Exclusive: Callum Robinson sent clear Cardiff City transfer warning if he seeks Bluebirds exit | OneFootball

EFL expert Don Goodman spoke exclusively to Football League World about Callum Robinson's future at Cardiff City

Cardiff City are closing in on relegation to League One for the first time since its inception, in what has been a dismal campaign under both Erol Bulut and under-fire current boss Omer Riza.

The Bluebirds headed into 2024/25 with reasonable expectations following a more-than-respectable 12th-placed finish in Bulut's first year in charge, but the Turkish boss was dismissed just six matches into the current term after leading City to a historically abysmal start to the campaign.

Riza, who was elected in charge on an interim basis before assuming the job until the end of the season after being handed a permanent contract by Vincent Tan back in December, has largely fallen short of elevating Cardiff up the league table.

Indeed, since he was handed the reigns permanently, Cardiff have been the worst team in the Championship bar none and have hit a wretched run of form in recent weeks, which is pushing them eerily close to a return to English football's third-tier after more than 20 years in the Championship and the Premier League.

Callum Robinson's goals this season, however, have handed Cardiff a much-needed lifeline. They would be, make no mistake about it, significantly worse off without the experienced former West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield United forward, who has redeemed himself after a turbulent 23/24 campaign under Bulut in which he scored just once from 23 Championship appearances to post double digits this time around, marking the most prolific season of his Cardiff career.

Robinson remains Cardiff's top scorer, with a brace in the Bluebirds' emphatic 3-0 win over arch-rivals Swansea City and vital winning goals against the likes of Hull City and Watford all on account this term.

Don Goodman's Callum Robinson transfer warning if Cardiff City exit is sought

According to Sky Sports pundit Don Goodman, Robinson could find himself in a difficult position if he seeks out an exit upon relegation this summer.

That's because the Republic of Ireland international, who was poised to be out of contract, penned a fresh two-year deal in January, and Goodman believes Cardiff may hold all the cards as a result.

Supporters are already speculating who could depart if and when relegation is confirmed, with League One now representing an increasingly likely reality for the Bluebirds in 25/26 at this current rate, and Robinson has been widely-tipped owing to his goalscoring exploits and vast experience and proven track record at this level, but in Goodman's view, it may not be quite so simple.

"I'm not really sure how strong a bargaining position Callum Robinson will be in if Cardiff City are relegated," Goodman explained when speaking exclusively to Football League World.

"He signed a new contract at the end of January that keeps him at the club until June 2027, so if Cardiff want to keep him then they will.

"Certainly, in terms of his season, he's had a very good season. It's just tailed off a little bit at a time where they need him to bring goals the most.

"He may feel he belongs in the Championship, but if Cardiff are relegated and he's a League One player, the ball is in Cardiff City's court and not Callum Robinson's."

Cardiff City's Callum Robinson is too good for League One

If one thing is for certain, however, it's that Robinson is one of a few players at the Cardiff City Stadium who would simply be a cut above League One. The marksman has spent the bulk of his career in the Championship for a reason, returning more than 50 goals for the likes of Cardiff, West Brom and Preston North End, and still has much left to offer at the age of 30.

He would be perfectly justified in seeking a move back to the Championship in the event of relegation, having given Cardiff a fighting chance of survival all year long, but Goodman is right to point out that his contractual situation could add difficulty to a potential departure from South Wales this summer.

Cardiff could receive a fee simply too good to turn down, though given Robinson's age and a well-documented injury record, he's hardly going to be one of the club's top financial assets like fellow striker Yousef Salech or Alex Robertson.

It will be interesting to see how this one plays out, but battling to retain Robinson must be a core call of duty for Cardiff - the versatile forward would doubtless be a force to be reckoned with in League One.