Why Calum Chambers would be a good signing for Fulham
According to The Sun, Fulham are weighing up a move for Arsenal defender Calum Chambers following their promotion to the Premier League. The 25-year-old spent the 2018/19 campaign on loan at Craven Cottage and was voted the club’s Player of the Season as the Cottagers went straight back down to the Championship.
As per the report, Fulham manager Scott Parker is interested in bringing Chambers back to West London on a permanent deal, with the Gunners star expected to cost around £12million.
It has also been claimed that Arsenal are unlikely to stand in the way of Chambers, who has struggled to establish himself as a regular fixture in the club’s starting eleven following his move to the Emirates from Southampton in 2014.
Profile
Calum Chambers shot to prominence with Southampton before completing a move to Arsenal back in the summer of 2014. However, the England international has found it difficult to nail down a regular starting role at the Emirates, making just 101 appearances in all competitions over the course of six seasons.
The 25-year-old previously went through loan spells at Middlesbrough and Fulham, both of which ended in relegation from the Premier League. Chambers returned to Arsenal prior to the start of the 2019-20 season and made 14 league appearances for the Gunners before rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea back in December.
Fulham’s defensive scenario
Fulham finished 4th in the 2019-20 Championship season before beating Cardiff City and Brentford in the playoffs to secure promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. The Cottagers registered impressive numbers at both ends of the pitch in the second-tier this term, scoring 64 goals and conceding 48 in 46 games.
But what remains a concern is that Fulham finished second-bottom in the 2018-19 Premier League with roughly the same set of defenders. The West Londoners shipped as many as 81 goals in the top-flight a couple of years ago, which was the worst defensive record in the division in that particular campaign.
So it makes one wonder whether the set of defenders who fared so well in Fulham’s promotion campaign are good enough to thrive in the top-flight. Michael Hector, who joined the ranks from Chelsea in January, was the only new addition to the backline, with the Jamaican playing a key role in the club’s surge for promotion.
However, Hector himself doesn’t have any Premier League experience under his belt and considering that the likes of Alfie Mawson, Tim Ream, Maxime Le Marchand and Denis Odoi all failed spectacularly in the top-flight last time around, Fulham have a big decision to make heading into the new season.
Why Chambers could be an excellent addition
Calum Chambers was one of the rare positives in an otherwise catastrophic 2018-19 Premier League campaign for Fulham. The 25-year-old featured as a centre-back and a right-back in that campaign but primarily impressed in a central midfield role, making 31 league appearances for the Cottagers.
To that end, it would certainly be a good idea for Scott Parker to bring the England international back to Craven Cottage on a permanent deal. He might have struggled to establish himself at Arsenal due to stiff competition for places but his credentials as a quality top-flight player can hardly be put to question.
Moreover, his versatility to play in three different positions should hand a significant boost to the manager’s squad dynamics, while also allowing him to make use of the funds to improve other areas of the squad.
Read More
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Verdict
Chambers still has his best years ahead of him at 25. The Cottagers need proven Premier League players to aid their bid for survival and the former Southampton man could make a real difference next season if he finds his form.
