Cardiff City's squad is rapidly starting to take shape. Thanks to nine players having been released at the end of their contracts and nine new players coming in, we are starting to see what the Bluebirds' side will look like next term.
As ever at the start of a new season, there will be some players who find themselves on the fringes of the squad. Cardiff have bolstered in a number of areas - central midfield, wing-back and in goal have all seen a number of additions in particular - which will naturally push some down the pecking order further.
It will no doubt see some players head out the exit door if they want to seek regular game-time – so, one suspects, there will be a few departures before the window closes, be they permanent or loan.
READ MORE: The latest Cardiff City transfer headlines
Here, we take a look at some of the fringe players who could depart this summer...
James Collins
Perhaps an obvious candidate given he was left out of the squad for the majority of the back end of the campaign. Collins was brought in by Mick McCarthy, who knew him from their days together with the Republic of Ireland, as a solid striking option given his scoring record in the Football League over the previous five or six seasons.
It just never worked out for him at Cardiff, though, and his lack of goals, coupled with a few glaring misses, soon saw him plummet down the striker ladder. The additions of Jordan Hugill and Uche Ikpeazu, both of whom were part of a successful spell for the team at the tail end of the season, and the emergence of Isaak Davies hardly helped Collins' case, either.
And with it being understood Cardiff are keen on adding at least one striker before the end of the window, Collins' future with the Bluebirds looks to be on shaky ground.
The 31-year-old, who is currently with the club on their training camp in Scotland, is at a stage of his career where he wants to be playing regularly. Will he get that at Cardiff next season? It doesn't look like it at the moment. If an offer came in to buy him, it would surely be listened to.
Tom Sang
A player who earned himself a fair few admirers in these parts when he was plonked in to fill in the right-back berth during that successful McCarthy period at the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
A bad toe injury halted his progress, though, and ruined the first half of his season last year, too. Steve Morison clearly thought Sang was a central midfield player, while the player himself was happy with the progress he was making as a right-back.
He had a mixed spell on loan at St Johnstone, playing only four full matches, but got more games under his belt in what he sees as his favoured position of right-back.
He clearly has some technical ability about him, but as we saw with the loan addition of Cody Drameh last season and the additions of Mahlon Romeo and Vontae Daley-Campbell, Morison clearly wants some pace and energy down the wing, rather than a technical footballer, which Sang certainly is.
In midfield, Cardiff have added Ebou Adams and Andy RInomhota, coupled with Joe Ralls and Ryan Wintle who were already at the club, meaning Sang has his work cut out for him to convince Morison his best position is in the middle of the park and that he is a better option than the aforementioned quartet.
In all likelihood, if Sang wants game-time he might have to get it elsewhere.
Gavin Whyte
Gavin Whyte has been afforded more time off due to him playing for Northern Ireland in the most recent international break.
His loan spell at Oxford United last year came after a six-month spell with Hull City the season before. He hasn't really been at the club now for 18 months and for that reason it looks as though he is surplus to requirements.
That winger role will be filled by new signings Callum O'Dowda and Ollie Tanner, while Isaak Davies, Mark Harris and Rubin Colwill will all be used in some guise in those wide areas, too, no doubt.
His days have always looked numbered ever since Neil Warnock left, in truth, but with one year left on his Bluebirds deal it represents a potentially sticky situation. Whether a club comes in to sign him permanently or another loan away is the avenue remains to be seen at present.
Eli King
A prime candidate for a loan move away, one suspects.
Showed on the odd occasion last season he has something about him, an excellent example being his set-up for Hugill's goal on the final day of the season against Derby County, but whether a loan switch might do him good is definitely a conversation which needs to be had.
The 19-year-old Wales youth international has a great physique and can grow to be an imposing presence in the middle of the park. Indeed, he just won the club's pre-season bleep test, completing all 21 levels.
The potential growth is clear for all to see, but he might just need to go out and get that first six months or year of regular men's football under his belt next season.
Jai Semenyo
Two new right-backs have been brought in, which probably spells the end of any meaningful contribution next season. It's likely for the best, though, given he has only been in professional football full time for a year after being picked up from Mangotsfield United.
Morison himself mooted a potential loan spell away for the exciting right-back, who looks encouraging moving forward but might just need to learn the more nuanced aspects of defending before turning out regularly in the Championship.
Certainly a prospect, though, and one who impressed for the under-23s under both Morison and Darren Purse. It will be good to get him out on loan next season to see what he can really do.
Dillon Phillips
A bit of a tricky one and all borne of the incomings during this transfer window.
Alex Smithies has left the club, but Jak Alnwick and Ryan Allsop have both been brought in. Where does that leave Dillon Phillips, then?
It seems unlikely Cardiff will stockpile three sets of wages on senior goalkeepers when money is so thin on the ground. Will either of the two newbies be sent straight on loan? It seems improbable.
Phillips has been solid enough when given the opportunity by Cardiff, but has also not exactly ripped up trees. City have a new goalkeeping coach in Graham Stack and no doubt he will be running the rule over his three senior keeper options, as well as youngster Rohan Luthra, before offering his opinion on what should be done.
Other under-23s
There are a number of players who gained plaudits for their performances for the under-23s last season but who are not yet ready to make that leap up into the first team.
Jack Leahy is certainly one who falls into that category. He was with the first-team squad during their pre-season testing at The Vale last week and will likely train regularly with the senior team before the campaign begins.
Like others, it would be ideal for him to get a few months of loan football under his belt, to cut his teeth at senior level.
The same can be said for young striker James Crole and left-back Tom Davies , both of whom impressed Purse last term, with the under-23s manager mooting a potential loan move away for them in an interview with WalesOnline.
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