Cardiff City are closing in on the signing of midfielder Jack Moylan from fellow Championship side Lincoln City, according to reports.
The 24-year-old enjoyed a standout campaign last season as Lincoln clinched promotion to the Championship, pipping Cardiff themselves to the League One title in the process. Moylan was instrumental in the Imps' success, contributing 11 goals and six assists across the campaign.
His performances did not go unnoticed on the international stage either. Moylan earned his first call-up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad and marked his debut in remarkable fashion, netting a hat-trick as Ireland thrashed Grenada 5-0.
Before his move to England, Moylan came through the ranks in League of Ireland football, having previously played for both Bohemians and Shelbourne. At Cardiff, he is set to reunite with a fellow Irishman in manager Brian Barry-Murphy, who will oversee his transition into life at the Welsh club.
Should the deal be finalised, Moylan would become Cardiff's second signing of the summer transfer window, following the permanent arrival of goalkeeper Nathan Trott back in May. The club will be hoping the midfielder can add creativity and goal threat to their ranks as they look to build on a promising pre-season.
Cardiff have already shown encouraging form ahead of the new campaign, most notably producing an impressive 4-1 victory over Italian side Roma in a recent friendly. That result will have given Barry-Murphy's squad plenty of confidence as they turn their attention to competitive fixtures.
The Bluebirds' first test of the season comes in the EFL Cup, where they are due to host Swindon Town in the first round on Saturday, 8 August, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 BST.
Their Championship campaign will then get underway just over a week later, with a mouth-watering derby clash against Welsh rivals Wrexham at Cardiff City Stadium on Monday, 17 August. That fixture is set to kick off at 20:00 BST and will provide an early indication of how the two Welsh sides shape up as they embark on life in the second tier together.
Moylan's arrival, if confirmed, would add another dimension to a Cardiff squad already bolstered by the addition of Trott in goal. His experience of winning promotion last season, combined with his current international pedigree, could prove valuable as the Bluebirds aim to establish themselves in the Championship.
For Lincoln, losing a player of Moylan's quality would represent a significant blow just as they prepare for life back in the second tier of English football after their own promotion. However, such transfers between promoted and relegated clubs, or those competing in the same division, are not uncommon during the transfer window as squads are reshaped for the challenges ahead.
Cardiff supporters will now be eager to see whether the club can complete the signing in the coming days, giving Barry-Murphy further time to integrate Moylan into his plans before the season begins in earnest. With pre-season form encouraging and two big fixtures on the horizon, the timing of a potential deal appears well suited to the Bluebirds' preparations.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.