Sheffield United are pessimistic about the potential arrival of Tom Cairney with the Blades fully aware Fulham are unlikely to sell their captain to a direct Championship rival, according to The Star.
When Slavisa Jokanovic was handed the keys to Bramall Lane last week, it didn’t take long before reports tipped Chris Wilder’s replacement to bring one of his former players to the Steel City.
According to TEAMtalk, Jokanovic would relish the prospect of working with Tom Cairney again.
The silky playmaker skippered his Fulham side to play-off final glory at Wembley three years ago and arguably produced the finest football of his career under the 52-year-old Serb at Craven Cottage.
Jokanovic seeks Cairney reunion at Sheffield United
But with the Cottagers and Blades potentially going head to head in the promotion race next season, reports coming out of Yorkshire today suggest a Cairney-Jokanovic reunion appears distinctly unlikely.
There’s a realisation at Bramall Lane that Fulham won’t sell a key player to a prospective title rival.
The Star adds Cairney’s £10 million price tag is intended to scare off suitors.
Fulham could demand more than £10m for Cairney
Fulham could demand even more than that if Sheffield United come calling for a player Jokanovic described as a “fantastic” talent during their time together in west London.
Meanwhile, the Blades announced the departure of Rangers-linked John Lundstram yesterday with Sander Berge expected to leave too.
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