News broke in the local Reading press on deadline day that Cardiff City were close to agreeing a move for former Dutch youth international Leandro Bacuna.
Bacuna joins from Championship side Reading, but has Premier League experience from a spell with Aston Villa.
The VFTN team give their verdict on City’s latest recruit.
Scott Salter
“Bacuna isn’t going to get the pulses racing, but I think it’s a positive signing. Is he going to be first choice? Probably not. Does he improve our strength in depth? Absolutely.
Bacuna can reportedly play in the centre of midfield and at right-back, both positions we’ve lacked real depth in. He brings a bit of creativity, which could be important at right-back. He’d certainly be more likely to change a game compared to Lee Peltier, for example.
So overall, I think this is a positive signing. He’s not the big name, exciting player most had hoped for, but an astute signing that could pay off. He’s a Bluebird now, so time to get behind him.
Ben Isaacs
Well, Leandro Bacuna is definitely a footballer. The problem is he’s probably only a Championship footballer. There’s been talk through the entire window about Warnock bringing in right back and if you had any inkling before today that it was be Bacuna then you’re either very astute or were being very pessimistic.
It’s good to have depth in this position but if City stay up this season I’m struggling to foresee a situation where Bacuna was instrumental in that achievement. I’m not going to say it’s a bad signing or even a pointless signing, but we all know it’s not an exciting one.
Warnock has signed players before where we’ve heard fans of the player’s previous teams say how rubbish he is. And some of those have turned out very nicely indeed.
Paul Gronow
I’ve found it very difficult to muster any sort of enthusiasm for any new signings since Sala’s tragic disappearance and I suspect that even if we were to sign Messi himself I’d feel the same.
Despite all of that I recognise that football waits for no man and Cardiff City have to press on regardless. The right back position has been a concern for some time now since Jazz Richards has been unable to shake off a dreadful run of injuries and Lee Peltier whilst absolutely solid at the back very rarely ventures forward or offers any attacking threat.
Bacuna represents a sensible buy, premier league experience and pace to go with it doesn’t often come cheap and at £3 million this seems a great deal. Unlike others, I won’t be writing him off before he’s even kicked a ball for us. Well done to all involved and welcome to the Bluebirds Leandro.
Ben James
It’s a left field one but I’m not against it. We’re perilously thin in the middle of the park and at right back – especially with Jazz Richards seemingly a game away from fitness on a weekly basis.
Bacuna isn’t a star name but as a Cardiff fan, I’ve never been interested in the star names. Reading fans might laugh that we want to sign him but then Leeds fans couldn’t believe we’d signed Bamba.
A utility player who has Premier League experience for a few million quid? Can’t turn my nose up at it too much. He’s not going to set the world on fire but it’s important we get backup in key positions with a bit of a battle ahead. And Bacuna can provide that.