Cardiff City have been warned they could struggle to keep hold of Jack Moylan if his outstanding start to life in Wales continues, with Premier League side Brentford tipped as a potential destination for the in-form forward.
Moylan has impressed in the Championship since arriving from Lincoln City in the summer, scoring seven goals and providing three assists in 13 appearances for the Bluebirds. His form has also carried over to the international stage, with the 25-year-old scoring and assisting for the Republic of Ireland during the recent international break.
The former Shelbourne player has quickly become one of Cardiff's most influential players, with his performances attracting growing attention across the Irish football scene.
RTÉ pundit backs Moylan for step up
RTÉ soccer pundit Alan Cawley believes Moylan has the potential to take another significant step in his career, identifying Brentford as a club where the forward could thrive. The Premier League side are managed by Moylan's compatriot Keith Andrews, while former Shelbourne boss Damien Duff is part of his coaching staff as assistant manager.
Speaking on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, Cawley said: "Jack is absolutely flying. I think Jack is only going that way [up]. It's only early days, you don't want to be getting too carried away, but Cardiff will be doing well to hold on to him if he keeps up this level of form. He's absolutely flying."
Cawley believes Moylan's athleticism, movement and ability to influence matches in the final third could make him an attractive proposition for clubs operating at a higher level. "There is one club I have in mind, who probably a lot of people have in mind, because of his close connection with a couple of the staff members and with the Irish connection at the club," he said. "I could see him there in that environment. I think he's a fantastic player. The trajectory he's on at the moment and the way he's playing, I'd love to see it. I really think he can step up."
Cardiff's summer signing
Cardiff only secured Moylan's services permanently in the summer after his outstanding campaign with Lincoln helped the Imps win League One ahead of the Bluebirds. City finished as runners-up to Lincoln last season and followed them into the Championship, with Moylan making the move to south Wales for around £3.5m in a four-year deal.
Moylan's influence on Cardiff's campaign has been particularly striking given the different roles he has occupied under Brian Barry-Murphy. Initially deployed on the left, he was subsequently moved into the central attacking midfield role, and more recently has been pushed further forward as a striker.
Moylan has scored three goals and registered an assist across his last two matches in the role, taking his overall return to seven goals and three assists in 13 appearances. His latest contribution came in Saturday's 2-2 draw away to Middlesbrough, when he scored the opening goal before setting up the second.
Barry-Murphy expects more to come
Despite Moylan's rapid rise, Barry-Murphy has maintained that the forward still has considerable room for improvement. "I'm very pleased with him," Barry-Murphy said on Thursday. "He was a little concerned about his physical condition when he came back from such an extended international break. He's doing very, very well, but he's a player we wanted to sign because of his potential and his ability to play in different positions."
Fellow RTÉ pundit Paul Corry acknowledged that Moylan's recent performances suggest he could play at a higher level, but questioned whether a move straight to Brentford would be the right step at this stage of his career. "His last couple of performances would certainly suggest he can step up," Corry said, adding that Moylan appeared to have taken confidence from playing alongside higher-level performers during the international window.
However, he cautioned: "Brentford would be a huge jump. In my eyes, it's probably a little bit too big [a leap] for now."
There is no indication that Brentford have made an approach for Moylan, and Cawley's comments should be viewed as an assessment of where the Cardiff forward could eventually end up if his stellar form continues. The speculation points to just how quickly Moylan's stock has risen since arriving at Cardiff, who will hope there's far more to come from him in a Bluebirds shirt.
