Coleman on verge of signing new Fulham deal
Fulham hope to put the finishing touches to new contracts for their manager, Chris Coleman, and his assistant, Steve Kean, before their final Premiership match of the season against Bolton on Saturday.
Fulham hope to put the finishing touches to new contracts for their manager, Chris Coleman, and his assistant, Steve Kean, before their final Premiership match of the season against Bolton on Saturday.
Few expected the Cottagers to be in the top half of the table come the final game of the season after Coleman, who had a caretaker stint in charge following Jean Tigana's departure, was handed the manager's job on a full-time basis.
At 33, he is the youngest manager in the top flight and has done a remarkable job in taking his side to the brink of Uefa Cup qualification. Europe may now no longer be on the agenda, but Fulham are, nevertheless, on the verge of having their best season in the Premiership since winning promotion in 2001.
Coleman claimed last week he was "99 per cent" certain to sign a new deal, but also maintained suitable terms for Kean must also be on the table. "The lads have taken to him and we are very much a partnership - it is both of us or neither," Coleman said last week.
With the contract seemingly in place Coleman is trying to sign the Everton striker Tomasz Radzinski for £2m. Radzinski has stalled on a new contract at Goodison Park. Coleman has informed Everton of his interest and has made an offer of cash up front plus instalments.
Fulham have money for new forwards since the sale of Louis Saha to Manchester United and they hope to tie up the deal quickly to beat off rival interest from Blackburn Rovers and Portsmouth.
Bolton, who have agreed a £10m five-year deal with Reebok, confirmed they are holding talks with the Everton defender David Unsworth. Unsworth is out of contract this summer and has rejected a new two-year deal.
"David Unsworth is a quality player," the Bolton manager, Sam Allardyce, said. "We have opened talks with his representative and I would be keen to sign him."
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