Double Cardiff City transfer exit fear involving Wrexham AFC played down | OneFootball

Football League World's resident Cardiff City fan pundit discussed Wrexham's reported interest in Isaak Davies and Ollie Tanner

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Cardiff City are going to face an inevitable battle to retain some of their prized assets after dropping into League One at the end of the 2024/25 Championship campaign.

The Bluebirds, who are estimated to have had the division's seventh-highest wage bill last season despite finishing bottom of the league, will be braced for the natural, and exponential, decrease in revenue which invariably accompanies relegation.

Cardiff chairman Mehmet Dalman broke his post-relegation silence this week to reveal that the club will not be forced to sell players, and that many "core members" of the squad are indeed eager to stick around in English football's third tier, but it would be amiss to ignore the handful of individuals who impressed in what was a historically-abysmal campaign and could duly earn moves elsewhere at the right price.

Yousef Salech and Alex Robertson are perhaps the two most likely assets to gain admirers elsewhere in the coming weeks and months, while top scorer Callum Robinson has been linked with a move to Championship newcomers Wrexham, who traded divisions with Cardiff by gaining a third successive promotion under Phil Parkinson.

The Red Dragons, as one would suspect, are looking to punch above their weight and make a real splash following promotion to the second-tier. FLW has exclusively revealed the club's interest in Davis Keillor-Dunn and Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien, whereas separate reports have claimed that a stunning £50,000 weekly contract has been offered to Fulham stalwart Tom Cairney, and, according to reporter Graeme Bailey - speaking to Wrexham Insider - Bluebirds duo Isaak Davies and Ollie Tanner are both on the radar.

The attacking pair have been tipped by supporters for significant impacts in League One next term, having endured mixed fortunes at Championship level.

Davies, who has been plagued by injuries in two of the past three seasons in between a productive 12-goal haul on loan with sister club Kortrijk, then of the Belgian top-flight in 2022/23, returned two strikes from nine league matches last time out.

Tanner, meanwhile, has been a frequent fixture in Cardiff's first-team over the last two campaigns, registering four goals and four assists from 75 Championship appearances.

The winger, much like Davies, will be looking to bolster those numbers in League One next season but seemingly has interest elsewhere - although the likelihood of either of the two heading up to North Wales has been played down.

Potential Cardiff City transfer fear involving Wrexham AFC's Isaak Davies, Ollie Tanner interest played down

FLW asked our resident Bluebirds fan pundit, Matt Hall, whether he could see either Tanner or Davies, or both, joining the Red Dragons this summer.

Matt, however, does not believe Tanner will move to Wrexham owing to Phil Parkinson's 3-5-1-1 set-up, which does not accommodate a natural touchline winger like the 23-year-old, while he is skeptical about whether Davies has merited second-tier interest because of his injury record, even if the speedy forward's ability remains in little doubt.

"I've not seen those links personally, but I couldn't see it happening for different reasons," Matt told FLW.

"Ollie Tanner, for me, doesn't quite fit the way they would like to play. He's quite dynamic, he's quick, but he's very much a touchline winger.

"I can't really see him being someone that would be used as an out-and-out striker or an inside forward if they did move to a 3-4-3. Potentially as a wing-back, but I don't think they would have to spend several millions on him and I just don't see that being done for someone who isn't necessarily fitting as a round peg in a round hole.

"In regards to Isaak Davies, I feel like that would be much more likely. In terms of how much a fee would be, we had £2.5 million [offered] by Burnley a few years ago.

"I would probably assume it would be a similar ballpark given his injury issues and he's only got a year left [on his contract]. Given the fact that he's obviously Welsh and is quite pacey - they need some dynamism on the frontline - I could see that one happening more than Ollie Tanner.

"But even then, I don't see that happening either. I don't think he's done enough just yet to get that move to the Championship.

"He's someone who will definitely be Championship quality, but I think we might have been saved by the fact that he's so injury-prone.

"I think if Wrexham were to sign a striker from Cardiff City, I reckon it would be Callum Robinson and not Davies.

"I think he fits the mantra of what they want in terms of having someone who has a bit of pedigree in the Championship, is a bit more experienced and is a bit more of a name."

It could be hard to see Isaak Davies and Ollie Tanner leaving Cardiff City this summer

Cardiff have a number of players who will likely have external suitors.

As aforementioned, both Salech and Robertson will surely be in demand, while Robinson has already attracted reported interest from Wrexham and will only be expected to have more admirers as the summer heads underway and the likes of Cian Ashford, Callum Chambers and perhaps Callum O'Dowda could be courted, too.

There is a school of thought, however, that both Davies and Tanner may have to accumulate a stronger body of work to prompt serious interest.

Davies, who is under contract until next summer after the club triggered a one-year extension option in his contract, was primed to lead the line for Cardiff in 24/25 before a serious hamstring injury suffered in pre-season threw his campaign up in the air, though he is a talent and, with a clean bill of health, perhaps would not even still be in the Welsh capital.

He will be looking to put his injury woes behind him and enjoy a full season, and one of regular goals, next time around.

Tanner, meanwhile, does have stronger and more consistent Championship experience, but his own inconsistent performance levels have been the topic of much discourse among supporters, even if the tricky wide-man's eye for the spectacular and ability to turn it on in big games - namely on Derby Day against Swansea and Bristol City.

Both can have leading roles in League One, but, for the time being at least, neither appear to represent the players who Cardiff will seriously fear summer exits back to the Championship for.