Fulham are eyeing a summer swoop for the Blackburn defender Aaron Mokoena.

The South African international is set to leave Ewood Park at the end of the season regardless of whether Rovers beat the drop after becoming frustrated at a lack of first-team football. Mokoena’s place in the South African side could come under threat as he is currently out of the Blackburn team and he realises a move could help ensure that he’s assured of a starting place ahead of this year’s Conferderations Cup and the 2010 World Cup in his homeland.

I am definitely leaving Blackburn. I always want to play but I cannot change the coach’s decision.

It has been very frustrating because I could have left in January but they asked me to stay.

I want a club where I can get enough game time. I am 28 and need to play on a regular basis.

Mokoena has only managed six starts for Blackburn this season, the last of which came in yesterday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham. He came on as a second half substitute when Rovers secured a vital 2-1 win at Fulham earlier this month.

Hopefully, the News of the World are well off the mark when they suggest that Mokoena could be a replacement for Hangeland, who was excellent again yesterday.