GO UP... STARS STAY Get promotion and Fulham can keep their big names

FULHAM midfielder Stefan Johansen says ambitious Fulham can keep stars like wonderkid Ryan Sessegnon – IF they can clinch promotion today.

Wing-back Sessegnon, who has scored 15 goals in the Championship at the age of just 17, is wanted by some of the world’s biggest clubs, including Real Madrid.

But Johansen 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 make the top flight.

Fulham currently 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’s Johansen reckons if that happens then owner Shahid Khan, who has just 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,” said Johansen (below).

Massive

“The potential of the club is massive. The owner has shown clearly that he supports the club with new signings and with 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.” And Sessegnon could be the key to it all. He has recently been linked with Real, Monaco, Liverpool, Man United and Tottenham but has never asked to leave. “He’s in a good place here under the manager and I think he may develop even more under him,” insisted Johansen.

“What’s impressed me the most about Sess is his mentality. He’s had a brilliant season and he has every club in the world after him, but the way he has kept cool is unbelievable.

“His mentality and how grown up he is for his age is incredible. I know his future will be very, very bright.

“So for 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 big boys will be tough.

But Johansen added: “Our main focus is that everybody in the dressing room wants to win promotion with Fulham and play Premier League football with Fulham.”