What They Need
Gylfi Sigurdsson would have been an ideal solution upfront, but he's joined Swansea City on loan now, so Jol will be forced to look elsewhere to replace any outgoing strikers (and there might even be two of them). Other names being thrown about at the minute include West Brom's Peter Odemwingie, West Ham's Carlton Cole, who might want to step back up a division quicker than Sam Allardyce can promise, and Marseille's Gignac, who would be something of an untested option. The tail-end of last week also saw the Cottagers linked with Catania's Argentine forward Maxi Lopez, but the reported loan offer was swiftly rebuffed by the Italian club. A centre-midfielder to cover an aging Danny Murphy - though the former Liverpool man is showing few signs of retiring just yet, and the CM position might be better filled in the summer. Full-back cover, at left-back specifically, where John Arne Riise is the only real recognised player (though everyman Aaron Hughes can fill in). Outgoing?
One name that is likely to crop up again and again throughout January (barring any early deal) is that of Bobby Zamora: rumoured to have fallen out with Martin Jol, and far from happy at Craven Cottage, Zamora has the ability to transform a smaller club's attacking fortunes and would presumably be available at a cost reflective of his situation, plus a little inflation for the winter move. His strike partner Andy Johnson as also been linked with a move away - and Martin Jol has gone as far as to admit that the Englishman will leave the club if a "big offer" comes in. Just how much that qualifier really means will be a matter for debate, but Fulham fans will probably have a higher figure in their heads than the board with Johnson getting on, and Bryan Ruiz taking the place as the number one striker on the Fulham books. Blackburn and QPR are both interested, and both are more than capable of lodging substantial enough bids to prise AJ away from Craven Cottage.