Wrexham have been chasing Fulham captain Tom Cairney, but Phil Parkinson’s transfer hopes may be coming to an end.
Wrexham want to sign a left-footed midfielder this summer, with a host of names linked.
Reports on Monday suggested that Wrexham are moving for Lewis O’Brien and could splash the cash on the Nottingham Forest ace.
Barry Bannan is on Wrexham’s radar, and Reading’s Charlie Savage has been eyed by Phil Parkinson.
The sheer number of left-footed midfielders linked with Wrexham this summer suggests this is a key area of focus for Parkinson.
Those players may become even greater priorities in the coming days, with Wrexham set to miss out on one lofty target.
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Tom Cairney poised to snub Wrexham
The Premier League season was still going when Wrexham were linked with an enormous move.
Speculation suggested that Wrexham were making a move for Tom Cairney as his Fulham contract came to an end.
Wrexham offered Cairney big money to make the move to North Wales, and there was real hope of a deal at one stage.
Marco Silva felt Cairney would be leaving Fulham at the end of the season, with Wrexham seemingly leading the race for his signature.
As the weeks have gone on, that hope has faded with no movement on Cairney’s potential move to Wrexham.
Reports just a few days ago highlighted that Cairney would communicate his decision to Wrexham ahead of his contract expiring on 30 June.
That day is now here, and The Athletic’s Peter Rutzler claims that Cairney is now ‘moving towards’ a new deal to stay with Fulham.
The deal will be a one-year extension, and while Rutzler points out that the deal is not yet agreed, but is close to being done.
Fulham paid £3million to sign Cairney from Blackburn Rovers in 2015, as noted by Sky Sports.
This new contract will take Cairney to 11 years at Fulham, and the emotional pull of continuing his Fulham legacy may have outweighed joining the Wrexham project.
Barry Bannan may become increasingly attractive to Wrexham
Cairney is a 34-year-old midfielder with real quality on the ball, especially from set pieces and with his passing range.
Parkinson would have made great use of Cairney in his Wrexham midfield, and the former Hull City man has shown his leadership qualities as Fulham captain.
Cairney was always a lofty target for Wrexham, and the attention may now shift to another veteran with a similar profile.
Reports suggest Wrexham want Barry Bannan, with his Sheffield Wednesday contract expiring this summer.
The parallels are clear; Bannan is 35, just one year older than Cairney, and is not only another left-footer, but has also been a captain with Sheffield Wednesday.
Bannan provides quality with his passing and set-piece quality, and the Scotland international may appeal to Parkinson as a direct alternative to Cairney this summer.