Cardiff City: Transfer Window summary ahead of a big month for the Bluebirds
The transfer window has ended with the majority of Cardiff City fans feeling positive after a fairly successful January. They ended the month unbeaten in six games after a disastrous ending to 2024.
The Bluebirds had to deal with multiple injures at the back end of the calendar year and many players were coming to the end of their contract which expire in the summer.
Omer Riza had made it clear that he wanted two or three players coming in to add quality and fresh legs into the squad, however this meant a few faces would have to leave.
Outgoings
Ryotara Tsunoda was the first one out of the door after he suffered a hamstring injury, leading him to miss action for 18 months. Following successful surgery he went back to KV Kortijk on loan.
Young full-back Tom Davies was the next to leave, this time on a permanent. He joined Newport County which seemed like a sensible decision as he struggled to break into the first team. Davies has been struck with bad luck since joining County and appears to be out for the rest of the season due to a hamstring injury just two weeks after joining the Exiles.
Wilfried Kanga’s calamitous loan came to an end after he failed to score in 16 games in all competitions. Hertha BSC decided to recall Kanga who saw a permanent move to Champions League side Dinamo Zagreb.
The main talking point when discussing players leaving is Manolis Siopis. This transfer caught the majority of City fans by surprise. However, it is not too surprising that the midfielder fancied a return to his home country Greece. He joined Panathinaikos who sit third in the Greek Super League. I think everyone within the club will miss the big personality he brought to the club but will admit he’d been pushed out of the starting 11 in recent weeks.
Incomings
With Kanga leaving Riza wanted another striker to come in and get the Bluebirds firing. 23-year-old Danish striker Yousef Salech was brought in for a fee believed to be about £3.5million. Riza had admitted he’d been a fan of him for a while with teams across Europe also being interested in the forward. In his second appearance Salech made an instant impact off the bench when he composedly grabbed a late equaliser away to Millwall to earn a hard fought point.
It is interesting to know what Roko Simic’s future holds after he was recalled from Kortijk back to the Welsh capital. His loan came to a disappointing end after he suffered an injury after playing just four times for the Belgian side. He was called up to the U21’s just a few days ago where he played 45 minutes and earned himself a goal against Everton in the cup, with a lovely chip over the keeper.
With the news of Siopis leaving Riza swiftly confirmed the incoming of loan signing Sivert Mannsverk from Ajax. Mannsverk is seen as a midfielder who enjoys possession of the ball and likes to drive up the pitch.
Deadline Day
The last signing for the Bluebirds came on deadline day through Leicester City forward, Will Alves. This seems to be a really exciting move from Riza who believes the youngster will add pace and directness into the squad. The 19-year-old can play in multiple positions across the front line and is very much liked by Leicester fans. It has been clear that Cardiff had been lacking pace out wide for some time and hopefully Alves resolves this issue.
Deadline day saw two more outgoings with Michael Reindorf sealing a loan move to League One side Bristol Rovers, despite strong interest from League Two side Notts County. This is believed to be a good move for the promising teenager who has been on the cusp of first team football as of late.
Kion Etete also finalised a loan move to Bolton Wanderers who sit just outside the play off places in League One. This loan is vital that Etete plays regularly and I believe he can succeed under new Wanderers manager Steven Schumacher.
Squad Latest
Aaron Ramsey and Isaak Davies are both on the verge of returning from injuries which will add a lot of quality back into the side. Callum O’dowda, Jak Alnwick and Callum Robinson all signed new deals which feels like a massive bonus and huge news for City going into the summer with many players being out of contract.
Jamilu Collins has surprisingly stayed at the Welsh capital despite Riza confirming the Nigerian left-back was no longer in his plans. His contract runs out in the summer but the club would’ve hoped for a fee with a few clubs abroad being interested in him.
With the club having a reasonably successful window they must now bounce back after suffering a 7-0 hammering by Leeds at the weekend. City face Stoke on Saturday in the cup and then face Portsmouth, Bristol City and Plymouth Argyle in their next three fixtures. These next three games are massive in Cardiff’s hopes of staying up.