The January transfer window is upon us and Cardiff City are seeking reinforcements.
An area of concern for Neil Warnock is the centre of midfield, with the manager stating his desire to bring in another body in that area of the World.
The team at View From The Ninian have been putting their thinking caps on and have presented their top midfield targets once the window opens.
Ganso – Scott Salter
http://gty.im/882013350
A blast from the past for many a Football Manager player, Brazilian attacking midfielder Ganso was once a hot prospect in world football.
Now 29, it has been an inconsistent career for the Brazilian. Unlike many a Brazilian wonderkid, he remained in Brazil until 2016, for eight years, before heading to Europe to join Sevilla. Ganso lasted just two years in Spain and is currently on loan in France with Amiens.
He’s fallen out with his manager in France, Christophe Pélissier, which could result in his loan being cut short. That means that the creative spark could be available for Cardiff to pick up in January.
A loan move would be suitable, with the Brazilian added so much needed creativity to Warnock’s Cardiff. Ganso has 66 goals to his name throughout his career, and a bunch more assists, which could serve him well in South Wales.
Danny Drinkwater – Ben James
http://gty.im/1009495180
Since Danny’s move to Chelsea, his career has somewhat stalled. He was a lynchpin during Leicester’s incredible run to the league and, understandably, jumped at a chance to move to Stamford Bridge.
But since then, he’s struggled to make a long term assault on the first team. He’s suffered the most from managerial changes and seems very much out in the cold.
He’d relish a loan move but who would he go to? Chelsea aren’t going to lend him to a top 6, maybe not even top 10 side. And Drinky isn’t going to want to drop down a division. So why not us?
A player like Danny could give us some vital grit in the midfield but he’s also got an assist or two in him. Bringing him in could really free up the creativity of Victor and Ralls, allowing them to push forward. Gunnar’s injuries and Arter’s yellows could mean a hole in the midfield. And Danny could be the perfect filler for six months.
Mohamed Elneny – Scott Johnson
http://gty.im/1072881960
If Cardiff are in the market for Aron Gunnarsson competition and cover, it would certainly be worth their while contacting Arsenal about Mohamed Elneny’s potential availability. An £11m January 2016 signing from Basel, the Egyptian international has followed the same career path as Mo Salah, but where the reigning PFA Player of the Year’s career has exploded, Elneny’s has stagnated.
Never really more than a bit part player under Arsene Wenger, Elneny is not even that under Unai Emery. He has not had a Premier League look in at all this season, but is usually utilised in the Europa League and cup competitions, with the other stiffs and youngsters. In terms of what he would offer Cardiff, well they would certainly benefit from the 94% pass accuracy he has registered over the last couple of years.
Whether Elneny would see a temporary move to someone like Cardiff as slumming it or an opportunity to revive his Premier League prospects remains to be seen, but he did turn down a move to then champions Leicester a couple of summers ago. Times change though and Elneny would be like a greatest hits of Cardiff’s existing midfielders and tailor made for their current needs.