Cardiff City told to beat Millwall to £4m transfer - he's 'upgrade on Ryan Wintle' | OneFootball

Cardiff City are among a host of clubs who are monitoring Fredrikstad midfielder Rocco Shein, who could cost up to £4m.

Cardiff City are back in the Championship, and there will be a sense of intrigue as to how they will adapt under Brian Barry-Murphy.

The former Man City development coach returned to senior management with the Bluebirds last season, and he did a fantastic job, leading the Welsh side to automatic promotion.

Not only did he bring success, but Barry-Murphy relied heavily on academy graduates, and he implemented a passing style of play that made Cardiff a joy to watch for much of the season.

Yet, the Championship is a big step-up, and Barry-Murphy will need additions to help the squad if Cardiff are to kick on.

Cardiff City in transfer battle to sign £4m-rated Rocco Shein

And, it appears the recruitment team are already working on potential signings, as it has been reported that Cardiff are among a host of clubs tracking Rocco Shein, with Millwall and Schalke also keen.

The Estonia international is currently playing with Fredrikstad, with his all-action performances in the middle of the park attracting attention.

It has been claimed that the Norwegian outfit could demand up to £4m for their star man, which would make him a substantial investment for the Bluebirds.

So, when asked by FLW whether that is a risk worth taking for someone who is unproven in English football, Cardiff fan pundit Matt Hall could understand the concern, but he feels the 22-year-old’s room to develop makes it a gamble worth taking for the club.

“It was very exciting news to see, as we were all being bored to death by Craig Bellamy’s Wales side!

“Obviously, he’s an unproven player, but it’s an exciting link, because if you look at the raw attributes he has, and reports from online scouts, so to speak, who watch these divisions, it’s widely regarded that he is a two-footed player, has good mobility and an excellent range of pressing. He’s also very aggressive in duels, and has a high percentage of aerial and ground duels won.

“As a midfielder, you’d imagine we won’t be as open this season, so we will have more of a double pivot than a single pivot, but we might not need someone who is an out-and-out defensive midfielder, with Shein a bit more box-to-box. You watch the clips of him, and you can imagine he would connect really well with Alex Robertson.

“He ticks a lot of boxes in terms of an upgrade on Ryan Wintle, who is not the quickest, and his passing range and vision is a little bit limited, and he didn’t offer as much protection as you would’ve liked.

“So, Shein looks like an upgrade, and his age is good as well. The fee up to £4m seems a big fee on the surface, but the likelihood is that it wouldn't be paid up front. However, the new financial rules have probably given us a bit more leeway to go for it in the market.

“But, for me, that would be an investment that is worthwhile because you spend that much money on the player, and if he turns out the way you hope, and we have Barry-Murphy who is great with younger players, then one good season of Championship football for Shein, and you’re looking at up to £10m. That’s the impact a good season can have.

“The wage packet he is on is probably a low amount from Fredrikstad, so you don’t imagine he will be jumping up to a ridiculously high wage. Financially, it makes sense, even if it is a risk, as it would be an expensive failure if it didn’t work out. But, you can’t think like that. You have to trust that Barry-Murphy knows what he wants, and he believes he can develop Shein to be a brilliant asset for us.”

Cardiff City must get their recruitment right this summer

It’s an exciting time for Cardiff, as Barry-Murphy has managed to create a team with a real identity and the fact many academy lads are featuring helps create a bond with the fans.

But, the Championship is a huge challenge for the group, and they need to target quality players to help raise the level.

Shein may have only had a short career, but it seems he is ready to join a better league, and he has the physical tools to cope with the demands of the second tier.

As well as that, as is crucial for Barry-Murphy, Shein is assured in possession, so he does look like a good fit, and, as outlined above, he fits the profile the club should target in terms of his re-sale value.

That’s particularly important for Cardiff, because they don’t have a budget to compete with some of the bigger clubs in the league, and with the new squad cost ratio rules, it’s vital that they are developing players who can generate a big profit.

Clearly, the level of interest in Shein shows this won’t be a straightforward deal to do, but Cardiff are an exciting project right now, and it will be interesting to see if they can convince the former Utrecht man to join.