CARDIFF City have already concluded two deals this window, but which players have the Bluebirds lined up next?
The transfer window is in full swing, but time is running out for teams to get the players they need to see out the season.
The Bluebirds are still well in the race for promotion to the Premier League, consolidating third place and only two points shy of the automatic spots.
Neil Warnock, the Cardiff manager, has identified where he need to strengthen his side and has completed two loan signingings thus far, with plenty of targets being touted. Injury troubles have also forced the Bluebirds into making moves.
Warnock said: “If we could get another couple in the next couple of weeks, it’ll give everybody a lift because we have be decimated [by injury] and I don’t think we’ve moaned about it much.”
Yanic Wildschut – Norwich (loan)
Warnock bolstered his attacking options early on with the loan acquisition of Norwich City winger, Yanic Wildschut. The 26-year-old can play on the wing as well as in a central role. He will no doubt help ease the pressure on current first choice wingers Nathaniel Mendez-Laing and Junior Hoilett.
Wildschut was impressive during the 2015/16 season, scoring 9 goals as Wigan won League One. This form prompted Norwich to spend a reported £7m on the the Dutch winger but he soon fell out of favour at Carrow Road when Alex Neil was sacked. He will be keen to prove his worth.
Speaking after Cardiff’s 4-0 victory over Sunderland, Warnock said: “Even Yanic coming in yesterday lifted everybody. I was talking to him during the training session and you could see why I wanted to bring him in, even in this short space of time. He’s my kind of player, direct and loves attacking people and I think he’ll be a good asset for us”
Marko Grujic – Liverpool (loan)
A second loan signing for Warnock, the Serbian attacking midfielder joined Liverpool in 2016 but has found opportunities in Jurgen Klopp’s starting line-up.
The Reds manager still believes the 21-year-old has a big future at Anfield so was sent out on loan to Cardiff City in order to gain some vital game time.
Klopp told Liverpoolfc.com: “We miss him already in the training group because he developed really in a fantastic way. But because of the quality we have in the squad, it happened really often that he was not even in the squad.”
“We had a long conversation about it and he’s looking forward to it. He wants to be a Liverpool player and I want him to be a Liverpool player. He gets the opportunity to play at Cardiff.”
Grujic made his debut as the Bluebirds drew with Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday. Playing in a holding midfield role, Grujic was largely solid but not quite at his best. There is plenty more to come from this Serb, who could play a large part in Cardiff’s bid for promotion.
Marko Grujic joins on loan from Liverpool
Rumours
Cardiff are currently in the market for a striker to further the attacking options at the Cardiff City Stadium. There are four names being touted at the minute; Bolton’s Gary Madine, Ipswich’s David McGoldrick, Blackburn’s Bradley Dack and Bournemouth’s Lewis Grabban.
Of those options, it is highly unlikely that it will be Gary Madine turning out in blue for the rest of the season. The English striker is highly rated at the Macron Stadium and leads the scoring charts for Bolton with 10 goals this season.
In an attempt to deter the Bluebirds, Bolton have slapped a £6 million price tag on him and offered him a new contract on improved terms. This one looks very unlikely.
David McGoldrick’s contract at Ipswich Town runs out in the summer so The Tractor Boys will be keen to cash in on 30-year-old. This hasn’t escaped the attention of other sides however, and Cardiff will have to fight tooth and nail with Leeds United, Fulham and Birmingham City to secure his signing.
Will David McGoldrick be next to join Cardiff?
The same can be said of Bradley Dack, his 12 League One goals for Blackburn attracting the attention of Aston Villa and Leeds as well as Cardiff. Blackburn manager, Tony Mowbray, is reluctant to see him leave: “[The owners] understand that if we are to get out of this division, if we are to go further than that, then it is about bringing in more talent and not selling our best players.”
“That is why, after we went down last summer, [Charlie] Mulgrew stayed with us, why [Danny] Graham stayed with us, why we went out and bought Dack and [Peter] Whittingham and I don’t see that changing because somebody offer money for a certain player.”
“Over the next few weeks we will only lose people we want to lose or are happy to lose and we will strengthen our squad.”
Blackburn are reported to have rejected a £4 million bid from the Bluebirds.
£4 million is thought to be enough to bring in out-of-favour Bournemouth forward, Lewis Grabban as well. The 30-year-old forward failed to make an impact upon his return to Bournemouth in 2016 and was subsequently loaned out to Reading and Sunderland.
Earlier this month, Grabban activated an option in his contract to return to Bournemouth after notching 12 goals in 20 games at Sunderland. It is this Championship goal-scoring pedigree that Neil Warnock is hoping to bring to the Cardiff City Stadium after a torrid run of results over the Christmas period.
Cardiff have just over a week to get their business done before the transfer window closes at 11pm on January 31st.
Who would you like to see join the Bluebirds? Let us know.
Cardiff have not lost a league match at the Cardiff City Stadium in nine games.
