COTTAGE MAGPIE
However, whilst the player made no attempt to hide his desire to move on, the Opta stats reveal that Goma was a key component of the Geordie side and his presence may be sorely missed.
Bobby Robson's side has suffered from severe bouts of inconsistency this season, which has seen them lose as many games as they have won and accounts for their mid-table position.
Although Goma has tasted defeat on eight occasions, half of this total were by a solitary goal and never by more than a two-goal deficit. Newcastle maintained three clean sheets when the Frenchman was in the side - a feat that they have managed only once without him and not since September.
Despite featuring in just two-thirds of Newcastle's league fixtures this term, Goma has still completed the second highest number of clearances at the club, behind the ever-present Aaron Hughes.
The six-footer has also climbed to nod 115 balls away from the danger area - more than any of his team-mates - proving that his height will be a valuable asset to the Fulham back-line.
Such assertive play was clearly missing when the Magpies crashed to their biggest defeat of the season against Arsenal, when the rampant Gunners smashed five goals past Shay Given without reply.
Goma has made an unrivalled total of 10 interceptions for the Tyneside outfit this term, and such incisive defending may have helped soften the blow at Highbury back in December.
The former Paris Saint Germain centre back has proved that he is just as competent commanding issues on the ground as he is dealing with an aerial bombardment.
Goma has attempted more than half-a-century of challenges in the black-and-white shirt - including one last-man saving tackle - and has run out with possession 78% of the time. This is fully five percentage points above the Premiership average in 2000-01.
With Chris Coleman ruled out of action for at least a year following a car crash, Jean Tigana needs a long-term replacement for his injured skipper. The Fulham boss knows that he is getting a ready-made Premiership-class defender for his money and it may not be long before Goma is gracing the top flight once more.
The South West London side have occupied first place in the Division One table since November last year and have conceded just 0.7 goals per game on average.
Therefore the record signing of the former French international can only serve to bolster their stranglehold on an automatic promotion spot for the remaining two months of the campaign.
