Luton Town set to sign Cardiff City man in £10m transfer deal | OneFootball

Mark McGuinness has made 86 appearances for the Bluebirds but now will make the switch to Luton.

Luton Town are set to land the signing of Cardiff City centre-back Mark McGuinness in a deal that could reach £10 million.

According to BBC Sport, the two Championship sides have agreed on an eight-figure package for the defender, with Cardiff replacing the former Republic of Ireland under-21 international with Cercle Brugge's Norwegian man Jesper Daland.

McGuinness spent the first-half of the 2022/23 season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, but has been a mainstay in the team since his return to South Wales - he has been left out by Erol Bulut though of Cardiff matches this season due to continuing transfer speculation.

The 23-year-old made 30 Championship appearances last season, scoring twice, as Cardiff finished 12th in the standings.

He returned to the team after a prolonged spell on the sidelines on the final day of the season, playing just a minute against Rotherham United.

However, he will now join Luton and become Rob Edwards' third signing of the summer, after Shandon Baptiste and Reuell Walters joined the club as free agents last month following their exits from Brentford and Arsenal respectively.

Mark McGuinness to join Luton Town in a bid to strengthen Rob Edwards' defence

Despite playing Premier League football in 2023/24, Luton's return to the Championship has not been easy.

The Hatters were well beaten in their opening match last Monday by Burnley, losing 4-1 at Kenilwoth Road, before drawing 0-0 away to Portsmouth, with goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski being sent off in the first half for two reckless challenges on Pompey's attackers following a yellow card for time-wasting just minutes earlier.

However, it has not been the best of summers for Edwards and his team, with their defence facing multiple injury issues before a ball had even been kicked.

Mads Andersen is currently out with a calf injury but is close to a return, while wing-back Daiki Hashioka is also facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Reece Burke is another who is slowly coming back to full fitness, but with Luton's games coming thick and fast, they will need more cover in case another crisis occurs.

Walters was used as a centre-back on Saturday at Fratton Park, and although he performed well, the Hatters will want the 19-year-old to play in a more natural position as the season progresses, with McGuinness perfectly filling the open role.

Mark McGuinness will be a huge miss for Cardiff City but £10m is a good deal

Although they are gaining a superb fee for the centre-back, McGuinness will be hard to replace.

The ex-Arsenal man was excellent for Cardiff last season, and earned himself a new four-year contract with the Bluebirds in the summer of 2023.

The 23-year-old won 68.5% of his aerial duels in the Championship in 2023/24 and was dribbled past just 25 times, and he was also a threat from corners. At 6ft 4in he is dominant in the air, and scored twice last season, including the winner against Sunderland, through a header.

Daland however should on paper be a good McGuinness replacement for Cardiff, who will look to hit back on Saturday in the South Wales Derby against Swansea City, after losing both of their opening fixtures, leaving them bottom of the Championship.