By Gareth James
New Cardiff City signing Jesper Daland is keen to be thrown straight into the heat of a Welsh derby against Swansea City on Sunday.
The Norwegian defender expects to figure for the Bluebirds, having moved from Belgian club Cercle Brugge for a fee understood to be around £3.5m.
As Daland moved in, the player he has replaced – Mark McGuinness – has completed his drawn out departure to Luton Town for an undisclosed fee, reported to be worth up to £10m with add-ons.
Daland said: “I’ve heard a lot about what will hopefully be my first game. It’s a real derby. I can’t ask for a better game to start. I’m looking forward to the atmosphere.
“Obviously, the game is special for the fans and for everyone here. I’ll do everything I can for this club.
“I’m ready to go. I’ve played a few games already this season. I’m very excited and looking forward to the journey ahead.
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Daland, 24, began his career with IK Start in his home country of Norway, before moving to Cercle Brugge in 2021. He made over 90 appearances in the Belgian top-flight, including six in the current campaign.
Cardiff manager Erol Bulut said: “We are delighted with Jesper’s arrival.
“We tried to get him in January, but it was not possible, as his then club would not let him go. He is a great defender, but also good with the ball in the build-up. He will help us a lot.
“He can play from the left side and use both feet, which is very important for us. The fans will enjoy him. He is fit and ready.”
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Cardiff fans will hope Daland can bring some stability to their club’s unsteady start to the Championship season which has seen them lose their opening two matches and concede seven goals.
Those goals have been shipped with McGuinness left out as negotiations dragged on over his move to Luton.
The former Arsenal defender has opted to move on, believing the Hatters can offer him a step up from Cardiff as his new club seek an immediate return to the Premier League following their relegation last season.
“Cardiff was a great platform for me to go and develop but I think Luton Town is now the perfect next stage for me,” said McGuinness.
“I hope to bring that experience and the knowledge that I’ve learned for the last four or five years in professional football. I was getting those games in that environment; the winning, and even the bad times we had at Cardiff as well – we were scrapping as well, so I was getting that balance. Hopefully I can bring that to the team and be successful here.”
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Luton manager and former Wales international Rob Edwards insists he has signed a player with leadership qualities in ex-Arsenal youngster McGuinness.
“He’s a big, big player for us – and a signing which shows our intent,” Edwards said.
“He might be only 23 but he’s a leader. We see him as a big influence in the dressing room and on the pitch.
“He’s had a great upbringing, played lots of games, and is a threat in both boxes. He wants to defend but he can play, too.
“Last year it showed that we needed bodies in defence, but now, with Amari’i Bell back and Reece Burke and Mads Andersen resuming training, we’re starting to look really strong in that area.
“Mark believes we’re the right club for the next step in his career. He wants to play in the Premier League and he sees us as the opportunity to do that, so this further highlights how strong of an acquisition he is for the football club.”
Luton have also signed former Swansea City midfielder Liam Walsh on a free transfer.
Edwards added: “Liam’s a super talented footballer, with a great football brain and technically very good.
“I saw him when he was 16 playing for Everton and thought then he’d go on to be a real superstar.
“He’s not one who is going to come in and play 90 minutes straight away but he can certainly come on to the pitch, help us get control of the ball when we need it or find that killer pass.”
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