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CITY ARE BRACED FOR SIGNIFICANT SUMMER MOVEMENT?

Tue May 07, 2019 6:10 pm

What the future now holds for every Cardiff City player and the ones about to say goodbye
By Tom Coleman

There could well be some significant movement at the Cardiff City Stadium this summer


Cardiff City's relegation back to the Championship means that there will already be plenty of attention on what happens during the upcoming summer transfer window.

One of the key questions will be who will move on and who will stay at the club in the Championship.

We take a look at the likely scenarios that could well emerge over the next few weeks.


The confirmed departures

Loanees Harry Arter, Oumar Niasse and Victor Camarasa are all set to return to their parent clubs at the end of the season, while Aron Gunnarsson is to move on to Qatari side Al-Arabi after seeing out his current contract with the Bluebirds.

The Iceland captain bid an emotional farewell to the club before the clash with Crystal Palace on Saturday as he bows out from the club after eight years in the Welsh capital.


The others out of contract

Gunnarsson could well be joined out the door by several others this summer, with question marks still hanging over several other members whose deals are due to run out in June.

Brian Murphy, Loic Damour and Stuart O'Keefe will surely be moved on, having struggled to make any sort of impression on the first team, while it remains to be seen what will happen with Kadeem Harris.

Warnock has previously hinted that he could well be keen on exploring the option of adding another year to his contract, but nothing has yet been agreed.


Elsewhere, Bruno Manga has already seen an option triggered on his current deal to keep him at the club for another season, although Warnock is keen on extending his stay even furrther.

Similarly, forgotten star Jazz Richards has also been tied down to the club for another term.


The stars who could attract interest

Warnock has already admitted that every member of his squad could well be available for the right price following relegation, but in reality it looks unlikely this squad will be picked to the bone by circling clubs higher up the food chain.

Having said that, Cardiff's brighter stars may well have done enough to convince suitors in the Premier League that they are worth a punt next season.

Manga, despite being tied down for at least another season, has shown he is more than capable of rising to the challenge of the top flight, thriving in the centre-back role with a series of strong performances.

Neil Etheridge, Cardiff's player of the season, could be another one to emerge as a possible target for clubs, although his public backing for Warnock suggests he's more than happy to stay on at Cardiff City Stadium.


Meanwhile, winger Josh Murphy has been linked with several clubs already in recent weeks, including Chelsea, Crystal Palace and Burnley.

Should the right bid come in, you suspect Warnock may well be tempted to sell.

Despite his injury woes recently, you wouldn't be all that surprised if the talent and versatility of Callum Paterson caught the eye of a couple of clubs too.

Meanwhile, the likes of Kenneth Zohore and Joe Ralls have been linked with Premier League moves in the past, but given that neither have really set the Premier League alight this season, a move back to the top flight looks unlikely this summer.

Bobby Reid is a player who can really thrive in the Championship despite the lack of game-time he's had this season following his big-money move. With Camarasa gone, you'd think he will get his chance.


The ones Cardiff are likely to want to sell

Despite being tied down to a new deal, a departure for Richards cannot be discounted as a possibility.

The full-back's appearance from the bench in the defeat at Fulham was his first involvement in a first-team squad since October and he was left on the bench at home to Crystal Palace.

A niggling hamstring injury clearly hasn't helped his case for more game-time in the Premier League, but the length of his omission from the first-team set-up, combined with the signing of Leandro Bacuna as back-up at right-back means the Welsh international's future could well lie elsewhere.


Meanwhile, the future of striker Gary Madine remains up in the air.

Madine has been on loan at Sheffield United this season and has previously said he's keen to remain with the Blades on a permanent basis following their promotion to the Premier League.

Talks over his future are understood to be taking place this week, but given Madine's struggles in South Wales, you strongly suspect he could well be moved on should the right offer come in.


It remains to be seen what role Matthew Connolly will have in the Championship next season.

The 31-year old was left out of City's Premier League squad, but saw a move to Hull City pulled at the last minute due to fitness concerns around captain Sean Morrison. You suspect that his advancing years and lack of first-team action will see him primed to move on.

Similarly, attacking on-loan duo Omar Bogle and Lee Tomlin will surely be up for grabs, with both players set to become free agents next summer.


Where Cardiff may have to strengthen

The departures of Arter, Gunnarsson and Camarasa will leave Warnock light in the centre of the park, so expect the club to be on the lookout for reinforcements in this window.

You suspect Warnock would ideally like two new faces at the heart of midfield, while the departure of Niasse, and the lack of goals in the Premier League, means a striker could also be high on the list of priroities.


There's no reason why the rest of the squad can't be kept together though and it should be among the strongest in the Championship.
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Re: HOW CITY BRACED FOR SIGNIFICANT SUMMER MOVEMENT?

Tue May 07, 2019 6:45 pm

Did Jazz Richards come on against Fulham in the away game?

I must have been at a different game if that was the case.

Re: HOW CITY BRACED FOR SIGNIFICANT SUMMER MOVEMENT?

Tue May 07, 2019 6:50 pm

davids wrote:Did Jazz Richards come on against Fulham in the away game?

I must have been at a different game if that was the case.


He did in the home game. His last appearance this season...
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Re: CITY ARE BRACED FOR SIGNIFICANT SUMMER MOVEMENT?

Wed May 08, 2019 7:20 am

With the exception of Etheridge and Manga, no other of our own players proved ( not loans) themselves to be good enough for the Premier League

Re: CITY ARE BRACED FOR SIGNIFICANT SUMMER MOVEMENT?

Wed May 08, 2019 8:31 am

bluebird58 wrote:With the exception of Etheridge and Manga, no other of our own players proved ( not loans) themselves to be good enough for the Premier League


I think Morrison grew into it and certainly Peltier and Bennett did well; with a sprinting of decency from others (a couple of Hoilett's goals were outstanding) but none ever consistently enough though

Re: CITY ARE BRACED FOR SIGNIFICANT SUMMER MOVEMENT?

Wed May 08, 2019 8:37 am

I’d have liked to see NML have a full run in the PL without injury, as towards the end of the season, he was showing real promise.

Re: CITY ARE BRACED FOR SIGNIFICANT SUMMER MOVEMENT?

Wed May 08, 2019 9:11 am

I think we will have at least two new strikers and a few out at least !!!