Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Friday, May 20.
Barton wants Bluebirds youngster back
Joey Barton has revealed he would like Cardiff City youngster James Connolly back at Bristol Rovers next season.
The 20-year-old centre-back was arguably the best player Cardiff had out on loan last year, or certainly he was the one who made the biggest impression. He was brought in back in January before the Gas preceded to rocket up the table. Connolly earned rave reviews across the Severn and was a rock at the back, turning out 24 times during the end-of-season run-in.
It has been strongly suggested they want him back for the League One campaign following their promotion. Well Barton has confirmed that school of thought.
READ MORE: New boy Jamilu Collins was a 'shining light' in the Bundesliga as guarantee made to Bluebirds fans
Asked about whether he would want any of last season's loanees — Luke Thomas from Barnsley, James Connolly from Cardiff, Connor Taylor from Stoke City, Sion Spence from Crystal Palace and Elliot Anderson from Newcastle United — .back, Barton told the BBC : “We would want to take them all, but they are somebody else’s players and they kindly loan them to you.
"I’m incredibly grateful to Stoke and Newcastle and Barnsley and Cardiff for loaning us their young players and trusting us with their development. If they came available, you’d love to have a conversation with them.”
When asked specifically about Connolly, Barton said: "I’m not 100 per cent sure. I still think he’s got a year left at Cardiff. He was an amazing signing at the time and played well beyond his years and he complemented Connor. You forget we had Hooley (Luca Hoole) at 19, Connor at 20 and James Connolly at 20, forming a back four in League Two which historically you’d want a few wily old foxes in those positions."
It comes as Connolly's contract at Cardiff is just a month away from expiration. However, WalesOnline understands that the club have tabled an offer to the young defender, yet a deal has not been agreed as things stand.
Cardiff do, though, have the option to trigger a year's extension, which is likely if the player does not put pen to paper on the fresh terms offered.
It is likely Steve Morison will want to assess the player following his promotion-winning loan spell away with Bristol Rovers, however another loan move next term has not been ruled out. Given Rovers are in League One next term, it would seem logical for him to head back there if Barton is keen on the prospect.
Morison vows 'I won't rest until squad is sorted'
Steve Morison has said he "will not rest" until his squad is assembled to his liking this summer following a spate of early-window signings.
Jamilu Collins became City's fourth addition in eight days when he was announced on Friday, joining Ebou Adams, Jak Alnwick and Ollie Tanner. While the last week has been frenetic in terms of announcing new signings, Morison is adamant that more are on the way and that he will work tirelessly to get his house in order before the season starts.
"We want people who want to come and we want fans to be excited by the signings," Morison said. "It's all coming together nicely.
"We are trying to get our work done early, as many permanent deals through the door as we can. You can see they are getting done early because these players want to get them done and they want to come.
"This is what we love. I'm not going to rest until we get this squad sorted for the season. Hopefully you'll see a bit more of me!"
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Laurent offered new deal
Cardiff City target Josh Laurent has been offered a new deal by Reading, the Berkshire club have announced.
The Bluebirds are interested in signing the central midfielder, 27, who manager Steve Morison played with at Shrewsbury. Given Leandro Bacuna, Will Vaulks, Joe Ralls and Marlon Pack are all currently heading out of contract, players in that department are certainly required, although Ebou Adams' arrival assuages that slightly.
It is understood that Laurent is a player Cardiff are keen on, but the player has many admirers across the Championship and City won't be the only ones chasing him.
Reading, too, are clearly keen to keep hold of him as well, with the club on Friday revealing that the player had been offered a new deal as they published their retained list.
"Reading Football Club can confirm that new contract offers have been made to a number of first team players whose contracts come to an end this summer," they wrote in a statement
"Tom Holmes, Josh Laurent, Andy Rinomhota, Femi Azeez and Andy Yiadom have all been offered new deals at Reading. Contract discussions with these five players as well as a number of other first team players remain ongoing."
Further down in their release, they state that former Bluebird Junior Hoilett had not been offered a new contract as things stand, however new director of football Mark Bowen had recently entered discussions with the player.
Bale to Cardiff 'ticks all the boxes'
Rob Page admits a move to Cardiff City 'ticks all the boxes' for superstar Gareth Bale.
Bale is coming to the end of what has been a financially lucrative and trophy-laden stint at Real Madrid this summer, and speculation has long been bubbling away over what his future may hold. Rumours linking him with a move to hometown club simply refuse to go away, although there have also been links to Tottenham Hotspur and MLS.
The 32-year-old has been named in the squad for Real Madrid's final-day clash with Real Betis on Friday, although it remains to be seen whether he will play any part, with relations between Bale and the club seemingly at their lowest ebb. Should he make any sort of appearance, he is likely to be given a hostile welcome by fans at the Bernabeu, who appear to have firmly fallen out of love with one of the club's most decorated players.
There are similar questions around whether Bale will play any part in the upcoming Champions League final with Liverpool later this month - a stage that may yet give the Welshman an opportunity for one last hurrah in the famous white shirt.
In contrast to the hostilities in the Spanish capital, Bale will be showered with adulation from each and every member of the Red Wall when he marches out at Cardiff City Stadium on June 5, with Page hoping the former Tottenham man can muster up the magic needed to elevate his team into their first World Cup since 1958.
Should Wales qualify, the questions over what comes next for Bale will only intensify, and Page admits that a move to the Bluebirds wouldn't at all dampen his enthusiasm for taking his skipper to Qatar.
"If he was playing for Cardiff and we had qualified for the World Cup I wouldn't change my thoughts or respect for Gareth whatsoever," he said.
"He would definitely be a part of the World Cup squad anyway. As long as he is out playing football - that's the most important thing for us."
Delaney leaves Aston Villa
Aston Villa have announced the departure of under-23 head coach Mark Delaney. The former Bluebirds defender exits the club after 15 years of coaching.
Delaney, 46, had been in charge of Villa’s under-23s for the past few seasons, coaxing through the likes of first-team players Jacob Ramsey, Carney Chukwuemeka, Cameron Archer, Louie Barry and others. In January last year, he even took charge of a Villa squad made up of academy players for the FA Cup third-round 4-1 defeat by Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
In a statement today, a club spokesman said: “Aston Villa can confirm that Mark Delaney has left his role in the club’s academy. The club would like to record its sincere thanks to Mark for his service to Aston Villa and wish him every success for the future.”
As for Welshman Delaney, who played for Cardiff City in the 1998/99 season before moving to Villa, he wrote: “It’s with a heavy heart that I will be leaving Aston Villa Football Club. This club has been a huge part of my life for the last 23 years, making 193 appearances, 36 international caps and 15 years coaching.
“Having gained all these experiences I am looking forward to what may lie ahead. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Aston Villa, the players, staff and, in particular, the passionate supporters who have shown me loyalty both on and off the pitch. I wish you all the best in the future. UTV!”
