Fulham boss Chris Coleman has demanded his side maintain their end-of- season charge to strengthen his position in transfer negotiations.
The Cottagers have taken maximum points from their last three games – including Saturday’s first away victory of the season at Manchester City.
With two fixtures remaining they could improve on last term’s 13th place finish and Coleman knows every advantage will help when he seeks to convince his transfer targets to join Fulham this summer.
“It’s easier to attract good players, better players, if you finish in the top 10,” he said.
“In the first season we finished ninth and got to a cup quarter-final and that made it easier when we were talking to players.
“If you’re at the bottom it’s harder because no one wants to join a struggling club.”
Fulham enjoyed a strong finish last season, capped by the 6-0 thumping of Norwich on the final day, but with Sunderland and Middlesbrough to come they could deliver an even more impressive run-in.
And with extra cash awarded for every place higher up the Barclays Premiership, Coleman has stressed the importance of continuing the late flourish.
“Last season we won three out of four at the end. Now we’ve won four out of six, losing one and drawing one, so we’re in good form,” he said.
“We’ve got three games in which we can get points. We don’t have Chelsea at Stamford Bridge or Liverpool at Anfield, instead we are facing teams who can beat us, but we can beat them.
“If we do manage to go unbeaten we’ll see where we finish because we could end up in mid-table, which would be good for us. That has to be our aim.
“If we finish three or four places higher that’s the best part of £2million.
“It’s our job to go out and do our best. If we win the last three but don’t play well, then it doesn’t really matter.”
Coleman has been armed with the biggest transfer kitty of his three-year reign at Craven Cottage, thought to be around £6million.
Wigan midfielder Jimmy Bullard has agreed a £2.5million move as soon as the transfer window reopens and Coleman hopes to make at least two further signings.
“I have a wish-list of three or four players. I know who I want and in what positions,” he said.
“It’s exciting for me because it’s money I’ve not spent before so we’re going to a different level.
“But I’m looking forward to that and to getting this club into a top-10 position. If we get the quality we want it could be an exciting season.”
