Player confirms Fulham chief’s demands blocked exit, reveals talk about extension

After having joined Fulham from Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen in 2016, Denis Odoi made 30 appearances in his debut season in the Championship.

Gent were interested in bringing the defender back to Belgium and the two sides agreed a deal for the 30-year-old in summer 2017.

However, the deal collapsed after the Fulham owner’s son, Tony Khan, who is also the director of football at Craven Cottage, intervened and increased the transfer fee.

Due to this, the Jupiler Pro League outfit pulled out of the deal and he continued with his current employer.

“Many say I was lucky to play in the Premier League now. Because at the beginning of last season – when Fulham was still playing in the Championship – I could have gone to Gent,” Odoi told Belgian newspaper Het Belang van Limburg.

“And now? At the time, I earned considerably less than now. I am not priceless, but I wonder if a Belgian club wants to pay for a defender of my age.”

The Belgium defender’s contract with the Cottagers will expire after the end of this season and Claudio Ranieri’s side have the option to further extend it by one more year. 

Odoi admitted to have already held talks to to extend his stay at Fulham at least until 2020.

“My contract here is expiring, but there is an option that they may be able to explain. They have even spoken about a normal extension. I like to live in England,” he added.