Fulham to offer Roberts new contract

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Fulham will offer talented teenager Patrick Roberts a new contract to ward off interested from Premier League clubs.

Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham are all said to be monitoring the England Under-19 international, who has one year left on his current deal at Craven Cottage.

Roberts has played 16 times in the Championship this season but has only featured twice since the turn of the year, and was again left out of the squad as Fulham drew 1-1 at Charlton on Tuesday.

But boss Kit Symons, who last month told the 18-year-old he was not yet ready for regular first-team football, said the club wanted to keep Roberts.

He said: “Pat will be offered a new contract. We’ll look to tie up our best young players.

“He’s a fantastic prospect. It’s a little bit early for him, regular Championship football, and because of the position we’re in, you need to be careful with these young players.

“We’ve probably played too many this season but I inherited a squad and I’ve had to do the best I can with it.

“There was a lot of young players in that squad who I know very well so I’m conscious of looking after them. The Championship is a tough, hard division.

“Pat’s a sensible lad. He wants to play, of course he does, but he understands the situation and the predicament of the club. It’s not about individuals at the moment.”

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