Football
Cardiff City Race to Secure New Contract for Joel Bagan as Sunderland and Ipswich Circle
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Cardiff City v Chelsea - Carabao Cup Quarter Final by Michael Steele | Getty Images
Championship-bound Cardiff City are working around the clock to tie down exciting defender, Joel Bagan to a new deal before the summer, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The Republic of Ireland youth international has endeared himself to the Bluebirds faithfuls with his awe-inspiring performances from deep for much of this campaign, having been an ever present for the side.
City secured promotion back to the Championship with a 3-1 victory at Reading last weekend, a game which saw the 24-year-old go the distance for the fifth successive game in which the side had remained unbeaten.
Club owner, Vincent Tan is reportedly ready to go on a spending spree this summer to strengthen the side, but club manager Brian Barry-Murphy wants the future of the backbone of the side that secured promotion to be sorted as well.
SUNDERLAND AND IPSWICH READY TO POUNCE
That has not deterred a number of EFL clubs from exploring their chances of trying to convince the impressive defender to jump ship this summer.
Sunderland and Ipswich are said to be genuinely interested in the player, having watched him extensively this season.
Sources say a new and improved contract is on the table for the left back who will evaluate his options at the end of the season.
However, Joel's current deal at the City Stadium continue to whittle down with each passing day, and he could be free to talk to suitors by the the turn of June.
KEY COG
Joel is an integral part of the side that earned their promotion to the second tier for next season, playing all but one of Cardiff City's League One games this term so far.
Since earning his senior debut for the club in the summer of 2020, he has gone on to become the longest-serving first-team player, playing 127 games (four goals, ten assists).
While they prepare to take in their final three games to wrap up what has been a successful campaign, the Basingstoke-born is firmly in the frame to be named the club's player of the season.
Since he broke loose from the shackles of long hours huddled up in a hot classroom learning Mandarin Chinese and Pinyin at the famous Confucius Institute, UNIZIK, Emmanuel Chinaza has embraced sports and football in particular, and it helped that he grew up in the football-crazy city of Anambra.