Macauley Bonne (Getty Images)
Back in July, a report from The Sun (h/t The Pink’Un) had mentioned Fulham among a host of clubs to be credited with an interest in Macauley Bonne, who was then plying his trade with Charlton Athletic.
Cardiff City and Burnley were also believed to be in the race to sign the 24-year-old but nothing came of those rumours. The Zimbabwean international was eventually offered an escape route by QPR to stay in the Championship following Charlton’s relegation to the third-tier last season.
Macauley Bonne spent time in the youth ranks of Ipswich Town and Norwich City before completing his development at Colchester United, where he also had his first taste of professional football.
However, he spent time on loan at Woking and Lincoln City in the National League after failing to make much of an impression in League One and League Two.
Bonne then earned a permanent move to Leyton Orient in the fifth-tier in the summer of 2017. He caught the eye with his astonishing 23-goal haul during the 2018-19 campaign as the O’s secured promotion back to the Football League system.
Bonne was eventually snapped up by newly-promoted Championship club Charlton Athletic last summer. and went on to enjoy an impressive breakthrough season in the English second-tier. The Zimbabwean hitman bagged 11 goals and 2 assists in league 33 appearances last term, but it wasn’t enough to save the Addicks from relegation.
The 24-year-old has hit the ground running this term as well following his move to QPR, scoring the injury-time equaliser to secure a 1-1 draw away at Sheffield Wednesday.
Fulham’s transfer activity in the summer window was focused largely on improving the defence and midfield, with Ademola Lookman being the only new attacker to come through the door on loan from RB Leipzig. The Cottagers didn’t really look too keen to add to their striking ranks, which is pretty understandable given the presence of a lethal weapon like Aleksandar Mitrovic in front of goal.
The Serb has already hit the ground running in the Premier League this season but the lack of quality depth beyond him could well come back to haunt Scott Parker’ side later in the campaign. Mitrovic also has a habit of tailing off in patches, meaning Fulham need a reliable alternative up top to reduce the dependence on their talismanic hitman.
Aboubakar Kamara and Bobby Reid, though not specialist No.9s by trade, are somewhat capable of slotting into Mitrovic’s shoes. But neither player has a good record in the Premier League. Suffice to say, the Cottagers ideally need another striker to compete for places in the ranks.
To that end, Fulham making a renewed attempt to sign Macauley Bonne in January would hand a much-needed boost to their attack midway through the campaign. The 24-year-old proved his mettle by scoring goals consistently for a struggling side in the Championship last season and has continued to fire on all cylinders this term as well.
Bonne’s rich vein of form in the Championship represents a massive step-up for a player who was plying his trade in non-league football just a couple of seasons ago. The Zimbabwean has really come of age over the past 12 months.
Macauley Bonne remains an unproven striker at the Premier League level. But his performances in the second-tier suggest that he’s more than capable of thriving in the top-flight. Fulham already have Mitrovic as their main man in front of goal and the Zimbabwean certainly ticks the box as an understudy in that role.
The 24-year-old still has his best years ahead of him and Fulham making a renewed attempt to sign him in January could well hand a boost to their attack.