Newcastle United have joined Premier League newcomers Norwich City in a battle to sign £7 million-rated Cardiff midfielder Will Vaulks, as reported by Wales Online.
With Cardiff’s play-off hopes going up in smoke, is one of the Championship’s most influential midfielders destined to depart during the summer transfer window?
Well, that hangs in the balance.
Bluebirds boss Mick McCarthy recently suggested Cardiff may be forced to sell before they can buy but you would imagine keeping hold of Vaulks would be one of their top priorities.
Doing so, however, may be easier said than done.
Wales Online reports Newcastle have expressed an interest in the £7 million former Rotherham United star. As have newly crowned Championship champions Norwich.
Any hopes Sheffield United may have had of luring Vaulks to Bramall Lane, however, surely took a hit when the Blades were relegated from the Premier League a fortnight ago.
A versatile 27-year-old with a prodigiously long throw and a thunderbolt shot in his locker, Vaulks has scored nine times in two seasons with Cardiff. That includes a genuine goal of the season contender against Brentford in December, channelling his inner-David Beckham to find the net from all of 60 yards.
“I think he’s brilliant,” McCarthy told Wales Online after the Wales international powered home another stunner in the recent 4-0 thrashing of Derby County.
“He doesn’t half put a shift in.”
After another underwhelming campaign at St James’ Park, the prospect of Newcastle signing a 27-year-old who has never played above Championship level is unlikely to get the pulses racing.
But Vaulks has made a career out of proving people wrong.
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