Cottagers boss has too many Ful guys

CLAUDIO RANIERI says he needs a leader who can inspire Fulham to escape their relegation peril.

The Cottagers have been linked with a move for Chelsea centre-back Gary Cahill and midfielder Danny Drinkwater, as Ranieri looks to recruits from one of his former club this month. Ranieri has been promised funds by Fulham owner Shahid Khan as he battles to haul his side away from the Premier League relegation zone.

He has also been linked with Leicester duo Christian Fuchs and Shinji Okazaki, two of the players who helped him win the title with the Foxes in 2016. But what Ranieri claims he really needs right now is a leader on the pitch.

The Italian, whose side travel to fellow strugglers Burnley tomorrow, said: “We have to bring someone in to survive. It would be a good boost for my players. “We need someone who has experience. A leader, with good character and personality. Then we can improve our team. “I need somebody who can help us. We have a very good team, but without experience. “We are looking in every direction and we will see what happens. The transfer market is open and we are ready to take someone that can help Fulham. We are so close and working and hope at the end we can achieve what we are thinking.”

Ranieri claims he never looks at the league table – which is just as well as right now it shows the Cottagers one place off the bottom.

He said: “Believe me, I never look. This is another crucial game. Every game is crucial, but Burnley is more crucial.

“We know there will be a great battle. I hope we can survive. We must be ready for the style of the match.

“Burnley will think if they kill Fulham, then they go up and we stay there. So it’s crucial.

Respect

“I am always optimistic, but I don’t know when the corner arrives. I hope soon. We train well, but the answer is on the pitch.”

The Cottagers suffered a demoralising blow last week when they were turfed out of the FA Cup by League Two Oldham at home, but Ranieri insisted that result would not have a negative impact on his key players.

He said: “I have a lot of respect for the FA Cup. But right now the Premier League is most important.

“I gave opportunities against Oldham to the players who aren’t playing every week to show what they can do. They missed that chance.

“The players who always play in the Premier League show desire and strength.”