McGuinness deal is 'good business' for Cardiff

Iwan Roberts believes Mark McGuiness’ move to Luton Town will be “good business” for Cardiff City.

McGuinness, 23, has made 86 Cardiff appearances, scoring six goals, since joining from Arsenal in 2021.

He also played 24 games for Sheffield Wednesday during a loan spell in 2022-23.

But McGuinness is set to bid farewell to the Bluebirds, with the centre-back expected to join Luton in a deal which could eventually be worth £10m.

“Mark McGuinness is a throwback if you ask me. He is an old-fashioned defender – he enjoys defending,” former Wales striker Roberts told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

“I don’t think he’s great on the ball. His distribution isn’t brilliant - I think he’d admit that.

“But if you put the ball in his penalty box, he will go and win it, he will put his body on the line. That’s something you don’t see too much of in this day and age.

“£10m for a player who a couple of years ago went on loan to Sheffield Wednesday and didn’t look as if he had a future at the club – it’s good business for Cardiff and it will be a good move for Mark.”

Cardiff are expected to replace McGuinness with Cercle Brugge centre-back Jesper Daland, while the Championship club are also working on a deal for Manchester United defender Will Fish.

Erol Bulut’s side face Swansea City in the south Wales derby on Sunday having made a dispiriting start to the new league season, with last weekend’s 5-0 mauling at Burnley following a 2-0 opening-day loss to Sunderland.

“It’s been a really, really slow start for Cardiff and they need to get back to winning ways,” Roberts added.

“Two [league] games in, I think the pressure is on Erol Bulut already.”