Even for a young, talented Englishman, the 25-year-old Fulham star was reportedly valued at a remarkably high fee – one it doesn’t look like Newcastle United will be paying.
Regardless of his talent and his excellent performances in the Fulham midfield this season, £20 million always seemed a price tag far too inflated for a player who hasn’t featured in a single minute of Premier League football since 2010.
Yet, that’s how much Newcastle United were quoted for Cottagers’ star man Tom Cairney, The Sun reports, with Rafa Benitez’s ongoing desperation to sign a creative midfielder appearing to push him ominously into ‘panic buy’ territory.
Thankfully for Mike Ashley’s bank balance, however, the Spaniard has hinted at an end in his reported interest in one of the most talented players in the Championship – if you read between the lines that is.
“We have some names [on our radar], we have had some names but clubs say: ‘£20million’ or ‘he’s not for sale’,” Benitez told The Chronicle. “Then we have to move forward and look for another one.”
“In January, it’s so difficult. To find these players with experience who can make the difference, it’s very difficult.
“Normally it’s because they are not playing or because they have been injured, or if it is a young player who can make the difference, they will not sell to you because it’s January and it’s very expensive.”
The Chronicle claimed earlier in the month that Fulham were unwilling to even consider selling their creative king pin in January as they aim to push for the play-offs in the second half of the season.
Furthermore, the fact that he has two years left to run on his current deal meant the Londoners would not be held to ransom in January, factors that appear to have inflated Cairney’s value beyond all sense and reason.
Consequently, Newcastle will be forced to look elsewhere but, with the window closing in under two weeks, Benitez is running out of options.
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