Jol keen to start dishing out contracts

Fulham 1 Stoke City 0

Jack Pitt-Brooke
Monday 25 February 2013 00:22 GMT
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Fulham's veteran-set of Dimitar Berbatov, Mark Schwarzer and Giorgios Karagounis looked to have secured their Premier League future on Saturday, leaving manager Martin Jol with the task of building for next season.

Schwarzer, who saved Jon Walters' penalty and Karagounis, in midfield, were both excellent but both of their contracts expire in the summer. "We are working on it now, constantly, every day because we've got quite a few players who are out of contract," Jol said.

Karagounis is 36 but Jol believes he offers a control in midfield that none of his other players can. "Giorgio loves to play here," Jol said. "And if we feel the moment is right we will sit down with him and offer him a new contract."

Berbatov scored the winner, a beautiful volley, but Jol said he is not certain pairing Berbatov with the similarly artistic Bryan Ruiz is the best balance. "Berbatov played unbelievably good games in Ruiz's position, so there is a few options ," he said. "Rodallega can play with Berbatov. But I want more conviction and to score more."

Ruiz, though, loves playing with the Bulgarian and said: "He is one of the best players I've played with," he said. "I don't remember anyone with the same skills as him."

Dimitar Berbatov hit his ninth goal of the season on Saturday to earn Fulham's third win in 11 Premier League matches

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