Netherlands international Ryan Babel has said that he is determined to avoid Premier League relegation with Fulham after making the loan switch to the club earlier in the month. The Dutchman made the surprise move to the Cottagers from Besiktas during the midway stage of the winter transfer window and he has since made his debut in the slender defeat to Tottenham Hotspur.

Speaking to reporters, Babel admitted that the Cottagers were not on his mind until the turn of the year but he is determined to help them beat the drop, he said: “I never thought that I would be playing for Fulham FC although I came close to signing for the club in my third year at Liverpool FC in the past. I will admit that I have had many transfers through the years during my career but I have always found it easy to adapt in all environments. I have come here to Fulham FC to help the club in their fight against relegation and that is important for me if I do not achieve it I will feel like I have failed.”

Babel has transformed his career over the past few seasons at Besiktas and the form has earned him a comeback with the Dutch national team. Nonetheless, his future with the Istanbul outfit remains uncertain beyond the current campaign, given the club have no intention of offering him a contract extension.

Elsewhere, Fulham are currently seven points behind 17th-placed Newcastle United but manager Claudio Ranieri has repeatedly suggested that the team can still beat the drop. The Capital outfit came within the cusp of securing a much-needed point against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend but they were eventually denied the same after Harry Winks scored the winner for Spurs with just seconds left on the clock. Fulham face Brighton & Hove Albion in the midweek league action.