Cardiff City chairman Mehmet Dalman has opened up on what the summer transfer window will look like as the club prepares for life in League One. The Bluebirds will significantly trim their squad, but Dalman has been encouraged by senior players expressing their desire to stay and fight for promotion.
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00:00Cardiff City Chairman Mehmet Dalman has opened up on what the summer transfer window will look like as the club prepares for life in League One.
00:09The Bluebirds will significantly trim their squad, but Dalman has been encouraged by senior players expressing their desire to stay and fight for promotion.
00:20Cardiff faced their first third-tier campaign in over 20 years and Dalman is under no illusions about the importance of getting recruitment right.
00:29A new manager is still needed before transfer activity kicks into gear, but Dalman stressed that the current squad is too large.
00:37We have 33 players on our books, that's quite a lot, he said. We need to cut that down to around 25 or 26.
00:44Out of eight, we have out of contract this summer. We may still talk to a few, then we'll likely need to bring in three or four players.
00:53Captain Joe Rawls is among those whose deals are expiring. Despite missing the appearance target for automatic extension, he played the final two matches carrying an injury in an effort to help the team.
01:06Dalman believes Rawls could have a key role next season on and off the pitch.
01:10Talks are also expected with Andy Rinomota, who enjoyed his best season in a Cardiff shirt and was voted Player's Player of the Year.
01:20Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounding Aaron Ramsey's future with his contract also ending soon and League One football seemingly unlikely for the Wales captain.
01:29It's not the season that we imagined and it's going to take a little bit of time to get over that.
01:37But what I can say is that the players and the way they've trained this week has been superb and their attitude and their commitment has been second to none.
01:46So from what I've seen in that training session, it doesn't look like a team that's just been relegated.
01:51Dalman is optimistic most key players will stay and believes the club won't need to sell.
01:58He acknowledged the need to recruit League One experience and emphasised that any new manager must have a clear plan to develop young talents like Isaac Davis,
02:08Reuben Colwell and Joel Colwell to help Cardiff make their championship return.