Here's your round-up on the latest Cardiff City headlines for Friday, April 29.
Pompey boss drops transfer update on alleged Cardiff target
Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley says he expects reported Cardiff City target Mahlon Romeo to stay in the Championship next season.
The right-back has proved a big hit on the south coast since arriving on loan from Millwall, and has made 41 appearances for the club so far this season. His form has also attracted admirers elsewhere, with Cardiff recently mentioned as a possible destination this summer.
Portsmouth would clearly like to keep him on board too, but Cowley appears pessimistic about his side's chances, adding that the 26-year-old is destined to return to the second tier next season. “I don’t think it would be possible for us to keep Mahlon from a financial perspective," he told The News. " I would anticipate he’d stay in the Championship.”
Romeo's future at Millwall remains unclear. Indeed, his loan to Fratton Park partially arose on the back of dissatisfaction over the level of support from the Lions hierarchy after after he spoke out about what he perceived as a section of their fans 'spreading hatred' for booing players taking the knee at the end of 2020.
Morison closing in on two overseas targets
Steve Morison appears to be hopeful of making a transfer breakthrough, after confirming that he's held Zoom calls with two players, both of whom are currently playing overseas.
The Cardiff boss has already confirmed that his side are in a good position to attract some of the Premier League's brightest young talents. But there is clearly some scope for Cardiff casting their net further afield, with Morison revealing that he has personally spoken to two players currently plying their trade outside the UK.
"Both are playing abroad at the minute and fit the bill of what we want," he said. "I didn’t show them anything they couldn’t do," he said.
"It was me just laying it down to them about what I expect from them when they walk through the door if they decide to join us. I tell them 'I haven’t just plucked you out of the air. There’s a reason because you fit the physical profile and technical profile of what we want,' and sell them the club and project.
"I said it to a player yesterday, ‘You're one of one Zoom I’ve done. You’re not one of ten in your position. You’re the target. This is why we want you. Hopefully all is good and you come and join us’. Then I take his questions, family questions, agent questions. Then we go from there. That’s the process. Hopefully it pays off."
Morison in the dark on Murphy
Morison says he's not yet spoken to returning Preston loanee Josh Murphy, adding that the winger won't be involved in the club's end to the season.
Murphy was sent back from his loan at Deepdale by Lilywhites boss Ryan Lowe, who said the forward failed to meet his "very high" standards. Reports in the north-west have suggested the issues were to do with attitude and punctuality. The former Norwich City man is out of contract in south Wales at the end of the season, and looks almost certain to leave the capital when the season reaches its conclusion. News of his return has clearly taken Morison by surprise, and he says he's not yet spoken to the forward.
"It was really weird when I heard about it the other day because we hadn't heard anything," he said. "No one's contacted me. He's a Preston player. He's contracted at Preston on loan until the loan deal ends. He's their player to deal with. He's not here. He's not with us and I've not had any dialogue with him personally. So it's their own issue to deal with."
Bowyer unlikely to risk Chong
Lee Bowyer says Saturday's trip to Cardiff City is likely to come too soon for Manchester United loanee Tahith Chong, who continues to work his way back from his latest injury issue.
The winger picked up a hamstring problem last month, and has only returned to training this week. He's been plagued by injuries since arriving from Old Trafford last summer, and missed four months of the season after going under the knife with a thigh problem.
His return to action lasted just six games before he suffered this latest setback, and Bowyer is clearly reluctant to rush him back into contention. Speaking ahead of his side's trip to the capital, he said: "Tahith has obviously been training this week but I don't want to take any risks with him. I think that will be unfair to him and to us, you know. He's a young lad with a big future in front of him.
"I want to make sure he's right when I do play him again. This one might be too quick for him and save him for the last home game so everyone can show their appreciation for what he's brought to us."
