Skysports.com understands Fulham are to kick-off the battle for Billy Sharp's signature, with the Cottagers set to bid £3.5m for the Doncaster striker.

Cottagers readying bid for in-demand Doncaster striker

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understands Fulham are to kick-off the battle for Billy Sharp's signature, with the Cottagers set to offer £3.5million for the Doncaster striker. Rovers have been bracing themselves for a flurry of bids, with the winter transfer window set to open for business on 1st January. Chairman John Ryan recently revealed that the 25-year-old has a £3million release clause in his contract, meaning Doncaster will have to talk to any club matching or bettering their figure. Fulham are poised to get the ball rolling, with Martin Jol looking to inject some much-needed firepower into his squad. Sharp has already netted nine times in the Championship this season, despite plying his trade for a team struggling towards the foot of the division. Doncaster have begrudgingly accepted that his form is going to attract interest and will not be surprised to hear of Fulham's intentions. They are, however, refusing to give up on their efforts to keep Sharp at the Keepmoat Stadium, with manager Dean Saunders insisting there is no guarantee that the striker will move on.He said: "I'm hoping he'll stay. "I think he's playing well at the moment. I don't want to lose him but I've been a striker myself and when these things are going to happen, they happen. "He's a striker and if you bang goals in you go up to the next league, whatever league you're in. "I'm just glad he's on form and banging goals in for us and he just needs to keep doing what he's doing, not take his eye off the ball and what will be, will be. "I'm planning as if he's going to be here, nothing's been done yet. "I don't know what's going to happen around the corner. At the end of the day the final decision will be Billy's."