Cardiff City manager Steve Morison has wasted no time when it comes to altering the shape of his squad this summer as he has already secured the services of some fresh faces.

The Bluebirds will be able to call upon the services of Ollie Tanner, Jamilu Collins, Jak Alnwick, Ebou Adams and Callum O'Dowda next season after signing these players.

Meanwhile, Cardiff have also been busy when it comes to departures.

The likes of Aden Flint, Marlon Pack and Alex Smithies are set to leave the club when their contracts expire at the end of June whilst Sam Bowen has agreed a deal to join Newport County for an undisclosed fee.

Recently linked with audacious moves for Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, it will be interesting to see whether the Bluebirds opt to look towards the second-tier for inspiration when it comes to future signings.

Here, we have decided to take a look at eight Championship players Cardiff could realistically target in the transfer window...

According to a report from Wales Online, Cardiff are believed to be interested in signing Josh Laurent from Reading.

Laurent's contract with the Royals is set to reach a crescendo this month and he has yet to agree to fresh terms.

When you consider that the midfielder has made 87 appearances in the Championship during his career, he could prove to be a useful addition to Cardiff's squad as he knows what it takes to compete at this level.

Another player who has recently been linked with a move to the Cardiff City Stadium is Andre Gray.

According to Football Insider, the Bluebirds are in the hunt for Gray's signature but could face competition from Birmingham City and Reading who are also listed as potential suitors.

The forward, who has scored a respectable total of 57 goals in the Championship during his career, is set to leave Watford when his contract expires later this month.

Darragh Lenihan is currently facing an uncertain future as he has yet to agree fresh terms with Blackburn Rovers and thus could be available on a free transfer this summer.

If the defender opts against extending his stay at Ewood Park, Cardiff ought to consider making a move for him as they will need to bolster their options in this area when Flint officially departs.

A stand-out performer for Blackburn in the Championship last season, Lenihan managed to make 1.7 tackles and 1.5 interceptions per fixture as he averaged an impressive WhoScored match rating of 7.10.

Kristian Pedersen is set to become a free-agent at the end of June when his deal at Birmingham City expires.

It wouldn't be at all surprising if the defender attracts interest from a number of Championship sides as he has demonstrated throughout his career that he is able to deliver the goods at this level.

When you consider that Pedersen is capable of operating as a centre-back and as a full-back, he could add some versatility to Cardiff's squad if they opt to swoop for him in the coming weeks.

Another player who is set to be available on a free transfer this summer is Romaine Sawyers who was recently released by West Bromwich Albion.

Sawyers was loaned out to Stoke City last season and illustrated glimpses of his talent during this stint as he provided five direct goal contributions in the second-tier.

Having achieved promotion to the Premier League with the Baggies during the 2019/20 campaign, the midfielder may be able to use his experience at this level to help Cardiff push forward as a club.

If Cardiff do not decide to pursue a deal for Lenihan or Pedersen, Naby Sarr could prove to be a good alternative.

Set to officially leave Huddersfield Town at the end of June, the defender helped the club reach the play-off final by making 21 appearances in the second-tier.

Particularly impressive during the Terriers' victories over Luton Town and Middlesbrough in April, Sarr helped his side keep clean-sheets in these fixtures by averaging WhoScored match ratings of 7.14 and 8.16.

Yoann Barbet's time at Queens Park Rangers will come to an end this summer after he opted to reject a new contract offer by the club.

Having made 221 appearances in the Championship during his career, it is safe to say that Barbet will fancy his chances of hitting the ground running next season if he joins a club in this division.

Cardiff ought to consider making a move for the Frenchman as he could potentially help solve their defensive issues as they conceded a concerning total of 68 goals in the second-tier last season.

Andy Carroll will be looking to secure a move to a new club this summer following West Brom's decision to cut ties with him.

The forward managed to show some signs of promise in the Championship in the previous campaign during his spells with Reading and West Brom as he provided a combined total of six direct goal contributions at this level.

If Morison is looking to sign a player who is able to offer a physical presence up-front, Carroll could be a good fit for Cardiff as he won 6.6 aerial duels per game last season.