FULHAM will reopen talks with goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer this week.

The 40-year-old is out of contract this summer and initial discussions over an extension broke down .

Schwarzer is seeking assurances over his position as number one at Craven Cottage and rejected the club’s opening offer.

David Stockdale, who has been impressing on loan at Hull City this season, is set to return to the club and rival him for the gloves next term.

Whites manager Martin Jol admits competition for places is causing the delay in wrapping up a deal for Schwarzer, but is hopeful an agreement can be reached.

Jol said: "We offered him a new contract, the only thing is he wanted to be guaranteed to be the number one.

"That is not easy as we need a goalkeeper anyway. We don't know what will happen to Stockdale and he does not want to be the number two, as you know he wants to be number one as well, and that is the problem.

"Okay, you can go on the market and find a useless goalkeeper, but you want a good goalkeeper and if you find a good goalkeeper you have to fight for your place, but we will sit down with him and try to find a solution.

Schwarzer took his place between the sticks as Fulham signed off for the season with a 3-0 win at Swansea City this afternoon.

Jol added: "You saw today, 3-0 looks very good but it would have been different if he had not been there.

"We hope to find a solution, if we cannot find a solution we need to get a very, very, good goalkeeper because you need to be very, very good to be better than, or the same, as him."

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