Olofinjana leaves Tigerish Hull for Bluebird Heaven

Dave Jones today suceeded in landing a key transfer target as Seyi Olofinjana joined Cardiff City on a season-long loan from fellow Championship outfit Hull City. He becomes City’s third loan signing after Danny Drinkwater and Jason Koumas and further strengthens what had been a threadbare midfield and must place question marks over the futures of players such as Gavin Rae, Aaron Wildig and Solomon Taiwo.

Chasing Torres but warming up for City!

Cardiff fans have been craving a midfield enforcer, Olofinjana, with 51 international caps, fits the bill. As mentioned on the blog last night, he featured in half of Hull’s doomed Premier League campaign last season and has moved between Wolves (where he was once managed by Dave Jones of course), Stoke and Hull for fees totalling almost £8M in the past 5 years.

The Tigers need to drastically reduce their wage bill and playing squad being in severe financial difficulties themselves. On £20k per week, it is believed Hull will still pay the majority of Olofinjana’s weekly wage but they realised they had little or no chance of selling their contracted player and this was the best option … all of which helped Jones make the deal.

The player, an unused Hull sub in their win over Swansea at the weekend, is drafted straight into the squad for tomorrow’s Carling Cup home round 1 tie with Burton Albion.

Taiwo - from a Bluebird to a Canary

The best Cardiff City fans saw of Taiwo
Play for Dagenham & Redbridge against City!

It is being reported that Championship returnees Norwich City have agreed a deal with Cardiff City to sign midfielder Solomon Taiwo subject to a medical over the next few days.

A gamble signing by Dave Jones last August, Taiwo has had a very forgettable time in South Wales managing just two starts (and one of those where when 9 players were rested in the final league game of the season) and another 6 brief outings from the sub's bench. Cardiff were happy to release him to League One Colchester in January until City's injury crisis and transfer embargo forced hom to stay essentially to help make up the numbers.

Cardiff fans will generally be pleased the club are shipping out a player who did not like he would succeed here and amazed the club are also to reportedly pocket £150,000 too.


I happen to think Taiwo is a better footballer than we ever saw at Cardiff. He was highly rated at The Daggers and his best display of the season was probably the game he played for them against us in the Carling Cup.

However he didn't get much of a chance at City and when he did, he looked like a player with shot confidence.

Lambert at Norwich will have seen him play in the lower leagues and probably recognises that he's worth a punt and can get something more out of him.

However Taiwo is 25 and this will be his 12th or 13th club I think which is ridiculous. He's running out of time to live up to the promise he can sometimes show.

Transfer Deadline Day but No Activity Expected at City

The transfer window for 2009 slams firmly shut at 5pm today but Cardiff City supremo Peter Ridsdale is already on record as expecting no deals to take place involving the club.


There are no current enquiries for any players and of the most saleable assets, Ross McCormack faces another month out of action while Joe Ledley is about is sign a new deal to remain at the club.


Manager Dave Jones would dearly like 2 or 3 more players but revised that to just one at the weekend but without players leaving, he knows that is remote. Fans are also concerned if City now face Jay Bothroyd being absent for a while but there is always the loan market which remains available to the club.

Ridsdale told Wales Online: "I don't expect any more players coming in. As far as anybody going out, that is out of my control. If anybody comes in with a bid which matches our valuation of a player we would consider that. But, if I was a betting man, I would think the squad at Doncaster will be the same as that for the match against Newcastle."

Mr. Hudson set for Cardiff gig

CARDIFF CITY have confirmed they have had a bid accepted for an unnamed defender but it is supposedly someone other than Motherwell's captain and right back Paul Quinn and believed to be Charlton Athletic skipper and centre half Mark Hudson, the deal reportedly worth what strikes me as a rather inflated £700,000. Surely not that much?

Hudson "proud" wears a Charlton scarf last summer
Bet he'll soon "proudly" be wearing a Cardiff one

At 27, Hudson doesn't fit the vastly experienced category with just 170 league outings under his belt, the majority with Crystal Palace where he made his name before switching to Charlton last summer on a free transfer and managing 43 starts and 3 goals as The Addicks finished bottom of the Championship and were relegated to League One.

However Cardiff badly need two centre halves with Darren Purse departed and Roger Johnson sold so reinforcements are urgently required. He is also a known Cardiff City target as manager Dave Jones tried but narrowly failed to bring him to the club in the January transfer window.

The player was reportedly engaged in talks with Cardiff City today but there is no more news as yet.

Cardiff McCity go Jock-tastic with their first summer signing

They had the third worst defence on the Championship conceding 70 and got relegated in 22nd spot but Cardiff City have tonight confirmed Norwich City goalkeeper DAVID MARSHALL as their first capture for next season after The Canaries accepted a six figure Bluebirds bid.

His final game for Norwich was hardly the occasion for his 100th appearence with the club as his side were beaten 4-2 at bottom club Charlton and relegated to League One with them. After that game 10 days ago, Marshall said, "I've no problems staying here because I don't think there are clubs lining up for any of the boys when we've just had 46 games to stay in the Championship and got relegated." However with 12 months left on his contract, he was the first to get out and said afterwards, referring to intenational ambitions how "Scotland won't look at third division players so I've got to think about that".


At 24 and 6'3", Marshall was the only ever present for Delia's boys last season after joining the club from Celtic for a cool £1M two years ago. He caused a stir with his hometown club by getting an emergency call to a famous European tie against Barcelona a couple of years ago and starring as man of the match to help them to victory including a penalty save against Ronaldinho.


Norwich supporters have displayed natural angst about it all. They will the fee is circa £400,000 but are gutted at his lack of loyalty and jumping ship. Sour grapes will always play their part but they're not exactly full of praise for a keeper they talk about being disorganised, a poor communicator and quiet, not good with crosses who stands his line but a good shot stopper. Sound just like what we're used to then! As if to contradict that opinion, ACTIM official stats made him the top performing Norwich player and ranked him the 49th best player in the Championship last season so it can't be as bad as they say especially after he starred for Scotland B last week and is on the verge of a first team squad call up.


After City rid themselves of loan men Tom Heaton, Dimi and Stuart Taylor last week, Marshall goes head to head with Peter Enckleman for the goalkeeper spot next season and is likely to be favourite while Enckleman also recovers from injury.


He will certainly feel at home in South Wales with City also having Scotsmen Ross McCormack, Kevin McNaughton, Gavin Rae and Chris Burke. Welcome to Cardiff Mr Marshall.

'Well boss to Porter - Join The City!

Motherwell manager Mark McGhee will be speaking to striker Chris Porter after his U-Turn and urge him to sign for Cardiff City before the opportunity passes. McGhee also believes the player is being badly advised by his agent but there are some suuggestions he would prefer to joimn Derby County - muppet!

Read this story for more:

Ninian is the right place for Porter – McGhee

Willo Signs On at Celtic

Wee Willo Flood has completed his move from Cardiff City to Celtic and everyone seems delighted. Flood, an expensive failure at Ninian Park after being bought for £200,000, went for free when City had hoped for £50,000 but the club were just happy to get him off their wage bill as Dundee United, where he had been on loan for one and a half seasons, paid a relatively minor portion of his pay.

Willo, a lifelong Celtic fan, is delighted to be joining the club he adores while Gordon Strachan, Celtic boss, is happy to get such a capture for nothing.

Flood expressed his delight at joining Celtic, thanked Dundee United but had nothing to say about Cardiff ... it's mutual though as Cardiff City fans haven't really got anything to say about him. The average City fan had forgotten he was a Cardiff player before all this transfer talk emerged after all. The time spent at the club saw him have some popularity with the fans for a time before it was widely acknowledged he was too lightweight for the demands at that time.

Some players and transfers just don't work out at some clubs. that's how it was with Willo here. Good Luck to him.

Porter given 24 hours by City

It's ni sirprise to lean Chris Porter stalled on his move to Cardiff City due to the influence of agents. The player apparently advised he may get a better summer deal when out of contract.

No doubt, City's contract offer would be lucrative but why not be even greedier eh?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1132037/Motherwell-left-sweat-picking-windfall-striker-Porter.html?ITO=1490

Flood to sign for Celtic today

The day after missing the decisive penalty in an extraoridinary 11-10 penalty shoot-out that put his on-loan side Dundee United out of a Scottish Cup to Celtic, Willo Flood met up with the victors to take a full medical and is set to be unveiled as a new signing today joining ex-Bl;uebird Glen Loovens at the club.

Flood was in his second full season on loan at United but out of contract at Cardiff City this summer. They wanted to keep him but were unable to match his financial demands, indeed Cardiff City are believed to still be paying the bulk of his wage now.

A good story appears in today's Times about Flood.

Willo Flood on way to Celtic
Times Online


Willo Flood on way to Celtic
Times Online

Porter Deal "on hold"

It is now confirmed that the Chris Porter deal is on hold until the final day of the transfer window on Monday amid claims that he is now likely to take another deal.

The Motherwell striker apparently set off to South Wales for a medical before he "turned back to consider other options" - which translated means his agent is trying to get a better deal elsewhere first.

The Bluebirds are reported to remain interested and could yet complete the deal on Monday but whether they wish to wait and possibly lose out altogether as the transfer window shuts is another matter.

Purse - a Bluebird fleeing to a Canary?

Watching Norwich City lose a 2 goal lead to the Championship's bottom club Southampton at Carrow Road last night was out of favour Cardiff City skipper Darren Purse.

Purse versus Van Persie -
from, 3 yrs ago not 3 days ago!

Purse was reported to be a guest of the East Anglian club and will have watched on with interest as both goals conceded were the result of defensive errors.

Darren has said he would like to stay at Cardiff but he wants first team football. He has been told that City are looking for a new defender and if Dave Jones gets one, he can leave the club.

Norwich manager Bryan Gunn refused to comment post-game on whether Purse would be joining the club but it's now a reasonable bet that will be his next destination if Cardiff get their man.

Ridsdale confirms City permanent and loan bid for Ched Evans

Why is he openly talking to the media about his targets? He is openly quoted in the article below. I thought we'd learned long ago not to do this??? Obviously not.

Bluebirds eyeing Evans swoop

SkySports

Ledley, Kopumas, Striker, Defenders - latest Cardiff City transfer talk

Peter Ridsdale and Wigan sources have jointly confirmed in the South Wales Echo that The Latics bid to take Joe Ledley to the Lancashire club has been turned down by Cardiff City.

Wigan's bid appears to have been £4M for Joe plus Jason Koumas who they valued at £2M but Peter Ridsdale reiterated his desire to back Dave Jones' play-off/promotion quest, keep existing personnel at the club and try and add a new face or two instead.

Player swap deals are rare and never seem workable. Not least, I'm sure Cardiff City or any other club could get Jason Koumas for much less than £2M if they wished while Wigan's self valuation of Joe at £6M is a fair way below the price at which City would feel compelled to do business. Dave Jones and Cardiff City fans all admire Jason Koumas but his wages in excess of £20k weekly would prove problematical too.

In other news, The Echo confirmed that the club are in talks with a defender as a potential replacement for Darren Purse should he leave while they are continuing in their search for an extra striker as Eddie Johnson and Paul Parry are the only viable alternatives at present behind McCormack and Bothroyd which is far from ideal.

Echo Story

Cardiff City turn down Koumas swap with Ledley

Wigan paper links to Joe intensify but only if it's cash

According to a report in this morning's Daily Mail, there has been contact between Cardiff City and Wigan over Joe Ledley.

However while Cardiff reportedly told West Ham to find £8M last week, Wigan have been told to find £6M if this report is to be believed. It doesn't add up to me.

The report also adds that Wigan were looking to include Jason Koumas and Henri Kamara in a cash plus swap deal. City fans would love Koumas to return while Kamara has been a past target but City want cash only and, apparently, neither player was keen on being involved in such a deal.

Hold your breath time then, here we go again! The transfer window closes next Monday.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1128583/Cardiff-tell-Wigan-6m-Ledley-signing.html?ITO=1490

City Close In On Ched Evans??

Well whadya know. No sooner does News of the World hit the streets claiming we're pushing for Matt Derbyshire than its sister local, Wales on Sunday, claim we're closing in on Ched Evans instead. The article writer, Terry Phillips, is very close to City are regarded by some as its unofficial propaganda department so you have to give credence to this story.

Ched has been tracked by City for a very long while but, even so, can our bid to take him on loan for the rest of this season then buy him beat Celtic if they offer £1.2M now? Let's hope so!!!

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/2009/01/25/bluebirds-eye-ched-swoop-91466-22772091/

Cardiff City look to Lancashire for Derbyshire and a Great Dane

It's been quietly whispered for a couple of days but today's News of the World adds credence to Cardiff City making firm moves for Blackburn Rovers England Under 21 striker Matt Derbyshire.

Derbyshire, who was on loan at fellow Welsh side Wrexham a couple of years ago, is a highly rated and capable striker but who is finding his career at Blackburn developing in the slow lane at almost 23 years old and feels it's time to push on.

He has only started 28 times for the Premiership club (17 of them in the league) but racked up in excess of 50 sub outings too scoring 20 goals, 5 coming this season, so will clearly help City.

It's also rumoured that the club are enquiring about a permanent return for ex-loan star and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeicel. The keeper knows he won't get near the Man City first team with the mega-millions they are thowing about so wants out. Celtic are interested but can't guarantee him first team football and if the rumour mill is correct, Cardiff are promising more than that.

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/141599/MATT-DERBYSHIRE -FOR-CARDIFF.html

Forgotten Cardiff men heading for Celtic?

The Scottish papers are full of talk that Glasgow giants and SPL leaders are on the verge are taking WILLO FLOOD away from Ninian Park ... or, rather, Tannadice Park. He's been away from City for so long that it's hard to remember how he is still a Cardiff player by rights.


23 yr old Flood was signed by City for £200,000 from Manchester City at the start of the 2006/07 season and while he showed talent and promise, he was lightweight, far too easily knocked off the ball and not the best at tracking back to help out. He therefore found himself getting sub action only with 20 appearances off the bench and only 5 starts.

Dave Jones decided to loan him to SPL side Dundee United the folliwng season and he has become a first team srar and stand-out player in Scotland and so popular and so popular that The Terrors kept him on loan for this second season. However he is out of contract this summer and with City still paying the bulk of his wage, they are keen to tie up a deal.

United, 3rd in the SPL but 16 points behind Celtic, would love to keep him but appear unable to offer Cardiff any payment now while Celtic are believed to be ready to offer City £60,000 as well as offer Flood a vastly more lucrative contract that United could offer.



Ironically, it is also being rumoured that Celtic may soon be making a move for City's other exiled man in Scotland, Warren Feeney. Like Flood, the Feenster's face just never fitted in at City and he find himself on loan at Dundee United where he has scored 5 goals in 11 SPL starts including a double in yesterday's 3-2 win over St. Mirren.

IT REALLY MUST BE PROGRESS AT CARDIFF CITY WHEN PLAYERS WE DON'T WANT ARE INTERESTING CELTIC!!

More Here:
Celtic move for Flood with United resigned to losing midfielderScotsman

City in rumoured move for Stockport striker

CARDIFF CITY are being linked with Stockport County's forward Anthony Pilkington after suggestions that Dave Jones has made a bid for the player with the club where he started his managerial career.

Pilkington, 20 this summer, has made an impact on the North West scoring 16 goals in 63 starts + 14 sub league outings for the Manchester based club. He has been a regular this season netting 6 goals but 3 have come in his last 2 games as the League One side currently stand in 7th spot and on the verge of the play-off race for the Championship

Don't know much about him, more if this develops.

Now local press link Joe to West Ham

After national media started the week talking up a possible £5M bid for Cardiff City's Joe Ledley then promptly seeing it refuted, Wales Online have jumped in talking of The Hammers being ready to bid £5M.

Is this fresh news or are they re-hashing what has already been covered elsewhere? Regardless, does anyone see moving to West Ham as being good for Joe?

Not me, certainly.

Hammers look to nail Joe Ledley with £5m bid
WalesOnline

City believed to be in talks with 'name' striker

Cardiff City are believed to be in advanced talks to bring a key striker to the club but nobody is sure who it is although 'insiders' believe we will be delighted.

Dave Jones asked for two players to make the play-offs this season but was denied both intended targets as Wayne Routledge jumped ship to QPR and Sunderland recalled Michael Chopra.

However Chris Burke has since been signed effectively replacing Routledge and though not possessing the same dynamic pace still made an instant impression at Birmingham as a substitute last weekend.

Former City player now turned pundit Jason Perry commented on radio last night that the Michael Chopra situation is not yet dead a week after Dave Jones said it was. Is it possible this is being resurrected? After all, Chops has been an unused sub since returning to the Stadium of Light.

Another name in dispatches is Welsh international Ched Evans who is an upcoming talent. City tried to land him on loan last summer but he opted to stay. However he has not figured in Mark Hughes side for some time and new arrivals such as Craig Bellamy will only push him further away making a move more likely to have success although media speculate that Celtic may also be interested in signing him.

Fans will await developments with interest.