BLUEBIRDS SPLASH OUT ON STRIKE ACE BOGLE
CARDIFF City have announced the signing of Wigan striker Omar Bogle on a three-year deal.
The newest member of Neil Warnock’s table-topping squad put pen to paper on his contract yesterday afternoon and outlined his delight at joining the Bluebirds. He will wear the number 30 shirt. Speaking to iFollow Cardiff City, Bogle said: “I know how big this club is and the direction that we want to go in. I spoke to the manager and was excited by his plans.
“I’ve got pace, work-rate and I want to entertain the fans. I’m excited and looking forward to scoring goals.”
Bluebirds boss Warnock said: “I like his enthusiasm. He’s raw, he’s similar to Nathaniel Mendez-Laing in some respects, and he’s got desire.
“With the right guidance and the right players we can bring the best out of him.”
Despite previously stating that further arrivals were unlikely after the capture of seventh signing Lee Tomlin, there was always a feeling that Warnock could still be tempted into bolstering his squad further should the right player become available.
Warnock teased the media following his side’s 2-0 win over Sheffield United, revealing he had already made an offer for a player that they didn’t know about.
That new signing has turned out to be striker Omar Bogle, who arrives from League One outfit Wigan Athletic for a fee believed to be around £1 million. So who exactly is City’s latest recruit?
Here’s all you need to know... Who is Omar Bogle? Bogle is a 24-year-old English striker who only became a Football League player in August 2016, having previously risen through the ranks of non-league football.
He started his career at West Bromwich Albion’s youth system in 2007, before moving to local rivals Birmingham City two years later, and then to Celtic’s academy in 2011.
However, a search for first team opportunities took him south of the border a year later, where he signed on for first Hinckley United and then Solihull Motors.
His time at Solihull saw him become one of non-league football’s hottest properties, scoring 62 goals in 111 appearances for the club, winning the Conference North’s Golden Boot for the 2014/15 season by netting 29 times, while also being named the league’s Player of the Year and earning an England C call-up.
Bogle was so prolific that he was even taken on trial by Bournemouth in 2013, joining the club’s pre-season training camp in Switzerland and turning out in the pre-season friendly with FC Zurich.
Several clubs in League One, as well as various non-league outfits were credited as having an interest in taking Bogle, but it was Grimsby Town who secured his signature in 2015.
Bogle was a favourite with Mariners’ fans, and he wrote his name into club folklore by scoring twice in the National League play-off final at Wembley in 2016 as Grimsby ended a six-year exile from the Football League with a 3-1 win over Forest Green Rovers.
He adapted quickly to the step up, winning League Two’s Player of the Month for August and September, and once again became a target for other clubs.
January 2017 saw Rotherham United have three bids rejected, while there was also believed to be interest from Premier League duo Hull City and Swansea.
Bogle eventually moved to Wigan during that window, where he scored three goals in 12 games, before being transfer-listed at the start of the current campaign. Bogle is an out-and-out centre forward, who’s scored goals wherever he’s been. Why are Cardiff signing him? An injury to Kenneth Zohore is probably the single biggest nightmare for Bluebirds fans, particularly given that back-up option Danny Ward has been used somewhat sparingly since his arrival from Rotherham earlier in the summer.
Warnock is genuine about challenging for promotion, but has said on several occasions that the depth of the squad in certain areas has been a cause for concern.
Increasing the level of depth in terms of attacking options will help to lighten the load placed on Zohore, although there is little doubt that the Dane is still likely to be the main man. Nevertheless, Warnock will feel much more comfortable with another option at his disposal.