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Glen Williams

Cardiff City transfer news as Chris Coleman gives verdict on Gareth Bale to Bluebirds and update given on Bristol City star

Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Sunday, May 15.

Coleman's view on Bale to Cardiff

Gareth Bale's former Wales manager Chris Coleman has poured doubt over the superstar's potential move to Cardiff City, claiming the Real Madrid forward is still "levels above" the Championship.

Bale will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, but quite where he ends up next is still very much up in the air. Cardiff are now the bookmakers' favourites and are odds-on to be his next club, however his former club Tottenham as well as DC United in America and Newcastle United continue to be fancied, too.

The Bluebirds say they will be 'willing listeners' if Bale does decide to come home, although clearly any move would need to be pre-empted by the Wales captain given the much smaller salary that would be on offer. But switch to Cardiff might just appeal to him at this stage of his career and he is understood to be weighing up the option.

READ MORE : Gareth Bale pins hopes on dramatic Champions League finale as he weighs up Cardiff move

However, Coleman, who managed Bale for Wales between 2012-2017, thinks the 32-year-old is still able to compete at a higher level than the Championship.

“He’s a Cardiff boy and no disrespect to Cardiff but they’re in the Championship and I think he’s levels above that,” he told the i. “But it’ll be up to Gareth, once he makes his mind up on something he won’t worry what anyone else says about it.”

Also on Bale, Coleman had some pretty strong views about the Spanish media labelling the player a "parasite" recently.

“He’s such a superstar and has been for 10 years, four Champions Leagues, 15 trophies with Real, the most decorated British player overseas. He’s such a strong character because he’s his own man,” he continued.

“He doesn’t do things because he thinks they’re going for cause and effect. He doesn’t do things to keep people happy, he’s his own man and an excellent professional, a family man who loves his football and would do anything for Wales. He was a pleasure to be around.

“Strong, strong character – people say things about him around Real Madrid and I’ve never seen anything like that in him and I’ve spent a lot of time around him.

“It’s unbelievable what is thrown at him. If you’re going to give me a parasite that gets me four Champions Leagues…. He’s not a parasite. Four Champions Leagues – they would have paid double that.”

Bluebirds stance on Wells

Striker Nahki Wells is not a player currently on Cardiff's transfer radar, WalesOnline has learned.

Wells was certainly subject of interest in January, of course. Indeed, the player even admitted shortly after the winter window closed just how close he was to sealing a late loan move to the Welsh capital before Bristol City blocked a transfer.

Our sister title Bristol Live report that the Bermuda international is free to leave the Robins this summer, but claim the club want to recoup at least some money for him, given he has a year left on his deal at Ashton Gate. Reports elsewhere have suggested that Bristol City are ready to cut their losses entirely on the striker, who is believed to be on exorbitant wages, and allow him to leave for free.

Cardiff boss Steve Morison has spoken about replacing some of the lost experience we are bound to see when the retained list is released and someone with Wells' record might pique City's interest.

However, we have been told the 31-year-old is not a consideration for Cardiff this summer as things stand.

Keeper target stars in final game for club

St Mirren goalkeeper Jak Alnwick has starred in the goalless draw with Aberdeen in what is understood to be his final game for the Scottish club.

Alnwick has been a target for Cardiff for some time now, with the Bluebirds looking to replace Alex Smithies, and potentially youngster George Ratcliffe, upon the expiration of the goalkeeper's contract.

And it appears as though the former Newcastle United and Rangers shot stopper is edging closer to a move to Cardiff, we understand. The 28-year-old Englishman is out of contract at the Scottish Premiership club.

On Sunday, Alnwick was between the sticks against Aberdeen and kept his fourth successive clean sheet for St Mirren, no mean feat indeed. He was awarded the man of the match gong, posting the highest score (8.3/10) of anyone on football metrics site WhoScored.

If it is his final game in St Mirren colours, after two years at the club, it's not a bad way to bow out.

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