Charlie Savage to Cardiff City? Reaction given on Reading FC man that's 'perfect' fit | OneFootball

Cardiff City have been urged to complete a deal to sign Reading FC midfielder Charlie Savage, with a 'very underrated' reason for it...

Cardiff City are a Championship club again after just one year in League One, with the Bluebirds needing to recruit quality after promotion. They have been linked with Reading midfielder Charlie Savage in recent days.

The Welsh midfielder is the son of Robbie Savage and came through the ranks with Manchester United. He had a loan spell with Forest Green Rovers before joining Reading permanently in 2023. Could the twice-capped international's next move be to Cardiff City?

In three seasons, he has made 142 appearances for the Royals. That includes scoring 14 and assisting a further 20 times for the club. However, he has entered the final year of his contract with the club and there was bound to be interest in his services from a higher level.

Lincoln City, Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday, and Cardiff are all keen on Savage, but it's been reported by the Reading Chronicle that Cardiff are the club leading a four-way transfer battle currently and his value is set at £800,000.

The Cardiff City verdict on Reading midfielder Charlie Savage

FLW asked our resident Bluebirds fan pundit Matt Hall for his thoughts on his Cardiff side “leading the race” for Savage and whether he would welcome this signing from Reading. We asked if he thinks he can step up to Championship level as well.

He said: "I would definitely welcome Charlie Savage as a signing. I think, when it comes to him as a player, you have a direct comparison to someone who would probably be leaving to facilitate the move.

"That would be David Turnbull. I think you've got to look at what this midfield needs, which is not a huge amount in fairness. As far as first-choice players go, I don't necessarily think it needs a huge addition in there.

"I think it's just about raising the actual quality of the squad behind what we've got. I think Savage for what? £800,000 that's been lined up? I think that's perfect for us, really.

"He's 23. For the amount of minutes he's played in his career, he's young but quite experienced at the same time. I look at him as someone who can definitely go and take further steps in his career.

"I think he'd add legs into our midfield and a little bit more dynamism too, especially in the Championship where the way we play means the transitions are important. He could be somebody that could do that.

"I think something that is very underrated and is important is that he's a left-footer. He's got good set-piece delivery and he gets goals and assists like Turnbull. But he's a left-footer and we don't have many in our squad.

"We are a very right-footed football club. I think that's an important aspect to have, purely just for balance as well. Our set-piece delivery has been horrific all season as well, which is partly why we can't seem to get any sort of rhythm going on those."

David Turnbull's Cardiff City future called into question

Speaking further on the player(s) Savage might replace in the Cardiff lineup, Matt added: "I think it's an overall upgrade. If you're looking at it, I think David Turnbull will be the likely one to go and probably, at the very least, for a million.

"You're looking at making a profit there. With the new financial rules, that's obviously a good start. It's a position knocked out without huge expenditure, which does leave room in other areas as well.

"So, I think overall you can't have any complaints about it. I think we should do it and he can definitely make the step up to the Championship, with Brian Barry-Murphy especially taking him under his wing.

"Even though, I don't think there is any pressure on him to be a first-choice starter, it'll definitely help with his development. He can just ease himself in."