JOHANSEN: Only way is up with Sess & Fulham will give him staying power

FULHAM midfielder Stefan Johansen says the ambitious Cottagers can keep stars like wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon if they clinch promotion today.

The 17-year-old flying wing-back (below), who has scored 15 goals in the Championship, is wanted by the world’s biggest clubs, including Real Madrid. But Johansen (right) is adamant the youngster, and other big names like Ryan Fredericks, Tom Cairney and on-loan Aleksandar Mitrovic, would want to stay put if the Cottagers made it to the top flight. Fulham sit third in the table, one point behind Cardiff, and unbeaten in an incredible 24 games. Automatic promotion is not entirely in their hands – but if they win at Birmingham and the Bluebirds drop points at home to Reading, they will be up. Norway ace Johansen reckons if that happens then owner Shahid Khan – who has tabled a £1billion bid to buy Wembley for his American Football team the Jacksonville Jaguars – would also go all out to keep his star man in south west London. “That will be the ambition and I think the players want to stay as well. I don’t think there’s a problem,” insisted Johansen. “The potential of the club is massive. The owner has shown clearly he supports the club with new signings and plans for a new Riverside Stand as well. “It sends a clear signal that he cares – and that is giving confidence to the players that it’s an exciting project here.” Sessegnon could be the key to it all. He has recently been linked with Real, Monaco, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham, but has never asked to leave. “He’s in a good place here under the manager and he may develop even more under him,” said Johansen. “What’s impressed me most about Sess is his mentality. He’s had a brilliant season and has every club in the world after him, but the way he has kept cool is unbelievable. “I know his future will be very bright. So, for him now, it’s just about making sure he makes the right steps. He’s in the right place.” In the long term, persuading Sessegnon to turn down the big money offered by the major clubs is going to be tough. And keeping striker Mitrovic, whose value has rocketed after scoring 14 goals on loan from Newcastle, could be even tougher. But there’s an opportunity for Fulham to win promotion today and Johansen says that’s the only thing to think about as the team head to St Andrew’s. “Our main focus is that everybody in the dressing room wants to win promotion with Fulham and play Premier League football with Fulham,” he said. “If possible we want do it on Sunday. We know it’s not in our hands but the pressure is on Cardiff. We believe they can slip up.” In fact, a tattoo on Johansen’s left arm sums up Fulham’s task. It says ‘to win is not everything, it is the only thing’. “That’s what we have to do,” he said.