Fulham hand Zamora £10m deal to kill off Kop interest
Published 23:00 10/09/10 By Mike Walters
Bobby Zamora has landed a bumper £10million contract at Fulham to thwart former boss Roy Hodgson.
England striker Zamora signed a new four-year deal at Craven Cottage worth £50,000 a week after Fulham batted away a deadline day inquiry from Liverpool.
Birmingham were also in the hunt for Zamora, who has scored 26 goals in 94 appearances for Fulham and led their charge into last season’s Europa League final.
Amid the swirl of interest, manager Mark Hughes made Zamora’s deal a top priority and he said last night: “Bobby is a focal point of what we are trying to do at the club and this new contract is just reward for his efforts.
“There was some interest in him during the transfer window because he’s a good player, but fortunately that’s as far as it went and we wouldn’t encourage any further interest.
“He’s playing exceptionally well at the moment and I’ve been very impressed with his ability in the short time I’ve worked with him. I quickly came to recognise his quality, although his contract had two years to run, it’s important to get your best players tied down on longer-term deals.
“When a new manager comes in, players are understandably worried about their future and whether they will fit in. But he is obviously happy here and I think he was under-estimated in terms of his ability.
“Last month he made a breakthrough at international level - I felt he did very well in his cameo against Hungary - and there seems to be a wind of change in the England set-up, so if he keeps his form I’m sure he will get another opportunity.
“I like his personality, and at 29 I think there’s more to come from Bobby. The next few years should be where he’s near to his best.”
While Zamora’s long-term future at the Cottage is now secure, unsettled Aussie goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer faces his first test of public opinion among Fulham fans at today’s home game with Wolves.
Schwarzer, who slapped in a transfer request last month in an unsuccessful bid to force through a £4 million move to Arsenal, makes his first appearance of the season after understudy David Stockdale was ruled out for a month with an ankle injury.
