Wrexham are looking to bring in a midfielder this summer, but one Premier League regular has now ruled out a move to the STōK Cae Ras.
Phil Parkinson has only secured two signings so far this summer as Wrexham prepare for the Championship.
Wrexham’s kick-off against Southampton is less than a month away, and Parkinson has been working on potential signings.
Ryan Hardie and Danny Ward have joined Wrexham, but more additions will be needed before the season gets underway.
Danny Ings is now set for Middlesbrough despite interest from Wrexham, and another target has slipped away.
Tom Cairney announces Fulham contract decision
One of the first rumours after Wrexham’s promotion to the Championship surrounded Tom Cairney.
Wrexham launched a move for Cairney, with reports suggesting that an enormous offer of around £50,000-a-week was on the table.
Out of contract at the end of the season, Marco Silva thought Cairney would leave Fulham over the summer.
Wrexham hopes have been dwindling, though, and rumours late in June suggested that Cairney was set to stay at Fulham.
Fulham have now confirmed Cairney’s new deal, handing the veteran midfielder a one-year contract extension to stay in West London.
Fulham also released a video of Cairney teasing an emotional exit before confirming that he will be staying put for another year.
“Just a quick message to the fans,” said Cairney.
“I’ve been at the club 10 years, we’ve had some unbelievable times together… three promotions, two play-off finals, one where you was there, and one where you wasn’t there.
“Lifting the trophy at the Cottage is a day I’ll never forget after winning the title and after that, establishing ourselves as a Premier League club… three unbelievable seasons in the Premier League, where Fulham should be, beating some big, big clubs along the way.
“A Carabao Cup semi-final, FA Cup quarter-final where we could have went a little bit further, but it wasn’t meant to be. But yeah, captaining this club for as long as I did was always a special, special thing and one that I’ll… well, I never took for granted, and yeah, it was an incredible feeling every time I played at the Cottage, it was always my favourite place.
“I feel like I grew up here, you really took to me early on… special, special, special times. I never thought I’d stay this long, and for that reason, is exactly why I’m staying one more year,” he added.
More midfield frustration for Phil Parkinson
Cut through the swearing on ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ and we know that Parkinson doesn’t get too high or too low.
Cairney’s snub has seemingly been in the pipeline for a few weeks now, and Parkinson won’t be too stressed about Wrexham missing out.
This is more frustration in the midfield market, though, after Wrexham missed out on Tommy Doyle to Birmingham City.
Wrexham are chasing Lewis O’Brien, but wages for the Nottingham Forest midfielder could be a stumbling block.
Cairney’s decision is a setback, but Parkinson will retain hope of bringing a quality midfielder to the STōK Cae Ras soon, despite missing out on a couple this summer.