Harris leads race for Wales striker
CARDIFF City are confident of winning the race for Wales striker Kieffer Moore. A host of Cardiff’s Championship rivals want to sign the 27-year-old frontman, whose career has blossomed since shining for Wales.
Stoke City, Middlesbrough, Derby, Preston, QPR and Millwall are other clubs ready to make a move for Moore, who bagged 10 goals and also had a number of assists despite Wigan’s relegation to League One.
But it seems Moore has set his sights on moving to Cardiff City Stadium, which has become like a second home to him after some excellent displays at international level next to the likes of Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey.
Moore knows a move to Cardiff, where he will be under the spotlight of Welsh fans and the Welsh media, will enhance his prospects of continuing to play for Wales and shining under Ryan Giggs at next summer’s Euros.
Bluebirds boss Neil Harris has made Moore his top summer target and is keen to build his team around him, feeling the bustling 6ft 5in centre-forward can become the focal point of the side and provide the goal threat that was often missing this season.
Moore and Robert Glatzel offer credible options for a Cardiff team keen to push for automatic promotion next season, although where that would leave the futures of Danny Ward and Callum Paterson remains to be seen.
It seems Harris can get his man for around £2.5m, with Wigan desperate for money. Millwall have supposedly had a similar bid for Moore accepted by the Latics hierarchy.
However, Moore has kept his options open and is said to prefer a move to the Welsh capital.
Moore earned a £3m move to Wigan last summer after bagging 21 goals in 51 games for Barnsley.
His career prior to that was somewhat low key, often in non-league, but he has begun to flourish at the highest level.
With Wales, Moore has proved a reliable targetman who can win headers, hold up the ball, link play and score goals.
Harris feels those are qualities Moore can bring to his Cardiff team.
Moore scored key Euro 2020 qualifying goals for Wales against Slovakia and Azerbaijan and his introduction to the team coincided with a dramatic change in fortunes for Giggs’ side.
They had previously struggled without a recognised centre-forward in defeats to Hungary and Croatia. Giggs then discovered Welsh ancestry for a player who comes from Torquay and Wales suddenly embarked on a run of six games without defeat.
Harris is keen to bring in key players who he feels can turn the Bluebirds into a promotion force next season.