‘Sessegnon more Marcelo than Bale’ – Jokanovic sees Man Utd target ending up at a ‘big club’

Ryan Sessegnon has drawn comparisons to Real Madrid star Gareth Bale with his performances this season, but Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic considers a man destined for the top to be more like Marcelo.

Having only just turned 18, the Cottagers starlet has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence in 2017-18 .

A healthy haul of 16 goals and seven assists have helped Fulham to within touching distance of the Premier League, as they prepare to face Aston Villa in the Championship play-off final , and seen Sessegnon linked with big-money moves to Manchester United and Tottenham .

He is considered to be of the Bale mould, with the Welshman having also started out as a left-back before moving up the field and earning interest from afar, but his club manager believes he is destined to be an attacking full-back, rather than a winger.

Jokanovic told Cadena Ser on an exciting talent: "He can play in two positions, as left-back or at left wing, and that is why he is being compared to Bale.

"Bale also started in that position before he made the switch to become a more attacking player. From my point of view, Sessegnon can play in different roles but I honestly think he could be more like an offensive back of a big team, like Marcelo.

"He has no physical resemblance to Marcelo but he is a player that can cover a lot of ground, needs space and can attack that space. I'm using him in the position that I am, but he can perfectly cover two positions."

Bale ended up in Madrid via Southampton and Tottenham, and Sessegnon may soon be treading a similar path.

He is tied to a contract at Fulham until 2020 but, having already helped England to European U19 Championship glory, it is expected that he will be moving on in the not too distant future .

Jokanovic added: "He is an incredible player and I personally believe he will end up at a big club. We shall see.

"Many young players in England have gone very early in their careers to big teams and they don't find any space. He opted to stay in the Championship and has a lot of experience in the tournament. I think he has done the right thing."