Fulham face battle to Hang on to Brede

Fulham boss Roy Hodgson faces a summer battle to keep hold of highly-rated giant centre-back Brede Hangeland.

The 27-year-old 6ft 5in defender has been attracting the interest of the Premier League big boys after moving from Copenhagen in January 2008 on a three-and-a-half-year contract.

The Houston-born star was a major reason why Fulham survived in the top flight last term and after making 24 league appearances this season his form has been as equally impressive with Arsenal and Liverpool rumoured to be watching him.

Fulham lie in eighth place in the Premier League and have conceded just 21 goals in 25 top-flight games and Hangeland has been a major contributing factor to the Cottagers’ water-tight defence.

Hodgson, who managed Hangeland in his time with Viking FK, is desperate to keep the towering defender and his central defensive partner Aaron Hughes has also heaped praise on the player.

“Brede has everything you could want a central defender to have.

“We have formed a good partnership and you can see why he’s getting interest from other clubs,” said Hughes.

The Premier League’s big guns are sure to come armed with £5million-plus bids at the end of the season and the football odds looked stacked in favour of a move away although speaking in December Hangeland seemed content in West London.

“I can see myself staying here a long time.

“The first 12 months have been excellent and I wouldn’t mind staying for some time to come,” said Hangeland.

By Phil Tomlinson, a professional sports writer who blogs about football and football betting.