Forward thinking from Bluebirds boss Harris
CARDIFF City manager Neil Harris has revealed he is hopeful of adding another attacking player in the summer transfer window.
The Bluebirds have already dipped their toe in the water with a couple of shrewd pieces of transfer business, bringing in forward Kieffer Moore for £2million and signing right back Jordi Osei-Tutu on a season-long loan from Arsenal.
Harris, however, has identified the top end of the pitch as an area which needs further strengthening.
The manager revealed Joe Ralls and Lee Tomlin will be missing through injury this weekend when they kick off their season against Northampton Town in the first round of the Carabao Cup today (3pm), while Nathaniel MendezLaing will be absent owing to personal reasons.
City had a number of injury troubles at the top end of the pitch last season, including to the aforementioned trio, and it is why Harris sought to bring in Albert Adomah on a short-term loan in January.
And it appears he is hopeful of further bolstering the wing and/or playmaker position ahead of the start of the Championship campaign, which starts at home against Sheffield Wednesday a week today.
“We are working hard to get one more in as we talk,” Harris said.
“Will that be for the weekend? No. But it’s a position we have identified we want to strengthen in an attacking area of the pitch.
“And then, after that, if players want to go and further careers or have more opportunities, then we might work on a one-out, one-in basis.
“That’s what we are finding with a lot of football clubs at the moment. That’s the reality of where we are at.”
Harris went on to say the Cardiff board are not staunchly against forking out a transfer fee for another player if they deem it to be good business, as they view the signing of Moore to be, but in all likelihood, any further additions will be through loans or the free agent market.
Harris said Cardiff have been in talks with two targets this summer and managed to recruit both of them, a 100 percent success rate.
So, if that rate of success is to continue then there will likely be a third through the door in the coming days or weeks, with the manager revealing contact had been made with one individual in particular.
“Attentions are now focused on the attacking end of the pitch now, especially when you look this weekend we will be without MendezLaing, Ralls and Tomlin, maybe we are a little light there,” Harris continued.
“We are focusing on a lot of areas but maybe it’s a one-at-a-time policy at the moment, because they are the restrictions everyone is working under.
“We are working hard at that end of the pitch and we are talking to targets, but one in particular.”
It is fair to say that Cardiff City supporters appear to be pleased with the work Harris and his staff have done in the transfer market thus far.
Harris, too, seems very pleased with his work and waxed lyrical about the initial impact one signing, 21-year-old Osei-Tutu, has made since arriving in recent weeks.
“Jordi, he has done great,” Harris said effusively. “What a nice fella, athletic, extremely quick and direct. Use of the ball has been very good.
“He has fitted in great with the lads. Arsenal have got high hopes for him of progressing into their first team at some stage and if we play a part in that, then great, if not then he could be a long-term player for us and is an option for us too looking forward.
“We hope he is going to be a really good signing. He comes with all the right credentials and personality and everything that we want, but the proof is in the pudding once they are on the pitch.”
Moore, meanwhile, will miss this weekend’s curtain raiser against Northampton owing to being on international duty with Wales, who face Finland and Bulgaria in the Nations League.
However, Harris has outlined exactly what he expects from his new striker when he returns from international duty for the start of the
Championship campaign.
“As always, character, attitude to work,” Harris said of his expectations. “Things that cost nothing but are the minimum levels.
“Discipline, personality on the training pitch, good lad in the changing room, team player, work ethic second to none, we never get outworked, but quality as well.
“He has shown us all his quality for a big man, how far he has developed in the last couple of years as a player.
“We want him to be the Wales No.9 moving forward, because the better he does for the national side the better he does for us.
“Ultimately, the bottom line, we want him to help us be successful and to do that and make it easier for us he has to score goals.”