Danny Murphy is confident that Brede Hangeland will sign a new contract with Fulham partly out of loyalty to the London club, who give him the chance to test himself in Premier League.

The Fulham captain reckons that keeping hold of Fulham’s best players is just as important as bringing in new signings during the transfer window.

It is all very well talking about additions, but it is important to keep the players you already have. One of the major reasons for our success last season was that we were able to field the same team so many times.

If we lost any of the big players it is going to have an impact on us because trying to find players of that quality in today’s market is difficult.

Hangeland has progressed so much in the last 18 months, and I think it would do him good to stay with us another season. 

I hope he signs a new contract – that is down to him. But he is a sensible lad and is in negotiations, and is certainly not someone who is asking for the world.He is very aware that Fulham were the club that gave him his chance in the Premier League, and I am sure he will repay us by staying.