The Fulham playmaker has reportedly attracted interest from Newcastle United after an influential campaign.
Newcastle United are interested in making a move for Fulham’s creative kingpin Tom Cairney this month, The Chronicle reports, but any approach appears ambitious in the extreme.
The Magpies’ hopes of an immediate return to the Premier League have suffered something of a blip in recent weeks after two defeats in their last three Championship games allowed Brighton to usurp them at the top of the table.
Therefore, speculation has intensified that Rafa Benitez will look to add extra quality to his squad in January to put a swift end to a concerning run of results, with reports linking Newcastle with England internationals Tom Cleverley and Fabian Delph.
However, The Chronicle claims that Fulham playmaker Cairney has now played his way onto their winter wishlist but, with the Londoners just six points adrift of the play-off positions, they are unlikely to entertain any offers for their key man.
The former Hull City youngster has two years left to run on his current deal and The Cottagers will demand a monstrous fee from any interested suitors for a player who manager Slavisa Jokanovic tipped to become a star in the Premier League, West London Sport reported in August.
Nonetheless, Newcastle may well be convinced that Cairney could make the difference in the final stretch of the campaign, with his five goals in Fulham colours dwarfing any of the tallies posted by any of the midfielders at Benitez’s disposal.
Matt Ritchie and Yoan Gouffran have scored four apiece but the alarming absence of creativity in the absence of suspended playmaker Jonjo Shelvey means Cairney’s vision and composure in possession could come in handy for a side who has scored just seven times in their last five league games – more so than the combative Delph or the crab-like Cleverley anyway.
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