Nahki Wells: Everything Nigel Pearson & Steve Morison have said about Cardiff transfer links

Bristol City striker Nahki Wells is a reported target for both Cardiff City and Swansea City on Deadline Day.

News came about on Saturday that the two Welsh clubs were reportedly interested in taking City’s wantaway striker on loan.

The Bermuda international hasn’t been a key part of Nigel Pearson’s plans with the likes of Andi Weimann, Antoine Semenyo and Chris Martin preferred.

The 33-year-old was an unused substitute in the draw with Preston North End on Saturday with the forward now without a Championship start since November.

Despite his lack of action, the fact he was named on the bench was evidence that a move wasn’t in such a position that he wasn’t included in the squad.

What has Bristol City manager Nigel Pearson said?

Saturday’s post match presser was the last time that Pearson could be questioned about anything to do with transfers.

After witnessing his side concede a late equaliser to Preston North End, the City boss was posed a question on whether the links of Wells were true.

Nigel Pearson responded with: "Maybe there is but why would we help them?

"I’ve got no intention of helping anybody, players who are contracted to us will remain contracted to us until we decide that is no longer the case, so you can speculate all you want."

What has Cardiff City manager Steve Morison said?

It wasn’t until the next day that questions were able to be asked to Cardiff’s manager as they played Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

They won 2-1 and their new signing Jordan Hugill played and scored just hours after his signing was announced.

His arrival perhaps made Wells’ transfer to Cardiff a little less likely given they were getting well stocked in that area.

They had also been looking at Middlesbrough striker Uche Ikpeazu though that was quickly ruled out on Friday.

Asked about the links to the likes of Wells, Steve Morison said: "It’s not like the other day where I’ve done three offers and I’m going to get a phone call after.

"We have spoken to loads of people. But that whole process where we were trying to get Jordan and Alfie, someone must be giving this information to someone. "Yes, we have enquired about lots of people, but I’ve got the one I wanted.

"I enquired for him, I couldn’t have him, so then I enquired about Uche Ikpeazu for example. By the time I got back inside there was a thing being released that we were about to sign Uche!

"There are loads of irons in the fire if I need to react to anything. But as of now, no."

The verdict

From Pearson’s comments there seems to be an interest in the player from Cardiff but they aren’t looking to help out their Championship rivals unless it’s beneficial to them.

It’s the same approach that he has taken with Kasey Palmer with a similar answer yielded when there was reported interest in him.

Whilst the club have had record losses of just under £40m, there isn’t the need for a firesale just right now.

In the case of Palmer, an exchange had been looked at and if a deal were to take place maybe City may be interested in taking a Cardiff player in exchange.

From Cardiff’s approach, it looked like they were scouring the Championship and Premier League for available strikers and working their way down a list of targets.

Morison’s comments were said before news came to light of Kieffer Moore’s reported sale to Championship rivals AFC Bournemouth.

The key line is Morison saying that there are a few irons in the fire if they need to react and Wells could be one of the reactive signings given Moore’s impending sale.

Cardiff aren’t in a position to exchange a transfer fee so they would have to negotiate a deal for Wells that would satisfy City.

Given they know the Welsh side will receive a fee for one of their players then City are in a good position to demand all of Wells’ wages are paid if they do want to strike a deal.

As well as interest in Wells, there has also been an offer knocked back by Preston North End for Sean Maguire according to freelance journalist Pete O’Rourke.