Cardiff City urged to seal Sheffield Wednesday transfer over Celtic, Rangers - 'generational talent' claim made | OneFootball

FLW's Cardiff fan pundit is more than on board with the plans to battle with Celtic and Rangers for Pierce Charles' signature

Cardiff City are heading back to the Championship at the first time of asking, securing a second-placed finish in League One this season.

Brian Barry-Murphy's side have been comfortable throughout the campaign, very rarely dropping outside the top three, let alone the top six, and their promotion seemed inevitable just a few months into the year.

A lot of that is down to how strong their defence has been, which all starts with Nathan Trott. The goalkeeper was just one of only three signings last summer, arriving on loan from FC Copenhagen with an option to buy for £1.5 million if promotion was achieved.

Unfortunately, though, it seems that a permanent deal is proving difficult to navigate between both parties, and it's left the Bluebirds in a position where they have to begin exploring other options.

Per an exclusive report from Football League World, it seems that one of those options comes in the form of Pierce Charles, as Cardiff are ready to battle with Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers, plus QPR, for the Sheffield Wednesday shot-stopper.

Cardiff City fan pundit endorses potential Sheffield Wednesday swoop for Pierce Charles

FLW's Cardiff fan pundit, Matt Hall, reflects the thoughts of everyone at the Cardiff City Stadium that, in an ideal world, Trott would be sticking around permanently for their Championship return.

But if a deal cannot be struck, Hall isn't shying away from the fact that Charles is someone he would love to see in between the sticks in the Welsh capital next season.

"I'd be absolutely thrilled with it," he said.

"Obviously, we have to start with Nathan Trott. Every Cardiff fan loves him, and I think deep down, with all that's going on with contracts and finances, he loves it here, too, and I'm pretty sure every Cardiff fan would be happy if he were to stay.

"However, it may not be possible financially, and I think that it's good that we're looking at alternatives. Harry Tyrer, who was bought in January, had a really good debut (against Northampton Town), but that can't be it, and as far as options go, Pierce Charles is as elite an option there for the style we play.

"I think, as good as Nathan Trott is with the ball at his feet, Charles is another level, and it makes sense as to why Barry-Murphy would want him to replace Trott if he were to go."

Unfortunately, with the other teams that are registering interest, namely Celtic and Rangers, Hall is slightly worried that the talented 20-year-old would choose to go elsewhere than to a side that is just being promoted from League One, even if Cardiff, as a club, is bigger than the third tier.

But, given Brian Barry-Murphy's ability to get the best out of young, exciting stars, and the culture he is cultivating in South Wales currently, the fan pundit hopes that the Bluebirds boss could perhaps sway him towards his side.

"I'd be a bit dubious of our ability to beat off other competition, and it would be down to whether Barry-Murphy could persuade him to come ahead of the Scottish teams," he admitted.

"But I think that he's a generational talent in goal and, even though a lot of the things I've mentioned are with the ball at his feet, countless times he has made some ridiculous saves. He must have a dislike for Leicester, as he had seven saves in each game against them!

"It would be a statement if we were to get promoted and get him, and I would absolutely be all for it. If Trott were to go, him coming in would make us get over that disappointment very quickly."

Cardiff City could deliver a real statement of intent if they pull off Pierce Charles signing

There's understandably a lot of excitement to see how Brian Barry-Murphy and his young Cardiff side perform in the Championship next season and whether they can return to being a side capable of finishing in and around the play-off places.

That won't be the demand next season, of course, but the foundations can easily be put down for the Bluebirds to be a major player in the Championship in the future, and Charles would be an apt addition to making that happen.

Sheffield Wednesday won't be able to offer him.

Charles would join a plethora of talent in the current Cardiff squad who have incredible ceilings that surpass the second-tier, and would add to the already high excitement levels that Bluebirds fans have for their team, too.

It may prove difficult, as the market for the 20-year-old is very much a saturated one, but if Brian Barry-Murphy's side can pull it off, it would be reason to get excited about the future of the Welsh club.