“ CARDIFF CITY WANT £10M FOR PLAYER “

Luton Town are keen on signing Mark McGuinness, with Cardiff City having placed a £10m-plus valuation on the player.

Monday 5th August 2024



Centre-back McGuinness joined from Arsenal under Mick McCarthy, with the-then manager saying at the time: "Whatever people are thinking about my reign and me, that is a damn good signing. He will be a really good player for the club and I hope he is one to drive the club forward. If not, I think he will be worth a hell of a lot of money in some time to come."

And the Bluebirds hierarchy believe the 23-year-old is worth a hefty fee, with club sources insisting they would want an eight-figure sum to prise the player away from the Welsh capital. McGuinness signed a four-year-deal almost a year ago to take his contract up until at least 2027.

Cardiff feel that McGuinness has made himself into a top-class centre-half at Championship level but still has an incredibly high ceiling, with most players in that position not reaching their peak for another five years or so.

Whether Luton, or any other admirers, would table an eight-figure fee remains to be seen, but Cardiff believe they are in a strong position and do not need to sell.

City signed the former Republic of Ireland youth international for a nominal fee in 2021 and could stand to make a substantial profit. Indeed, they have never sold a player for more than £10m. He has made 85 appearances for Cardiff either side of a loan stint at Sheffield Wednesday, where he was also adored, and has scored five goals. He missed the 2-0 pre-season win over Bristol Rovers at the weekend, with manager Erol Bulut citing a small knock.

Luton were last year relegated from the Premier League, however, which could put them in a financially robust position to lodge a hefty bid. The Hatters are looking to bolster their defensive options, with Dan Potts and Gabriel Osho having both left the club, but sources suggest they are likely to test the water at less than Cardiff's valuation.

City have already brought in Calum Chambers, but Bulut has confirmed he wants another centre-half before the window closes. He said last week: "This season we start from the front and go back not from the back to front [with transfer planning].

"The urgency was the offensive part. Now in defence I think we look quite good, but we still only have three centre-backs. I will try to add one more centre-back to the team so we don’t get problems in the season. Injuries happen so there could be one additional centre-back."

Cardiff are understood to have held an interest in Scotland international Scott McKenna, who is recently a free agent after leaving Nottingham Forest.

However a number of clubs are also admirers of the 27-year-old, including La Liga side UD Las Palmas, who are said to be in pole position to sign him as things stand, but that could change. He has also been linked with Hull City plus Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers in recent weeks.

10m is more than their grounds worth I'd take their parachute money and run.

This not only makes up our transfer expenditure at a stroke but also puts us in a strong position in January if we need quality reinforcements.

I'd take £10M all day for him. Anything over £5M I'd be delighted with.

I'd be more devastated if Goutas left.

We won't get all of the fee if we sold his as Arsenal are due a percentage.

In view of his age he is worth at least £10m in today's market.

We won't get all of the fee if we sold his as Arsenal are due a percentage.

He was a free transfer?

He's our only player of PL quality. £10m is the least we should be getting..

He's our only player of PL quality. £10m is the least we should be getting..

His passing is nowhere near good enough for the PL.

It’s not enough to just be a good defender to succeed in that league anymore.

No one has raised the question, "why we would he want to go?" The side we are building will be a match for Luton despite the parachute payment money and they have probably had their day in the sun, so i cant see them going up again.

We won't get all of the fee if we sold his as Arsenal are due a percentage.

He was a free transfer?

Signed him under age 23 so an agreement had to be reached with arsenal

Don't think we will get anything near that.

But its nice to see that we aren't being forced into selling for once

Don't think we will get anything near that.

But its nice to see that we aren't being forced into selling for once

I'm thinking we slapped that on and a club will probably counter it with around 6-7m with add ons

He's our best CB and his potential is way above Goutas who himself is a good quality Championship level CB.

I'd say 10m is right if you look at future potential and how well he performed before his injury last season.

I thought Arsenal offered him a deal, but he rejected it, so we had to play young player compensation. I didn't think we transferred him from Arsenal, but free agency.

No way we are getting £10 million for him, especially from Luton.

It's all about progression. If he continues his upward trajectory then potentially he may be a £ 20 million 26-year-old and is home grown and that always counts in the Moneybags league.

Looks a trojan horse story to me, £8 mill with add-ons from a West Ham,Palace or Brentford then I think there may be mileage in the story, Luton

I thought Arsenal offered him a deal, but he rejected it, so we had to play young player compensation. I didn't think we transferred him from Arsenal, but free agency.

No way we are getting £10 million for him, especially from Luton.

It's all about progression. If he continues his upward trajectory then potentially he may be a £ 20 million 26-year-old and is home grown and that always counts in the Moneybags league.

Looks a trojan horse story to me, £8 mill with add-ons from a West Ham,Palace or Brentford then I think there may be mileage in the story, Luton

I seem to remember it being around £500,000.

He's our best CB and his potential is way above Goutas who himself is a good quality Championship level CB.

I'd say 10m is right if you look at future potential and how well he performed before his injury last season.

Totally agree. I believe he's our future captain and I'd rather keep him especially as it's been said we are pushing for promotion this season.

He's our best CB and his potential is way above Goutas who himself is a good quality Championship level CB.

I'd say 10m is right if you look at future potential and how well he performed before his injury last season.

Totally agree. I believe he's our future captain and I'd rather keep him especially as it's been said we are pushing for promotion this season.

I agree we need to keep him. We need the depth if we are going to compete all season.

Hes young, a leader, and is only going to get better.

If we don't go up in 2 years I'd completely understand if he wanted to leave.

If he goes, then we need 2 CBs in. We need 4 senior capable CBs in the squad.

People saying he should stay, I don’t get. Yes, he’s young. Yes he’s a good player.

However, there’s no guarantee he’s going to be worth more in a few years.
Let’s be honest here, he’s not better than Goutas or Chambers. Goutas is the best centre back at the club.

If someone is offering silly money now (upwards of £7 million) we have to accept it.
If he doesn’t play for the next 6 months, we won’t get another offer like this.

McGuinness is good, but replaceable.

If he goes, then we need 2 CBs in. We need 4 senior capable CBs in the squad.

Chambers, Goutas, Tsounda, Fagan Walcott?

I love McGuinness and his passion. It’s a tough one as I do feel he could be our future captain but money talks.

If he goes, then we need 2 CBs in. We need 4 senior capable CBs in the squad.

Chambers, Goutas, Tsounda, Fagan Walcott?

Tsuonda is an unknown really. Fagan Walcott is not a senior player and will probably be loaned out.

It sounds like we are going for McKenna. If we sell McGuinness, I’d guess we’d then get another one as a late loan.

If he goes, then we need 2 CBs in. We need 4 senior capable CBs in the squad.

Chambers, Goutas, Tsounda, Fagan Walcott?

Tsuonda is an unknown really. Fagan Walcott is not a senior player and will probably be loaned out.

It sounds like we are going for McKenna. If we sell McGuinness, I’d guess we’d then get another one as a late loan.

Tsounda was regularly MOTM at KV before he got injured. Dont see why he wouldn’t be good enough as a back up option.
Fagan-Walcott has impressed in every appearance he’s made. You’ll never know if someone is good enough, unless they have the opportunity.

2) The news about McKenna starting to do rounds Saturday night, then all of a sudden news comes out today about McGuiness. Don’t think that’s a coincidence.

If he goes, then we need 2 CBs in. We need 4 senior capable CBs in the squad.

Chambers, Goutas, Tsounda, Fagan Walcott?

Tsuonda is an unknown really. Fagan Walcott is not a senior player and will probably be loaned out.

It sounds like we are going for McKenna. If we sell McGuinness, I’d guess we’d then get another one as a late loan.

Tsounda was regularly MOTM at KV before he got injured. Dont see why he wouldn’t be good enough as a back up option.
Fagan-Walcott has impressed in every appearance he’s made. You’ll never know if someone is good enough, unless they have the opportunity.

2) The news about McKenna starting to do rounds Saturday night, then all of a sudden news comes out today about McGuiness. Don’t think that’s a coincidence.

I think you’re probably right on that last bit.

Talk last week of we were looking at another CB - thought why as we had 3 or 4 here already ???

Talk last week of we were looking at another CB - thought why as we had 3 or 4 here already ???

We need a 4th, other CBs have not played anywhere near this level yet.

MM out, McKenna and Nat in?

I know I’m dreaming but if we get 6-8 million for MM then surely we can afford to replace with them two.

Would be a fantastic bit of business.

I do rate MM but would snap their hands off for money like that. It depends on what the board does with the money though.

People saying he should stay, I don’t get. Yes, he’s young. Yes he’s a good player.

However, there’s no guarantee he’s going to be worth more in a few years.
Let’s be honest here, he’s not better than Goutas or Chambers. Goutas is the best centre back at the club.

If someone is offering silly money now (upwards of £7 million) we have to accept it.
If he doesn’t play for the next 6 months, we won’t get another offer like this.

McGuinness is good, but replaceable.

It's all about opinions mate. Mine is we keep him.

He's young, talented, will get better and better, a leader and a future captain. Why let a rival have that?

If the club has ambition and wants promotion we need to keep our best players, especially the young ones. Bulut has said he has a long term plan and wants to get Cardiff into the Prem. He needs young talented players to plan that future.

MM out, McKenna and Nat in?

I know I’m dreaming but if we get 6-8 million for MM then surely we can afford to replace with them two.

Would be a fantastic bit of business.

I do rate MM but would snap their hands off for money like that. It depends on what the board does with the money though.

I was thinking similar

Or alternatively McKenna and Cantwell in.