Slavisa Jokanovic’s Sheffield United are ‘definitely keen’ on signing Fulham captain Tom Cairney, according to transfer expert Dean Jones during the latest episode of Touchline Talk.
The Fulham skipper has played under the new Sheffield United boss before during the Serbian’s time at Craven Cottage as they were promoted to the Premier League in 2018, and there has been a lot of speculation suggesting that Jokanovic is keen to reunite himself with Cairney.
According to TeamTalk, Fulham would be willing to let their captain go should an offer of £10 million come in for the 30-year-old and it remains to be seen whether Sheffield United are willing to pay that much for a 30-year-old with a history of injuries.
Jones spoke of Jokanovic’s interest in the Nottingham-born midfielder:
“Yeah true, he is interested in him. It was one of the first things, I’m told, that he went into the club and when they asked about players he would be interested in, Cairney was one of the first names he spoke about. He was a big part of the Fulham promoted team and he was the captain and Jokanovic got him playing really well at times in the role that he had him in.”
However, Dean Jones continues, to say why there may be complications in the deal.
“Tom Cairney has had a lot of injuries and he is Fulham’s captain, so there is a lot to weigh up, there. I’m not sure how you even value him right now. He’s still got at least two, maybe three years left on his contract.
“So Fulham wouldn’t want to sell him because he’s the captain and he’s been there for a long time and they’ll be hoping that they can get a full season out of him.
“Then there’s obviously the risk of letting him go to Sheffield United and he runs the show next season.”
TIF Thoughts on Tom Cairney potentially linking up with Slavisa Jokanovic at Bramall Lane…
Jokanovic may be planning the raid on his former club but we’re not so sure this transfer will happen. £10 million seems steep for a 30-year-old with a history of injuries like Cairney’s, it seems like the fee would be too much.
However, if Sheffield United pull this one off and Cairney manages to keep himself fit next season, the Blades will be getting themselves a player and leader who has experience playing under their new manager, so there is the chance that all parties could see a transfer working out.