Cardiff City are awaiting news on the lifting of their transfer embargo with defender Mark McGuinness still training with loan club Sheffield Wednesday.
As of last night, reports in Sheffield stated that the centre-back was still undergoing preparations for the Owls' game against Wycombe Wanderers at the weekend.
It was originally understood that McGuinness would return to south Wales after the League One side's FA Cup encounter with Newcastle United at Hillsborough on Saturday evening.
READ MORE: Cardiff City pay Nantes first instalment of Emiliano Sala fee in bid to lift transfer embargoes
It was a game in which McGuinness shone again for Darren Moore's men; he has enjoyed a stellar stay up north and it is has been the consistently impressive displays that have caught the eye of his parent club.
Moore hoped they could keep the 22-year-old until the end of the season, confirming that paperwork had been sent back to Cardiff in order to do so.
The situation has been clouded by Cardiff's transfer embargo, with boss Mark Hudson confirming it could decide whether they are able to recall McGuinness from his spell away from the club.
However, news broke late last night that the Bluebirds have now paid the first installment of the transfer fee for Emiliano Sala.
In August 2022, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) rejected Cardiff's appeal over paying the initial money owed to the French club and the Bluebirds were placed under a three-window transfer embargo.
It is now understood that Cardiff have paid the first instalment of the £15m transfer fee, which was initially £5.3m but has risen to around £7m due to interest, and expect FIFA to lift their ban on signings.
Cardiff have also written to the EFL, who have placed a separate embargo on them, asking for their sanctions to be lifted and hope to hear back on that front soon.
That is likely to have a huge bearing on McGuinness' short-term future.
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