Cardiff City’s urgent next fortnight – Deal imminent, interest in star cools and exits in offing
Cardiff City’s transfer window is finally gaining momentum as they aim to secure reinforcements essential for climbing out of the relegation zone. Positioned 21st in the table, just one point above Hull City and Portsmouth, Omer Riza, the Cardiff manager, is looking to secure up to four new players before the window closes on February 3. While a deal to bring Yousef Salech to Cardiff City for a total fee exceeding £3m is close to being finalised, the club is still working on acquiring other players to strengthen the squad.
Yousef Salech, a 22-year-old striker from Swedish outfit Sirius, had an impressive season in the Swedish top flight, scoring 11 league goals in 27 appearances and two more in cup competitions last season. Cardiff hopes Salech’s talent will translate into success in the Championship, especially considering previous challenges with foreign striker signings. Cardiff is also eyeing Callum Robinson, Kion Etete, Roko Simic, and Isaak Davies for potential selections moving forward. The future of Wilfried Kanga at the club remains uncertain.
While Cardiff’s pursuit of winger Ricky-Jade Jones from Peterborough seems to have cooled off after the club rejected their initial bid, Sheffield United is now leading the race for the fastest player in the world. Cardiff is also considering Hector Kyprianou, Peterborough’s captain, but it is likely he will run his contract out and leave as a free agent in the summer. Cardiff aims to balance the squad and reduce the wage bill by potentially off-loading players like Kanga, Jamilu Collins, Yakou Meite, and Anwar El Ghazi through loans or permanent departures.
In terms of new signings, Cardiff is targeting pacey wide players to address a long-standing deficiency. The club’s lack of speed and ability to challenge full-backs has been evident since the departure of Josh Murphy. Addressing this weakness is crucial for Cardiff’s competitiveness. With several players’ contracts expiring soon, including key contributors such as Callum O’Dowda and Dimitrios Goutas, securing their commitments is vital for the club’s future, especially amidst the ongoing relegation battle.
As Cardiff navigates through the busy January transfer window, the club faces challenges in competing with relegation rivals making swift moves. With several players potentially leaving or needing to be loaned out, Cardiff must act urgently to reinforce the squad. The club’s management, led by Omer Riza, is tasked with executing necessary changes to improve the team’s prospects on the field. The upcoming fortnight will be critical for Cardiff City as they aim to secure crucial signings and address squad imbalances before the transfer window closes.