Here are your Cardiff City transfer headlines for Thursday, June 23.
Reading midfielder linked with Cardiff
Cardiff City are one of a number of clubs interested in signing Reading midfielder Andy Rinomhota, according to our sister title BristolLive.
They claim that the Robins had been keen on his signature, but their interested has "cooled", leaving their Severnside rivals among the interested parties alongside Stoke City and QPR. Cardiff are indeed in the market for a midfielder. Indeed WalesOnline understands the Bluebirds want to bolster the spine of the team as a priority. Rinomhota, 25, suffered two bad injuries last season in the final year of his contract, but was one of the first names on the team sheet when he was fit.
It is thought he has also been offered a deal to stay at Reading but is mulling over his options. Cardiff missed out on Rinomhota's former team-mate Josh Laurent, who this week signed for Stoke City.
READ MORE : Gareth Bale torn between Cardiff and MLS
Two signings expected
Cardiff hope to complete two signings before the end of the week, it is understood.
The Bluebirds have made a blistering start to the transfer window, bringing in eight players and we are not even in July yet. Well, they are showing no sign of slowing up, either, with the club keen to push through two more permanent signings before the end of the week.
At time of writing, it should be said, neither of these are understood to be Gareth Bale, who is still considering his many options. Bale's agent has told WalesOnline the Wales captain will make his decision over the coming days, with Cardiff well and truly in the mix.
But there are two other players Cardiff are keen to secure before the end of the week and it is understood they are both permanent signatures, which would take the Bluebirds' business up to 10 new signings, however there is work to be done on both. Whether the aforementioned Rinomhota is one of the two is as yet unknown.
Ramsey wants €4m to leave Juventus
Aaron Ramsey's camp are reportedly demanding a €4m payout to be cut from his Juventus contract, however the Turin club are not willing to go above €2m.
Ramsey, who had a mixed spell on loan at Rangers in the latter half of last season, is not in Juve's plans next term, according to various reports in Italy, but he has another year left on his deal, which includes a £400,000-per-week pay packet.
Juve are keen to sort some kind of severance package, however Calciomercato claim the Welshman's representatives want double what the Serie A giants are willing to offer.
Cardiff has been mooted, albeit quietly, as a potential suitor for the former Arsenal playmaker, however Calciomercato claim their interest to be "concrete".
Elsewhere, Turkish outlet Fanatik today claim that Andrea Pirlo has personally step in to help facilitate a transfer to Fatih Karagümrük, the club that the Italian great currently manages. Once a severance package is agreed, if it even is agreed, then conversations can perhaps start properly pertaining to his next destination.
Andy Dibble gets new job
Former Cardiff City goalkeeping coach Andy Dibble has been appointed in the same role at Scottish club Motherwell.
The 57-year-old has linked up with Graham Alexander up in Scotland, having left Cardiff at the back end of last season following five years in the Welsh capital
Speaking about the move, Dibble said: “It is exciting to join up with Graham and the rest of the coaching staff. I am looking forward to the season ahead and getting to know everyone.”
Manager Graham Alexander added: “I’m delighted to welcome Andy to the club as head of goalkeeping.
“He has vast knowledge as a coach and his top-level experience from his playing days will certainly help our keepers. Having experienced the Scottish game before (with Rangers), I know how excited he is to join us and help us keep progressing.”
Pack seals Pompey move
Marlon Pack has said signing for his hometown club Portsmouth was an "opportunity that I couldn't turn down".
Pack was let go by Cardiff at the end of last season after three years with the club, however he didn't play from January onwards as Steve Morison looked towards building a squad for next season.
Speaking about joining the League One club, Pack said: "I’m really happy. It’s been a weird couple of weeks and now I’ve gone full circle by coming home. I was afforded the opportunity to play for Pompey again – and it was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down. This is my hometown club and the one I supported as a kid, but I also liked the project that was going on.
“I’ve seen the pictures of the redevelopment of the stadium and there’s work going on at the training ground. I was afforded the opportunity to play for Pompey again – and it was an opportunity that I couldn’t turn down."
Denham: I want to learn off Wales team-mates
Young Cardiff City centre-back Oliver Denham wants to use the experience of linking up with Wales' senior side to better his capabilities at club level with the Bluebirds.
Denham was called up by Rob Page as injury cover for the Nations League games in recent weeks and while he didn't get on the pitch, he enjoyed the invaluable experience of training with the best players in the country. That is something he hopes betters him as a player.
"It was a great experience from start to finish," he said of linking up with the Wales senior side. "Seeing what the top senior professionals in the country do both on and off the pitch, and seeing how I can learn from then to take back here and get me up to their standard of playing."
The centre-back, who last month turned 20, was handed a few opportunities by Morison at the tail end of last season, an experience he thinks has given him a boost heading into the new campaign.
He added: "It gave me a lot of confidence, those last few games, to show I can compete at this level, so hopefully I can now use that and push on this season."
Bamba backs Bale move
Sol Bamba believes if Cardiff could land Bale it would be a huge statement for both the club and the Championship.
Bamba himself is weighing up his options after his deal with rivals Middlesbrough expired. The centre-back feels Bale's arrival in south Wales would be a massive lift for supporters.
"That would be huge and it would be a statement as well for the rest of the league too," Bluebirds legend Bamba said on Sky Sports News.
"Cardiff unfortunately didn't have the best of seasons last year, so obviously they are looking to bounce back. Steve Morison learning his trade, I know him very well playing with him at Leeds. I know what he's capable of.
"If Cardiff managed to land Gareth Bale it would be unbelievable for the club, for the fans it would be a big lift. And to attract other players as well. If you have the chance to play with Gareth Bale, any player would do so."
Cardiff to take on Pompey
Cardiff City have been drawn against League One Portsmouth in the first round of the Carabao Cup.
The fixture is set to take place on the week commencing August 8, shortly after the season begins. The Bluebirds could even line up against their former team-mate Marlon Pack at Cardiff City Stadium.
Michael Smith signs for Sheffield Wednesday
Former Cardiff target Michael Smith has signed for Sheffield Wednesday.
The ex-Rotherham United striker was understood to be someone on Cardiff's radar at the beginning of the window, with it understood that striker is a priority position for the Bluebirds.
However, the forward has dropped down to League One with the Owls, despite earning promotion with Rotherham last term, and will link up with ex-City players Will Vaulks and Callum Paterson.
