The transfer window looms
Cardiff City are being linked with a number of players.
Out of the names mentioned who would you like to see at the CCS ?
HUGO VIERIA :
Cardiff City are set to battle it out with Spainish Primera Liga outfit Elche for the signature of striker Hugo Vieira – according to reports.
Portuguese football website Ojogo are today reporting Malky Mackay is set to enter into the race for the 25-year-old former Benfica frontman, who is currently out of the picture at Primeira Liga rivals SC Braga.
The Bluebirds are apparently planing a January raid for the man who scored eight goals in 13 starts in a loan spell at his hometown club Gil Vicente earlier this year.
It is thought the Barcelos born frontman, who has been used sparingly by Braga boss Domingos Paciencia since his return, would be available on loan or to buy.
TOM INCE :
Cardiff boss Malky Mackay is to make another move for Blackpool wideman Tom Ince when the transfer window opens in January.
The Bluebirds had a deal on the table for the England Under-21 star last summer but he decided to stay at Blackpool and see out his contract but, as that deal runs down, offers will be made to try and land Ince in a cut price deal in January.
Cardiff now face a battle with arch rivals Swansea for Ince, who was on the scoresheet as England’s Under-21s crushed San Marino on Tuesday night, with Michael Laudrup’s men set to make a second move for the winger after falling short in the summer.
Blackpool would rather get a cut price fee in January than nothing in the summer but Ince appears to be ready to allow his deal to run out and then take his pick of the suitors.
JEFFERSON MONTERO :
Cardiff are making a £4million move for Ecuador’s Jefferson Montero.
Owner Vincent Tan sent a top club official to South America to speak to the flying wide man who almost joined the Premier League new boys last summer.
Montero plays in Mexico for Monarcas Morelia but wants to come to the Premier League – and hopes for a January transfer.
Tan and boss Malky Mackay have clashed about transfer dealings recently but both are onside with the Montero swoop.
Cardiff have talked to Montero to give them belief he wants to join them and they will now try to get the ‘real’ price on the deal after being quoted various figures.
Monarcas want around £4 million and Cardiff are ready to pay that, with the only discussions over the amount up front and the method of payment.
BAFETIMBI GOMIS :
LYON strier Bafetimbi Gomis is edging closer to a Premier League move but there are still several clubs in the race to sign the French international.
Gomis was heavily linked with a move to Newcastle over the summer and Cardiff and Swansea have both also been mentioned as possible destinations for the former Saint-Etienne forward.
Recent reports have also suggested that a move to Italy could be on the cards with Lazio or Roma but the player’s agent, Francesco Di Frisco, has now ruled out such a move.
Instead it appears as though a move to the Premier League could well be imminent.
Bafetimbi Gomis is not a priority for Lazio or Roma.
He’s close to joining the Premier League. We are in talks with several clubs.
Speaking to transfer webiste TMW, Di Frisco said: “AS Roma and Lazio keen on him?
“I’ve recently been talking to both [Walter] Sabatini and [Igli] Tare, and they told me Bafe is not among their main targets.
“Instead, he’s close to joining the Premier League. We are in talks with several clubs.
“His €2.5m salary demands (£2m or £40,000-a-week) offer English clubs a big advantage.”
WILFRIED ZAHA :
Cardiff City have asked Manchester United about the possibility of signing Wilfried Zaha on loan in January.
The winger has played only one competitive fixture since joining Manchester United in the summer and David Moyes admitted this week that he is considering letting him go out on loan to get regular game time.
Cardiff manager Malky Mackay is keen on the former Crystal Palace player and a senior source at the club has told Sportsmail that an approach has already been made.
A January move could represent Zaha’s last chance to force his way into the England reckoning ahead of the World Cup.
Having inspired Palace’s promotion last season the 20-year-old has so far failed to break through at Manchester United, not making a single appearance in the Barclays Premier League.
His impressive 77-minute outing against Norwich in United’s 4-0 Capital One Cup win on Tuesday was his first senior game for the Champions since he played an hour of the Community Shield victory over Wigan.
He won his second England cap against Scotland in August, but his prospects of being in the squad for Brazil seem bleak if he does not get more playing time. Moyes admitted: ‘We have to try to make sure he gets some playing time.
‘Unfortunately, we haven’t done that with Wilf and, if it’s still the case in January, we would look at it.’
Cardiff’s determination to land Zaha, who is 21 this month, sets up an intriguing race for the forward with south Wales rivals Swansea City.
It is understood that Michael Laudrup is an admirer of Zaha, who cost United £15million, though there is interest from Newcastle, West Brom and Stoke.
Former Palace manager Ian Holloway admitted in September that he failed with a deadline-day attempt to re-sign the player who inspired their promotion to the Barclays Premier League.
Mackay is believed to be a personal fan of Zaha, which is significant considering the controversial restructuring of Cardiff City’s recruitment system last month.