Erol Bulut are expected to gain more defensive options following Manchester United sanctioning a permanent move for Will Fish to Cardiff City.
The Bluebirds have been in pursuit of a new centre-back this summer, with Cercle Brugge’s Jesper Daland also close to a move according to Wales Online. Mark McGuinness is expected to leave the club after Luton Town‘s offer for Mark McGuinness reached the ‘eight-figure’ fee City were looking for, subject to add-on clauses.
Norwegian youth international Daland is set to complete his medical in Cardiff and should be available for the South Wales Derby, with his new defensive partner in Fish also set to join but is unclear whether he will make the squad to face Swansea City.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the United centre-back will join Bulut’s side following a successful loan at Scottish Premiership side Hibernian. Last season was his second spell at Easter Road, making 45 appearances across all competitions for the Edinburgh side.
The Manchester-born player was picked by Erik Ten Hag to join The Red Devils’ pre-season tour of America but was stretchered off in their game against Liverpool. Fish has since recovered from that knock to complete his move to Wales.
Cardiff was one of many Championship sides in for the 21-year-old over the previous month for both temporary and permanent moves but it was Erol Bulut’s side that won out. The MEN added that it was the former Stockport County loanee’s desire to move away from Old Trafford to secure more first-team minutes.
A former England youth international, Fish made one solitary appearance in the senior Manchester United side against Wolves in 2021. The move to Cardiff will be the defender’s first taste of the EFL having played for The Hatters in their National League days.
City have opted for Calum Chambers and Dimitrios Goutas in their opening two Championship fixtures, but have found themselves trounced by Burnley and Sunderland and are at the foot of the second division. Joel Bagan is the only senior cover currently upon McGuinness’ departure, with Ryotaro Tsunoda currently sidelined until next month.
Writer’s View
After the poor defensive displays shown by Cardiff City so far, the need for additional defenders is more pressing. Mark McGuinness will likely cover the deals for Fish and Daland, offering better depth for the centre-back position. The United defender was highly regarded at Carrington, and fans will hope that he can carry that faith into his new club. Daland meanwhile has not missed a minute of league action in Belgium so far and has regularly played over 30 games a season at Cercle.
United have invested heavily in defence this summer with the big-name signings of Leny Yoro and Matthijs De Ligt. Whilst his move to Hibernian did give Fish the first-team minutes he needed, he missed out on regular chances to play for The Red Devils last season due to injuries, which helped propel the career of fellow academy player Willy Kambwala. Ten Hag’s moves in the market shut any chance of a space to play for the Old Trafford club and at his age, a move away permanently was the best choice.
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