Striker Danny Ward is set to become a Cardiff City player within the next few days.
Talks between Rotherham United player Ward and Bluebirds manager Neil Warnock are at an advanced stage.
Ward, top scorer for relegated Rotherham with 12 goals last season, is under contract through next season and the Yorkshire club are insisting on a transfer fee of more than £1m.
Cardiff have won the race for Ward ahead of at least one other Championship club. Rotherham have confirmed they turned down a £2m-plus offer for Ward in the January transfer window when they were still hoping to avoid relegation.
He was out of contract this summer, but Rotherham activated their option to extend his deal by 12 months so they could still demand a substantial fee for him.
Ward’s former club Huddersfield are entitled to around half of the fee because of a sell-on clause.
The 25-year-old has been tracked by Warnock for some time and he would be a fifth signing for the City manager.
Goalkeepers Neil Etheridge and Lee Camp plus Callum Paterson and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing have all signed for the Bluebirds on free transfers.
Junior Hoilett, Kadeem Harris and Lee Peltier have agreed new deals with Cardiff, while Warnock is close to agreement with Bruno Manga.
Rotherham are keen on midfield player Tom Adeyemi, who joined them on a long-term loan from Cardiff and scored seven goals. Adeyemi is out of contract this summer and is available on a free transfer.
Warnock is recruiting a team he believes can challenge for a play-offs finish next season and he has had face-to-face talks with club owner Vincent Tan in the UK.
Chief executive Ken Choo, chairman Mehmet Dalman and director Steve Borley also attended the meeting.
“It’s good for the two men to be eye-to-eye when they talk,” said Choo. “There are lots of things Neil can explain to Vincent much better in person than over the phone or text. That personal touch adds to the relationship they have.
“They are similar characters in many ways and Neil was very happy with everything; he was smiling walking out. It exceeded my expectations in terms of the outcome and it is clear the relationship is very good.
“They are good for each other and I know Neil has got quite a lot of support from Vincent.”
Cardiff rejected a £3m transfer bid by Sheffield Wednesday for defender Sean Morrison and Choo said: “Vincent has been strong.
“It was a good offer, but what is our goal? Vincent was strong, saying we wanted to have a go, that we have already spent a lot of money and if we were not going to have a go he wouldn’t be here.
“It would have been easy to take the cheque, but he is quite calm and focused and strong on what we want to do.”
Cardiff City’s full pre-season fixtures
July
Friday 14: Taff’s Well (away 7pm, Rhiw Ddar)
Monday 17: AFC Tavistock (away 7pm, Langsford Park)
Wednesday 19: Bodmin Town (away 7pm, Priory Park)
Thursday, 20: Under-23 v AFC St. Austell (away 7pm, Poltair Park)
Friday 21: Plymouth Argyle FC (away 7pm, Home Park)
Saturday 22: Under-23 Bideford AFC (away 2pm, The Sports Ground)
Tuesday, 25: Shrewsbury Town (away 7pm, The Greenhous Meadow)
Friday 28/Saturday 29: To be arranged (home, Cardiff City Stadium)
