The players who could earn Cardiff City the most money if sold as transfer market values revealed

With the transfer market in full swing, Cardiff City have moved swiftly to recruit three players early in the window.

Mark McGuinness, James Collins and Ryan Wintle have all been brought in ahead of the 2021/22 season, however there is a sense that there is still more to come in the coming weeks and months.

The Bluebirds announced that Joe Bennett, Sol Bamba, Junior Hoilett, Jonny Williams and Joe Day all left after their contracts expired in the summer, while Harry Wilson, Sheyi Ojo and Jordi Osei-Tutu all went back to their parent clubs after their loans, thus freeing up room for wages to be spent.

However, as we all know, all the best free agents get snapped up early on in the transfer window. The same can often be said for the best loan options.

As the summer rolls on, there will be fewer free agents available and clubs then have to starting forking out transfer fees if they are to bolster their squad.

And that is certainly what can be expected from the Bluebirds in the coming weeks. One look at the probable starting lineup against Barnsley and it highlights a number of positions which still need bolstering.

READ MORE : How Cardiff City could now line up against Barnsley

There is certainly a dearth of creativity in the squad following the departures of Wilson, Ojo, Williams and even Hoilett. More bodies need to be added to the forward line if they are to unlock defences with any potency and guile, one would think.

There is also a slight problem at left wing-back, with only Joel Bagan really suited to playing that role at the minute and he is still only 19 years of age.

Of course, more players will likely leave the club in the coming weeks, too. Some of the younger players could secure loan moves away for regular first-team football, while others might seek new challenges.

If Cardiff do look to spend money in the last throes of the window, they would have to drum up some cash before doing so, especially in these financially stringent times.

So, which players in Cardiff's squad would scoop them the most money?

Football stats website Transfermarkt has listed Cardiff's entire squad and the market value each player has.

While the market values below seem conservative at best, it is perhaps a decent barometer to shed light on who are Cardiff's most sellable assets, rather than the actual valuations the club have on the players.

Some, too, need to be updated after their stock has undoubtedly risen in recent months – see Tom Sang, for example – while it is also interesting to see how some players' valuations have fallen since their peak value. It also offers an insight into inflation and how clubs sometimes pay over the odds for players.

The market value is drawn up on a huge stats matrix, but it is probably safe to say that Cardiff wouldn't accept any of these offers should they be tabled at their actual supposed market value, not least for Kieffer Moore....

Transfermarkt's Cardiff City market values

Kieffer Moore – £4.5m | Last update: May 25, 2021. Highest market value: Now (£4.5m)

Sean Morrison – £4.5m | Last update: March 10, 2021. Highest market value: Now (£4.5m)

Curtis Nelson – £3.15m | Last update: March 10, 2021. Highest market value: Now (£3.15m)

Leandro Bacuna – £2.7m | Last update: March 10, 2021. Highest market value: Now (£2.7m)

Joe Ralls – £2.7m | Last update: March 10, 2021. Highest market value: August 13, 2018 (£4.5m)

Josh Murphy – £2.7m | Last update: March 10, 2021. Highest market value: June 13, 2019 (£9m)

Marlon Pack – £2.43m | Last update: March 10, 2021. Highest market value: June 28, 2019 (£2.7m)

Aden Flint – £2.25m | Last update: March 10, 2021. Highest market value: September 24, 2018 (£6.3m)

Alex Smithies – £1.8m | Last update: March 10, 2021. Highest market value: August 13, 2018 (£3.15m)

Will Vaulks – £1.35m | Last update: March 10, 2021. Highest market value: Now (£1.35m)

Lee Tomlin – £900,000 | Last update: March 10, 2021. Highest market value: October 14, 2015 (£3.15m)

Gavin Whyte – £900,000 | Last update: October 15, 2020. Highest market value: October 17, 2019 (£1.80m)

Perry Ng – £540,000 | Last update: March 10, 2021. Highest market value: Now (£540,000)

Mark Harris – £540,000 | Last update: May 25, 2021. Highest market value: Now (£540,000)

Dillon Phillips – £450,000 | Last update: March 10, 2021. Highest market value: February 27, 2020 (£675,000)

Rubin Colwill – £450,000 | Last update: May 25, 2021. Highest market value: Now (£450,000)

Isaac Vassell – £225,000 | Last update: March 10, 2021. Highest market value: Now (£225,000)

Ciaron Brown – £225,000 | Last update: March 10, 2021. Highest market value: Now (£225,000)

Joel Bagan – £180,000 | Last update: March 10, 2021. Highest market value: Now (£180,000)

Max Watters – £135,000 | Last update: March 10, 2021. Highest market value: Now (£135,000)

Tom Sang – £90,000 | Last update: September 11, 2020. Highest market value: Now (£90,000)

(No new signings included)