by their own supporters and deservedly so."
Pundits Ellen White and Glenn Murray join host Kelly Somers to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday and Sunday's FA Cup ties.
And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:
Image source, Getty ImagesFulham boss Marco Silva, speaking to BBC Sport on whether the team selection was the problem: "I understand that, it's more than that. It was a bad afternoon for us and for our fans. We need to look deeper because I'm not pleased at all what has happened this afternoon.
"This one is more than a defeat - if it's because of the changes then fine, I get it - but [Ryan] Sessegnon and [Timothy] Castagne have played this season against top Premier League sides, Oscar Bobb and Samuel Chukwueze are at the level. We have to look deeper. I understand that I get the blame for making the changes."
Reason for defeat?: "For me it's simple, when you have 24 shots and they don't have many clear-cut chances. We arrived in their box, created from the sides but with end product we have to finish, have to be quicker and arrive in the right spots in the box. They have five shots and have chances to score, any moment on the counter was a chance for them.
"It's about mindset. When you have so many shots and looking for the chances we should've created more. The end product of our team was not the level it should be."
On Fulham's disallowed goal in first half: "I don't want to speak about that at the moment."
On picking up for rest of season: "It's our obligation, we have to understand it was a very, very bad afternoon. We know anything can happen on football but it's more than that. We have to look deeper because it was not good enough and that starts with me looking at myself."
Did you know?
This was the first time that Fulham were eliminated from the FA Cup by a side from the second tier while being in the top-flight, since a 3-0 fifth round replay defeat to Burnley in February 2003. The Cottagers had progressed from each of their prior 15 such ties.
Across all competitions this season, Fulham have failed to score in the first half of matches on 23 occasions, with only Nottingham Forest and Wolves (both 26) doing so more often among Premier League sides.
Fulham won 15 corners in this match, last winning more in any match across all competitions against Reading in the Championship in May 2017 (16).
