Marco Silva says he wants to keep Fulham’s out-of-contract trio Tosin Adarabioyo, Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Kenny Tete for next season as talks continue over their futures.
De Cordova-Reid, who made his 200th appearance for Fulham against Brighton last weekend, and Tosin, who attracted offers from AS Monaco last summer, are entering the final months of their contracts at Craven Cottage. Dutch international Tete is also entering the final months of his deal however the club retain the option to extend his contract by a further year.
Speaking ahead of Fulham’s trip to Wolves on Saturday, Silva said: “With Kenny we have an option in his contract. We keep speaking with his agent. But the option is there any time we want to trigger it.
“That’s a different situation than the other two who are at the end of their contracts. The reality, and what I can to you now, we are speaking with them and their agents. What we try to is to have them with us. Our ambition, and what we want, is to have them with us again next season.”
Tosin missed the opening weeks of the season through a groin injury that required surgery, but has since made an impressive impact upon returning to the starting XI.
The 26-year-old is eligible to represent Nigeria but retains hope of an England call-up, and Silva backed his international ambitions.
“He is doing well,” said Silva. “He had a tough start to the season, with three to four months out. It was not the best time for him for sure. In December he helped the team to reach a very good level. He’s growing.
“Since I joined the club he’s been important for me. He can do things on the pitch that I really like. He’s an important player and a really good player. We always expect better things for him and if it’s the case that he joins the national team, that would be even better because that’s always an ambition.”
Silva faces a series of selection headaches ahead of Fulham’s trip to Molineux, not least as Joao Palhinha will return from suspension.
The Portugal international has been an integral figure at Fulham. Last season, in his absence, Fulham lost three games and conceded 10 goals in the process.
This season, however, Fulham have won four of the five games in which he has not played, including their two most recent matches against Manchester United and Brighton. Silva is pleased with the way his side has improved, and particularly because of the selection headache now caused by the form of Sasa Lukic and Harrison Reed.
“It was a fact that last season, without him, the results were not the best without Joao,” said Silva. “The main thing is that it’s good to see that the team was able (to win without him). It’s really good for us, but mainly for Sasa Lukic. It showed we took the right decision to sign him last season. It proved as well that some players need more time to adapt, and I think they need the chance from the manager as well to show their quality. It’s everything together.
“I mentioned to you that Sasa probably deserved more from me as a manager. But we have to be realistic that we have Joao, and at one time Joao, Tom Cairney and Andreas gelled so so well together. Sometimes it’s difficult for the others to have the chance. I agree it is a really difficult (selection) decision. But it’s a really good problem that I have.”
GO DEEPER
Sasa Lukic sees rare chance to prove his worth to Fulham in Joao Palhinha’s absence
(Clive Mason/Getty Images)
