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Martin Jol wants Robbie Keane to join him at Fulham
David Smith19 Jul 2010
Martin Jol's first job as Fulham manager will be to seek a reunion with Robbie Keane, who he made one of the Premier League's most deadly strikers while they were at Tottenham.
Fulham are close to agreeing compensation with Jol's club, Ajax, and the 54-year-old Dutchman should be confirmed as Roy Hodgson's replacement in time to oversee the first game of their Swedish tour, against Halmstad on Thursday.
Jol's priority will be a new forward, with Andy Johnson, a record £12million signing from Everton in July 2008, understood to have suffered a new setback in his recovery from a long-term knee injury.
Johnson made just 13 appearances last season and has not played in Fulham's two friendlies against Brentford last week and at Bournemouth on Saturday, when Bobby Zamora marked his comeback from injury with the equaliser in a 1-1 draw.
Celtic want to keep Keane on loan from Spurs for another season — the Republic of Ireland captain was the fans' player of the year — and Aston Villa are fighting for his signature with a £6m offer.
But the 30-year-old, who played in Saturday's 0-0 draw with San Jose Earthquakes and had a goal' ruled out for offside, would relish the chance to stay in the capital, where he worked with Jol between 2004-07 before Spurs dismissed him even though he secured successive top-five finishes.
Jol has always maintained he has unfinished business in the Premier League and still owns a house near London. It is believed he has been offered a package that will match his £1.75m deal with Ajax, plus the promise of money to strengthen a Fulham squad that might yet lose goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to Arsenal and defenders Brede Hangeland and Paul Konchesky to Liverpool, where Hodgson is now manager.
Hodgson insisted today he was not concerned by Javier Mascherano's failure to get back to him after he tried to contact the midfielder last week.
The Argentina captain is still on holiday after his World Cup exploits and is not due to return for pre-season training for another week.
The 26-year-old has been linked with a reunion with former Reds boss Rafael Benitez at Inter Milan but Hodgson said: “He doesn't need to make contact with me. I've made contact with him, telling him I'm looking forward to seeing him in training when he returns from his holiday but I did make the point in the voicemail that I didn't expect him to contact me.”
Reader views (15)
As long as I'm behind you in the idiot stakes Adrian, I can sleep soundly in my bed at night. You are THE perfect example of why Sp*rs fans are universally hated. You bang on about what a great side you are and conveniently forget that just over a year ago you were bottom of the league and staring relegation in the face. At the same time you slaughter West Ham for being a poor team, on the basis of one bad season, during which we didn't hit the depths that you did in 2008/2009. So please, enough of the garbage. You are perfectly entitled to your opinion, but please stop crowing about what a great big club you are when you only escaped the Championship by the skin of your teeth, as we did this year. If by some almighty miracle we have a great season and end up qualifying for Europe, we won't automatically start thinking we're a big club, because we know how quickly things can change. Look how quickly they changed for you.
- East, London, 20/07/2010 15:03
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East, please my friend, its about opinions, just for your lovely information, my friend
a) i do know alot about football my friend, thats not watching the thing, been in and played alot longer than you.. Idiot, my friend, im sure you are close behind me...
Fans, on here, are entitled to their comment, you and me, agreeing well, how many supporters would agree, its all about opionions, my friend...
- adrian, london, 20/07/2010 13:58
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Well done Adrian. One day on the board and you've proved beyond doubt whatsoever that a) you know absolutely nothing about football and b) are a bit of an idiot. Good luck on here...you'll get ripped to pieces
- East, London, 19/07/2010 18:25
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how can a Hammers fan even comment, poor team.
Bellamy for Hammers, they need some grafters...
- adrian, london, 19/07/2010 17:27
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Certainly am, North London - I did reply to you on the other thread apologising for digging you out without giving you a fair crack of the whip - you can see why I have a slightly jerky knee where your lot are concerned though - now you've read the sort of thing adrian posts it's hardly a surprise, is it?
Seriously? I don't care if it's top 10 or not for us. Whatever happens it can't be worse than last season in any way, shape or form.
Welcome to the board.
- Stu, Homeless, 19/07/2010 17:02
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Actually i do my friend....Jon Obika, sound familiar..
better prospect...my friend im entitled to my opinion. As a football person, i don't and never had rated Bellamy as player.
Far better players than him....
Me wind up mate, never....
- adrian, london, 19/07/2010 16:55
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im guessing your a west ham fan then stu!
hahahahahaha, says it all really! top 10 this year?!
- North London, Berkshire, 19/07/2010 15:39
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That's nice of you adrian but you don't actually work at Big Club tm, nor do "you" have a load of decent young strikers - you're just someone on a website who lives in daydream land.
Either that, or you're on the best wind-up ever.
- Stu, Homeless, 19/07/2010 15:33
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Stu, u can loan one of our young strikers...
Yeah i should be on tv, or even doing Fabio's job!
- adrian, london, 19/07/2010 15:04
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My word you're just so RIGHT adrian.
It's a wonder you're not on telly you know.
Or in a home.
- Stu, Homeless, 19/07/2010 14:58
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Stu, My mate, don't worry the Hammers might buy another 'Carlos kickaball' player...
West Ham will be buy alot of dead wood players, players who can't get into Spurs reserve side..
- adrian, london, 19/07/2010 14:49
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No advice for David Cameron, the Queen or even God, adrian? Or are they ok for "advice" today?
Twunt.
- Stu, Homeless, 19/07/2010 14:38
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Keane, reptuted to be on £65,000 a week at Tootenham, will simply not be going to Fulham.
- Rob Chelski, Kings Road, 19/07/2010 14:28
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Hmm, to play at a lower level and Spurs hopefully qualify for the CL. Dunno Keano mate stay at Spurs, to play in front of a mere 25,000 crowd, but then they would love him....
Jol at a great club with tradition, now Fulham, not a great move. He has a better record in Europe than England,stay at Ajax MJ..
- adrian, london, 19/07/2010 13:14
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Think Jol will be a great coup for the club but i am concerned that he has come over due to cash restraints at Ajax. Fulham cant afford to overspend as 25,000 fans can not sustain a Pompey spending spree. Just hope its all understood but with astute people in charge such as McIntosh and of course Fayed those fears should have little foundation. Going for Keane, would be great, paying £60k a week wages would not. But i think this story is clutching at straws, linking Keane and Jol along with Konchesky, Hangeland with Liverpool.
- Lol in H7, Brighton, 19/07/2010 12:41
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