Cardiff City transfer news as Arsenal man linked and new signing expected within next 48 hours

Here are your Cardiff City transfer headlines for Friday, May 27.

Cardiff City are among a number of Championship clubs chasing the signature of Arsenal defender Daniel Ballard, according to the Evening Standard.

They claim Millwall, QPR, Burnley, Cardiff, Sheffield United and Stoke City are all interested in signing the Northern Ireland international, 22, this summer. It is reported that Ballard can leave the north London club on a permanent basis if the right offer is made in the coming weeks.

: The Darren Purse interview

Cardiff are after a centre-back, it is understood, with Aden Flint, Ciaron Brown and Sean Morrison all out of contract.

However, WalesOnline has been told there is nothing in reports linking them with the defender, who spent last season on loan at Millwall, and he is not a player they are actively pursuing as things stand.

Ballard has two years left on his deal and would likely cost any would-be suitors a decent-sized transfer fee.

Cardiff City under-23s manager Darren Purse hopes to complete his first signing of the transfer window "within 48 hours", he has told WalesOnline.

First-team manager Steve Morison said he "hoped" there would be an overhaul at under-23s level this summer to complement the mass changes expected at senior level. It is a school of thought Purse also subscribes to. He hopes that Cardiff can convince the right personnel to come in by selling the project and the pathway to the first team.

Purse confirmed he would like up to five new players before the end of the summer and even said the club are on the cusp of getting the first one over the line.

"We know it's going to be a slow process. Under-23s clubs we are pitting against, we haven't got the budget they have. We will be