Why Fulham have struck gold with a permanent deal for Ivan Cavaleiro

According to Fulham’s official website (h/t Daily Mail), Fulham have confirmed the permanent signing of Portuguese forward Ivan Cavaleiro on a four-and-a-half-year deal until the summer of 2024, with the Cottagers holding the option of extending his stay by a further 12 months. 

The 26-year-old initially made his move to Craven Cottage on a season-long loan deal from Wolves this past summer, with Fulham holding the option to make his stay permanent in the future. 

Cavaleiro was one of the many loan acquisitions made by Scott Parker as a part of his squad rebuild in the summer, with Anthony Knockaert joining from Brighton, Harrison Reed from Southampton, Harry Arter from Bournemouth and Bobby Reid from fellow relegated side Cardiff City.  

Now, as per the report, the Cottagers have acted quickly to register Cavaleiro as a permanent player in their squad after an impressive first half of the campaign in the Championship. The Portuguese star has established himself as a key cog in Parker’s playing eleven in the second-tier this term and has been instrumental in Fulham’s surge for promotion. 

The former Benfica youth product has already plundered 5 goals and 6 assists in 25 Sky Bet Championship appearances for the West London outfit, having played a part in all but one of their league fixtures so far, and his red-hot form has prompted Fulham to fork out the cash required to make his stay permanent. 

Cavaleiro, who joined Wolves for a then club-record £7 million fee from Monaco back in the summer of 2016, went on to play a big role in the club’s promotion-winning 2017-18 campaign in the Championship under Nuno Espirito Santo, accumulating 9 goals and 12 assists in 42 appearances. 

However, the 26-year-old struggled to establish himself as a regular fixture for the Black Country outfit in the Premier League last season, scoring only thrice in 23 appearances, although only 6 of those came as a starter. 

Cavaleiro was deemed surplus to requirements at Molineux this past summer along with his compatriot Helder Costa, who joined Leeds United on a season-long loan deal with an obligation for a permanent transfer in 2020, after Wolves roped in the likes of Patrick Cutrone and Pedro Neto from the Italian market. 

To put things into perspective, it is not difficult to see why Fulham have taken a step in the right direction with a permanent move for Ivan Cavaleiro, who has by far been their most influential outlet in front of goal after top-scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic. 

Heralded as one of the key driving forces behind Wolves 2017-18 promotion-winning season in the Championship, Cavaleiro remains a proven performer in the English second-tier, and if his exploits in the ongoing campaign at Craven Cottage are anything to go by, the Portuguese certainly looks well on course to replicate his promotion heroics with Fulham. 

Arter, Reed, Knockaert- all of Fulham’s loan recruits have made a big impact in the Championship this season and Cavaleiro has undoubtedly been the most impressive of the lot. The 26-year-old’s versatility to play anywhere across the forward line has added a lot of flexibility to the team’s overall dynamics, with Parker rotating him between wide attacking roles on either side of the pitch.

As per whoscored, Cavaleiro boasts of a pass success rate of 83, including 1.9 key passes, 1 cross, 1.1 long balls, 1.7 dribbles, 1.7 shots and 1.2 tackles per game in the Championship this term, whilst also accumulating three man-of-the-match distinctions so far.  

Verdict

Cavaleiro struggled to cut the teeth in the Premier League last season but his consistently impressive displays in the Championship suggest that the Portuguese might have what it takes to make the step up in the future if Fulham were to secure promotion. 

Lack of regular minutes in the Premier League last season somewhat hindered his progress but it is clear from the four-and-a-half-year deal that Fulham have him as a part of their long-term plans moving forward, which presumably includes playing a part in the top-flight.

More Fulham News

• Why Fulham should beat Leeds United to sign Reegan Mimnaugh

All in all, Fulham have, indeed, struck gold with a permanent move for Ivan Cavaleiro and this looks like a deal that could well work out very well for all parties involved.