Cardiff plan double swoop

The unoriginally named Cardiff City stadium could be set for a busy conclusion to the transfer window as boss Malky Mackay plans a double swoop to help assist the final promotion push and also the big Carling Cup final date with Liverpool at Wembley.

Well, has anybody ever seen two birds do business before? I didn’t think so, but you might get to see it soon as the Bluebirds prepare to go into talks with the Seagulls.

First of all we have Brighton winger Craig Noone after Cardiff are said to be close to shaking hands with the south coast club on a deal reportedly in the region of £1 million, rising up to £1.5 million with add-ons bolted on with a staple gun. While speculation remains about the negotiators’ skills with hardware tools, there is no such doubt about the potency of that bid causing Brighton manager Gus Poyet could be tempted to sell.

“Everyone has a price” said the Uruguayan, trotting out one of football transfer’s most over-used clichés, “but it has to be a good price” and nobody can really turn down £1.5 million in today’s recession hit times, can they? Well, it’s up to Brighton who have had a long time to think about it, “we are ready, because we’ve been dealing with it for two weeks already”, said Poyet.

They certainly have as a £450,000 bid was rebuffed at the AMEX earlier on in the transfer window, but Mackay has come back after guiding his team to the Carling Cup final and he means business for the 24 year old winger, who is expected to make the journey up to the lovely country of Wales for talks with the Bluebirds.

The second player in question is Wycombe youngster Kadheem Harris who has caught the eye of the likes of Chelsea and Fulham, with Martin Jol said to be that infatuated with the 18 year old that he has lodged a £50,000 bid for the winger and is coming back in with another after that was rejected.

Harris has a big reputation in the lower leagues as he won the Npower League Two Football Manager Apprentice award back last March at the Football League awards. Mackay is expected to want to wrap that up early to fend off the group of bigger predators that are circling the area. Tuesday could be the day of the Bluebird on deadline day.

@AdamGray1250