Fulham 'prepare for future' as Man Utd and Newcastle United transfer target absent from squad

Fulham head coach Marco Silva said that Tosin Adarabioyo was available to play against Crystal Palace on Saturday, despite the centre-back not featuring in the Cottagers' starting XI or matchday squad.

The 26-year-old had started his side's last nine top flight outings and is out of contract at Fulham come the end of the season. The defender's potential availability on a free transfer has reportedly piqued the interest of several Premier League clubs.

Last month, The Evening Standard linked Adarabioyo with a move to both Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool this summer, while Serie A giants Juventus are also believed to be interested. The centre-back is also said to be a transfer target for Sir Jim Ratcliffe at Manchester United.

Asked about whether Fulham supporters had seen the star play for their side for the last time, Silva said: "He can play. We have three games to play. if I decided he would be on the pitch he would be. It will be my decision always.

"I'm looking for the present. I want to win football matches and be as competitive as we can be. At the same time, we have to prepare for the future of the football club."

Bobby De Cordova-Reid and Kenny Tete also have contracts expiring at the end of the campaign. Silva had previously confirmed that talks were underway with those players, along with Adarabioyo.

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He said: “Three different things [situations], or two that are different. 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 say to you now, [is] we are speaking with them and their agents. What we try to do is to have them with us. Our ambition, and what we want, is to have them with us next season again.”