Fulham insist they do not want to sell star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic and hope he remains to aid their push for promotion.

The Serbia hitman was one ray of light in an otherwise dismal campaign for the Cottagers that saw them relegated to the Championship after just one season in the top flight.

The 24-year-old bagged 11 Premier League goals from 37 appearances having penned a permanent deal in the summer of 2018 after a successful six-month loan spell in second tier. Since the end of the season, Mitrovic has been linked with a number of clubs, including West Ham, Crystal Palace, Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen and Turkish outfit Fenerbahce.

La Liga club Real Betis are said to have had a couple of bid rejected already and it is thought more will emerge before the end of the transfer window. It remains to be seen if the former Newcastle United forward does stay in west London but vice-chairman Tony Khan has made it clear they are working hard to fight off all enquiries.

“I would like to retain as many of our key players as possible, and that includes Aleksandar Mitrovic,” he told Fulhamish.

“I am doing everything I can to keep him. I have a great relationship with him and we have had a lot of talks.” And it seems as though the ex-Anderlecht player is happy to remain at the relegated club. “He loves Fulham, he loves the club, he loves the people here, he loves his team-mates,” added Khan.

Fulham are 9.00 to win the Championship title, with Leeds United the 5.50 favourites.