Alex Iwobi (left) and Raúl Jiménez are among the players enjoying a new lease of life at Fulham.Photograph: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images
Only two miles separate Stamford Bridge and Craven Cottage but Chelsea and Fulham inhabit different worlds. It is a one-sided rivalry – Fulham have finished above their west London neighbours once in the past 41 years – and there are few similarities in the way the clubs go about their business.
The contrast when it comes to recruitment is striking. While Chelsea’s owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, have invested more than £1bn in their unique model of buying promising young players on long and heavily incentivised contracts, Fulham have used their smaller budget to implement an unglamorous approach that nonetheless has them set to enjoy another season making a lot out of a little.
Marco Silva’s side, unbeaten in five matches after last Sunday’s draw at home to Southampton, are six points off the top four and a push for European qualification should not be discounted. Fulham, who have established themselves as a Premier League force since promotion in 2022, are a match for anyone these days. They attack with elan, are well coached and are rarely cowed by wealthier opponents. They have drawn with Arsenal and Liverpool this month and, although they are winless at Stamford Bridge since 1979, they will fancy their chances of leaving another mark on the title race when they visit Chelsea on Boxing Day afternoon.
However, it is unlikely Chelsea are going to look at Fulham and wonder how they do it. There is nothing revolutionary to copy here. Chelsea are focused on data and have tapped heavily into the Brighton mainframe, luring a host of key personnel from the Amex Stadium, but it is hard to see why they would ever want to do the same to Fulham.
The beauty of the Fulham project is simple: there is no project. This is less an incredible scouting journey, more a triumph of shrewdness, expert bargain-hunting and intelligent coaching. Not for Fulham the search for unpolished young gems hiding in European leagues. Instead they have tended to go for the tried and trusted, often spending relatively modest sums on players deemed surplus to requirements by other Premier League sides, leaving Silva to construct a team made up of individuals who tend to arrive with much to prove.
The numbers are revealing. Of the 21 players signed by Fulham since promotion, 15 had Premier League experience and one – the Nigeria centre-back Calvin Bassey – had played in the Scottish Premiership. This is a clear strategy and it is striking that Silva is not afraid to bring in players with plenty of miles on the clock and in need of a bit of love and attention.
Sander Berge and Timothy Castagne arrived after respective relegations with Burnley and Leicester. Raúl Jiménez, 33, and Adama Traoré, 28, had fizzled out before leaving Wolves. There were few tears at West Ham when Issa Diop, the 27-year-old French centre-back, departed. Alex Iwobi, who struggled for consistency after leaving Arsenal for Everton, has found a new lease of life since joining Fulham. Bernd Leno, formerly of Arsenal, is a solid No 1.
There is a home for everyone. Even Emile Smith Rowe falls into the discard category. No longer wanted by Arsenal, the 24-year-old attacker joined Fulham for £27m last summer and has shown signs of the form that brought him an England debut in 2021.
Do not let the number of creative players in Fulham’s ranks fool you into thinking they are a soft touch, though. They are feisty and wily under Silva. Perhaps it is why they were able to match Arsenal’s physicality in their 1-1 draw. Antonee Robinson, one of the division’s best left-backs, dealt well with Bukayo Saka. Traoré’s strength was an asset at defensive set pieces.
Of course, there are limitations to Fulham’s approach. If players are not quite of the standard required for the very top, there will be times when they mistakes at key moments. Fulham play neat, intelligent football and know how to create chances but they can lack ruthlessness. They should have won at Tottenham this month, only to draw 1-1, and squandered leads in defeats by Aston Villa and Manchester City. Better finishing could have had them rubbing shoulders with fourth-placed Nottingham Forest, who were beaten 1-0 by Fulham in September.
Still, Chelsea will not underestimate Fulham’s threat. This is another test for Chelsea, who remain in the title race despite Enzo Maresca’s repeated claims to the contrary. They were not downhearted after their goalless draw at Everton on Sunday, even though it left them four points behind the leaders, Liverpool, and will expect to get back to winning ways. Maresca has more than enough in attack to down Fulham. Chelsea’s aims are lofty and their vision is beginning to come together. The young talent is clicking and Maresca’s authority is growing. Yet there is more than one way to measure success and Fulham are comfortable with commanding less attention than their moneyed neighbours.