‘Nothing At All’ – Irish Manager Addresses Glasgow Rangers Transfer Rumour

Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry Murphy has dismissed talk of a move for Bailey Rice while acknowledging that serious interest is building around his own emerging talent as the January window approaches.

Reports in Scotland suggested the Bluebirds were weighing up a move for the 19-year-old Rangers midfielder, with West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa and Sunderland also said to be monitoring his progress. Barry Murphy was quick to reject the suggestion, insisting there is no substance to the rumour.

Asked directly whether Rice was a realistic target, he replied: “No, nothing at all.”

The picture is more complex when it comes to interest in Cardiff’s academy graduates. Premier League scouts have been tracking teenage defender Dylan Lawlor, while fellow youngster Ronan Kpakio is also understood to be on several shortlists ahead of the winter window.

Barry Murphy admitted it would be unrealistic to assume that larger clubs will not enquire, particularly given the steps Cardiff have taken to reposition the academy at the heart of the club’s strategy over the past year.

“It would be naïve to think there wouldn’t be clubs watching those young players and being interested in what happens,” he said.

Senior Minutes: The Key

The Bluebirds boss has spoken repeatedly about the need to create a clear pathway from academy football to the first team. He believes that offering minutes at senior level remains the club’s most persuasive argument when more powerful sides come calling.

“I’ve been at clubs where I’ve been on the other side of this, where the big clubs come and take those players because they can offer them a lot more, especially in the current climate,” he said. “But if we can show those players that we can give them regular opportunities, then it carries a lot of power in a situation that can be quite complex for young players.”

Despite the expectation of interest, Barry Murphy reaffirmed that Cardiff are under no pressure to sell in January. The club’s stance around protecting their best young assets remains unchanged, and he made it clear he hopes to keep the group intact as they push into the second half of the campaign.

“Yeah, we don’t have to sell any players,” he stressed. “That’s not changed, and from my point of view I hope they all stay.”