Burnley could be dealt a blow after signing ex-Leicester City star Jamie Vardy, with another courted free agent likely heading elsewhere in the Championship as Cardiff City look to sign Rabbi Matondo.

Following their relegation from the Premier League, the Clarets have had a terrible start to the 2026/27 season, with newly recruited manager Nicky Heyen having three draws, three loses, and no triumphs in his first six league games in charge.

It’s the same thing at Cardiff City, who are the only other winless Championship team at the moment and might now deliver Burnley another hit by joining the hunt for Matondo’s signature as a potential out-of-window signing.

Cardiff City joins Burnley in the Rabbi Matondo transfer chase.

Burnley has seen the free agency market as an opportunity to offset their early second-tier troubles, having already made headlines with the surprise signing of famous striker Vardy over the weekend.

Pete O’Rourke of X reported earlier this week that the Clarets were interested in Matondo, and the article also mentioned competition from two Belgian top-flight clubs, Cercle Brugge and Zulte Waregem.

However, it has now emerged that they face a fresh threat in the form of Matondo joining a Championship rival after O’Rourke claimed on Wednesday evening that Cardiff are strongly interested in signing the 15-cap Welsh international following his departure from Norwegian side Brann last month.

According to O’Rourke’s latest update, Cardiff head coach Brian Barry-Murphy is a “big fan” of the pacey winger, who came through the Bluebirds’ youth system before joining Manchester City as a teenager without making a senior appearance for either club, and could look to bring him back to South Wales after a difficult couple of years.

Sheffield United may have signed Rabbi Matondo rather than Cardiff City or Burnley.

Matondo seems poised to return to the Championship after spending time on loan with Stoke City in the second part of the 2020/21 season, and his signing has sparked interest from a number of clubs.

Back in the summer, the ex-Rangers starlet went on trial at Sheffield United in an attempt to find a new club, appearing in three of the Blades’ pre-season games, but Chris Wilder eventually confirmed his side’s decision to move on from the possibility of securing a deal.

That left Matondo in the lurch, having made only three appearances in Norway after leaving Rangers by mutual consent in March of this year, but he could soon find a landing spot in the second tier, and Cardiff appear to be making the biggest push to complete a move for the wide-man.

Rabbi Matondo’s career statistics, courtesy FotMob.

Season

Club

Division

Appearances

Goals

Assists

2018/19

Schalke 04

Bundesliga

8 0 0 2019/20

Schalke 04

Bundesliga: 21–2–0, 2020/21.

Schalke 04, Stoke City (Loan)

Bundesliga, Championship

14

1 0 2021/22

Cercle Brugge (on loan)

First Division A

27

Rangers won the Scottish Premiership 10 times in 2022/23, 28 times in 2023/24, 31 times in 2024/25, and Hannover 96 once on loan.

Scottish Premiership, 2.Bundesliga: 18 – 3 – 2025/26.

Ranger, Brann

Scottish Premiership; Eliteserien

6

0 0

Matondo will be eager to find a permanent home and rehabilitate his career, which has struggled to get off the ground in recent seasons due to a slew of debilitating injuries.

Cardiff City would gain from defeating Burnley in the Rabbi Matondo move.

It’s all new interest, but Cardiff fans have long urged the Bluebirds to eventually return Matondo to South Wales, believing that the Tremorfa native has unfinished business in these parts, and with his career at a crossroads, now may be the time to finally make this homecoming a reality for all parties.

Cardiff’s summer activity and failure to sign more than two players who hadn’t been with the club in League One last season with only Krystian Bielik and Jack Moylan was a cause of severe irritation for City fans, who were forced to suck their wounds as the window closed without the Bluebirds adding fresh skill and vitality in the wide areas.

Matondo, of course, would offer just that, with his explosive speed capable of adding a new dimension to a Cardiff attack that has often been somewhat dull and lacking in depth since returning to the second-tier at the first time of asking and losing ex-Chelsea loan star Omar Kellyman

The former Manchester City prospect has struggled with fitness and consistency throughout his career, but he remains a thrilling talent at full speed and might be a wise free addition if Cardiff can fend off any final danger from Burnley and sign him outside of the transfer window.