Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has refused to rule out a move away from the club when the transfer window reopens in January.
Schwarzer’s future was the subject of intense speculation over the summer after attracting interest from Arsenal.
Fulham managed to keep hold of the Australian and Cottagers boss Mark Hughes recently indicated they would like to tie down Schwarzer to a new contract, with his current deal due to expire at the end of the season.
However, Schwarzer has indicated he has not given up hope of a move to a Champions League club and will explore any options that come his way in January.
“A lot can happen between now and January. What will be will be,” Schwarzer told the Australian media.
“If there’s an opportunity in January, then we’ll explore it.”
Schwarzer admits he was flattered to be linked with Arsenal and concedes the speculation over his future manifest one of the hardest times of his career.
“It was probably one of my hardest periods ever,” added Schwarzer.
“This is the only time in my career I have ever tried to force an issue.
“I don’t have time on my side. If you were a 30-year-old you would walk away and say ‘fair enough, I understand’.
“But I’m almost 38 and I want to fulfil an ambition. The sheer opportunity that was there …”
Schwarzer continued: “That was very flattering [the interest from Arsenal], but sometimes you’ve just got to grin and bear it and just get on with normal life again as much as possible,” he said.
“You just have to get your head down and work as hard as possible.
“It can affect your day-to-day life, and ultimately I am judged on how I perform week in, week out.
“If that performance drops, then no club is going to be interested in me.
“The bottom line is I’ve got to play well wherever I am.”
