Cardiff City must avoid losing ‘standout’ star ahead of 2025/26 amid transfer interest from Championship

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Things could go from bad to worse at Cardiff City during the summer transfer window following the club’s relegation to League One.

Cardiff City suffered relegation from the Championship last season after a disastrous campaign, which saw a handful of different head coaches in the hotseat.

Omar Riza was sacked by Cardiff in April, which led to club legend Aaron Ramsey placed in temporary charge for the final games of the season, that confirmed the Bluebirds’ drop to League One.

Ramsey has joined Mexican giants Pumas this summer, where he will continue his playing career, after his ill-fated interim spell in the Cardiff dugout.

As well as the Welshman, another key Cardiff figure could be set to depart South Wales this summer.

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Oxford United and Hull City interested in Cardiff City captain Callum O’Dowda

The summer transfer window is imperative for the Cardiff hierarchy to equip newly-appointed head coach Brian Barry-Murphy with a squad capable of instant promotion.

After relegation to the third tier, Cardiff are on the brink of a financial abyss, given the significant financial downturn suffered due to the plunge in broadcast revenues and loss of Premier League solidarity payments.

As a result, player sales could be inevitable at the Cardiff City Stadium, with interest growing in the Bluebirds skipper Callum O’Dowda.

Journalist Darren Witcoop revealed on X that Bluebirds ace O’Dowda is “attracting interest from Oxford United and Hull City” this summer.

He adds that Cardiff want to keep the Irishman, who penned a new three-year contract extension in January, tying him down until the end of the 2027/28 campaign.

Before he was sacked, head coach Riza sang the praises of Irishman O’Dowda, after the 30-year-old donned the armband for the first time.

Via Wales Online, Riza said in February: “I was honoured to give him that opportunity.

“He is a great character, well spoken, articulate, a standout performer, good with the youngsters and seniors, good with the staff, does his community stuff. He is captain material.”

If the Bluebirds are to have any hope of an instant promotion back to the second tier next season, they simply cannot afford to let their star man and skipper depart.

Yet, his admission earlier this year may quell some fears among the Cardiff fanbase amid his Championship interest.

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Cardiff City fans will be pleased with Callum O’Dowda’s admission

O’Dowda joined the Welsh outfit from Bristol City in the summer of 2022, and instantly became a pivotal member of the Bluebirds squad, before injury issues limited his Championship appearances to just 11 in the 2023/24 season.

The Irishman missed six months of that season with a groin issue before returning with an impressive cameo against Ipswich Town, in which the wideman scored an injury-time winner on home soil.

In positive news for the Bluebirds faithful, O’Dowda committed his long-term future to Cardiff in January, and his comments made after signing point towards him remaining at the club beyond this summer.

O’Dowda told Cardiff’s website: “I think everyone can tell how much I’ve loved this city and representing the club over the past two and a half years. I’m really happy to get it over the line and kick on now.

“Coming to Cardiff City, it was a time in my career that revived everything for me. I’d say the love for the game and coming to a city like this, it brought it all back for me.

“The way the Club have been, the fans, a special thanks to everyone who has gotten it over the line. I’ve really enjoyed living here with my family and friends and it’s a special place to me now.

“I can see the vision and direction of the Club, it’s up to myself to try and drive that with the boys now.”

Although the “vision” he spoke of in January did not envisage relegation from the Championship, O’Dowda now has the opportunity to play a part in the renaissance, as the Bluebirds look to return to the second tier at the first time of asking.

O’Dowda remaining at the club, amid the Championship interest in his services, will be pivotal to that.