Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Monday, January 30.
Wigan swap deal touted
A swap deal between Wigan Athletic and Cardiff City over Mark Harris and former Bluebird Joe Bennett has been touted.
The Bluebirds are very much in the market for a left-back, with Bennett having been in and out of the side for the bottom-placed Latics this term. The 32-year-old played 172 times for the Bluebirds and achieved promotion to the Premier League before leaving for Wigan in 2021.
READ MORE: What to expect at Cardiff City in the final 36 hours of the transfer window
Harris, meanwhile, has scored three goals for Cardiff this term, making him the club's joint-second-highest scorer. The Bluebirds' woes in front of goal have been well documented this term and it is understood they are in the market to add one, perhaps two forward players before tomorrow's 11pm deadline.
That being said, letting a forward go at this stage would be a curious choice, however Sun journalist Alan Nixon has claimed a swap deal is on the cards. He also claimed Stoke City were in for Harris, too.
Harris' deal is up at the end of the campaign, so a move could mean he will have played his last game for the club.
However, the mooted swap deal has been played down to WalesOnline.
Man Utd to sign City striker
Cardiff City youngster Gabriele Biancheri is set to move to Manchester United after completing a medical with the Premier League giants over the weekend.
Top-flight outfits have been monitoring the 16-year-old forward, with Chelsea thought to have been keen on him last summer. However, Biancheri has stepped up to another level this season and became impossible to ignore.
The Wales youth international was rewarded in December with a call-up to Cardiff's under-21s by Darren Purse for the game against Wolves.
It was just reward for the youngster, who stepped up from the under-18s following a hugely-impressive start to the campaign for him personally. He had notched 17 goals and five assists in all age-grade football this season leading up to that match, including a match-winning brace against Bristol City in the Severnside derby.
But the bright lights of Manchester and joining such a prestigious Category One academy appears to have been to much of a lure for him.
Personal terms have been agreed and both Cardiff and United have verbally agreed, too, so it is expected he will sign on the dotted line to become a scholar at Old Trafford before penning a long-term professional contract when he turns 17 in September.
Gabbs: Cardiff need a left-back to free O'Dowda
Cardiff City legend Danny Gabbidon believes one of the keys to getting the Bluebirds firing in front of goal again is to play Callum O'Dowda further up the pitch.
City are the lowest scorers in the division and it has underpinned their poor form in the league so far this season.
O'Dowda has been one of City's best signings this season, but playing him at left-back has detracted from the excellent work he did further up the pitch earlier in the season.
With only Joel Bagan as the other recognised left back in the squad, Gabbidon believes City should make that position a priority before Tuesday's 11pm transfer deadline.
"Callum O'Dowda, for me, has probably been Cardiff's best signing," he said on the latest episode of BBC's EJFOF. "They can't keep playing him at left-back. He needs to be playing further up the pitch. If they want to start scoring goals, he needs to be playing in his proper position.
"I think a left-back is probably needed. Or you put Joel Bagan, a youngster, back in.
"I think [Lamouchi] is a good appointment. The way he talks, conducts himself, I think he will be very good in terms of communication with fans and players.
"If the team has a problem at both ends then it's a huge job. But at least, defensively, there is a platform there and something to build on. He needs to get the team spirit better and get them attacking better. I just think the team is underperforming. There are some good players in that squad, he just needs to get more out of them - starting on Tuesday at Luton.
"This is one of the better appointments and Cardiff fans should be excited and there should be some hope there that things will improve."
Mick 'not arsed' about Cardiff selling to rivals Blackpool
Mick McCarthy gave a typically blunt response when asked what he thought of Cardiff allowing Curtis Nelson to join relegation rivals Blackpool.
McCarthy, formerly of this parish, of course, sought his old centre-back as he looked to bolster his Blackpool defence in a bid to keep them in the division.
Nelson had fallen down the pecking order at Cardiff and, with just months left on his contract, could not be blamed for seeking a new challenge.
McCarthy was clearly impressed by Nelson during his stint in the Welsh capital, though. He was the one who offered the defender a contract extension during his time here.
When asked what he thought of a relegation candidate allowing an experienced player to join one of their rivals, though, McCarthy said: “They’ll do what they want to do, I’m not arsed what they think. We just tried to get him and hoped they would let us have him, because we’re just a bit short.
“He’s a real solid defender, Curtis. He made the most blocks and tackles when I was at Cardiff, so he’s a real solid citizen. He’s a great lad, so he’ll be a really good addition to the squad. We’re really pleased to get him.”
READ NEXT
Man Utd to sign Gabriele Biancheri from Cardiff City after medical completed
Curtis Nelson leaves Cardiff City with immediate effect as Blackpool switch edges closer
Cardiff City Ladies shock FA Cup as lowest-ranked side surges into last 16 with England's best
Cardiff City news as Lamouchi hopes for a couple of 'good transfer surprises'
