Jimmy Bullard has not been offered a new Fulham contract because his manager is concerned that he does not pull his weight in midfield.

Bullard was the man of the match during his team’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Saturday, but he could leave Craven Cottage this week if Bolton Wanderers increase their offer for the player by £1 million, to £4 million.

“You can’t have midfield players who go missing when there is defending to be done,” Roy Hodgson, the Fulham manager, said. “We have worked hard on this. He is not a born defender.”