Fulham’s Surgical Transfer Strategy Explained by Gonçalo Santos

In an era where Premier League sides often overhaul squads every summer, Fulham have quietly chosen a different path. Assistant coach Gonçalo Santos believes the secret behind the club’s steady form lies in continuity — not churn.

Speaking to Bola na Rede, the Portuguese coach explained that Fulham deliberately kept “around 90%” of last season’s squad intact. “Continuity gives stability to the club, to the staff and to the players, who already know the manager’s ideas,” Santos said. The club’s recruitment this summer was deliberately surgical, targeting only essential areas rather than pursuing a high-spend rebuild.

That steady approach, he added, allows Marco Silva’s side to sustain competitiveness even against clubs with far bigger budgets.

For Santos, the Premier League’s defining trait is relentless intensity — a level that even seasoned professionals underestimate until they experience it firsthand. “You only realise it when you live it,” he admitted. “Even when you’re winning 2-0 in the 80th minute, the game is never over.”

Rather than pointing to a single standout player, the coach praised the entire squad’s daily attitude. “Our strength is collective,” he noted, describing a group driven by application and competitiveness. That unity, he believes, keeps Fulham sharp week after week.

Santos singled out Raúl Jiménez as an anchor of experience and resilience within the dressing room. The Mexican striker’s leadership, forged over years in English football, remains a cornerstone of Fulham’s attack. “He’s perfectly adapted to the Premier League,” said Santos, calling him “a huge asset” for the team.

Alongside the veteran forward, new signing Kevin — the young winger linked with Sporting before arriving at Craven Cottage — is viewed as a developing talent with “enormous potential.” While still adjusting to England’s rhythm and language, Santos believes he could become “one of the pleasant surprises of the season.”

Comparisons between Kevin and Willian, the Brazilian who became a fan favourite at Fulham, are already circulating. Far from downplaying them, Santos sees it as a compliment. “Willian is a legend who set a standard,” he said. “Kevin is learning the culture and rhythm, but he has what it takes to reach that level.”

That blend — youth learning from experience — encapsulates Fulham’s identity. The club has evolved without losing the core values Marco Silva instilled: effort, understanding, and tactical discipline.

In our view, Fulham’s quiet, data-driven model offers a refreshing counterpoint to the spending frenzy elsewhere in the Premier League. By maintaining a core group that understands Silva’s system, Fulham can focus on incremental improvement rather than seasonal resets. It looks likely that this stability will again secure mid-table safety — and perhaps more — while giving the club freedom to invest selectively in high-impact roles. Continuity, as Santos suggests, may be the most underrated advantage in modern football.

Fulham face Everton away on 8 November, aiming to extend their unbeaten home run. With Kevin gaining minutes and Jiménez leading by example, the Cottagers’ blend of consistency and gradual evolution could yet push them toward another top-half finish.

👉 Fulham fans — do you prefer the club’s patient, “surgical” approach to transfers, or should they take more risks in the market?