Slavisa Jokanovic has been assured Fulham will not sell their best players after missing out on ­promotion but the club face a crucial test of their ambition.

Fulham remain in the Championship following defeat in the play-offs and this summer is crucial to their hopes of getting back into the Premier League.

Jokanovic cannot afford to lose talent such as Tom Cairney and Ryan Sessegnon and has urged the board to back him in the transfer market for another promotion push next season.

If Fulham keep captain Cairney and teenage prospect Sessegnon, and strengthen with a few key signings, they could go up automatically.

Fulham were the best footballing side in the division this season and Jokanovic has built their best team since they were relegated from the top-flight three years ago.

They are not far away from a side that could challenge for the title next season.

Jokanovic knows signing a top striker is crucial and if Fulham can add some experience to their exciting young squad then they would be among the promotion favourites.

But if Cairney and Sessegnon are sold and the team is weaker next season they risk squandering the momentum being built by Jokanovic.

The manager said: “The club must make the rights steps this summer if we want to show ambition.

“It depends on the summer. It depends whether we bring what this team need and what can improve our squad. We need to show ambition and desire. I expect our best players to stay with us. This is the information I have from the board. They have promised me these players are going to stay with us.

“Next season is going to be complicated, like every year in the Championship. Half of the division is going to push for promotion. If we want to be in this half we must be clever in this period in front of us.”

Jokanovic has done an excellent job at Craven Cottage and has made no secret of his desire to manage in the Premier League.

The 48-year-old has made it clear he wants to do that with Fulham but if the club do not match his ambition it could leave him open to offers from other clubs. Jokanovic recently signed a new contract until the summer of 2019 and is happy in west London. But the job he is doing has not gone unnoticed at Premier League level.

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Jokanovic was linked with West Ham last month and, while the future of Slaven Bilic now looks more secure after the club secured their Premier League spot, he clearly has admirers in the top-flight.

Fulham must make a statement this summer by keeping hold of their best players and making some key additions to show they are serious about going up.

Speculation about Cairney and Sessegnon is only likely to grow after the defeat at the Madejski Stadium in the second leg.

Cairney is viewed by many as the best player outside the Premier League and has been linked with Newcastle and Bournemouth. The 26-year-old midfielder orchestrated play against Reading last night and did his growing reputation no harm with another excellent display.

​Sessegnon, who turns 17 tomorrow, is wanted by host of big Premier League clubs with Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham among those keeping a close eye on him.

Fulham were the better side last night but substance overcame style as a streetwise Reading team reached Wembley, where they will play Sheffield Wednesday or Huddersfield Town.

A 49th-minute penalty from Yann Kermorgant — awarded after Tomas Kalas was penalised for handball — decided the game.

Fulham came back from behind in the first leg on Saturday when Cairney grabbed the equaliser. Last night, they searched frantically for a way back into the game but lacked composure in front of goal and could not find a way past the inspired Reading goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.

That missing clinical edge is something Jokanovic needs to add to the team next season.

He said: “We did not put it in the net and we paid an expensive price. In both games we played better football than Reading but in football the only important thing is the result.

“In a few days when we analyse and look at the bigger picture we can be proud with the progress we have made this season. From a team that was fighting not to be relegated in League One to be one step away from the Wembley.

“However, at the same time we must show ambition to be stronger.”

