West Ham United have called an end to their hunt for Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney after the newly-promoted club refused to discuss an exit, according to Claret and Hugh.
The Hammers news website, which is a reliable source for insider information, report that the club made solid enquiries about the Fulham captain but were met with a ‘flat no.’
Claret and Hugh claim that Manuel Pellegrini gave quick-fire approval to a move for Cairney immediately after his appointment, with predecessor David Moyes putting the wheels in motion for a swoop.
A club insider is quoted as saying: “We tried but there was absolutely no movement on the issue at all – they refuse to sell the player.”
This is a major development in a chase that has lasted several months, with Moyes eyeing Cairney during his time at the helm.
OPINION
It is hardly surprising that Fulham played hard ball over captain Cairney, who is their best and highest-paid player. A West Ham move to secure his services was never going to be easy, and it looks like the club have taken the decision to focus their efforts elsewhere. In truth that looks like a sensible decision as they look to revamp the first-team squad this summer, with the injury to Manu Lanzini causing Pellegrini an unwanted headache. There is no doubt that Cairney would have been a good addition, but an inflated price tag and worries over a dodgy knee made it a risky move, and it is probably for the best that the hunt has ended. In terms of options for the club to bring in for Lanzini, loan star Joao Mario is most certainly one, with Inter Milan looking to sell around the £25million mark this summer. Pellegrini was not thought to be keen on such a move, but Lanzini’s injury may end up forcing his hand.
