Striker light... so would one of this trio fit the bill for Cardiff?
CARDIFF City’s push for promotion continues to roar, and in hope of realising this ambition, Neil Warnock will have funds to play with come January.
A striker tops his Christmas wishlist, but the Bluebirds boss has conceded it will have to be a temporary acquisition with a view to a permanent solution.
“We’ll look to possibly loan,” said Warnock. “It’s a difficult to buy in this window unless money is no object.
So, who could City feasibly bring in given the financial restrictions placed upon Warnock?
It could be an individual with lost or untapped potential — like Kenneth Zohore last season — who Warnock can inspire and get firing to help the Bluebirds promotion push over the line. Here are three possible candidates... Zach Clough If Warnock is looking for a tenacious and driven striker who also possesses canny movement and sharp finishing, he need look no further than out-of-favour Nottingham Forest forward Zach Clough.
Clough was linked with a move to Cardiff when he first burst onto the scene with Bolton Wanderers — this weekend’s opponents. Clough netted five times in eight appearances in his breakthrough year and caught the attention of potential Premier League suitors.
Amid interest from several clubs after his second season at Bolton, Clough chose Forest but has yet to carve out a permanent starting berth in two seasons at the City Ground.
Having made just three starts and eight substitute appearances this season, the forward voiced his frustration at a lack of game time under Mark Warburton.
“I have not been on the pitch as much as I would have liked and it has been hard,” he admitted.
Though the diminutive striker would not be as proficient in holding the ball up as Zohore — or Omar Bogle for that matter — he would compensate with his energetic style and off the ball movement. Henri Saivet A rough diamond, exiled and an apparently bleak future. Where have we heard that story before? Henri Saivet’s experience at St James’ Park has startling similarities to that of Zohore’s (pre-Warnock).
“But if he did not play in England, now I know why: he is no longer hungry —at all,” rued St. Etienne boss Cristophe Galtier, after Saivet’s unsuccessful spell last season.
While this might look ominous, there is nothing Warnock enjoys more than turning flawed players into revelations, and in Saivet, the veteran could be able to replicate the success he wrought with Zohore. It is not only a potential tale of redemption that connects Zohore and Saivet, but the qualities the Senegalese has mirrors the Dane.
Saivet may lack the height of Zohore, but he has the strength to hold off defenders. James Wilson Memories of a fresh-faced, jubilant and unbelieving Wilson knee-sliding in front of the Stretford End after scoring a debut goal for Manchester United at the tender age of 18 now seem distant.
The young Englishman has failed to kick-start his career despite showing such promise in the top flight.
A lengthy injury lay-off has not helped his cause, but after a year of rehab and frequent game time with United’s development side, Wilson is now open to a move in January.
“It’s certainly a possibility. I’m not ruling it out”, said Wilson.
With a forward line of Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to choose from, it seems Wilson is in Jose Mourinho’s immediate plans.