Cardiff City Closing In On 28 Y/O English Goalkeeper: Right Choice For The Bluebirds' Squad?
Cardiff City are inching closer towards sealing a deal for Queens Park Rangers goalie Alex Smithies this summer. According to recent reports, the Bluebirds are interested in securing the signature of the QPR shot-stopper during the summer transfer period. It is believed that Neil Warnock's side have agreed on a £4m to bring the Championship keeper to the Cardiff City Stadium.
Some sources have recently claimed that the Welsh club were looking to recruit a fresh face who can compete with their number one goalie, Neil Etheridge for a place in Warnock's first-team ahead of the new campaign and Smithies fits the bill perfectly. The 28-year-old talent has put in some eye-catching displays for QPR since arriving from Huddersfield Town in the summer of 2015.
His talents have not gone unnoticed by other clubs and now, it seems like Cardiff has won the race to land the player in this post-season. Smithies had made 44 appearances for the Hoops last season, conceding 65 goals while earning 7 clean sheets in all competitions. He is exactly the kind of player who will improve the Bluebirds squad and help them cope with the physicality and high intensity of the English top-flight.
The English goalie will become Warnock's third signing of the summer after the Welsh club already confirmed the signings of Greg Cunningham from Preston North End and Josh Murphy from Norwich City earlier this summer.
Warnock's team managed to claim a second-place finish in the Skybet Championship last term but they need to recruit wisely in this off-season so that they are well-equipped to challenge in the top tier of English football in the upcoming campaign.
The potential acquisition of Smithies will undoubtedly bolster Warnock's goalkeeping options at the Cardiff City Stadium. The Bluebirds already have the likes of Neil Etheridge and Brian Murphy in their ranks. The addition of Smithies will improve their team significantly and add more competition for places within the Cardiff squad.
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At 28, the English keeper still has his peak years ahead of him which the Welsh outfit could look to benefit from, in the coming years. It remains to be seen what lies ahead in the future of Smithies and whether he ends up plying his trade at Wales before the start of the new season.
Alex Smithies
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