Fulham have spent the majority of their recent history at the top-end of the Championship table or higher, yo-yoing between the top two divisions for the past five years in particular. 

In this time, Fulham have made a large number of signings, with some being marvellous and others being largely forgettable. Having had the riches of the Premier League for so long, when Fulham were relegated in 2014, their following seasons were set out with one goal in mind: automatic promotion.

Due to having such high aims, Fulham need to sign players to match the expectations, and typically players of this calibre command a hefty fee. Sometimes, teams can unearth a gem for a small price, which Fulham have been no stranger to.

Here, we take a look at the three biggest bargains for Fulham over the last five years…

Tom Cairney

Fulham signed Tom Cairney from Blackburn Rovers back in the summer of 2015 for a reported fee of around £3million, having impressed for the Lancashire side registering three goals and seven assists in all competitions predominantly from the right-wing. When Fulham signed the then 24-year-old, he had an immediate positive impact scoring eight and assisting six, whilst playing across each position in an attacking midfield trio. 

Where the signing of Cairney began to pay massive dividends was in the 2016/17 season under manager, Slaviša Jokanović. This season proved to be a major improvement in Cairney’s performance, mainly due to holding down a consistent position in central attacking midfield, whilst also taking on the added responsibility of the captain’s armband. 

Since Jokanović’s first full season, Cairney has made 95 Championship appearances, scoring 22 and assisting 19, one of those goals being the one that clinched Fulham’s promotion back to the top flight at Wembley.  

Aleksandar Mitrović

After arriving in England at Newcastle, Mitrović struggled to demonstrate the potential he had shown at Anderlecht. At Newcastle, issues surfaced about his disciplinary record on top of his patchy form and thus never managed to nail down a first-team place.

In January 2018, Fulham offered the Serbian international a chance to revitalise his career with a loan move to the play-off hopefuls. Immediately after that move, Mitrović almost single-handedly dragged Fulham into the play-off picture with 12 goals in 17 appearances, earning himself a permanent transfer to the Cottagers the following summer, when they were promoted.

While the permanent fee was reported as around £22million, which is not cheap by any means. However, the loan signing of him, and the impact he had in a short space, more than earned to money (with play-off glory) to pay the fee Newcastle commanded.

Ivan Cavaleiro

The most recent name on this list is this summer’s addition, on-loan Wolves winger Ivan Cavaleiro. Fulham signed the Portuguese winger initially on loan but with an option for a permanent transfer next summer. While it is only two months into his first campaign at the club, Cavaleiro is already showing the dazzling form that helped guide Wolves to the Championship title back in 2018.

Making 10 appearances so far this campaign, Cavaleiro has notched four goals and provided three assists. These numbers alone present a very good start, but given the impact and quality of the efforts emphasise his abilities. Without his contributions, Fulham would be five points and seven league places worse off.

Even though it is early days in his Fulham career, it is hard to disagree that he will be a crucial player if Fulham are to lodge a serious promotion bid.