20-goal Premier League striker 'close' to signing Fulham contract

Fulham are 'close' to agreeing a new deal with valued first-team star Bobby Decordova-Reid to keep him at Craven Cottage past this summer with his current deal coming to an end.

The 31-year-old has become a key part of Marco Silva's plans on the banks of the Thames and the head coach had previously shared his desire to keep the player at the club past the summer. Decordova-Reid was in and out of the starting XI this term but still racked up an impressive 41 appearances in all competitions - scoring seven goals and picking up four assists.

The Jamaica international can play on either flank, as well as through the middle, making him an asset to Fulham. He is one of several first-team players whose deals are set to expire this summer.

However, The Sun football correspondent Alan Nixon reports that Fulham are 'close' to agreeing a contract extension with the player. Decordova-Reid had his previous contract extended in January 2023 - at that time Vice Chairman Tony Khan hailed the player as ‘crucial’ and ‘important’ to the outfit.

It is believed that a new deal will keep the forward at the club for another two years and come with a significant pay increase. Speaking after the winger netted the only goal in an FA Cup win against Rotherham United in January, Silva said: "He deserves it because he's a top professional, he's a vocal guy and one of the great examples we have at the club in terms of focus, able to play in any position and he's always there.

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"He deserves all the credit and he deserves these good moments and good weeks. It's important for us and him because he needs these types of moments to lift his confidence and he needs the confidence to keep going in the direction we want him to be. Bobby has the capacity to score and tonight it was a great strike from him."

Decordova-Reid joined Fulham from Cardiff City in 2020 and has gone on to make 209 appearances for the club, bagging 20 Premier League goals in the process. He is also part of the side's leadership group and captained the team at times during the last campaign.

The contract resolution would come as a boost for Fulham with Tosin Adarabioyo expected to leave on a free transfer, while deals for Willian and Kenny Tete are still works in progress.