Claudio Ranieri hopes to stay at Fulham even if they are relegated to the Championship.

The Italian signed a “multi-year contract” in November and today said he would be up for the challenge of leading Fulham back into the top flight, if owner Shahid Khan stuck with him.

Fulham are eight points from safety with 12 games remaining and face West Ham at the London Stadium tonight looking for their first away win of the season to spark their survival bid. Ranieri faces a difficult challenge but the 67-year-old has said he is committed to the club if they go down.

He said: “If the chairman is happy, I am happy to stay. I am used to working in the second division, I won the second division in France. I am ready to fight with the club. I love this club because it is a very good club. I am here, if the owner wants me then I am ready.”

Ranieri has failed to inspire an improvement at Fulham and he is coming under some pressure after their 3-0 home defeat to Manchester United two weeks ago.

He was given a public show of support by Khan before that game but the result, in front of a global television audience, will not have gone down well.

Fulham supporters turned on Ranieri with chants of “You don’t know what you’re doing” and booed him off.

He has called for everyone at Fulham to stick together and has urged his players to take control of their destiny by beating West Ham.

He said: “It is important for us to show our strength. The destiny is there. I want to see my players make their destiny with their hearts.

“We have to stay together to give something good to each other. It is a big challenge but I am confident in my players.”

New signings Lazar Markovic and Havard Nordtveit could be involved for Fulham tonight but they are unlikely to start.