According to recent reports from The Sun, Fulham manager Claudio Ranieri wants to swap Tom Cairney for Newcastle midfielder Jonjo Shelvey.

The England international has been one of the Magpies’ key players during Rafa Benitez’s time at the club, but has only made eight Premier League starts this season.

Benitez recently ruled out the idea of Shelvey leaving in the January transfer window, but we know not all transfer matters at the club are within his control.

And could there actually be some unforeseen positives from agreeing a swap deal with the Cottagers? Football FanCast consider the potential consequences of Shelvey and Cairney trading places…

Ayoze Perez benched

Rafa Benitez is far more fond of Ayoze Perez than most Newcastle fans, but the gaffer’s long-standing interest in Cairney suggests he’d be open to signing an upgrade should the opportunity arise. And the key difference between Shelvey and the Fulham man is precisely that; whereas Shelvey’s at his most adventurous a forward-thinking No.8, Cairney’s much more of a No.10 who likes to sit just behind the striker and link the midfield with the attack.

Perez probably gets harsh treatment from Newcastle fans, considering he’s one of the few highly-technical talents in an otherwise incredibly industrious team, but Cairney’s inclusion instead should at least bring some more optimism in the stadium when the lineups are announced.

Vital goals added to midfield

Although he’s yet to score in the Premier League this season, Cairney’s last two Championship campaigns produced 19 goals and 15 assists, and Newcastle’s midfield is desperately crying out for that level of goal involvement. So far this season, just four goals have been scored from the middle of the park, which is a big part of the reason only Huddersfield have managed less top flight strikes than the Magpies.

Newcastle clearly need another goal threat to support Salomon Rondon, the club’s top scorer with five, and if Cairney can provide that while linking up play better than Perez, Newcastle’s standing in the Premier League will quickly improve.

Check out the video below for Emma Conybeare’s rundown of which clubs need what in the January transfer window…

Relegation race tightens up

There’s always huge risk with swap deals involving teams in the same league. Essentially, the impact of any deal is felt twice; if it improves the fortunes of one team, it will likely hinder those of the other, and that only rings doubly true when both teams are in a relegation mini-league, separated by just four points after 20 games.

So the big question here, is whether it’s actually worth giving Fulham the kind of player Ranieri believes he needs, for a player who would improve this Newcastle team. Are a weaker Newcastle more likely to finish above a weaker Fulham than a stronger Newcastle above a stronger Fulham?

It’s a very pragmatic way to look at the situation, rather than simply trying to make Newcastle a better side, but judging the situation wrongly could quickly see the relegation race tighten up. Newcastle are only a few bad results away from being in the drop zone.