Chris Coleman has called on midfielder Steed Malbranque to commit his future to Fulham.
Fulham manager Chris Coleman has called on midfield star Steed Malbranque to commit his future to the club this summer.The Frenchman, who scored the winner in Fulham's away victory over Manchester City at the weekend, has one more season remaining on his contract at Craven Cottage and although talks are underway, no new deal has been agreed.
Coleman knows that if nothing is settled in the summer, the club would have to consider cashing in on the 26-year-old before it is too late, but the Fulham boss remains hopeful Malbranque will commit for the long-term, as he begins planning for next season.
Coleman is expecting a busy summer, with the club's board giving him a bigger transfer kitty than ever before, some of which he spent last week when capturing Wigan midfielder Jimmy Bullard, who will join in the summer.
"We have had talks and we need to know whether Steed wants to stay," said Coleman in The Mirror.
"We can't be put in a position where Steed can run his contract down because we will lose a lot of money and an excellent player.
"If we get the players we are looking for and keep Steed as well, it could be exciting for us.
"We will have a strong midfield next season and I think signing Jimmy Bullard will be a factor in Steed's thinking, we hope it sends the right signal.
"We are trying to spend more than we ever have in my time and that has to be positive when it comes to persuading him to stay.
"Hopefully we can also finish three or four places higher because the prize money would be worth about £2 million to the club and could help keep Steed."
