Kit Symons remains "very hopeful" that 19-year-old hot-shot Moussa Dembele will sign a new Fulham contract after seeing him star in the 4-1 defeat of Bristol City in the Sky Bet Championship.
With big name clubs from England and Europe reportedly showing interest, the young striker netted twice in the first 18 minutes to put the skids under struggling City.
Further first half goals from Ross McCormack and Ryan Tunnicliffe put the visitors out of sight long before Jonathan Kodjia scored an injury time consolation for the hosts.
Asked about Dembele, whose current agreement expires at the end of the season, manager Symons said: "Moussa is a player we will work on to improve.
"Talks over a new contract are in progress and we want him to sign. I am very hopeful it will happen.
"He is at the right club to develop his game because we have some good people to offer him guidance."
Of his team's performance, Symons added: "First half I thought we were excellent and took our goals really well.
"We could have put the game to bed in the second half with a couple of early chances, but Bristol City kept going on made it more difficult for us."
The visitors took a second minute lead when James Husband got behind City's defence on the right and crossed low for Dembele to shoot home from six yards.
On 18 minutes Aden Flint's ill-advised crossfield pass was intercepted by McCormack. He fed Tom Cairney, who crossed from the right for Dembele to sidefoot his second at the far post.
McCormack's sweetly struck free-kick from 30 yards following a foul by Luke Freeman made it 3-0 on 33 minutes and soon it was four as Tunnicliffe lobbed Frank Fielding when running onto a bouncing ball that split City's back line.
Ryan Fredericks almost made it five with a 38th minute cross shot from the right, which came back off the crossbar.
It was not until injury time that City pulled a goal back, with top scorer Kodjia converting a cross from substitute Simon Cox, shooting first time past Andy Lonergan from eight yards.
Home boss Steve Cotterill said: "We made a couple of mistakes to give Fulham a leg-up in the game and we are very disappointed with the goals conceded.
"For 30 minutes we were the better team and yet found ourselves 2-0 down. That game has summed up our season.
"We came up against opponents with that bit more quality than us and they took their chances. We have to create more opportunities than our rivals to score goals.
"We are in for training tomorrow and will dust ourselves down in time to face Wolves on Tuesday.
"We showed a lot of courage after the interval because it's not easy at 4-0 down, but the bottom line is that Fulham had more quality."
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