However, the Barclays Premier League club - who head out to Sweden on Monday as part of their pre-season preparations - could also face competition for the ex-England manager from the Ivory Coast after Eriksson revealed he was considering an offer to stay on with the Africans, whom he coached at the World Cup.

There is also the issue of salary demands for the Swede, with Fulham owner Mohammed Al Fayed apparently setting a limit of £1million a year.

Those sorts of figures, however, would still be able to attract the likes of Bradley, the American who has five months of his deal with US Soccer to run, along with Jol, who left White Hart Lane in October 2007 after an initial period of success and last season saw his Ajax side narrowly beaten to the Dutch Eredivisie title by Steve McClaren's FC Twente.

A spokesman for the United States Soccer Federation would not be drawn on Bradley's future plans.

"Bob is under contract with US Soccer until the end of the year and discussions are ongoing," the spokesman told Press Association Sport.

Hitzfeld, though, appears to have ruled himself out of the running.

The German was said to have held informal talks with Fulham chief executive Alistair Mackintosh over a potential move to the Premier League.

However, now the 61-year-old - who won the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich - announced he intends to retire when his contract as Switzerland coach expires at the end of the Euro 2012 campaign.

While Eriksson is still thought to be hopeful of securing a return to the Premier League, speaking to Swedish television, the former Manchester City boss revealed he could resume his role with Ivory Coast.

"They were really pleased and I guess that I can stay on if I want to. If so, it will be for four years until the next World Cup finals," Eriksson said on SVT.

"I will make up my mind in a week or so.

"I have to do it soon since there are friendlies in August and qualifications for the Africa Cup of Nations in September and October."

Fulham striker Eddie Johnson has been a regular part of Bradley's squad since he took over in 2006, although he decided to omit the 26-year-old from his final 23 for the World Cup, where the Americans topped England's group to reach the last 16 before defeat to Ghana.

Should Fulham opt for Bradley, then Johnson believes it would be a smooth transition for what would be first American coach in the English top flight.

"Bob could do a good job at Fulham," said Johnson, who marked his return from a season-long loan with Greek side FC Aris by scoring in Fulham's first pre-season friendly against Brentford last night.

"If you look at the statistics then it's plain to see that he has done a good job with the US. They did well in the World Cup, won their group and played really well and that's all down to him.

"He's a very similar manager to Roy (Hodgson). He plays attractive football but also organises his team in a defined shape that is hard to play against.

"They are similar in a lot of ways. The training sessions are very similar and their style on the pitch is.

"Bob was always keen to come over to Europe to see how the game was over there and he has been over to Fulham's training ground a couple of times and has seen how Roy coached Fulham. I think that made their styles similar."

The American, who spent the previous season on loan at Cardiff, has now set his sights on pushing for a first-team place although he faces tough competition from Bobby Zamora, Andy Johnson, David Elm, Diomansy Kamara and Zoltan Gera.

Johnson admits he is hoping to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Clint Dempsey, who wrote himself into Fulham folklore by scoring the goal which sealed the Cottagers' 4-1 Europa League win over Juventus last season, arguably the club's most memorable victory in their 131-year history.

"The fans have always been loyal to the American players who have come here," Johnson said.

"It's tough for an American to come over here to do well and Clint has done that. He's one of the top players in the Premier League so I guess he does inspire me."