Cardiff City should launch Sunderland AFC transfer swoop - Brian Barry-Murphy factor may help | OneFootball

Brian Barry-Murphy should identify Ian Poveda as a key target for his Cardiff City rebuild

Cardiff City's newly appointed head coach Brian Barry-Murphy should identify Ian Poveda as a key target for his League One rebuild, with the winger set to become surplus to requirements at Sunderland following their promotion to the Premier League

The Colombia international endured a nightmare debut campaign at the Stadium of Light - managing just 81 minutes of Championship football across six substitute appearances.

With Sunderland already investing heavily in proven-quality players after their dramatic playoff final win over Sheffield United, Poveda's prospects of regular first-team football with the Black Cats appear bleak.

Barry-Murphy spent three years developing young talent at City's Elite Development Squad, working closely with players who had come through the academy system - where Poveda played as a youngster.

Ian Poveda's Sunderland struggles make potential Cardiff City move logical

Ian Poveda playing for Blackburn Rovers

After joining Sunderland as a free agent from Leeds United in July 2024, Poveda's first season on Wearside has been plagued by both injury setbacks and disciplinary issues.

The 25-year-old struggled with "many issues" according to Mackem boss Regis Le Bris that kept him on the sidelines, including missing a team meeting, which resulted in him being dropped from the squad.

The winger has never started a second-tier match for Sunderland, with all six appearances coming from the bench. His total playing time of just 81 minutes across the entire season is a massive drop from his previous seasons.

Cardiff City's relegation to League One meanwhile has surely put the futures of the club's current wide players in doubt, and there will likely be a need for some fresh faces out wide.

Ollie Tanner has attracted previous interest from the likes of Leeds, Leicester, and Southampton, and Poveda would provide good depth in that area, regardless of how his Sunderland career has gone.

Brian Barry-Murphy connection could help Cardiff land Ian Poveda

The appointment of Brian Barry-Murphy as Cardiff's new head coach creates an intriguing connection that could facilitate Poveda's move to South Wales.

While the pair didn't overlap directly at Manchester City, both have strong ties to the club's philosophy and playing style - Barry-Murphy's experience in nurturing technically gifted players does align with Poveda's skillset.

Poveda was highly regarded during his time at the Etihad Stadium despite limited first-team opportunities - and it gave him good experience in the type of possession-heavy football that Barry-Murphy championed during his time with City's development teams.

Moving to League One might initially seem like a step backwards for a player who has represented England at youth level and earned full international caps for Colombia, but the drop in standard could provide exactly what Poveda needs to rebuild his confidence.

Poveda has shown flashes of brilliance but has struggled to maintain consistent form at Championship level - the most league games he's ever played in during a single season is 24 - at Blackpool in 2022/23.

His loan spells at Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers, and Sheffield Wednesday produced underwhelming results - he's never scored more than two league goals in a season, and that's pretty disappointing for a player who has bundles of natural ability.

So, the demands of League One would suit Poveda's strengths perfectly. His pace and dribbling ability could prove overwhelming for third-tier defences - and the reduced intensity might help him avoid the injury problems that have plagued his recent seasons.

For the Bluebirds, pursuing the 5ft 5in winger represents exactly the type of calculated risk that could pay off in League One, and Barry-Murphy's style of football does make him an ideal target to help the Welsh giants bounce back to the second-tier at the first attempt.