Martin Jol has re-opened talks with Fulham about extending his contract beyond this season, according to Goal.
The Dutchman first held contract talks with the club last autumn, but negotiations were put on ice as the team’s form dipped either side of the New Year.
However, Jol and his representative Mino Raiola recently met with senior officials at the west London club for discussions about his future.
The 57-year-old, whose current deal expires in June, has a clause in his contract that includes an option to extend his Craven Cottage stay until the summer of 2014.
Schalke have targeted Jol to take over as their new manager in the summer after dismissing Huub Stevens in December and appointing former youth-team coach Jens Keller in an interim capacity until the end of the season.
“Jol is now more likely to go into next season as the Fulham manager,” a source told Goal.com “There have been new talks about his contract but things are still in limbo. There is a feeling that if he gets a better offer, Jol will go.”
As revealed by Goal.com, the former Tottenham, Ajax and Hamburg manager had been at loggerheads with Fulham officials over his contract negotiations and the club’s recruitment strategy.
The Premier League club failed to provide Jol with any permanent signings in January despite making late bids to sign Jack Butland and Tom Huddlestone. The only players recruited were loan deals – Emmanuel Frimpong, Urby Emanuelson, Stanislav Manolev and Eyong Enoh.
However, it is understood that there has been a fresh impetus from the Fulham board to tie Jol to the club for another 12 months.
He has steered the Cottagers to 10th in the Premier League – nine points clear of the relegation zone – and they are all but certain to maintain their top-flight status.
