Since earning promotion to the Premier League last week, Cardiff have already begun their preparation for next season by lining up potential summer transfer targets.
The Bluebird’s manager, Malky Mackay has been given £25 million to spend by Malaysian owner Vincent Tan Tan, as the club look to strengthen the team ahead of their first season in the top flight.
Here’s a look at the players who could be heading to the newly-promoted club once the transfer window re-opens.
Defenders
Chris Gunter
Gunter is on his way down to the Championship with Reading and made his name with the Bluebirds before a £2million move to Tottenham.
Cardiff will have a right-back void in the top flight and Gunter could fit the bill.
Sam Byram
Byram is an individual Mackay has been linked with in the past.
He has really begun to make his name at Elland Road and is being tipped for big, big things in the game.
Leeds have slapped an £8million price-tag on the highly promising teenage full-back.
Nathaniel Chalobah
The 18-year-old has spent the season on loan at Watford from Chelsea. When Swansea went up, they had a similar deal when they signed Stephen Caulker for a year from Tottenham.
Mackay may look for the odd season loan and Chalobah, who drives the midfield and scores goals, could bolster the Bluebirds’ options.
Midfielders
Dirk Kuyt
Cardiff may celebrate promotion to the Premier League by signing former Liverpool striker Dirk Kuyt from Fenerbahce.
Holland international Kuyt joined the Europa League semi-finalists last summer when he left Anfield in a £1million deal.
He will turn 33 before the start of the new season but Bluebirds bosses reckon he will still possess enough of his trademark strength and stamina to make an impact in the English top flight.
Sources in Turkey suggest Kuyt, who would link up with former Reds striker Craig Bellamy if he joins Cardiff, could be allowed to leave for a fraction of the fee he cost Fenerbahce.
Matt Phillips
Mackay has tried to sign the gifted wide-man before, only for then Blackpool boss Ian Holloway to sneer Phillips was destined for bigger things in the Premier League.
Now Cardiff are a Premier League team, Mackay could land his man with the second time of asking.
Phillips hasn’t been his usual self this season, but at his best still possesses pace, trickery and the ability to create and score goals. He could prove a good signing for the Bluebirds.
Salomon Kalou
The Ivorian international left Chelsea last summer to join the French club. But the 27 year old has reportedly struggled to settle in his new country and is keen to make a return to the Premier League.
Kalou still carries a strong reputation after playing an important part of the Chelsea team for another of years.
The winger became known for his tricky dribbling and Cardiff believe Kalou could be the perfect player to help them stay in the Premier League.
Chris Eagles
Mackay fancies making Eagles – who he played alongside at Watford seven years ago – his first summer signing.
Former Manchester United youngster Eagles has come under fire from his own fans at the Reebok and wants out of the Championship club.
The 27-year-old’s £2million valuation also fits in with the kind of bargain-buy shopping Cardiff’s Malaysian owner Vincent Tan has in mind.
Scott Sinclair
Sinclair is a Man City outcast, Cardiff need a wide-man to complement Craig Bellamy on the other flank.
The winger was a success in the Premier League in helping Brendan Rodgers’ side to their incredibly high first season finish in the top flight. Sinclair can score and create goals… he just needs someone to hand him that opportunity.
Jonny Williams
The new Welsh wonder is destined for the Premier League.
This season Crystal Palace could fall out of the play-offs and next season they will have lost talisman Wilfired Zaha.
Williams oozed class when playing for Wales in the recent World Cup matches against Croatia and Scotland. He would cost, but would be worth every penny
Forwards
Kenwyne Jones
Many believe the Bluebirds need a big, robust centre-forward to lead the line in the Premier League, with Fraizer Campbell and Nicky Maynard different types of striker.
Jones has done the rounds with Southampton, Sunderland and Stoke, who signed him for a club record fee of £8million.
However he has had to play second fiddle to Peter Crouch for the majority of the season. He could be the target-man Mackay goes for this summer.
Bobby Zamora
Cardiff are also considering a bid for QPR’s Bobby Zamora who has been his club’s top scorer this season with 12 goals.
However, Zamora is likely to be on a lucrative pay package at Loftus Road though and that could prove an obstacle to his arrival in the Welsh capital.
Adam le Fondre
Adam Le Fondre has been impressive for Reading this season.
Despite usually starting from the bench, Le Fondre has hit the back of the net on a number of occasions and with Reading look certain to get relegated, the striker could be tempted by another crack at top flight football.
Pavel Pogrebnyak
The 33-times capped Russian striker is heading out of the Premier League with Reading.
A bustling individual who puts himself about, he could be a real goal threat in the air from the brilliant set piece service provided by Craig Bellamy, Kim Bo-kyung and Peter Whittingham.
Plus, he has lots of experience having played for Spartak Moscow, Zenit St. Petersburg, Stuttgart and Fulham.
To read more of our Transfer Series articles, click here! or follow the links below.
- Chelsea Summer Transfer Targets Episode 2
- Manchester United Summer Transfer Targets Episode 2
- Arsenal Summer Transfer Targets Episode 2
- Manchester City Summer Transfer Targets Episode 2
- Liverpool Summer Transfer Targets Episode 2
- Tottenham Summer Transfer Targets Episode 2