Shock transfer move for top Cardiff City star revealed as board forced to make call

It came before the club made a major announcement

Cardiff City's relegation rivals Hull City looked at signing Callum O'Dowda in the January transfer window, according to reports.

O'Dowda has been one of the most consistent players for the Bluebirds during a tricky three years since his arrival on a free transfer after leaving Bristol City.

The winger has played wide on the left and as both a wing-back and a full-back and has become a shoo-in in any of those positions on the left-hand side - so much so, in fact, that Omer Riza recently sang his praises after giving him the captaincy in the absence of Joe Ralls, Aaron Ramsey and Jak Alnwick.

According to our sister title, Hull Live, the Tigers were keen on signing the Republic of Ireland international on a permanent deal in the mid-season window, with the player then having just months left on his deal. Their report adds that the Bluebirds board said they would refuse any sale to a rival.

Before the end of that window, O'Dowda then committed his future to the club, penning a three-year extension which will now see his stint in the Welsh capital continue until 2028. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.

The 29-year-old said after signing new terms: "I'm delighted. I think everyone can tell how much I've loved this city and representing the club over the past two and a half years. I'm really happy to get it over the line and kick on now.

"Coming to Cardiff City, it was a time in my career that revived everything for me. I'd say the love for the game and coming to a city like this, it brought it all back for me."

Hull, meanwhile, were forced back to the drawing board. They had signed former Cardiff wing-back Ryan Giles for £4m last summer but were still light on options on the left-hand side of defence.

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Southampton's Charlie Taylor was another player on their radar, but a move for him also fell through and Ruben Selles was forced to continue with what he already had at his disposal after two failed attempts at addressing the problem.

The Tigers sit in 19th, two spots above Cardiff and two points ahead, too.