Cardiff City rivals reveal rumours of Bluebirds trying to sign 'big players'
A rival boss has let slip on some information he has on Cardiff's transfer strategy
Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy (left) and assistant manager Lee Riley
(Image: PA Wire)
Cardiff City are looking to sign "some big players" in the transfer market, according to this weekend's opponents Rotherham United.
There are corners of the City supporter base who are getting a little twitchy, given the Bluebirds have signed just one player so far in this window, goalkeeper Nathan Trott on loan. Head coach Brian Barry-Murphy has said he understands the frustration some fans might be feeling, given they are pretty in the dark over why some deals are taking so long to get over the line, but he is confident the deals will get done.
And Dale Tonge, assistant manager at the Millers, has said he has heard "rumblings" that the Bluebirds are after some stellar players in the market this summer. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community.
Ahead of this weekend's trip to the Welsh capital, the Rotherham assistant said of Cardiff: "Listen, you'd expect them to be at the top end of the table.
"They are a big club, especially at this level.
"That's how they are trying to recruit. You hear it in the background, the rumblings, they've got some big players that they are potentially looking to sign.
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"If that is the case, we will cross that bridge when we get to it."
The statement has added credence when Tonge followed that up by saying he is personally close to Barry-Murphy.
"They have a clear way of playing, and I know Brian personally from his Rochdale days and then his time at Man City," Tonge added.
"He's got a clear way of playing and they have an identity as a possession based team.
"They have a lot of threats going forward and some really technical players at the top end of the pitch - which is something we'll have to be aware of.
"They are still a new team as well so there are opportunities there that hopefully we can cause them problems with."
Cardiff are likely looking to add a left-back and centre-back, while a winger might well be on the wish list, too.
Barry-Murphy has denied suggestions that he is not being backed in the transfer market, instead insisting he is being fussy in terms of ensuring every penny is spent wisely and on players who fit the exact profile of target he is after.
The Irishman said on Thursday that the perceived lack of experience in his squad does not worry him and that will not inform his transfer strategy.
He said: "It doesn't worry me. I think experience can manifest itself in a lot of different ways.
"And the more that our players are exposed to these challenges, the more they grow.
"I'm not trying to play it on expectations, but I think that there has to be an understanding that these guys will go through different ups and downs during the season.
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"But I'm very pleased with the squad. Players that we add to the squad would be to bring in particular qualities that we feel are important, but the age of those players will not be part of the key decision-making process." Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community.
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