Fulham manager Marco Silva has launched a furious tirade, condemning the 'unacceptable' late collapse of the deal to sign free agent Josh King, just hours before his side's dismal 3-0 defeat to West London rivals Brentford.
The proposed move for the former Everton and Bournemouth striker, which would have provided crucial attacking depth, fell through dramatically on transfer deadline day. Silva did not hold back in his post-match press conference, revealing his immense frustration with the failed negotiations.
'The Situation is Not Acceptable'
"We had confirmation from the board that the player would sign for us," a visibly angry Silva stated. "After that, the situation is not acceptable, the way it happened. I don't want to say much more but it's not acceptable for me as a manager, it's not acceptable for our football club."
The Portuguese boss emphasised that the deal was agreed and all terms were settled, making its eleventh-hour failure a significant blow to the club's plans.
Derby Day Disaster on the Pitch
Any hopes of bouncing back from the transfer disappointment were quickly extinguished at the Gtech Community Stadium. Silva's men put in a woeful defensive performance, succumbing to a dominant Brentford side.
The hosts took control early, with goals from Ethan Pinnock and an Ivan Toney brace sealing a comprehensive victory. The result leaves Fulham looking nervously over their shoulder, just five points above the relegation zone.
A Double Blow for Silva
The afternoon represented a perfect storm of misfortune for the Cottagers. The off-field drama seemingly translated into a flat and disjointed on-pitch display.
With star striker Aleksandar Mitrović already sidelined, the failure to secure King's signature left Fulham's attack looking dangerously thin. This lack of options was starkly evident as they failed to trouble Brentford's defence for large portions of the match.
All eyes will now be on the Fulham board to see how they respond to their manager's very public criticism and whether they can rectify the situation in the free agent market.
