Cardiff City leading transfer race for Liverpool FC player - Chelsea factor is helping | OneFootball

League One leaders Cardiff City are leading the race to sign Liverpool left-back Calum Scanlon on loan from the Premier League giants.

Cardiff City are set to utilise the transfer market to bolster their chances of winning the League One title and sealing an immediate Championship return.

The Bluebirds hold a five-point lead over second-place Lincoln City at the top of the third tier, thanks to Thursday's 4-0 triumph over Barnsley.

Brian Barry-Murphy's side have added to their ranks with the loan addition of Everton goalkeeper Harry Tyrer, who was on the substitutes' bench for the recent encounters with Stockport County and Barnsley.

The Welsh capital outfit will hope to earn a victory that will take them a step closer to the League One title when they travel to strugglers Burton Albion this Saturday, having not tasted defeat since December 20.

Cardiff City lead race for Liverpool youngster Calum Scanlon

While Cardiff acquired Tyrer on loan from Everton, they also facilitated the exit of fellow goalkeeper Jak Alnwick, who joined Huddersfield Town on a permanent deal.

The Bluebirds are set to utilise the loan market once more following the addition of Tyrer, this time plotting a move for Liverpool left-back Calum Scanlon.

According to The Athletic, Barry-Murphy's side are leading the chase for Scanlon, while the Merseyside giants are keen for him to earn regular minutes until the end of the season on a loan deal.

The 20-year-old suffered a season-ending injury while on loan with Millwall last term, and consequently made just four Championship appearances for the Lions, scoring one goal in the process.

Scanlon has made two senior appearances for Liverpool, both of which came during their 2023/24 Europa League campaign, under the watch of former boss Jurgen Klopp.

It has additionally been reported by WalesOnline that a number of factors, such as Barry-Murphy's ability to work with and develop young players and the handling of Omari Kellyman's loan from Chelsea are both helping the Bluebirds' favour.

Kellyman, much like Scanlon, had missed a significant chunk of game-time due to injury last season, but the talented playmaker has since transitioned into a crucial performer for the third-tier table-toppers, which is said to be strengthening Cardiff's case in pursuing a deal with Liverpool.

Calum Scanlon swoop should add to Cardiff City title credentials

Cardiff hold a reasonable four-point lead over title challengers Lincoln with just 18 League One fixtures left to play, while they are crucially 10 points clear of third-place Bolton Wanderers in the race for automatic promotion.

The Bluebirds' third-tier dominance is evidenced by the fact that they have enjoyed an eight-game unbeaten run, including five victories.

Barry-Murphy has enjoyed the services of young talents such as Ronan Kpakio, Dylan Lawlor, and Joel Colwill, as well as the prolific efforts of striker Yousef Salech.

Cardiff's talent is arguably epitomised by AC Milan and Manchester United's transfer interest in Kpakio, who has notched one goal and six assists from right-back, with Lawlor also garnering similarly-prestigious admirers.

The 18-year-old appears set to remain in South Wales with less than a week of the transfer window remaining, while the potential acquisition of Scanlon can only strengthen the Bluebirds' promotion bid.

Scanlon has enjoyed a first-class football education in Liverpool's academy, and he has also represented England at the Under-17, Under-18, and Under-19 levels.

The full-back has limited experience in senior football, but the fact that he has represented the Reds in the Europa League and Millwall in the Championship suggests that he should be an asset for Cardiff in League One, and will offer much-needed cover at left-back for Joel Bagan, who is the Bluebirds' sole senior option there at this moment in time.

Barry-Murphy's side must not become complacent despite their handsome lead in the third tier, and Scanlon can help them over the line in upcoming fixtures against the likes of Rotherham United, Luton Town and Wimbledon.