AFTER SLADES MEETING WITH TAN,CITY TARGET WINGER

Cardiff City interested in Derby County winger Johnny Russell as Bluebirds step up planning for new Championship season


Sunday 7th June 2015


By Chris Watham


Manager Russell Slade targets Derby wide-man Russell as he seeks to put pressure on Craig Noone and Anthony Pilkington


Cardiff City are eyeing up Derby County’s Scotland star Johnny Russell.

Russell Slade has held a number of face-to-face meetings with Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan in Europe and Malaysia over the past week.

The talks included thrashing out a final list of transfer targets to boost Cardiff’s bid to make a push for the top six next season after last year’s disappointing campaign.

And it is thought winger Russell was on Slade’s agenda as he went into the discussions with moneyman Tan as he looks to have greater options out wide next term.

We revealed last month how Ipswich striker Daryl Murphy is the Bluebirds No.1 summer target as they eye an ambitious bid for last term’s 27-goal Championship top scorer.


And while Slade is thought to be happy with his defensive options going into the new season, he is keen on bringing in a midfielder and a wideman.

Russell, 25, is thought to be a player Slade fancies to battle it out with Craig Noone and Anthony Pilkington for the wing positions, although it is not clear how much it would take to lure him away from Pride Park after he made 24 starts for the promotion-chasing Rams last year.

Russell cost Derby £750,000 when he joined from Dundee United two years ago, having previously also appeared for Forfar and Raith.


The managerial change at Derby, where Paul Clement has replaced Steve McClaren, may work against Cardiff if they decide to pursue initial interest should the former Real Madrid assistant opt to assess his squad before deciding on any incoming bids.

Russell scored six league goals last term and made eight assists and can play on either flank as well as being an option down the middle, a versatility that will appeal to Slade.

Russell won his third cap for his country on Friday night, coming on as a second half substitute in Scotland’s 1-0 friendly win over Qatar at Easter Road where Bluebirds stopper David Marshall played the first-half.

Each could be involved in the Tartan Army’s Euro 2016 qualifier with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

Russell for a Russell.

Brilliant player, but I can't see Derby letting him go. Even if they might be willing to sell him, they would want a good fee for him, probably around the £3m-£4m range. We could be in a position to offer him a few more starts than Derby could, but why would he want to leave Derby for us, at the moment? I would love it if he did come here, as he is a player that I have seen on numerous occasions for both Derby and Dundee Utd, and he has impressed me every single game that I have watched him play. But, unfortunately I just cannot see it happening.

Bloooooobirds.

Brilliant player, but I can't see Derby letting him go. Even if they might be willing to sell him, they would want a good fee for him, probably around the £3m-£4m range. We could be in a position to offer him a few more starts than Derby could, but why would he want to leave Derby for us, at the moment? I would love it if he did come here, as he is a player that I have seen on numerous occasions for both Derby and Dundee Utd, and he has impressed me every single game that I have watched him play. But, unfortunately I just cannot see it happening.

Bloooooobirds.

I concur.

Excellent player.

Great pace and trickery and is exactly what we have been missing.. he is like Noone when Noone is at his best but more consistent.

Also, he scores a few more goals and he chips in with more assists, than Nooney and Pilkington.

Bloooooobirds.

Great player and would be a brilliant signing.

But I'll be surprised if he joins - I would say Gayle, Murphy and now Russell are all unrealistic signings.

Pleased with the ambition though on these counts anyway.

Great player and would be a brilliant signing.

But I'll be surprised if he joins - I would say Gayle, Murphy and now Russell are all unrealistic signings.

Pleased with the ambition though on these counts anyway.

Could these names be part of a pr stunt as mentioned before? ?? An at least we are trying sort of thing

Well you keep getting these kind of rumours at this time of year,usually nothing to them but it keeps us mushrooms bumping our gums.

Would be well happy if we signed this lad. Is is the sort of siging we should be making if we are trying to make the playoffs not platers from the division below.