Cardiff City

Brian Barry-Murphy was satisfied with his side after they drew 2-2 at Derby.

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Calum Scanlon says he insisted Liverpool return him to an "ambitious" Cardiff City squad for a second time on loan this season.

Left-back Scanlon, 21, has returned to the Welsh capital for the whole of the 2026-27 campaign, after helping the club secure promotion to the Championship last season.

Scanlon began his second spell by going straight into the starting XI in the 1-1 draw with Wrexham.

The defender says Liverpool are supportive of his latest move and expect him to get plenty of first team action.

"It's my decision what club I go to. In those meetings [at Liverpool], we do discuss it," Scanlon said.

"Obviously, everyone knows other clubs. But for me, it was always coming back to Cardiff. That's why I'm here."

The England U20 international said Cardiff manager Brian Barry-Murphy had told him at the end of last season that he would remain in touch.

"Once I got back from pre-season with Liverpool, he started to ring me and showed me the ambitions for the season and how he thinks I can play in the team," Scanlon added.

"That's when I knew I wanted to come back. I always had it in my mind anyway from my time here last season, I enjoyed it. It was always brilliant to come back here and get started again."

As well as his Cardiff loan, Scanlon has signed a new "long term" contract with Liverpool.

He has played two competitive senior matches for the Premier League giants, having arrived at their academy set-up from Birmingham City in 2021.

"Signing that was a big moment for me again as well. It shows that the hard work that I've done has paid off," he said.

"Now that's out of the way, I still have things that I want to achieve.

"It's just a constant cycle where I've done this now, what's next? There's no stopping, so just keep improving from there."

It is 100 years since these two sides first met in a league game.

On that day in 1926, Derby won 6-3 with the first four meetings producing 27 goals between them - something similar on Saturday (15:00 BST) would certainly keep the Pride Park crowd entertained.

• Derby County have won just one of their past eight league games against Cardiff City (D2 L5), though that sole victory came in their last home fixture against the Welsh side – a 1-0 win in September 2024.

• Cardiff City have won just one of their past five away league games against Derby County (D2 L2), scoring exactly one goal in four of those matches.

• Derby are hoping to avoid losing their opening two league games of a campaign for the second consecutive season; prior to that, the Rams had only suffered that fate once since 2005-06 onwards (in 2020-21).

• Cardiff have failed to win their opening away league game of a campaign in each of the past four seasons (D2 L2), with their last in the Championship ending in a 5-0 hammering at Burnley in 2024.

• New Derby signing Alex Mowatt has netted three goals across 16 league matches against Cardiff – his joint-most against any team during his career.

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Roko Simic has completed a season-long loan switch to German side FC Magdeburg.

The forward - who is yet to make a senior appearance for Cardiff City - signed a four-year contract with the Bluebirds after joining from Red Bull Salzburg in the summer of 2024.

He was immediately loaned out to KV Kortrijk - owned by Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan - but had his time with the Belgian club cut short after being restricted to just four appearances.

The Croatia Under-21 international spent the duration of the 2025-26 campaign with German 2. Bundesliga outfit Karlsruher SC - making 28 appearances across all competitions for the club, scoring three goals.

He will now spend the upcoming campaign with FC Magdeburg, who were 14th in the German second tier last season.

A Cardiff City statement read: "We'd like to wish Roko all the best whilst on loan in Germany."

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Head coach Brian Barry-Murphy has dismissed reports linking Cardiff City with Dutch midfielder Melle Meulensteen.

Former Manchester United youth player Meulensteen plays for Eredivisie side Go Ahead Eagles.

The son of former Red Devils assistant Rene Meulensteen, the 27-year-old missed Eagles' league match with Feyenoord on Sunday, fuelling speculation that he could be set for a transfer.

However when asked about the player as a potential Cardiff signing, Barry-Murphy said: "No. We've been linked with loads of different things but it just seems a lot of them are pretty far fetched".

Barry-Murphy remains keen to strengthen in the final 13 days of the summer transfer window, but has suggested no signings are imminent.

"Of course we need to improve the squad, we are aware of that," he added.

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Brian Barry-Murphy says Jack Moylan is the right profile of player for Cardiff City at present following his impressive league bow for the club against Wrexham.

The central midfielder - who signed a four-year deal after joining from Lincoln City earlier this month - played the duration of the 1-1 draw with Phil Parkinson's side on Monday night.

And while Barry-Murphy has promoted several of the club's academy players since becoming boss in the summer of 2025, the Irishman says he has no concerns over a potential lack of Championship experience within his ranks.

"We're very pleased with our own players and we try and bring in the best players we can for this club," said Barry-Murphy.

"We brought Jack Moylan in, who has zero Championship experience.

"But he's the right player for us at our club at this time and we'll continue to try and do the best thing for the club and the supporters."

Dylan Lawlor, Will Fish and Calum Chambers were among those to miss the draw with Wrexham through injury.

Barry-Murphy also revealed he had not wanted to bring goal scorer Rubin Colwill off the bench as early as he did given the Wales international's struggles with an ankle injury during pre-season.

And while the 48-year-old is eager to further bolster his ranks prior to the 23:00 BST transfer deadline on Tuesday, 1 September, the Cardiff boss is not in a rush to get deals over the line.

"It's obvious we're looking to add to the squad," he said.

"We are quite stretched at the moment in that position because the players are from the same area of the team. Dylan, Will, Calum Chambers.

"That doesn't change our strategy, but it means we probably looked more stretched than we probably are."

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Former Cardiff City defender and youth coach Darren Purse says he will look back on his time with the club with the "fondest of memories" after leaving the Bluebirds this summer.

Purse left his position as manager of Cardiff's U21s to take charge of Irish outfit Sligo Rovers in June.

"Firstly, I'd like to thank everyone at Cardiff City Football Club for giving me the opportunity to represent the football club, firstly as captain and then as U21s manager," he wrote.

"It's been a hugely successful few years, and I'm incredibly grateful for the experiences, memories and friendships I've made along the way.

"It's been a real privilege to play a part in the club and to work with such an amazing academy."

Purse spent four years as a player at Cardiff between 2005 and 2009, making 123 appearances, and returned as an academy coach in December 2021.

He was pivotal in the development of current first team players including Dylan Lawlor, Rubin and Joel Colwill, Isaak Davies and Ronan Kpakio.

"I hope the club continues to benefit from the fantastic work being done within the academy, and I wish everyone at Cardiff City nothing but continued success," added Purse.

"I'll always look back on my time at the club with the fondest of memories."