Ashkan Dejagah: Eager to move back to the Premier League

Fulham playmaker Ashkan Dejagah has revealed his desire to return to the Premier League, but admits the situation is difficult following the London club’s relegation.

The former Wolfsburg winger is currently on international duty with Iran at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, but has hinted at a move to the top flight upon his return to club football.

Prior to joining his compatriots in Brazil, Dejagah endured the heartache of relegation at Craven Cottage, with Felix Magath’s side relegated to the Championship after winning just nine Premier League matches.

Dejagah forged several chances in Iran’s near-miss against Argentina on Saturday and the 27-year-old hopes his performances can thrust him into the limelight.

“I don’t know what will happen next season,” he told the Daily Star. “I still have a contract at Fulham and have liked it there, but it is a hard situation.

“Of course I want to play in the Premier League, but I will focus here and then we will see what happens.”

I don’t know what will happen next season. I still have a contract at Fulham and have liked it there, but it is a hard situation. Of course I want to play in the Premier League. Ashkan Dejagah

Iran were stunned by a moment of magic from Lionel Messi in Belo Horizonte as Alejandro Sabella’s side clinched a 1-0 win and Dejagah, who was denied a late penalty, admits it was a hard blow to take.

Speechless

“It’s hard to put into words what was going through my mind when Messi scored,” he said. “He is one of the best in the world and that is what the best players do – change a result in one second.

“I hope we showed the world that Iran can play football. We still have a chance to go through and who would have thought our World Cup would last longer than England and Spain?”

Carlos Quieroz’s Iran take on Bosnia and Herzegovina knowing victory could see them book a place in the round of 16 and Dejagah believes they are unlucky to not have already secured progress.

“We had such a bad feeling after the match because of the way it ended,” he added. “As a team, we played so well and defended superbly.

“We tried to make it tough for them and with a little bit of luck we would have won this game or got the draw. The manager always tries to make sure that when we are training we are defending well and I think that is the most important things.

“We did it well and still have a chance to go through. We were very unlucky.”