Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Tuesday, June 4.
Cardiff nail down transfer priorities
Cardiff have identified three chief transfer priorities 10 days out from the start of the window, with recruitment work already under way.
The Bluebirds announced that Erol Bulut had signed a new contract and will stay with the club for another two years in a show of faith from the owner and stability from the club’s board.
The club, we understand, have made a striker their primary target, with goals from open play a big work-on for the club next term, as well as a winger, with Karlan Grant and Josh Bowler having left to return to their parent clubs, and a central midfielder also at the top of their shopping list.
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That is a good starting point, because City also need a back-up striker, another winger, a centre-back and a left-back, all positions which could also be addressed when the window swings open on June 14.
We are told that transfer work was being undertaken behind the scenes anticipating the eventuality that Bulut and his coaching staff would stay on this summer. Without any transfer embargoes and Profit and Sustainability headroom expected to be more generous than in January, the club are confident this summer can be a fruitful one.
Earnshaw: Club must rebuilt to realise ‘massive potential’
Club legend Robert Earnshaw is hopeful that Cardiff will realise their “massive potential” with manager Bulut at the helm next season.
Stability is an underappreciated quality when it comes to Championship football and Bulut will now begin his second season at the helm this summer. Sign up to our Cardiff City newsletter here.
And ex-striker Earnshaw, whose son last week was signed by Manchester United, is glad the club have tied Bulut down and is excited by what’s to come next.
“They need to build,” Earnshaw told the BBC. “Cardiff City is a great football club, the fanbase is great, there really is massive potential for Cardiff City.
“It is the 125th year so it is going to be huge but Cardiff City need to pick the right recruitment, the right players. Now you’ve got a guy that’s going to be there and help build because Cardiff City need to build.”
Asked about challenging for the play-offs or even promotion next term, Earnshaw added: “Looking at the season last year it’s going to be difficult but Cardiff City have that potential.”
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Ramsey still has ‘a lot to give’
Andy King says former Wales team-mate Aaron Ramsey will believe he still has a “lot to give” to the national team, despite sitting out this latest camp.
There was speculation surrounding Ramsey’s international future this summer after an injury-laden 2023/24 campaign and the disappointment over missing out on Euro 2024.
Erol Bulut has previously said he wanted Ramsey to concentrate on club football and even Wales boss Rob Page has said he wants the Welsh legend to plough all his efforts into readying himself for a gruelling Championship campaign.
But Wales international King said of Ramsey: “Players know themselves, they know how the body’s feeling. It’s always tough when it’s something you’ve done your whole life.
“Aaron is a top player, top person, and I’m sure he’ll feel that he’s got a lot to give.
“Aaron has been an inspiration for a lot of young Welsh players, he was central to that golden generation. He would have been the main man in any other generation, but he just happened to come along at the same time as Gareth Bale.
“The way they played in tandem was unbelievable and that took Welsh football to new heights. You could give Aaron the ball in any situation and he always wanted to create and make something happen.
“He has been a fantastic player for Wales, and for British football in general for what he did at Arsenal, Juventus and Nice.”