With Neil Warnock revealing at a fan’s forum that we are close to signing a striker on loan, the VFTN team considers just who Cardiff’s loan ranger – or lone, rangey striker – might be (hint: it’s not Nile Ranger):
Artem Dzyuba
Russia had a pretty good World Cup on home turf and Artem Dzyuba epitomised their no-nonsense nature. Bit of a battering ram, Dzyuba led the line for the Russians as they marched on the quarter finals. And it wasn’t long before the press put two and two together and matched up Dzyuba with Warnock’s predilection for a big lad up top. Sure, we already have Zohore and Madine but we’ve signed a little lad now – Reid – and we need another big lad to balance out that madness.
Dzyuba seems to score about one in every two games and looked pretty mobile. If we are looking for a talisman to push Zohore to improve, Dzyuba could be it. Why a loan? Russians earn decent Roubles in the Russian League and he probably wouldn’t want to cash his chips from Zenit for good just yet. We would probably also want to subsidise his wage rather than pay full whack – so it could be a canny move by our Neil.
Ben James (@benjaminjames27)
Tammy Abraham
Yes, an ex-Jack, but we’ll let him off as he was only a loanee! Abraham certainly impressed on-loan at Bristol City two years ago and did relatively well at Swansea last year.
It’s hard to see him getting first team football at Chelsea this year, so I think another loan move would be beneficial.
He may not have the stature of a striker we’d all expect Warnock to bring in to challenge Big Ken, but Abraham certainly has the size to offer a presence up top. He’s fast too, which is something I think Gary Madine lacked to be a real alternative to Ken.
For Tammy, this just makes sense. Getting an upgrade on last season’s loan destination and the chance to prove himself at Wales’ number one club – it just makes sense.
Scott Salter (@scottsltr)
Nahki Wells
This one seems way beyond the realms of possibility but given the good form of Sam Vokes, Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood and the emergence of young talent Daniel Agyei there may just be an opportunity for the bluebirds to sneak this over the line.
Nahki Wells is a player I have long since admired and often thought of as beyond Cardiff City’s reach; however, given our recent promotion this one seems to be plausible to say the least.
Blessed with pace and most definitely an eye for goal, Wells could work well with Zohore or Madine and would certainly get the supporters off their seats and could even be classed as a marquee buy.
I would love to see the Bluebirds push hard for this one, if we mean business we should show such ambition in the market.
Paul Gronow (@bluebirdblogger)
Oumar Niasse
Everyone is fishing for clues as to who the striker Neil Warnock is targeting on loan might be. Well a couple of months back, he was interviewed on TalkSPORT when rumours of a dressing room split at Everton were being discussed. Rumour had it that 28-year-old Oumar Niasse was at the centre of the issues and Warnock quipped: “I think they should let him go for about £1 million to me, and let me have the problem. Then your dressing room will be perfect!”
A topical throwaway comment maybe, or maybe the planting of a seed. The Senegalese international cost Everton a reported £13.5m a couple of years back and it is safe to say that he has not been a runaway success. The six-foot forward has not racked up many goals, but he has the sort of work ethic that would appeal to Warnock and it remains to be seen if he features in Marcos Silva’s plans. Whoever it is, it’s likely to be a familiar name and maybe Niasse Iz dat guy.
Scott Johnson (@roathboy)