Cardiff City: 3 free agents Vincent Tan must eye as Brian Barry-Murphy drops transfer hint | OneFootball

Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy has suggested that the club could look at free agents to bolster their squad.

Cardiff City have had a difficult start to life back in the Championship, with Brian Barry-Murphy’s men still searching for their first win.

However, four draws from their six games show that the Bluebirds have been competitive, and they will certainly feel they’ve merited a better return based on their performances.

But, Cardiff know this is a results business, and whilst they might be playing some good football, they are struggling in both boxes.

Admittedly, an injury crisis in defence last month didn’t help, but there is a feeling that the Welsh side didn’t do enough business in the summer window.

As a result, Barry-Murphy has indicated they may look for free agents to bolster the squad, although they won’t be signing Rabbi Matondo.

With that in mind, FLW looks at THREE free agents Cardiff should be considering to improve the group…

Will Smallbone

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The midfielder has been linked with a host of clubs since his deal with Southampton expired in the summer, and FLW exclusively revealed that Burnley, Stoke and West Brom were all keen.

He has also been suggested as a potential option for Cardiff, and it’s a move that would make a lot of sense, as he has proven his quality at this level in the past.

The Bluebirds could do with another option in the middle of the park after controversially releasing Ryan Wintle, with his replacement in Krystian Bielik perhaps more comfortable in defence, and Smallbone seems ideally suited to Barry-Murphy’s style of play, as he is comfortable in possession and can play different roles in midfield.

As well as that, he has plenty of Championship experience, so he should be able to adapt quickly, which is crucial for Cardiff as they look to get quick results.

Ryan Kent

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Even though Cardiff have scored seven times in six games, they have missed a lot of chances, so Barry-Murphy will be keen to address that if it’s possible.

The talk of Matondo shows that the team is lacking a winger, and Kent would be a punt worth taking for the Bluebirds.

The ex-Liverpool youngster has had a fine career that saw him turn out for the likes of Rangers and Fenerbahçe, but he is without a club since leaving Seattle Sounders earlier this year.

At 29, Kent should still have a lot to offer, and his pace, dribbling ability and willingness to take risks could make him the perfect fit for Barry-Murphy’s setup.

Danny Ings

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As outlined above, Cardiff are creating chances, but they’re lacking a clinical goalscorer, with Yousef Salech having endured a slow start to the campaign and Barry-Murphy evidently not keen on Callum Robinson.

So, a player Ings would make a lot of sense, as he is a great finisher, and whilst he is no longer as good in general play as he used to be, he could be the box striker that Cardiff need.

Of course, his injury record is a major concern, but with Salech likely to play most weeks, they could manage his minutes carefully.

He is another player that could help some of the younger players in the squad as well, as Ings has played at the highest level in his career, so he could be a short-term solution for the Bluebirds.