Midfielder Harry Arter says that he wants to stay at Fulham beyond the end of the season, but that that will only be possible if the club wins promotion to the Premier League in the current campaign.

Arter joined Fulham on a season-long loan from Bournemouth in the final week of the summer transfer window, and has featured in all three of club’s league games since joining, with Fulham picking up maximum points from those matches.

Speaking after his side’s 4-0 thrashing of Millwall on Wednesday night, Arter confirmed that he is already thinking about extending his stay at Craven Cottage, although that will depend on whether or not the club’s push for promotion back to the Premier League is successful.

Talking to the Evening Standard, Arter said: “I don’t know what people think the deal is, but for me the only way that I can definitely stay next year is if we get promoted.

“So I am desperate to go up, for me personally of course because I want to spend the next few years here. So promotion and staying is definitely in my mind of course.”

Reflecting on his time at Fulham so far, the midfielder added: “I’ve settled in really well. I’ve been coming to watch Fulham for the last five or six years so I kind of felt like a part of the club before I even joined. So that side of things has been easy.”

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Having now won three games on bounce, Fulham currently sit third in the early Championship standings with nine points from their opening four games of the league campaign.

Scott Parker’s side are next in action when they host Nottingham Forest at Craven Cottage on Saturday afternoon.

The Verdict

This is an interesting one.

Given the impact Arter has made during his brief time at the club so far, you do feel as though Fulham too will be keen to keep the midfielder at Craven Cottage beyond the end of the season.

This therefore puts added pressure on the club to get that promotion this season, with plenty already tipping them for a quick return to the Premier League.

Considering how they have started the campaign, it does appear as though Fulham are in a strong position to convert those expectations, and strengthen their chances of keeping Arter at the club in the process.