Cardiff City

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Michael Chopra feels Cardiff City's poor start to the 2024-25 Championship season will be irrelevant when they take on Swansea City.

The Bluebirds go into the first south Wales derby meeting of the season on Sunday on the back of league defeats to Sunderland and Burnley.

However, ex-Cardiff striker Chopra believes the derby is "a totally different game".

"I think what's good about the game, I think a lot of the supporters don't expect Cardiff to win the game, especially off the back of the two results they've had," Chopra told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

"Speak to them about the Burnley game last week, they say it wasn't a 5-0 game. They played well but just couldn't score goals, they had a lot of chances.

"In a local derby, form goes out of the window.

"I've played in these games before when we've come off the back of defeats or when we've been winning. It's a totally different game.

"As long as Cardiff don't turn up and play like they did last year [at Swansea], I'm hoping they can get a good result."

Erol Bulut's side beat the Swans 2-0 at Cardiff City Stadium in September last year before losing by the same scoreline in the reverse fixture in Swansea in March.

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Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut has urged midfielder Ryan Wintle to leave the club for pastures new ahead of next week’s transfer window closure.

But he has suggested Wintle’s fellow midfielder Andy Rinomhota is likely to stay with the Championship club.

Wintle has not featured in pre-season or during the embryonic campaign after Bulut made it clear the 27-year-old was free to go.

The move came as a surprise because Wintle appeared in 42 league games last season and was captain on occasions.

Now the Cardiff manager says time is running out for the former Crewe Alexandra player to sort himself to avoid a lengthy spell on the sidelines without involvement if he stays fit.

Wintle’s departure would also leave Bulut clearer on his own squad requirements in the last week of the transfer window.

According to the Cardiff manager, there are clubs keen to take the midfielder.

Bulut said: “On his side, he and his agent have to make a decision. I know that they have interest but the decision should be on their side. They have to make a decision quick.”

During the summer, Bulut explained his decision over Wintle, saying there were “issues” with the player over squad rotation.

Now Bulut says: “I know from him last season, he wants to play every minute and they are losing time because he wants to play. They have to move on because he wants to play."

In contrast, 27-year-old Rinomhota, who had been tipped by some for a move away after a loan spell at Rotherham United last season, looks set to remain.

The Zimbabwe international joined the Bluebirds in 2022 on a three-year deal having been at Reading.

This season he has played against Bristol Rovers in the Carabao Cup but has been an unused substitute in Cardiff’s two Championship defeats at home to Sunderland and away to Burnley.

Bulut said: “It looks like Andy is going to stay with us. We cannot let everybody go, when we see the midfield players we have.

“Of course we have time until August 30, but for now we make a decision that we continue like that.

“Andy has good qualities to fight for us when we need him. He is a fighter and sometimes you need this kind of player in your team, so it looks like he will stay with us.”

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Cardiff City goalkeeper Ethan Horvath has been assured he will start in Sunday's derby away to Swansea City.

The USA international conceded a dreadful own goal in last Saturday's 5-0 Championship defeat at Burnley.

But Cardiff boss Erol Bulut has told the former Nottingham Forest stopper he retains his confidence ahead of the Swans clash.

Bulut said: "With goalkeepers it's always on the line. It's not easy for goalkeepers for sure. Ethan will have the full support of me. I cannot judge my player, Ethan, because of one mistake.

"We have to speak about how many goals he has saved for us. This has happened.

"He didn't want this, we didn't want this, we planned for it to be different against Burnley, we dominated the game against a team who got relegated from the Premier League.

"The first 45 minutes we played quite a good game, only the goals were missing.

"We conceded a goal like this where the ball goes through his legs, this happens to the best goalkeepers in the world.

"I think he knows we still count on him and we are behind him. This week he will be in the goal against Swansea."

Horvath joined Cardiff from Forest last January for an undisclosed fee. He won promotion from the Championship in the previous season at Luton Town and in the 2021-22 campaign was promoted to the top flight with Forest.

On his arrival at Cardiff he quickly established himself as first choice for the rest of the campaign.

He began this season with possession of the number one shirt, ahead of Jak Alnwick, who so far this term has only made one appearance, in the Carabao Cup win over Bristol Rovers.

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Dutch winger Anwar El Ghazi is poised for a surprise Cardiff City debut in Sunday's Championship derby away to Swansea City.

El Ghazi joined Cardiff at the end of July as a free agent having, had his contract terminated by Bundesliga club Mainz last autumn over a social media post referencing the conflict in Gaza.

At the time Cardiff manager Erol Bulut thought it would be around a month before he would be able to feature.

Now the Bulut is contemplating giving the former Aston Villa and Everton flyer a club bow in the most fierce of circumstances, at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Bulut said: "El Ghazi for now looks good. He will also be with us for the weekend.

"But of course we have to see how long we are going to use him. He has trained, but it's not the same when you train individually. Team training is different.

"He has had three weeks training with us, so I think he can be available for 30 minutes.

"He is a quality player, he can change the direction of the game and could change results."

It may be early in the season, but it's still the game Swansea City and Cardiff City fans have been waiting for. Or maybe not.

Whether you love it or loathe it, the south Wales derby is back on Sunday as the latest chapter in a 112-year rivalry gets ready to be written.

Will it be Cardiff revenge after their joy in breaking Swansea's stranglehold proved short-lived when Luke Williams' side stormed to a home victory back in March?

Or is normal Swansea service fully restored in this fixture as they look for a sixth win from the last seven derbies?

Is Aaron Ramsey ready to battle back from fitness worries to inspire again like he did at Cardiff City Stadium?

Or is Robert Earnshaw right when he says the pressure is already on Erol Bulut and his side after last week's 5-0 loss at Burnley?

You can send us your pre-derby views here, external.

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Cardiff City are close to completing a deal to sign Manchester United’s Will Fish.

The defender is due to have a medical today to put the seal on a move which could cost the Bluebirds up to £2m.

It remains to be seen whether the signing of the 21-year-old will be done in time for him to be available for Cardiff City’s trip to face Championship rivals Swansea City on Sunday.

But with Norwegian under-21 defender Jesper Daland having signed earlier this week, there is no rush for the deal to be sorted.

Fish will be Cardiff’s seventh signing of the summer following Calum Chambers, Chris Willock, Alex Robertson, Wilfried Kanga, Anwar El Ghazi and Daland.

This week Cardiff have also sold centre back Mark McGuinness to Championship rivals Luton Town for a fee which could reach £10m.

Chris Wathan
BBC Sport Wales

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Cardiff City may have lost their man - but they certainly got their price after agreeing to let Mark McGuinness leave for Luton Town.

The 23-year-old centre-back completed his move to Kenilworth Road with the player said to be keen for a new challenge.

Cardiff boss Erol Bulut had stated the player would only be allowed to go if Luton matched the club's valuation.

And although the deal was officially undisclosed by both parties, it is understood the fee could be worth up to the £10m price-tag the Bluebirds placed on McGuinness' head.

That will include add-ons on top of a lower initial fee but, regardless, it means McGuinness has shot into the top 10 of Cardiff's record departures.

The biggest fee received by the Bluebirds stands at around £10m, with both Gary Medel's 2014 move to Inter Milan and Bobby De Cordova-Reid's 2019 switch to Fulham reportedly hitting that figure.

Steven Caulker's 2014 exit in a £8.5m move to QPR is also high up the list, with Kenneth Zohore's £8m move to West Brom in 2019 just behind.

Midfielder Jordon Mutch's move to QPR in 2014 was valued at £6m, with the £5m sales of Roger Johnson to Birmingham in 2009 and Michael Chopra to Sunderland in 2007 next up.

Now back at the club, Aaron Ramsey's first spell with the Bluebirds ended in 2008 when Arsenal agreed to pay £5m for the then teenager, a fee eventually reduced to £4.8m when the Gunners offered to pay a greater sum up front.

Back in 2004, Robert Earnshaw became what was then Cardiff's record sale when the goalscoring hero was sold to Premier League West Brom for £3.5m.

Not all fees were formally disclosed, meaning it becomes increasingly difficult to officially rank Cardiff's big-money departures.

But it is clear that McGuinness' move places him among the club's record sales.

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Former striker Robert Earnshaw is "worried" about Cardiff City ahead of Sunday's south Wales derby away to Swansea City.

The Bluebirds fan-favourite says manager Erol Bulut will be feeling the pressure heading into the clash with their rivals.

Following their 5-0 loss to Burnley last Saturday, Cardiff sit bottom of the Championship, still awaiting their first point.

Earnshaw acknowledged that performances in the opening two fixtures have been "nowhere near where the standard [they] should be".

The former Wales international, who made more than 200 appearances for the Bluebirds, told Radio Wales Breakfast: "Two games in it is still early, but this is not how you prepare for a south Wales derby; this is one of your biggest games of the season.

"I’m a little bit nervous for Cardiff because those two games against Sunderland and Burnley were tough - but that’s nowhere near where the standard should be.

"I believe that they can change it around, but I’m worried because 5-0 last weekend was so devastating for them, and this weekend you’ve got to be ready to get flying again, you’ve got to perform."

Swansea have won seven of the last 10 south Wales derbies and come in to the fixture following a convincing 3-0 win over Preston North End.

Earnshaw added: "They [Cardiff] have to perform, they can’t lose - so that’s why I’m worried.

"Swansea will be favourites, they’ve won so many at home in the last few games against Cardiff, they’ve won seven out of 10 of the south Wales derbies, so they’ll be big, big favourites and that’s why I’m worried for Cardiff City."

Asked if he felt boss Bulut would be under pressure if the Swans inflicted a third loss from their opening three games, Earnshaw said: "It’s still early, I don’t think any decision will be made, but... if you go to Swansea and lose three in a row, if you go and perform again like you did last weekend and perform in that way, of course there is going to be pressure.

"But I think Cardiff have got a good team, I think they have got good players, I think they have the potential to turn things around."

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Former Cardiff City favourite Michael Chopra says he will be sat with away fans at this Sunday's derby at Swansea City.

Chopra is fondly remembered by Bluebirds supporters for scoring a late winner in the fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium in 2010.

Replying to a post on 'X', the 40-year-old said he will be in the away end at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Chopra made 145 appearances for the Championship club across four spells, scoring 65 goals.

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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.”

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Cardiff City's EFL Cup second-round tie with Premier League club Southampton will be played on Wednesday, 28 August at the Cardiff City Stadium (19:45 BST).

The Bluebirds have a Championship derby at rivals Swansea City next Sunday (15:00 BST).

Their following league game is at home against Middlesbrough on Saturday, August 31 (12:30 BST).

Southampton, managed by former Swansea boss Russell Martin, are one of the 13 Premier League clubs not participating in European competitions who enter the League Cup at this stage.

Cardiff booked their place in round two with a 2-0 home win over Bristol Rovers.

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Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut says he is hopeful of more transfer activity for the Bluebirds before the transfer window closes.

Bulut says the need to sign players is irrespective of the severity of injuries to midfielders Joe Ralls and Aaron Ramsey.

Ralls, the Cardiff captain, limped off in the first half of Cardiff’s 5-0 defeat at Burnley, while Ramsey was limping at the end of the match and could not continue.

“I hope the injuries to Aaron Ramsey and Joe Ralls aren’t so serious,” Bulut told BBC Radio Wales.

On the transfer front, Bulut said: “I hope we can get somebody in. We will see.

“We need players in a few positions. We need players who can come off the bench and change the game.

“We are not finished with transfers, we will try to make a few more.”