With a strong first half of the season under their belts, Cardiff City look destined to make an instant return to the Championship.
However, with games coming thick and fast, they’ll need to bolster in a couple of key positions to get them over the line.
Could these two players be tempted by Brian Barry Murphy’s Bluebirds in the January window?
With both Luey Giles and Will Spiers departing for Eastleigh on loan earlier this month, Cardiff now have only three recognised fullbacks in their squad.
Furthermore, Irishman Joel Bagan is the only recognised left-back.
Bagan has already played close to 2000 minutes of football this season – an astonishingly high number, and may need cover.
Realistic Option:
Lino Sousa – Aston Villa (Loan)
Cardiff City need a dynamic and physically capable fullback to rotate with Bagan, and Portuguese-born Sousa fits this mould perfectly.
Having 33 appearances in the EFL already, Sousa has shown an ability to carry the ball forward, combine in tight spaces and most importantly, recycle the ball high up the pitch.
This is an attribute that would allow him to slot into Barry Murphy’s system seamlessly.
After a mixed first season with Plymouth in the Championship in 2024, Sousa found stable minutes in a struggling Bristol Rovers side last term – managing two assists in 25 appearances.
Sousa may not be the finished article, and at just 20 you wouldn’t expect it.
However under BBM he could well flourish, and would allow this already dominant Cardiff side to rotate in a key position with little drop-off in quality.
Ryan Wintle, a man once seen as surplus to requirements by City fans, has become a key factor in Cardiff’s recent success.
Wintle’s importance is clear in how the side functions with and without him.
His positional discipline allows Cardiff City to commit numbers forward, safe in the knowledge that central transitions are being managed intelligently.
However, with Eli King ruled out for the remainder of the season, Cardiff lack a like-for-like alternative capable of offering the same balance of anticipation, ball recovery, and composure in possession.
If Cardiff City are looking for defensive midfield reinforcement that fits both the system and the market, Elliot Watt represents a credible option.
Watt is a composed holding midfielder who combines:
Importantly, Watt’s game is built around reading danger early rather than reacting late, aligning closely with the demands placed on Cardiff’s defensive midfielder.
His experience across the EFL would reduce adaptation risk, while his profile suggests he could slot into Barry-Murphy’s structure without requiring a tactical rethink.
As a January addition, Watt would provide depth and competition rather than disruption — offering Cardiff City insurance in a key position while maintaining the balance that has underpinned their recent performances.
