Last week, Ramy Abou-Setta reported that Lincoln City were targeting Charlie Savage, the Reading midfielder who impressed in a fairly miserable season for the Royals.
At the time, it was reported that any fee could be around £1.5m, a big figure that would almost certainly rule out Lincoln City. Savage, son of former Leicester City manager Robbie, has also attracted interest from Cardiff City, who have been watching him for three years.
Interestingly, it is now believed that a fee of £800,000 would be enough to prize the midfielder away, which may not put him in our bracket, but does make him more affordable. He’s also eager to become part of the Wales setup, something he thought to be difficult while playing for a third-tier team.
However, it also appears that Cardiff City are ahead of the curve, not only since they’d offer better optics for a Wales call-up, but also that their interest seems firm, and not agent-led, as per Abou-Setta when speaking to Cardiff City Online.
“Though a lot of transfer speculation often comes from agents, this interest seems to be directly coming from the Cardiff side,” he said.
“His love for Wales is clear to see. He worked his way up through the youth ranks of the Wales setup and has a clear affinity to his home nation.”
“He does love the club, but I believe he would be looking for a step up at this stage of his career and another season in League One would not be that.”
That love for Wales is going to be a mitigating factor.
“It’s hard to see Charlie breaking his way back into the Wales set-up if he stays at Reading,” Abou-Setta added.
Given that Dylan Lawlor, Ronan Kapakio, and Joel Colwill were all in the last squad from March, it’s evident that Cardiff do offer a good route to the senior side, even as a League One club. Every other included player was Championship or higher, and with their promotion, the likelihood of a call-up increases.
Of course, we’re not without our own international appeal, as shown by Jack Moylan stepping into the Irish side for this weekend’s fixture against Grenada. However, if a Wales shout is fundamental to Savage’s future, then Cardiff does seem like the obvious choice.
Savage for Lincoln City
While a move for Charlie Savage borders on ‘unlikely’ and ‘not happening’, it is worth mentioning that he’s a decent player. When he first signed for Reading, I was dismissive, thinking he was one of these youngsters who had a big surname, but not the reputation.
He’s disproved that, and has Wales honours as well as more than 140 senior appearances for Reading. He’s versatile, for me a little in the Tom Bayliss mould. He can operate as a six, eight, or ten, making him supremely flexible. One of the issues he’s had at Reading is flitting between a few – he’s played on the left side of a pair of sixes, more recently operating as an attacking midfielder, close to a ten.
He managed two goals and four assists during this last League One campaign, and I recall him looking assured on the ball, clearly showing that Man Utd pedigree, which is where he spent his youth career. Still only 23, he has his best years ahead of him, and I can’t help but think £800,000 will buy a player with a ceiling well into the seven figures.
My best guess will be that it will be £800,000 of Cardiff City’s money, not ours.
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