Kieffer Moore: Cardiff City bid to stop returning Wales striker
- Published
Ipswich are second in the Championship and chasing a second successive promotion
Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut says he was desperate to sign Kieffer Moore as he plots a way to stop Ipswich Town's Wales international forward.
Bulut made two attempts to sign the ex-Cardiff player from Bournemouth, at the start of the season and again in January.
Moore, 31, instead moved to promotion-chasing Ipswich on loan and he has scored four goals in eight appearances prior to Saturday's trip to Cardiff.
"We have to stop him," Bulut explained.
"We were planning with him at the start of the season and also in January. He made his decision to move to Ipswich - we have to respect this. Now we are his opponents.
"After the game, when we win the game, we can be friends again.
"Kieffer has good quality as a striker, what every team wants. That's why we wanted him here."
Bulut, who has presided over three successive victories to lift Cardiff to 10th in the Championship, says he understands why Moore opted for Ipswich over a return to Wales.
"It's not easy. Ipswich are in a different position, maybe getting promoted, so a player maybe decides to join these kinds of teams, not a team who is in the eighth, ninth, 10th position," he said.
"It is more possible for him to get promoted and to continue with the same team, that's why I think he made the decision."
Wintle still hopes for a reunion
Moore, who was a fan favourite in his time with the Bluebirds, may find a less friendly reception when he returns to the Cardiff City Stadium, but his former Cardiff team-mate Ryan Wintle says he still hopes to be reunited with Moore in the future.
"He is a great player and a friend of mine," he said.
"I'm sure that when he left it was because he had aspirations of playing in the Premier League. He's played there now and will look at it as good times here. You can't say he won't come back here at some point - you don't know, do you?
"It'll be good to see him on Saturday, but hopefully he doesn't score."
Wintle says Cardiff's players are understanding of why Moore opted not to rejoin Cardiff.
"He was looking at his own career," he said.
"Ipswich were second in the league at the time. If they get promoted to the Premier League and he signs there on a permanent deal then it's perfect for him.
"For him, it's his career. But you never know if he will come back here at some time."