Cardiff City are closing in on the signing of Liverpool left-back Calum Scanlon, with the 21-year-old expected to return to the club on loan after impressing during the second half of last season.
The Bluebirds have been looking to strengthen at left-back, and a deal for Scanlon is now close. However, there remains work to be done before the move is completed, with the hold-up related to Liverpool, who are keen to tie Scanlon down to a new contract before allowing him to leave on loan for the season.
Deal expected before Sunday's deadline
That is understood to be the final piece of the jigsaw, with Cardiff hopeful of getting the deal over the line. Cardiff must register Scanlon before midday on Sunday if he is to be eligible for Monday evening's Championship opener against Wrexham.
The Bluebirds have been desperate for more additions following their promotion back to the second tier, and Scanlon would provide a familiar option at left-back after his previous spell in the Welsh capital.
Nyakuhwa lined up for loan move
While Cardiff are looking to bring Scanlon in, there is also movement in the other direction, with Tanatswa Nyakuhwa being lined up for a loan move. The winger, 20, enjoyed some bright moments at the beginning of last season and subsequently joined Newport County on loan, where he began to put together a decent run of form.
His progress was halted, however, when he suffered a serious hamstring injury while representing Wales Under-21s earlier this year. Nyakuhwa has now returned to full training after undergoing surgery, but Barry-Murphy believes another loan spell is the sensible next step for the youngster rather than attempting to force his way into Cardiff's first-team plans immediately.
He is set to follow Dakarai Mafico, who is also looking for a temporary move away from the club. Asked about potential outgoings, Barry-Murphy said: "Possibly. Like I said last week, I don't remember what day, but it's probably different this season because there were so many other young players that were going out on loan."
"Dakarai Mafico is looking to go on loan. Tanatswa is the same. And there's a couple that we're not quite sure about yet. Obviously Roko Simic and Kion Etete are actively looking for the right club for them. But as of today, I'm not certain they've met anything that is perfect for them yet."
On Nyakuhwa's fitness, the Cardiff boss added: "He had serious hamstring surgery, so he's back in full training. It's taken quite a while for him and he's only just back into that, so he's making good progress."
The decision gives Nyakuhwa the opportunity to build up his fitness and rediscover his form with regular first-team football, rather than spending another season primarily on the fringes of Barry-Murphy's squad.
Apter departs Cardiff
There has also been a confirmed departure from the Cardiff academy, with midfielder Matty Apter leaving the club this summer. Cardiff's Under-21s account confirmed the news on social media, saying: "U21 | Midfielder Matty Apter has departed the Club this summer. We'd like to wish Matty all the very best for his next step and thank him for his efforts."
Apter joined Cardiff from Everton a year ago but struggled to establish himself during his time with the Bluebirds and has now moved on. His departure is another part of the ongoing reshaping of Cardiff's squad and academy, with the club continuing to assess which young players are best served by loan moves and which are ready to challenge for senior opportunities.
