WhyWarnock has to be shrewd in setting sights
WITH Neil Warnock steadying the ship, and a mid-table finish now firmly on the cards for Cardiff City, fans could be forgiven for letting their minds wander towards next season.
Particularly when the Bluebirds boss has repeatedly reiterated his desire to plot a promotion push after signing on to lead the side until next summer.
While Warnock has turned Cardiff around and got them looking enviously at the play-offs as opposed to nervously over their shoulder, the veteran boss has been consistent in his call for reinforcements this summer.
Though not overhauling the squad, Warnock has stated he wants to bring in at least three or four new players at Cardiff City Stadium to complement his quickly-improving current crop of players.
With Financial Fair Play to consider, and Cardiff’s general financial situation, there is not a large transfer kitty for Warnock to dip into when looking for new players. Compared to the spending power of other Championship clubs such as Aston Villa and Newcastle, Cardiff have little cash to splash.
As that’s the case, Warnock will need to be shrewd in the transfer market, and as well as offloading some of the highest earners he may have to use the loan market and target free transfers to add quality in the summer.
Here we take a look at some of the potential players Warnock could be interested in this summer. There is a real mixture, with young, hungry and inexperienced players as well as some seasoned older heads. Wayne Hennessey The Crystal Palace goalkeeper and Wales international is out of contract this summer and he may well be available on a free transfer this summer.
The 30-year-old may be on Premier League wages, but he would be guaranteed first-team football with the Bluebirds and would get the chance to play club football in Wales for the first time. If Cardiff could afford his wages, Hennessey would give Cardiff a consistent and reliable stopper as well as someone with experience of a global tournament and a title winning season in the Championship. Danny Ward The Rotherham striker is a player Warnock knows well from his time with the Millers, and Ward has been one of the bright spots in a disastrous campaign for the Yorkshire side.
It was reported that Rotherham turned down three bids of up to £2m for the frontman in January, and he reiterated his desire to stay with the club. But with relegation all but guaranteed, he will surely be looking for a Championship move this summer, could Cardiff fit the bill? Charlie Adam Another Premier League player out of contract this summer, Adam has been a regular in the Stoke City side in recent weeks, but is yet to pen to paper on a new contract – although there is believed to be an option to extend until the end of next season.
If the tough tackling Scotsman doesn’t sign a new deal then his no nonsense and wholehearted style could suit Warnock’s side as they try to prepare a promotion bid. Lewis Grabban Currently on loan at Reading, Grabban has had a few barren seasons but his goalscoring record in the Championship stacks up well. In his two full seasons in the second tier he’s bagged 34 goals in 80 matches for Norwich and Bournemouth, and won promotion with the Canaries in 2015.
Since that promotion his career has stalled somewhat as he’s struggled to force his way into Bournemouth’s starting XI on his return to the club. Could well be available this summer at a knocked down price if Bournemouth are relegated, or possibly a loan move if Eddie Howe wants to keep him on the books. Ollie Watkins Another striker, but then if you look back at those clubs who have gained promotion from the Championship, very few do it without a 20-goal a season striker. While Kenneth Zohore has the potential to be that man, so to does Ollie Watkins.
An unfamiliar name to those outside Devon, but 21-year-old Watkins has scored 13 goals in 37 matches this season in Exeter’s remarkable run from relegation candidates at Christmas to promotion chasers in March.