KIPRE STAY ‘UNLIKELY’
CEDRIC Kipre wants to stay at Cardiff City but the club are unlikely to be able to get him back, Cardiff City manager Sabri Lamouchi has said. Kipre has been an ever-present at the heart of defence, however he will miss the final game of the season owing to undergoing an operation on his teeth.
He will head back to West Brom, where he has a year left to run on his current deal, and either player there or be sold elsewhere, according to Lamouchi. With Cardiff under an EFL ban which prohibits them from spending money, it looks highly unlikely he will return.
“Cedric Kipre will not be in the game because he has a big operation this morning on his teeth, his mouth, he will not be available,” Lamouchi said.
“Jaden (Philogene) and (Sory)
Kaba will go back to their clubs and I just want to say to them, ‘Thank you, you saved the club.’ Jaden, in the second half of the season, was unbelievable. Kaba scored important goals and Cedric was a rock in our defence.
“But West Brom, Aston Villa or the Danish club want them again, because they played well. So, they are happy with this loan, we made the job for them. They want them with the club or maybe to sell them somewhere else and we cannot buy any players at the moment. Kaba wants to stay, Kipre wants to stay, Jaden enjoyed playing with us, but it is what it is and we know the rules. Unfortunately they have to go.”
Lamouchi confirmed he is interested in keeping Mark Harris, but
Gavin Whyte and Tom Sang will leave the club this summer.
Young duo Joel Bagan and Eli King could feature against Burnley tomorrow, with Lamouchi confirming they will travel to Turf Moor.
The pair are out of contract at the end of the season, but Lamouchi’s preference would be to keep them both. That will likely be resolved in the coming days and weeks.
But for supporters who have been keen to see the pair in action, they could get their wish when City take on the Clarets.
“To be completely clear, I was talking with the club one month ago, before the Swansea game, and I asked the club to sign them at this moment,” he said of Bagan and King.
“Joel Bagan and Eli King, I spoke with the players and told them what I asked the club. I don’t know what the issue is. Joel and Eli are happy with us and they will probably be at Burnley on Monday. We will see.”
And Bagan might have a good chance to feature against Burnley, with Callum O’Dowda a major doubt for the final game of the campaign.
Lamouchi revealed Kion Etete is also an injury concern, along with captain Joe Ralls. It leaves a pretty thin-looking squad, with Etete, Ralls, Kipre, Jamilu Collins, Callum Robinson and probably Ebou Adams not likely to feature. It might be a chance for some fringe players to come in and make their mark.
Meanwhile, Vincent Kompany hopes Nathan Tella will be fit to play a part in Burnley’s final game of the season against Cardiff. He’s the club’s top scorer with 19 goals but has been out with a hip injury suffered against Reading last month.