Fulham fans are afraid to surf the internet these days.
Sometimes they see news there about Arsenal's interest in Manor Solomon, sometimes those linking him to Tottenham, and recently even Barcelona entered the picture.
For them, no matter how much truth or logic there is in these news, they want to see the Israeli extremist in their uniform next season as well.
"Let's all calm down," tweeted one of the fans in response to the news that Barca had joined the race, "we the fans support him, the club treated him well during his injury and he looks like a great guy. In short, see you in August."
In Fulham, they are beginning to understand that it will not be so simple to keep the Israeli.
Solomon soared to great heights when he scored four goals in four consecutive games and was nominated for the player of the month in the Premier League, even though he did not start the team in any game.
In a short time he became one of the fans' favorites and was compared to Arjen Robben, Eden Hazard and even Alessandro Del Piero.
The proportions have been blown, but the reality is that Solomon has become a sought-after commodity.
According to reports, a very serious battle is expected for his services next season.
"We have to be ready," said his coach Marco Silva this week in response to the news about the great interest he is generating among big teams across the continent, "the meaning is not that we have to be ready to lose him, but that we have to be ready for the competition that will come in the transfer market."
Solomon Manor.
Conquering London, photo: Reuters
The Portuguese coach and his club wanted very much to avoid such a possibility.
In the summer, according to one of the people of Shakhtar Donetsk, the London group was ready to purchase the 23-year-old Israeli on a permanent contract for 5.7 million euros.
It almost happened, but FIFA allowed players in Ukrainian teams to suspend their contracts until June 2023 following the war, making Solomon's move to Fulham a loan only. "We tried to sign him permanently, but for all kinds of reasons it didn't happen," admitted Silva. , "Now we have to deal with this situation, there is no choice.
We knew from day one that this was something that could happen, and there's nothing to dramatize now."
"It's not closed yet"
Now Fulham fans want to see Solomon in the squad in the Premier League.
It hasn't happened yet this season, and maybe it will happen tonight against Brentford.
Then they want to hear that he signs in the team's uniform and continues next season.
"I think it will happen, but it's not closed yet," said Peter Ratzler, the reporter who covers Fulham for the ATHLETIC website in a podcast that discusses the team's affairs, "He is happy at Fulham, he has acclimatized in London and the project of the club appeals to him. The success of the team adds to these feelings, but The question mark about his future still exists."
It is important to understand - Solomon will return to Shakhtar Donetsk at the end of this season no matter what.
Fulham could have signed him on a preliminary contract, but then he would be forced to play the first half of next season at Shakhtar - something he and the English team do not want to happen.
Therefore what will happen is that Manor will become available to anyone who is interested.
A team that wants him next season will have to negotiate with Shakhtar Donetsk regarding the purchase amount.
In recent times, every goal that Israel conquers only increases its value and increases the interest in it, which is expected to make the fight for his services more difficult.
"It's not an easy situation for Fulham," explained Ratzler, "but they are well positioned."
The small London club believe that the period they shared together, which included recovery from a serious injury and professional success on the grass, gives them precedence when it comes to the Israeli's future.
However, it is clear to them that as long as the present continues to be so impressive, it will be very difficult to keep Solomon.
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