Rico’s comments underline weaknesses in Fulham’s summer transfer strategy

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Fulham loanee Sergio Rico wants to return to the Premier League next season, according to Sky Sports.

The goalkeeper has settled well in England and has expressed a desire to return next season – but only to the top flight.

He said: “I have to come back to Seville but I would like to come here [England] next season because I am very happy here. I like the Premier League and I enjoy it a lot here in London, I am so happy. I don’t know the future now but I would like to come here again.”

That could be seen as a thinly veiled warning to the Cottagers that he will not consider coming back to the club if they are relegated to the Championship.

And he is not the first Whites player to have been quoted making such an insinuation. Earlier this month, another loanee Andre Schurrle was quoted by Kicker as saying he would cut short his two-year loan if Fulham went down.

Schurrle (via BBC) did later deny that was what he meant but his and Rico’s comments underline the issues with Fulham’s recruitment policy of relying on loanees who have no connection to the club.

The plus side is they will have the wages off the bill but it forces them to reshape their squad every year – just as they had to this season.

And in the case of Rico, there’s a chance they’ve just handed him Premier League experience that a domestic rival will get the benefit of next season.