Premier League trio Middlesbrough, West Ham United and Sunderland are to join Bolton Wanderers and Everton in the January race to sign Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard, according to The News of the World.

29-year-old Bullard arrived at Craven Cottage from Wigan Athletic in 2006, but had to sit out most of his first season with the Cottagers due to a dislocated kneecap, which ruled him out for nine months.

His return to the side towards the end of the last Premiership season saw Fulham manage to avoid relegation on the last day of the campaign, with many thinking Roy Hodgson’s side were dead and buried weeks before.

However, Hodgson is reportedly still not convinced about Bullard, with the former Inter Milan chief concerned about his central-midfield partnership with captain Danny Murphy, despite Bullard being a firm favourite with the fans at Craven Cottage.

The Fulham boss is believed to not be willing to discuss a new contract with Bullard and is willing to listen to offers in January for the £4million-rated midfielder. This has alerted a host of Premier League clubs, who are all set to battle it out for the signature of Bullard when the transfer window reopens.