Fulham are unlikely to sign Chelsea defender Gary Cahill for the rest of the season, according to reports.

The 33-year-old former England defender has been frozen out of the first team by boss Maurizio Sarri, with the Italian preferring the combination of Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz to start, with Andreas Christiansen on the bench.

The ex-Bolton defender has managed just one Premier League appearance this season, and has also featured in six games in the EFL Cup and Europa League.

Fulham had been linked with a switch for Cahill as Claudio Ranieri looks to try and rectify a leaky defence, which has conceded 51 goals so far this season in 23 games.

However, Cahill is understood to want a long term deal at any new club he joins, with the reports suggesting that Fulham were only prepared to buy out the remainder of Cahill’s Chelsea deal to the end of the season. And Ranieri was downbeat on Friday of the prospect of Cahill joining the Cottagers.

The Italian said: “He is a very important player and, for us, it would be fantastic. But I don’t know if he wants to come and fight with us.”

Fulham next face Brighton on Tuesday in a crucial Premier League encounter as they look to get over the disappointment of their late loss to Tottenham on Sunday. They are available at 2.30 to win with Brighton at 3.30 and a draw at 3.20.