BY ALAN TEMPLE – @CCP_Sport
SLAVISA JOKANOVIC has revealed that Fulham snubbed an offer from Newcastle which would have made Tom Cairney the most expensive Scottish footballer of all time.
The Cottagers boss has claimed Rafa Benitez tabled a mammoth £20 MILLION bid for their club captain, who bagged 13 goals last term.
That would have smashed the current record for a Scottish talent, currently held by Oliver Burke following his £13 million transfer from Nottingham Forest to Red Bull Leipzig last summer.
However, Jokanovic is adamant he has no intention of parting with his prize asset ahead of another Championship promotion push next season.
He told Engleski Fudbal: “Cairney is a very good player. He (Benitez) has already asked for him, and Newcastle offered £20 million, but we did not let him go.
“He is not for Newcastle, there is no business to be done there. He fits in at Fulham.”
Cairney’s dazzling form for the Cottagers also saw the playmaker win his first senior cap for Gordon Strachan’s national side, turning in a man of the match showing in March’s 1-1 draw against Canada at Easter Road.
And he has previously expressed his desire to play in the top tier, stating: “Every player has to back themselves to play at that level and I believe once I get there – and I hope it’s with Fulham – I really will show what I can do. It’s all about getting there in the first place.”
