Claudio Ranieri’s appointment at Fulham has not had the desired impact at Craven Cottage so far and next month’s transfer window will essentially make or break their season.
Their heavy summer of investment has actually done more harm than good; the stylish football built on the familiarity of last season has been replaced by muddled thinking and a lack of cohesion.
But Ranieri reportedly wants to add another striker to his Cottagers ranks, with Bournemouth frontman Lys Mousset and Nantes’ Emiliano Sala both linked in recent weeks.
That intense chase raises questions about the future of talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic and recent reports have claimed he is unsettled at the club following the departure of the man who brought him to the club, Serbian compatriot Slavisa Jokanovic.
Everton are reportedly sniffing around – they need a reliable goalscorer to round off their improving frontline – and Ranieri’s hunt for a striker are only going to add fuel to the fire of concerns that Mitrovic is unsettled.
There’s a reason Fulham were able to procure a goalscorer like Mitrovic from Newcastle – who are desperate for goals – in the summer and it does not revolve around football.
His short temper is well-documented and Ranieri’s search for goals is not a positive sign for Mitrovic’s Fulham future.