Cardiff City have continued their summer recruitment with a fee agreed for Manchester City’s Alex Robertson.
The Bluebirds have agreed a fee of £1 million for the talented midfielder, who spent time on loan last season with Championship new boys Portsmouth. Erol Bulut has already strengthened his Cardiff City squad ahead of the new season, making four signings, including former Arsenal defender Calum Chambers.
With four signings made before the Robertson deal was agreed, the Australian international would become the club’s fifth signing this summer as he undergoes a medical today to complete the deal.
Cardiff City agree Robertson deal.
Bulut’s side have agreed a fee of £1 million for the talented Scottish-born midfielder, whose season on loan at Fratton Park was struck by injury after 23 appearances with Portsmouth’s League One winning side. Despite an impressive spell with Pompey, it appears it still had not been enough to earn a place with Manchester City as he entered the final year of his contract with the Premier League champions.
That fee of £1 million also contains a significant sell-on clause for the Premier League side, and according to BBC Sport, that fee could rise to as much as £3 million with add-ons.
They saw off competition from other Championship clubs to secure the signing of the 21-year-old, with Hull City and Portsmouth, who had been credited with an interest in a return for the midfielder.
New Cardiff City man’s place at the Etihad.
The midfielder did not have much of a place at a senior level with Manchester City, yet to appear with Pep Guardiola’s first team. However, at 21 years old, that does not come as much of a surprise, especially when you look at the talent the Premier League champions possess in their senior squad.
Born to an Australian father and a Peruvian mother, he was raised in Scotland and England, making him eligible to feature for all four nations. Robertson chose Australia, earning two caps after representing England at multiple youth levels.
While he has not featured for City at a senior level, he has over 50 appearances for the club at two youth levels, scoring 20 goals and assisting eight.
How does Robertson fit into Cardiff City’s squad?
Robertson appears to be a player who would fit straight into Cardiff City’s squad as a regular first-team player, especially when you consider the fee that the Bluebirds have forked out for him. With Manchester City agreeing to sell but inserting a sell-on clause into the deal, he is clearly a player that they value to continue a rise in football.
Bringing a wealth of youth experience, as well as experience training with a top-six Premier League club, he is a player who can help Cardiff as they look to push on in the Championship after a disappointing campaign last season. Joining players such as Chris Willock in the Welsh capital, he appears to be part of a squad rebuild targeted towards a push up the table in the second tier.
Making 23 appearances, which saw him net once, earned Robertson plenty of attention last campaign before his injury, and clearly, plenty felt the Australian international was ready for a step up the English football pyramid. If he can stay fit, he will be one to watch in the Championship and his development along the way if his time in League One is anything to go by.