Forget Gylfi Sigurdsson, Fulham’s Tom Cairney would thrive at Southampton

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It appears that Swansea City’s Gylfi Sigurdsson won’t be moving to Southampton this summer but Fulham talisman Tom Cairney is not out of the question.

Chairman Ralph Krueger appeared to announce the arrival of Southampton as a Premier League force earlier this week. He claimed that the South Coast club, annually pillaged for their top players, were in a position to reject even a £60 million offer for star defender Virgil van Dijk, as reported by Sky Sports.

And Saints supporters will hope this new-found autonomy means they can now compete for a higher standard of player.

With the Daily Mirror reporting that Southampton were making Swansea City talisman Gylfi Sigurdsson their top transfer target, it appeared that this could be a watershed summer for Southampton.

However, their hopes of making the Icelandic free-kick specialist their first truly marquee signing may be over already. Sigurdsson told Sky Sports that he is more than happy with life in Wales despite Swansea only securing their Premier League survival with a game to go.

With three years remaining on his contract, it appears the chances of the 13-assist play-maker moving to St Mary’s, not to mention Everton or West Ham, are minimal at best.

Care about Cairney

However, in Fulham talisman Tom Cairney, it appears that Southampton have found an excellent alternative to the £25 million-rated Swansea star (Bleacher Report).

Cairney may not have proven himself in the Premier League having not featured in the top flight since donning the amber and black of Hull City on eleven occasions in 2009/10.

Like former Reading favourite Sigurdsson, however, the Scotland international appears to have outgrown the Championship and has the ability to thrive at a higher level.

The 26-year-old scored 13 goals and produced 10 assists last season, his masterful performances from the centre of the park the driving force behind a thrilling Fulham side. However, with The Cottagers losing out in the Championship play-off semi-finals, it appears Cairney is almost certain to leave.

The Northern Echo claims Southampton may trigger Fulham’s £20 million asking price, making Cairney an inspired, cheaper alternative to Sigurdsson this summer.