Fulham boss Martin Jol has admitted that he is hopeful Clint Dempsey will stay at the club next season.
The 29-year-old scored his 17th Premier League goal in the Cottagers' 2-1 win over Sunderland, but he is yet to commit his future to the club.
"I want to be positive. You are talking about the scenario that a couple of players won't be here. If all the players are here we will only get better," Jol told reporters.
"I'm not surprised by Dempsey in this game, because I know that he will only get better. You talk to him and he wants to get better because of course he's not perfect, no-one is perfect, but he's improving. He knows what [the fans] think of him. Hopefully it's enough for him to sign his contract."
Fulham have moved into eighth in the Premier League table.
