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5 free agents Cardiff City could seal bargain transfers for this summer
Using this method, the Bluebirds made three high-profile additions to their roster last summer. Chris Willock joined former Aston Villa players Anwar El Ghazi and Calum Chambers.
While El Ghazi is starting to take off and Willock has undoubtedly had his moments wearing a City shirt, Chambers in particular has been an unquestionable success, especially since Omer Riza moved him from central defense into midfield.
The market for free agents in the summer is looking extremely promising at this point.
Football League World has done just that by examining five possible free agent options. Of course, many will be committed to new contracts by the end of the season, but it’s still interesting to look at who will be available right now and might be worth the Bluebirds’ gamble.
However, Tyrhys Dolan is one player who appears set to have his contract expire and become a free agent in a few months.
Despite John Eustace’s adamant wish to keep Dolan on board, the Blackburn Rovers winger is presently anticipated to weigh his options in the summer and depart Ewood Park after more than a year of fruitless negotiations over new terms.
Due to the 23-year-old’s age, Blackburn would be eligible for a tribunal-determined compensation sum; however, this would inevitably come at a reduced cost, making him a desirable offer to clubs across the second division in the upcoming months.
With nearly 200 appearances for Rovers over the past four and a half years, the attacker already has a plenty of Championship experience.
Although his lack of consistency and final product have drawn criticism, his potential is undeniable, and he has what it takes to be a true star at this level.
Tyrhys Dolan’s Blackburn Rovers stats by season via FotMob, as of February 7 | |||
Season | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
2020/21 | 40 | 3 | 2 |
2021/22 | 36 | 5 | 3 |
2022/23 | 48 | 6 | 7 |
2023/24 | 39 | 5 | 4 |
2024/25 | 31 | 3 | 4 |
The little wide player, who can play as an attacking midfielder through the middle or on either flank, is endowed with exceptional speed and one-on-one ability, which enables him to easily elude opposing defenders and aid in his team’s rapid ascent up the field.
He can provide moments of truly game-changing star quality and is a true livewire with a creative edge.
At 23, Dolan still has a lot of work ahead of him, and Cardiff, who will need a player with his caliber after the stylistically identical Will Alves rejoins Leicester City after his loan period is over, ought to be pushing for his place.
Meanwhile, the future of Emiliano Marcondes at Norwich City appears to hang firmly in the balance.
The experienced midfielder penned a one-year deal with the Canaries back in November, and Norwich have the option to extend his stay by a further year.Based on the evidence thus far, it appears that Johannes Hoff Thorup will want to keep him at Carrow Road after this season, but if Norwich is promoted to the Premier League, that may change.
Since he became a free agent after being released by Bournemouth, Marcondes has returned four goals and four assists in 22 league games for the Yellows, who have obviously pulled off a coup by acquiring his services for nothing.
Having previously assisted Brentford and the Cherries in their promotions to the Premier League, the Dane has a genuine pedigree at this level.
He is also a versatile operator. Although he can play deeper or as a striker, Marcondes is most comfortable in offensive midfield. His goal-scoring ability, demonstrated by his frequent late runs into the box, would be a huge asset to Cardiff, who could use more goals from midfield areas.
The 29-year-old would give City a new dynamic in that section of the field, which is now filled by either Rubin Colwill, a serious prospect despite finding opportunities and consistency tougher to come by lately, or star player Alex Robertson.
However, since Robertson and Marcondes are both too talented to be benched, Riza would have to figure out how to include them both in the same squad.
Last month, Football League World initially reported that Ricky-Jade Jones, a player already known to have been of serious interest to Cardiff, had been the subject of an inquiry from the Welsh team.
Riza later acknowledged that talks had occurred, but Cardiff went elsewhere and ultimately used those monies on a deal for Yousef Salech, which might have cost up to £3.3 million, after a bid was rejected.
Jones is in a similar situation to the previously stated Dolan and his contract with Peterborough United expires in the summer. The 23-year-old will also be eligible to receive a compensation sum from Posh, who are presently fighting to avoid relegation to League Two, and it does seem probable that he will be leaving in a few months.
He will have no shortage of suitors when that time comes. As FLW separately disclosed, teams like Luton Town and Middlesbrough are fans of the versatile forward, who can play through the middle or on the left side and is regarded as one of the fastest players in world football. Cardiff has struggled with a chronic lack of speed in recent years and would benefit from a dynamic and direct outlet like Jones, who would add a new dimension to the team’s frontline. He also has a wealth of experience at a relatively young age, and he has scored 15 goals this season across all competitions, so he will undoubtedly plan to test himself at a higher level.
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