Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy has admitted the club “need new players” and are looking to make further additions before the Championship season begins.
The Bluebirds have made just two signings so far this summer: goalkeeper Nathan Trott joined permanently after a loan spell, and Jack Moylan arrived from Lincoln City this week.
Moylan made an instant impact on his debut on Saturday, coming off the bench to score the winner in a 3-2 Carabao Cup victory over Swindon Town. However, Barry-Murphy was left acutely aware of his squad's limitations after several absences left him short of options.
Stretched Squad
Cardiff were without Will Fish, Dylan Lawlor, Calum Chambers and Rubin Colwill for the cup tie, while Joel Bagan took a knock during the first half, causing concern among supporters given the lack of reinforcements on the bench.
Asked whether he expected more players to arrive before the Championship campaign begins, Barry-Murphy was unequivocal: “I think we need new players. I think we need additions. You saw how stretched we are in terms of numbers today, and that's even if the players who are injured were fit. We're very conscious that we have to strengthen the squad.”
Left-Back Priority
The need for reinforcements was particularly apparent at left-back on Saturday. Bagan started against Swindon but went down during the first half, leaving Cardiff with little cover in that position given their existing absences.
When asked by WalesOnline whether left-back was an area the club would actively look to strengthen, Barry-Murphy responded: “I think you're right. Good judge.”
On the timescale for new arrivals, he said: “The timescale is impossible at the moment. It's been a window that's been influenced by the World Cup, and it seems to be difficult to put a time on anything.”
Recruitment Strategy
Barry-Murphy was also pressed on whether the club's recruitment strategy would involve a mixture of loan and permanent additions. “I'm not sure of the make-up of who we bring in, but just to be honest with our supporters, we are looking to make additions,” he said.
That would represent further movement in a transfer window in which Cardiff have already been active in reshaping the squad, although Moylan remains their only outfield arrival so far.
The club are also working on potential exits, with Kion Etete and Roko Simic both attracting loan interest. Neither player was involved in Saturday's first-team squad, with both featuring for the under-21s instead.
Barry-Murphy confirmed the intention is for both to leave on loan if the right opportunities arise. “The intention is that they have loan interest. I don't know whether the loans that have come in for them have been what they want yet, but we're hoping to keep them in the best of shape so that when the opportunity comes for them that they want, they're in the best possible condition to go and do their job.”
