Cardiff City Learn Seven-Figure Asking Price For Midfield Target

Cardiff City will have to cough up £3 million if they are to sign reported summer target Elliot Watt.

The midfielder has been a crucial part of Motherwell‘s success this season, with their fourth place finish in the Scottish Premiership securing them a place in the UEFA Conference League qualifying stages.

Bluebirds Face Hefty Price For Target

With Cardiff now in the Championship after finishing second in League One, well clear of the chasing pack but some distance behind runaway champions Lincoln City, Brian Barry-Murphy’s attention has now turned to recruiting new players for the step up.

Names have already been floated, with Reading stalwart Charlie Savage believed to be a reachable target after the Reading Chronicle reported that the Bluebirds were the leaders in the chase for the Welsh international.

Now, according to journalist Andy Devlin, a new midfield option has emerged in Motherwell’s Elliot Watt less than 12 months after leaving Burton Albion behind to move back to his native Scotland.

His report states that the Fir Park side are asking for £3 million for the 26-year-old, who is also courting interest from Premiership heavyweights Celtic and Rangers, with the latter’s interest stemming back to January.

Joining on a free transfer in July, Watt was a constant presence in Motherwell’s starting 11, playing and starting 34 matches in the league in which he scored six times and provided three assists.

Steelmen Collapse Could Facilitate Sale

After such a good campaign for Motherwell, everything looked bright going forward as they established themselves as competitors for the title and ultimately earned themselves a European berth.

However, the wheels may have started to come off at Fir Park, with Danish manager Jens Berthel Askou leaving for Ligue 1 outfit Toulouse, leaving the club and its stars in limbo for the coming campaign.

That uncertainty could tempt some of their star players, like Elliot Watt or Tawanda Maswanhise to jump ship and that could play into the hands of Cardiff City to sign the former.

Should Bluebirds Make Move?

However, considering the cards are in Motherwell’s hands, Cardiff should think twice before plunging in and making an offer for the former Salford City midfielder.

A £3 million asking price, combined with a favourable contract which could run until 2028 if clauses are activated, means that Brian Barry-Murphy would have to spend a significant proportion of his budget to sign the 26-year-old, who struggled in his last season in England at Burton Albion.

With a much cheaper option on the market in Charlie Savage and a high level of competition in Celtic and Rangers, the Irish manager should prioritise securing the Manchester United academy graduate.