Wrexham have been heavily linked with a move for Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney, but his latest comments raise doubts over whether he can be tempted to leave Craven Cottage

Wrexham’s celebrity owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, have been given a clear message from Tom Cairney about his intention to remain at Fulham.

The North Wales club, having secured their spot in the Championship, are reported to be eyeing an audacious bid for the midfielder, whose contract is set to run out in June. However, despite the rumours linking him with a move to Wrexham, the Fulham skipper signalled his wish to remain at Craven Cottage over the weekend.

Cairney was pivotal in Fulham’s 3-2 comeback victory against Brentford in the Premier League on Sunday after scoring an equaliser. Speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the win, the 34-year-old expressed his dedication to Fulham.

“I’ve been through a lot here, through a lot with the fans,” said Cairney. “It was an incredible moment when I scored. It’s a special bond. Nothing is sorted yet.

“Next week is my final game for Fulham. Hopefully it’s not. In football, sometimes things go to the last minute and hopefully it’s not my final time at Craven Cottage next weekend.”

Fulham manager Marco Silva is equally keen on retaining Cairney, commending his influence in the match against Brentford. “I know very well what Tom can give us,” he said. “I know what he can do and we have to understand the moments of the game.

“With him on the pitch and on the ball, we are at peace on the ball but off the ball we are not so aggressive. He made a massive impact.

“I think he is going to be with us and I hope it is the ambition to have him with us next season. He knows what I think about it. He’s a very good footballer and I know how we can use him.”

The news that Cairney is keen to continue his decade-long tenure at Craven Cottage will be disappointing for Wrexham, as they had earmarked him as a prime target this summer. There is also speculation that the Red Dragons have their eyes on Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O’Brien, who impressed on loan at Swansea this term.

But while a number of second-tier sides have shown an interest in the 26-year-old, WalesOnline understands Wrexham are not one of them at this stage. Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson is reshuffling his squad in anticipation of competing in the Championship.

The club’s retained list saw the release of several seasoned veterans who have been a key part of their recent success, including striker Steven Fletcher and goalkeeper Mark Howard. Fletcher’s exit particularly stirred fans’ emotions after the 38-year-old expressed a wish to remain with the team.

Wrexham co-owner McElhenney recently confessed to feeling torn about parting ways with players. “It’s brutal and the system that I was celebrating, of promotion and relegation, there’s a tragic flaw in that,” McElhenney said in an appearance on the Men in Blazers podcast.

“Very often, the players who are helping the club achieve that goal and winning are winning themselves out of a job. That’s tragic because they’re giving everything that they can to help you win, and then their reward for that is to be let go as someone else takes their place and we are very cognizant of that.

“Another thing that’s brutal, but I understand why, is how quickly Phil and every team has to make these decisions. It’s actually quite humane, though, because it gives people the opportunity to go and find other clubs.”