The inside track on Will Alves, Cardiff City's new trickster who is 'mesmerising' in full flow
Cardiff City's final capture of the winter transfer window was Leicester City teenager Will Alves.
The England youth international has joined the Bluebirds on loan for the remainder of the season, having been on the fringes in the Premier League for the most part this term.
Still just 19, Alves is far from the finished article, but noises from Leicester City fans are hugely positive. Cardiff were hopeful of adding more options at the top end of the pitch, with Alves capable of playing in a number of different positions.
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But with so few first-team appearances to his name, he is still a relative unknown to Bluebirds supporters. With that in mind, we sought the expert insight of Jordan Blackwell, the Foxes correspondent for our sister title LeicestershireLive. Here's what he had to say.
- Can you give us a little bit of background on Will Alves and how he’s got to this stage of his career?
"He grew up in Leicestershire and has been in the club’s academy since he was a boy. It was when he was around 15 that his name started to emerge as one to watch and very quickly from there he made his senior debut aged 16.
"He was dancing around Watford players twice his age in that game and the hype among Leicester fans really grew from there. I think internally there was the perception that he was the best prospect the academy had produced since Harvey Barnes, and potentially with the talent to even exceed him.
"It’s now been three years since his senior debut and his progress has obviously been stunted by his injury. He’s been very slowly eased back in, sometimes to the frustration of supporters, who have been clamouring for him to be given more senior opportunities." Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
- He suffered a nasty injury while playing for the academy - a torn ACL in December 2022. How has that impacted his trajectory or the player or person he is today?
"It does not feel an exaggeration to say he’d have played plenty more Leicester matches by now had he not suffered such a bad injury. But 12 months recovering did allow him to bulk up and when he came back, possibly because of his age as well, he looked a lot physically stronger, and more difficult to push off the ball.
"Watching his performances this season, both for the under-21s and as a substitute for the first team, it felt like he needed a loan spell in the summer. They tried to find him one, but Steve Cooper said none of the clubs that came forward were the right fit, so they chose to keep him.
"Because he’s been on the fringes of the first team, he’s not played all that regularly for the under-21s either. And so when he has played, he’s seemed to lack a little bit of rhythm. What he needs is the challenge of regular senior football, and if he gets consistent minutes then I’ll think he’ll blossom."
- More broadly, can you tell us what type of player Cardiff fans can expect? Do you think it’s a good move for him?
"He’s very tricky and he’s got very quick feet. When he’s in full flow and he’s ducking and weaving past defenders, that’s when he’s at his best. He wants to get on the ball and he wants to beat his man.
"He’s typically played as a central attacking midfielder, but it seems Ruud van Nistelrooy sees him as a winger, most likely on the left and cutting in onto his right foot. For the under-21s, he has played deeper in midfield too, but more so that he could improve some facets of his game. He’s definitely best higher up the pitch.
"It seems a good move for him, yes. He needed that challenge of playing senior football and while going to a promotion-chasing League One side may have allowed him to show off his flair a little more, I think going to Cardiff will be better for his development, even if it’s a bigger task to ensure he plays every week."
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- What is his biggest strength and what would you say is his biggest weakness?
"His footwork is definitely his biggest strength. He can be mesmerising. Patience will be required at first though, before he gets to that stage, just because of his lack of football this season. But he will commit defenders and that should open up space for himself and others at the top end.
"Always with an attacking player, there’s scope for improvement with their goal involvements. He does need to deliver more goals and assists.
"On his debut three years ago, Brendan Rodgers told him he’d substitute him if he kept hogging the ball and he has been guilty of that with the under-21s too, just keeping hold of it for too long. There’s a balance to strike there as he needs to do what’s right for the team, but equally he needs to be encouraged to be brave."
- What is the view of him at Leicester? I’ve seen fans speak very highly of him - is that the view of important figures within the club, too? What does the future look like for him there?
"Yes, the plan is to get him minutes so that, come the summer, he has a better chance of staking a claim to be a true part of the first-team squad at Leicester next season, no matter which division they’re in. It would be a huge surprise if the club were willing to sell him."
- Is there anything you know about him that might not be common knowledge that would be of interest to Bluebirds fans?
"If Cardiff fans want to see what he was like as a 15-year-old and get a glimpse into how he still plays, he featured on a BBC Sport series called Wonderkids a few years ago. You can watch him here."
