Cardiff City Showing Interest In 20-Year Old English Defender
Cardiff City are interested in signing Will Fish from Manchester United this summer on a permanent deal, according to The Athletic’s transfer expert David Ornstein.
Fish has spent the season on loan at Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership, where he has played 28 games in all competitions so far this season. It’s his second loan spell at the club, after also having a successful stint with them last term.
The England U19 international has made one appearance for Man United’s first team and signed a new deal in June of 2022 which is set to expire in June 2025. The club also have an option to extend this for a further year if they choose to.
Cardiff City are one of the clubs monitoring the situation of the player and have registered their interest in signing him on a permanent deal in the upcoming summer window. The report states there are other unnamed clubs also interested in the player.
Hibs sit sixth in the Scottish Premiership, six points off Kilmarnock in fourth place with two games in hand. The Manchester-born defender has been part of a defence that has kept seven clean sheets in 20 games, while also conceding just 29 goals in the league.
He also had his first taste of European football in the UEFA Conference League, appearing five times as his side faced the likes of Aston Villa and FC Luzern and currently has a current market value of £470.9k, as per Transfermarkt.
He has spent time on loan in the Football League before, making just two appearances for Stockport County in the National League in the 2021/22 campaign.
Manchester United are not expected to recall the player from his loan deal in Scotland early within this window, with Hibs likely to keep hold of him until the summer window. His future will be evaluated then, and the Bluebirds could make his decision a bit more difficult by making an official approach when the time comes.
The English giants are already looking to sign central defenders for the summer, meaning game time could become even more difficult than it already is for Fish.
Writer’s View
Fish would represent a good signing for Cardiff City, especially with his current market value being so low. Despite not featuring much for the first-team at Old Trafford, he has been an important player for a top side in the Scottish League and has proven he doesn’t look out of place playing top-flight football.
A lot can happen between now and the summer however, and Hibs won’t be too keen on allowing the defender to join another club if they have the option to sign him.
