Fulham have been told they must meet Diego Lopez's buyout clause to sign the Espanyol defender.

The London Evening Standard says the Cottagers have been told they will need to trigger the £35million release clause in Lopez's contract to sign the Espanyol defensive midfielder.

Slavisa Jokanovic wants to bring Lopez to Craven Cottage this summer but Espanyol will refuse to sell him for less than their asking price.

Fulham are weighing up whether to continue their interest in the 28-year-old but he has now flown to America with Espanyol for their pre-season tour of the States, potentially complicating a deal.

Lopez was almost ever-present throughout Espanyol's 2017-18 La Liga campaign, missing just one match through suspension.