Here are your Cardiff City transfer headlines for Tuesday, July 26.
Purse: Impressive trialists have set the standard
Darren Purse has been impressed by the standards set by Cardiff's four trialists in their under-21s over the last week.
The Bluebirds named four trialists in their game against Bromley last week and did so again against Hereford FC on Sunday. And, reading between the lines, under-21s boss Purse appears to be keen on getting them over the line.
"They have been with us all week and they have made the training sessions step up to another level," Purse said of the quartet.
"They are all a little bit older than what we have got in the squad at the moment, which I think is what we need, a little bit of experience. We are very young, Morgan Wigley, Joel Colwill, they are still second-year scholars, people don't realise how young they are.
"Sometimes they need a bit of experience, a lad that's two or three years older to help them through it and they step up to it when they are up against each other in training.
"It's been good to have them around, they've been very good, and we will see what comes of it in the next couple of weeks."
KV Kortrijk fans hang banners calling for Tan to go
Fans of Vincent Tan-owned Belgian side KV Kortrijk have hung banners at their stadium calling for the owner to leave the club.
The Bluebirds owner is also in charge of the Belgian First Division A side, who are seemingly in a period of unrest. They finished 13th out of 18 teams last season and began the current campaign, which started last weekend, with a 2-0 defeat by OH Leuven.
During the match at the weekend, there were reportedly calls for manager Karim Belhocine to be relieved of his duties. That, it seems, has now spilled over to calls for the ownership to go.
On Monday night there were messages aimed at the club's top brass which voiced fans' discontent, with one banner even taking aim at general manager Matthias Leterme and chief operating officer Jelle Brulez. The banner simply read: "Leterme, Brulez, Tan, out!" Another had the message: "Tan out!"
Dave Hughes going to Man Utd
Dave Hughes will join Manchester United's academy after leaving his post at Cardiff City.
The former Aston Villa, Shrewsbury and Bluebirds defender joined from Southampton in November 2020, originally handed the head of academy coaching role before taking over the academy all together last year following James McCarthy’s departure.
He has overseen a period of great success within the Bluebirds' youth structure, with a number of youth players graduating into the first team under his stewardship.
It was something of a shock when it was announced earlier this month that he would leave his post as academy manager, however he has accepted a major role at one of the world's most revered and successful academies in Manchester United.
Hughes, 44, will join the Old Trafford club as a professional development phase coach, tasked largely with aiding the under-21s but also with a wider remit throughout the programme. Read the full story here.
Crole keeping grounded after first-team involvement
Under-21s striker James Crole insists he is keeping his feet on the ground after receiving recognition for his impressive outings for the senior team in pre-season.
The Bluebirds are short on strikers and as a result, Crole has been given a few opportunities to impress, which he has taken, to be fair to him.
The 18-year-old scored and set one up in the 2-0 win over Newport County, but knows he will have to do the lion's share of his work in the under-21s if he is to get a shot at the first team this season.
"It's been great. I've had a great pre-season, but I'm not getting ahead of myself," Crole said. "I know I'm in the under-21s, I want to play and score goals, develop my game. I've been doing that in pre-season, working on different bits of my game.
"It would be great to be involved (with the first team) whenever I can, but I'm an under-21s player and I'm going to do my best for the under-23s in the league, hopefully we can do well and I can score some goals.
"But I'm not getting ahead of myself. If I'm involved (in the first team), that's great, I'm going to work my hardest to be involved, but whatever happens, happens."
A fast start to the season and he might just get a call-up to the first team, like Chanka Zimba did last term before heading out on loan to Northampton Town. But, like Crole, Purse knows the youngster must not get carried away with his senior summer call-up.
"You look at James Crole, he has probably played 20 under-23s games last year and he has just stepped into his first year as a professional footballer," Purse added.
"He has got loads of experience, he has stepped up to the first team and scored, scored again (against Hereford FC) and his confidence is there. He has got a bright future as long as he doesn't get too petulant, keeps his feet on the ground. He has been good since he has come back down."
Murphy signs for Oxford United
Former Cardiff winger Josh Murphy has signed for Oxford United on a two-year deal.
The 27-year-old, who once cost the Bluebirds £11m, left the capital as a free agent earlier this summer. He had initially gone on trial with fellow Championship side Reading earlier in the window, but the Royals chose not to offer the ex-Norwich City man a permanent deal.
Murphy has subsequently opted to make a return to action in League One, saying upon his arrival: "I have been here for a week or so and everything about the club is so impressive. The gaffer plays exciting football and I think that will suit the way I like to play. There are some very, very good players here and it’s great to be involved and I’m looking forward to it, starting with the game at Derby on Saturday."
Manager Karl Robinson, meanwhile, said: "He is a phenomenal talent and hopefully he can come here, get a run of games together and really show everyone what he can do. He creates opportunities, he works hard and I think he is a player the fans are really going to like watching."
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