Exclusive: Birmingham City plot move to sign senior Cardiff City star

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Published on:

20 Aug 2020, 6:20 am

Birmingham City are plotting a move to sign Cardiff City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge this summer, Football Insider understands.

The 30-year-old has fallen down the pecking order for the Bluebirds, and has found himself out in the cold in the Welsh capital.

A Birmingham source has told Football Insider that the Blues are considering a raid on their Championship rivals as they look to strengthen their options between the sticks.

Birmingham currently have no senior goalkeepers on their books, and are desperate to bring in reinforcements ahead of the new league season beginning next month.

For Etheridge's part, the stopper has been displaced by Alex Smithies at the Cardiff City Stadium, but is keen to be playing first team football and could seek a move this summer to make that ambition a reality.

The Philippines international made 16 Championship appearances for the Bluebirds last season, but hasn't featured in the league since New Year's Day.

Etheridge joined Cardiff on a free transfer from Walsall in 2017 and has gone on to make 102 appearances for the club.

In that time he has conceded 136 goals and kept 33 clean sheets.

The stopper was also Cardiff's number one during their brief spell in the Premier league during the 2018/19 campaign.

He played in all 38 of the club's top flight fixtures, keeping an impressive 10 clean sheets, but was unable to prevent them from suffering relegation back to the second tier.

Etheridge started his youth career with Chelsea, before completing a move to Fulham in 2006 and making his senior debut for the club five years later.

In other Birmingham City news, Newcastle United have rejected a Blues move to sign this 29-year-old.

Birmingham City

Cardiff City