Cardiff City’s Championship rivals Reading and Bolton are leading the race to sign Joe Mason – with a £1.5m deal a possibility.
Mason, 23, impressed at Cardiff City Stadium after being snapped up from Plymouth in 2011, scoring in the League Cup final as part of an eye-catching debut season.
But he struggled top force his way into starting contention after the club’s promotion to the Premier League and his future at the Bluebirds has been in question under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
With the Norwegian having brought in Adam le Fondre, Federico Macheda and Javi Guerra to bolster a frontline already containing Kenwyne Jones, Jo Inge Berget, the returning Nicky Maynard and Leicester and Palace target Fraizer Campbell, Mason’s chances seem limited and it has alerted other clubs.
And it is thought Reading – who sold le Fondre to Cardiff at the start of last month – and Bolton, where Mason spent a successful time on loan last season, are interested in snapping up the Republic of Ireland international who is valued at £1.5m.
Mason scored six times on loan at the Reebok Stadium with his game time in South Wales restricted to just cup outings – including one FA Cup appearance against the Trotters.
The intelligent forward grabbed 18 goals in 78 outings for Cardiff, 41 of which were starts.
Could live with this
