WHAT DO CARDIFF NEED IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS OF THE WINDOW?
- ccfcinsider
- Aug 18
- 4 min read
Exactly two weeks remain of the Transfer Window, and Cardiff City still have plenty of work to do. City have seen fourteen first-team departures this season, with just one incoming so far, The Bluebirds are in need of reinforcements.
Cardiff City reportedly want to add three more signings before the end of the window. Those being a winger, centre-back as well as another left-back for competition.
Another body down the flanks?
After losing Will Alves, Anwar El Ghazi, Callum O'Dowda and Yakou Meite, it's fair to say City could do with adding another body to play out wide before the end of the window. Cardiff could do with a winger that offers something a little different down the flanks.
Paul Smyth (27)
Paul Smyth fits the mould of a Brian Barry-Murphy, offering a relentless and high energy style. Smyth is versatile, with the 27 year-old able to play on both wings, up front as well as wingback. The Northern Irish international got six goal involvements last season, and got thirteen goal involvements in his last League One season. Smyth’s speed and creativity suits Brian Barry-Murphy’s fast, attacking style. He can play in different forward roles and works hard both in attack and defence. Smyth also finds himself in the last year of his R's deal.
Emilio Lawrence (19)
Lawrence is an exciting winger in the ranks at Manchester City and is being tipped for big things. The winger boasts a combination of fleet-footed skill and electric pace, as well as an obvious end product having been prolific in the PL2 last season. Lawrence’s creativity, two-footed dribbling, and ability to play anywhere across the front line match perfectly with Brian Barry-Murphy’s fluid, possession-based but attack-minded system.
Cian Hayes (22)
Hayes is a pacey, aggressive winger who thrives on direct running and engaging defenders one-on-one. The winger showed in his cameo at CCS just a few weeks ago how dangerous he could be, especially with the proper coaching like City have. The 22 year-old would probably prove an ambitious target, despite the lack of numbers, Hayes has a real high ceiling. Hayes’ speed and stamina means he could press aggressively in a Brian Barry-Murphy setup, especially high up the pitch to force turnovers, making him well-suited to BBM’s style.
Dominant Centre-Back?
A lot has been made of City's physicality so far, or a lack of. The general consensus among the fan base is that City need a dominant centre-half, preferably with some experience to add to the ranks.
Michael Rose (29)
Still a free agent, Rose has built up a respectable career in the Championship. Rose also has experience winning League One with Coventry City. The 29 year-old is a composed, reliable centre-back well-suited for possession-based systems that require defenders to be comfortable on the ball. The Scotsman is an aerial presence at the back as well as offensively.
Reece Oxford (26)
Also still a free agent, Oxford has had a lot of struggles over the last two seasons, so a step down to League One could help resurrect his career in his pivotal years. The defender is strong in the tackle and reads the game well. The 26 year-old can operate as a defensive midfielder or centre-back, contributing both defensively and in building attacks from the back. Perhaps due to the defender's lack of football in a while, a contract could be structured to make it work. It is an obvious risk due to Oxford's injury record, but one that could be worth taking due to the quality of the player.
Eoghan O'Connell (30)
O'Connell worked with Barry-Murphy at Rochdale, and captained the side, therefore will know the BBM system fairly well. O’Connell is a composed, ball-playing centre-back known for his intelligence, leadership, and technical ability. With the addition of Conor Coady, it's unclear how much game time O'Connell will get at Wrexham this season, which could see BB, tempted to swoop in for his former captain. It would be an ambitious move, but a signing of intent.
Competition at Left-Back?
Jamal Lewis (27)
Jamal Lewis is another who is still a free agent, but would be a real coup. Lewis is an attack-minded left-back known for his pace, stamina, and ability to make overlapping runs down the flank. Defensively solid, he combines good tackling and positional awareness with the capacity to deliver accurate crosses and support his team in transition, which makes him perfect for what Brian Barry-Murphy is looking for. Lewis has experience at the top level, and could help this young back line.
Josh Wilson-Esbrand (22)
It feels a no brainer to have Wilson-Esbrand in this list. Worked with Barry-Murphy with Man City's EDS side, even captaining the side on occasions, as well as the fact he's played for City previously. The 22 year-old struggled at Stoke last season, so a return to more familiar surroundings could help the fullback get back on track. Wilson-Esbrand is an attack-minded left-back known for his pace, dribbling, and composure on the ball. He excels in wide attacking roles with strong crossing and confident 1v1 ability. Defensively the fullback still has his vulnerabilities, but with coaching like Barry-Murphy's, I feel we could see another side to JWE from his last spell in the Welsh Capital.
Seb Naylor (19)
Another fullback who worked with Barry-Murphy at Man City, Seb Naylor at nineteen will be looking to make that step into senior football, something BBM could offer at The Bluebirds. Naylor is a technically skilled and composed left-back, comfortable both in defence and when supporting attacks. He combines intelligent positioning with strong ball control which makes the young fullback suitable for BBM's style.
Conclusion:
It's obvious from the first four games that City still have work to do in the market, just to add depth to an already strong squad really, and I'm still hopeful that the required business will be completed to help push The Bluebirds for the coming months.
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