Jean Tigana promised today to
carry on spending even if he signs French striker Steve Marlet in a deal
which would take his shopping bill to £42 million in one year.
Fulham are going full out to sign Marlet. They have increased their offer
to £13 million and are awaiting results of talks between the player,
his agent and Lyon officials.
Marlet's agent Pascal Boisseau said the player, contracted to the French
club until 2004, is tempted by a move to London, and by a reported wage
package of £50,000 a week, but that Lyon want to keep him.
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Jean
Tigana
Fulham |
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That leaves Tigana still unsure as to whether
he has filled the vacant No 9 shirt at Craven Cottage, having already been
turned down by Nwankwo Kanu, of Arsenal, Jan Koller and Oliver Bierhoff.
But even the arrival of Marlet would not put an end to Fulham's spending.
"At this moment my priority is to take the good young English players,
who are aged between 14 and 17, and to build for the future," Tigana
said.
"But also I want to buy three of four more players for the squad who
have experience. And, of course, if I have the opportunity, I will also
buy young players like Jon Harley."
The Frenchman was concerned by his team's inability to break down a stubborn
Derby defence on Saturday, the game ending goalless.
Fulham soon realised that, with Luis Boa Morte suspended, they had very
few options on the bench. That is why Marlet is being chased so strongly.
Tigana said: "We have been unfortunate at the start of the season to
lose Lee Clark because of injury and Rufus Brevett and Luis Boa Morte because
of suspension. If Louis Saha had also got injured we would have had a big
problem. It shows why we must have a big squad.
"When we went to Old Trafford, Manchester United had very good players,
not only on the bench but also in the stands. Such as Dwight Yorke and Roy
Keane. Liverpool and Arsenal also have big squads like this."
Tigana has been given an almost unlimited budget to build his squad and
has already been busy this year, snapping up Edwin Van Der Sar for £5m,
Harley for £3.5m, Steed Malbranque for £5m, Boa Morte for £1.7m,
Abdeslam Ouaddou for £2m and, most recently, Sylvain Legwinski for
£3.3m.
The form of Saha and Barry Hayles up front has been good but Tigana is never
totally happy.
He said: "Fabien Barthez, the United keeper, said to me that he was
very impressed with Fulham. But my main concern was that we could have scored
more goals.
"Now we are in the Premiership we must take any chances we can make.
At the top level, if you have two or three chances you must score immediately.
That is what the top players in this League will always do."
Tigana should know later today whether Marlet will provide the extra goals
Fulham need if they are to challenge for a European place this season.
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