Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Wednesday, July 27.
Alex Smithies links up with Bournemouth
Recently-released Cardiff City goalkeeper Alex Smithies is training with Bournemouth.
The shot-stopper, who was one of the club's highest earners during his time in south Wales, left the Welsh capital this summer, with part of the reason thought to be that he wanted to move closer to his Huddersfield home.
However, south coast side Bournemouth, who will play in the Premier League next season after winning promotion from the Championship, have confirmed they have invited him to train with them, an offer which he has taken up.
It is unclear yet whether this is a trial period or any sort of deal has been struck, however there must be some interest from the Cherries. They had asked Jonas Lossl, the former Huddersfield Town and Everton goalkeeper, to train with them but he is no longer there.
Bournemouth have Will Dennis and Mark Travers as their current goalkeeping options.
Morison: New boy Philogene must learn our DNA
Bluebirds boss Steve Morison has poured cold water over the idea that Jaden Philogene will be thrown straight into the team.
After arriving so late in the window, the 20-year-old Villa winger will likely have to bide his time before he is given his opportunity in the side, with Callum O'Dowda, Ollie Tanner and, to a lesser extent, Sheyi Ojo all having enjoyed pretty much a full pre-season with the club.
And while Morison is excited by the capture of another wide man, he believes it would be unfair to throw him straight in at the deep end against Norwich City this weekend.
"He's going to be one we are going to have to work on over the next couple of weeks because the lads have done loads of work on and off the pitch," Morison said of his latest signing.
"He needs to learn about our DNA, what we are doing on the grass. He needs to understand it because it wouldn't be fair to ask him to just do it and do lots of different things he hasn't seen or worked on.
"He'll get there and I think me and everyone else should be really excited to see him on the grass."
Dillon Phillips leaves
Cardiff City goalkeeper Dillon Phillips has joined Belgian outfit Oostende on a season-long loan deal.
The Bluebirds recruited Jak Alnwick and Ryan Allsop this summer, meaning there were three senior goalkeepers as well as Rohan Luthra all vying for a spot in Steve Morison's matchday squad come the start of the campaign.
New goalkeeping coach Graham Stack has been brought in and has been allowed to run the rule over his three senior options, in the knowledge that having all three of them there at the start of the campaign was not viable.
And it appears Phillips is the fall guy, moving across the continent to play in Belgium for the season.
Ralls named club captain
Cardiff have named Joe Ralls as their new club captain.
He assumes the role, having donned the arm band a number of times over the years, following the expiration of Sean Morrison's contract. Morrison, who has not been assigned a shirt number although the No.4 remains free, is currently rehabilitating with the club after surgery following his ACL rupture.
It comes as the club announced they have retired Peter Whittingham's iconic No.7 shirt The Bluebirds legend sadly passed away at the age of just 35 back in March 2020, an untimely passing which rocked the club and everyone associated with it.
Following the departure of Leandro Bacuna, the last person to wear the No.7 jersey, in the summer, Cardiff have taken the decision to retire the shirt as a mark of respect for a man who was adored by thousands in this corner of the world.
Whittingham most certainly did the shirt proud, scoring 96 goals and providing 93 assists in 457 games for the Bluebirds. The club have also committed to playing a memorial match for the bona fide Cardiff City legend later this year. Read the full story here.
Under-21s start campaign at CCS
Cardiff City under-21s' Professional Development League fixtures have been revealed and Darren Purse's side will begin the campaign by playing host to Peterborough United at Cardiff City Stadium on August 16.
The fixtures are as follows...
AUGUST
Tue Aug 16 PETERBOROUGH UNITED H
Tue Aug 23 Sheffield United A
Tue Aug 30 BURNLEY H
SEPTEMBER
Mon Sep 5 Wigan Athletic A
Tue Sep 13 Bristol City A
Fri Sep 16 QUEENS PARK RANGERS H
Fri Sep 23 Ipswich Town A
OCTOBER
Mon Oct 3 READING H
Tue Oct 11 SWANSEA CITY H
Tue Oct 18 Watford A
Tue Oct 25 COLCHESTER UNITED H
Mon Oct 31 Millwall A
NOVEMBER
Mon Nov 7 Charlton Athletic A
Tue Nov 14 Birmingham City A
JANUARY
Tue Jan 10 BRISTOL CITY H
Tue Jan 17 Colchester United A
Tue Jan 24 WATFORD H
Tue Jan 31 Queens Park Rangers A
FEBRUARY
Mon Feb 13 Swansea City A
Tue Feb 21 MILLWALL H
Tue Feb 28 CHARLTON ATHLETIC H
MARCH
Mon Mar 6 Reading A
Fri Mar 17 IPSWICH TOWN H
APRIL
Tue Apr 4 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY H
Mon Apr 17 Coventry City A
Tue Apr 25 BARNSLEY H
Sat Apr 29 Hull City A
MAY
Tue May 9 CREWE ALEXANDRA H
Purse: More first-team debuts is the aim
Darren Purse is looking forward to his side's pre-season friendly against Chippenham Town tonight after their 2-0 win over Hereford FC at the weekend.
The Bluebirds head to Hardenhuish Park, 7.30pm kick-off, and Purse is eagerly anticipating a new campaign, one which he hopes sees more first-team debuts for some of his under-21s.
"I'm expecting another good performance from our boys," Purse said. "Sunday's match was a good test for those who played in a more experienced side, and I'm hoping that even those who didn't play learned from it.
"Having strong foundations at the back gives the boys up front he confidence to perform; it's what happened last time out and I'm hoping for the same thing on Tuesday night.
"Everybody is looking forward to the season starting. Competitive matches are what it's all about, and we're excited for what it will bring, alongside developing our players further and hopefully getting a few more first-team debuts in the process."
READ NEXT
- Aaron Ramsey next club latest odds as Nottingham Forest lead the way and hopes of Cardiff City homecoming fade
- Cardiff City 2022-23 predictions: Where Bluebirds will finish, the best signing and the surprise package to watch
- Cardiff City sign Aston Villa starlet on loan as key relationship revealed
- Cardiff City transfer news as young trialists impress and KV Kortrijk fans call for Vincent Tan to go
- Man Utd recruit Cardiff City academy boss Dave Hughes as part of youth overhaul
