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Fulham to offer Scott Parker new contract and secure permanent transfers for Harry Arter and Harrison Reed

PA
PA

Fulham are pressing ahead with permanent transfers for midfield duo Harrison Reed and Harry Arter and a new contract for manager Scott Parker.

The pair, who spent last season on loan from Southampton and Bournemouth respectively, are both firm favourites of Parker and keen on a stay at Craven Cottage.

Parker himself is set to extend his deal with the club having secured promotion, with talks to begin when they return from short breaks. The 39-year-old and his coaching staff were handed two-year deals in May 2019.

Reed has informed Southampton of his desire for a regular starting place, and while manager Ralph Hasenhuttl is an admirer of the 25-year-old, he cannot give such assurances despite the expected loss of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Tottenham.

Fulham remain in talks with the south coast club but are confident of sealing a deal worth around £8million for the tenacious midfielder.

Arter's loan deal included an obligation to buy for £4m had he made a certain number of starts. Despite that number not being met, Fulham remain keen on striking a deal with Bournemouth for the 30-year-old, with the relegated Cherries thought to be happy to let Arter make the permanent switch to Craven Cottage alongside brother-in-law Parker.

The Fulham boss has made it clear that they will not repeat the £100million spending spree of two summers ago which disrupted their promotion winning side and saw them plummet back to the Championship. They will, however, still have to invest in the squad, and are looking at adding another winger and striker as support for last season's top scorer, Aleksandar Mitrovic.

Meanwhile, Fulham yesterday confirmed that Neeskens Kebano - who ended the season in red hot form with five goals in as many games, including one in each play-off semi-final against Cardiff, had penned a new two-year contract extension in west London.

Kebano said: "It has been a long journey since we started the season, we have been playing for over a year. We’ve been working very hard which has paid off with promotion to the Premier League.

“I’m delighted for the team, the staff and the supporters. We’ve remained together which has brought us to where we are now. I have a lot of affection for this club, for the fans, so it’s natural this decision to sign a contract when this opportunity was offered to me, and I’m very happy to be here for a couple of more seasons."

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