Rumored swap deal would benefit Newcastle and Fulham

Newcastle United and Fulham could complete a swap deal that involves Jonjo Shelvey and Tom Cairney.

A new report from The Sun on December 27th claimed that Newcastle United and Fulham could work out a swap deal next month that would see Jonjo Shelvey go to London and Tom Cairney to Tyneside. The Sun is not all that reliable when it comes to the sports industry, but, in all honesty, this deal makes perfect sense. Both teams would benefit from this swap deal if it does actually happen over the next few weeks and here is why.

Shelvey to Fulham, Cairney to Newcastle

Before I begin this analysis, I want to make one thing clear – Jonjo Shelvey is one of the best players on the team and I am not advocating for his sale, but this deal is too good to reject. With Ki Sung-yueng playing so well as a starter over the last two months, Newcastle are in good hands in regard to having a facilitator in midfield. Cairney’s arrival would complement Ki in the middle of the park and the Scottish international would move up the field to get involved in the action.

Cairney was phenomenal for Fulham when they earned promotion last season and he was given freedom under Slavisa Jokanovic to roam around the final third and make plays happen. His ability to score goals would also make him a strong candidate to replace Ayoze Perez as the number ten if nothing happens with Miguel Almiron from Atlanta United.

This season, however, Fulham have the worst defensive record in the league and as a result Claudio Ranieri is playing with a 5-4-1 defensive formation. This formation improves defensive solidity, but it limits Cairney’s attacking style of play. In contrast, the 5-4-1 formation would be a great fit for Newcastle’s Shelvey.

Shelvey would have an immediate impact in Fulham’s midfield and his chemistry with former teammate Aleksandar Mitrovic would bode well for the Cottagers. Landing a defensive midfielder like Shelvey who can help the back-line and form a counter-attack in a matter of seconds would be ideal for Ranieri’s squad. The skills that Shelvey brings to the table could be enough for the newly-promoted side to avoid the immediate drop back down to the EFL Championship.

Final Note

Overall, this deal would benefit both teams as both players fit the needs of each manager. Benitez needs a playmaker who can spread the ball and score some goals, while Ranieri needs a superior passer who can also defend well. Moreover, both teams would save money by simply paying wages and no transfer fees and Newcastle would obtain a midfielder who is in better shape and less prone to injury.