Mick McCarthy's summer transfer window vision and the hint it offers amid Cardiff City squad revamp
The Bluebirds manager has spoken about what he believes this summer's transfer window will look like
Wednesday 28th April 2021
Cardiff City manager Mick McCarthy envisages a collective tightening of the belt in this summer's transfer window, with a greater emphasis placed on loans and free transfers.
In terms of free transfers, well Accrington Stanley striker Dion Charles, Sheffield Wednesday forward Jordan Rhodes and Charlie Wyke up at Sunderland are also said to be of interest to City, all of whom see their contracts expire this summer.
MICK McCARTHY:
"I don't see a brighter horizon," McCarthy said bluntly."
"What's a brighter horizon? Is that people slinging money around?' "
"I see the brighter horizon as getting the best players in you possibly can afford and then you crack on and have a go at it."
"Across it all, I can't imagine there is any club that's not struggling for finances and cash."
"I see a lot of loans, yeah there will be. I wonder what Premier League clubs will be doing, I don't know what the Brexit rules are on letting players in. There's lots of things that have changed."
'We will be mostly looking for loan players and players out of contract."
"And there are a lot of players out of contract this year. They'll be looking for clubs and I think a lot of clubs will be tightening their belt."
From that we can perhaps glean the route the manager is likely to take this summer.
He is keen to find value in the window and will no doubt dip into the free agents market, while loans from the Premier League are certainly a possibility.
Seemingly gone are the days where Cardiff fork out millions of pounds in the Championship for players who will offer minimal financial return. Instead, they have bulked up their scouting network and are working tirelessly to ensure every penny spent is worthwhile.
There is little doubt that Cardiff are looking to add some firepower up front in the upcoming transfer window, having been linked with six strikers in the last three months. And, interestingly, they largely fall into the categories McCarthy speaks about.
Manchester City starlet Liam Delap is a player who has been linked with Cardiff just this week and he would represent a loan option from the Premier League.
In terms of free transfers, well Accrington Stanley striker Dion Charles, Sheffield Wednesday forward Jordan Rhodes and Charlie Wyke up at Sunderland are also said to be of interest to City, all of whom see their contracts expire this summer.
While another name linked with Cardiff City is League One sharpshooter Jonson Clark-Harris at Peterborough.
It is notable that the Bluebirds are being linked with players from the leagues below, or teams like the Owls who are on the brink of relegation, rather than Premier League forwards, which will no doubt represent better value.
What this all means is, it likely narrows down the sort of targets Cardiff will go for. Out-of-contract players will certainly be of interest, while the odd Premier League loan or two are very much on the table.
And while they will not be restricted to only loans and free agents, it is sensible to presume that the Bluebirds will not be forking out multi-million-pound fees. Instead, they will have to be smart and shrewd in how they go about their business, plucking players out of the league below or diamonds in the rough from their reinforced scouting network.
It does looks probable, though, that it is set to be a summer of change at Cardiff City.
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