Cardiff City centre-half Aden Flint has been linked with a summer move to Derby County. The 32 year old is available on a free transfer. We spoke with Glen Williams, Cardiff City reporter for Wales One to find out more about the player and what he could potentially bring to The Rams.
It’s rumored that Derby are interested in signing Aden Flint. What do you make of it?
Seems like a good fit to me. Derby are a big club and would certainly be attractive to someone of Flint's experience and calibre. I've not heard anything concrete on it my end, but just looking at it through my own lens, it seems ideal to me.
Are you surprised that he is being linked with a move to League One?
Perhaps. He could definitely still play at Championship level, in my opinion, but a top-end League One club is also not a completely bonkers option. I suspect Derby, if they recruit well and the takeover goes smoothly, will be challenging to come back up next year and Flint might be tempted by that challenge.
He's been at Cardiff since 2019 and has made 86 appearances for the Bluebirds. How would you sum up his time in South Wales?
Very up and down. Went through peaks and troughs, in and out of favour under different managers, but it was all down to circumstance and style of football. He is not the silkiest footballer but he is a very astute defender, so it depends what the manager's modus operandi is, I guess.
He will always be remembered for scoring the winner against Swansea City in the South Wales derby.
From the outside looking in, Flint's always looked like an uncompromising, tough old fashioned centre-half. Is there more to his game than that?
He is a leader, too, I would say. Watching him during the pandemic, when there were no crowds in, he was the loudest voice on the pitch every game. Plus, I think he knows every swear word ever invented! But joking aside, he was a big presence in the Cardiff changing room and I suspect that would be the case at his next club, wherever that might be.
What are his strengths?
He is incredible in the air, in both boxes. His ratio of winning headers must be up there with the highest in all four divisions. He is just massive. Again, that leadership is certainly a strength, too.
What are is weaknesses?
He's not fantastic with the ball at his feet. If you are looking for a Rolls-Royce type centre-half, bringing the ball out of defence and starting attacks, he won't be that.
Derby like to play out from the back when possible, how good is Flint with his feet?
Please see above!
Derby manager Wayne Rooney likes players who are committed to the cause and give 100% in training sessions and games. Is Flint this kind of player?
Oh yes, he's your man. Wholehearted, passionate, rarely injured, a proper professional. He hates being out of the team and just wants to be playing and giving his all, Cardiff fans were certainly won over in the end by that.
Flint is 32 years old now, do you think he can be successful in League One?
Definitely. Defenders tend to peak at an older age than other positions, I would say, and Flint has a couple of good years still left in him, especially given he has been relatively injury-free. I think he would be a good bet for any League One side, or Championship for that matter.
What will it take for him to be successful in Derby (if he signs)?
He probably needs to be the main man at the back. He will need quick players around him, too, and if Derby do want to play out from the back then they will need some good footballers around him as well.