Exodus on the cards

Fulham manager Martin Jol has dropped a more-than-extensive hint that the Summer may well be one of substantial departures. Not necessarily substantial in numbers, but certainly in pedigree.

Moussa Dembele, Clint Dempsey and Brede Hangeland have all been mooted as the most sought after Fulham assets over the past year and as interest mounts up in the trio, our Dutch manager has taken a step back in his earlier assertions that Fulham's best players would be tied down to long deals.

It was only a matter of days ago that Jol, whose had a mixed opening season at Craven Cottage, was suggesting that his elite players would be getting new contract offers in the hope to keep them in SW6. In a vast turnaround, however, Jol has all but admitted that Fulham are a selling club and that money recouped from major player sales will help him to build his own, younger, Fulham brand.

"We have now got two or three players with a very good value and we will have to wait and see," said Jol.

"There is a lot of interest from other clubs in my players and that is why I have to try to use my background and experience to find younger players."

He went on to compare his current club to those he has managed in both Holland and Germany, highlighting the ideology that selling key players isn't as degrading as it seems.

"For me, it is not a problem because I feel we have that philosophy, not like in Germany and Holland.

"They have a big party if they sell someone for £20million, but here it is different. If you sell a player here, everybody says you are a selling club, but I am used to that.

"I will always shake hands with them if they can go to the Chelseas, the Manchester Citys or the Manchester Uniteds or Arsenals of this world.

"It is not a problem for me. The only thing I don't like is if they say before the season starts that they want to play Champions League football, but that is another issue."

Which player he's subtly mentioning at the end there, only Jol knows, but Clint Dempsey would fit the bill. No surprises if he is the first to go.