Cardiff City

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Cardiff City are working on a deal to sign goalkeeper Ethan Horvath from Premier League side Nottingham Forest.

The USA international's arrival would cast doubt over the Cardiff future of Arsenal loanee Alex Runarsson.

Horvath was part of Luton Town's promotion surge from the Championship last season while on loan at the Hatters.

But his sole outing this season has been in a friendly for the USA against Oman.

Horvath's last appearance for Forest was their Championship play-off victory over Huddersfield in May 2022.

Colorado-born Horvath, capped nine times by the USA, began his career with Molde, then managed by former Cardiff boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. He won the 2014 Norwegian Premier League with them.

Horvath then moved to Club Brugge, winning the Belgian Pro-League three times and that nation's Super Cup. He also has experience of European competition.

Icelandic international Runarssson, 28, has made just six Championship appearances for the Bluebirds.

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Cardiff City are closing in on a deal to sign David Turnbull from Celtic.

A number of clubs were reportedly interested in the midfield player.

However, Cardiff look as if they will snap up the £2m rated Scotland international for a fee.

Turnbull, 24, has seven goals in 16 Scottish Premier games this season.

The five-times capped former Motherwell player is out of contract at Celtic this summer.

But Cardiff are keen to get the deal over the line before Thursday’s 11pm January deadline.

The former Motherwell player has made 100 league appearances for Celtic, winning the Scottish Premiership twice, along with two Scottish Cup titles and a pair of Scottish League Cup medals. He also has Champions League experience.

Providing formalities are completed on Thursday, Turnbull would join former Celtic colleague Nat Phillips at the Championship club.

Liverpool defender Phillips joined Cardiff on Tuesday, after a loan spell at Celtic earlier this campaign.

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Cardiff's Gambian midfielder Ebou Adams is set to join League One Derby County on loan for the rest of the season.

After a collarbone injury wrecked his first season at Cardiff, the 28-year old has been restricted to just three league starts this term, with eight Championship appearances from the bench.

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Cardiff have made no secret of the fact they would like to bring Kieffer Moore back from Bournemouth in this transfer window.

Having struggled for regular first-team football this season, the Wales striker has been linked with a move away.

Bournemouth visit West Ham in the Premier League on Thursday - the day the transfer window shuts - and Moore is expected to be involved, as things stand.

“It is going to be very difficult for everyone," said Cherries boss Andoni Iraola.

“It happened in the summer, the day before Brentford away, there were a couple of situations with players.

“We are going to the hotel. Everyone available is going to travel.

“I will be focused on West Ham, to prepare for the game, but it is obvious that these things are on the minds of everyone.”

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With the January transfer window closing on Thursday night, Cardiff are hoping for a flurry of late activity.

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Cardiff City are banking on a late flurry of transfer activity to bolster their Championship campaign.

BBC Sport Wales understands Cardiff are targeting up to five signings before the transfer window closes at 23:00 GMT on Thursday.

Liverpool defender Nat Phillips is set to be Erol Bulut's newest recruit, on loan for the rest of the season.

But the club are still monitoring the situation of Wales striker Kieffer Moore, at Bournemouth.

He is believed to be keen on a move, but Cardiff - and his other potential suitors - are relying on the Cherries being willing to sell.

At present, they do not appear to want to offload their centre forward, who is keen to increase his playing minutes before Wales' key Euro 2024 games in March.

Underlining all Cardiff's business is their awareness of the English Football League's Financial Fair Play policy.

Cardiff are now able to sign players for fees in January, having been under an embargo up to last summer.

BBC Wales Sport understands the club have been in contact with the EFL over the matter in recent days.

A Cardiff source said: "We are respectful of the EFL rules."

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Cardiff City are one of a number of clubs interested in Celtic midfielder David Turnbull.

The 24-year-old has made 16 appearances in the league for the Scottish Premiership leaders this season and has scored seven goals.

However he has started just one game since 3 December and is now interesting several clubs, including the Bluebirds.

Turnbull, who has played five times for Scotland, is out of contract in the summer.

Cardiff, who have had a quiet January so far, are set to sign Liverpool defender Nathaniel Phillips for the remainder of the season after his loan at Celtic was cut short.

The club's only completed signing so far is Japanese defender Ryotaro Tsunoda but he is spending the remainder of the season on loan at Belgian side KV Kortrijk.

Cardiff are 14th in the Championship having fallen off the pace in recent weeks.

The Bluebirds have won just two of their last eight games in the league, and are keen to get at least a couple more new players through the door before the end of the transfer window.

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Cardiff City are among the clubs being linked with Liverpool defender Nat Phillips in Monday's gossip page.

Fellow Championship sides Blackburn and Leeds are also said to be interested in signing the 26-year-old English centre-back on loan.

A former Anfield academy player who made 20 appearances for the Reds in 2020-21, he spent the first half of this season at Celtic, making just eight appearances before his loan with the Scottish champions was cut short.

Once hailed as a 'monster' in the air by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, Phillips has also had loan spells with German side VfB Stuttgart and AFC Bournemouth, where he helped the Cherries win promotion to the Premier League in 2022.

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The Cardiff City transfer committee, led by chairman Mehmet Dalman, probably aren't big Monty Python fans, writes Michael Pearlman.

Any Python fan knows that the chief weapon is 'surprise' and when it comes to this transfer window, the Bluebirds have perhaps been guilty of showing their hand too readily.

The Bluebirds manager Erol Bulut has repeatedly expressed a need for Cardiff to make signings, even going so far as to suggest his future might hinge on it.

The club, who had already said that they were looking to bring players in, then doubled down in stating signings should be coming and that they wanted Bulut to stay on board, with Dalman repeating that the club are "optimistic," about making signings.

Bulut has even expressed a desire to sign specific players, notably Bournemouth forward Kieffer Moore.

However, with 26 days of the window gone, Cardiff are yet to make any significant additions to their squad.

Have Cardiff made life trickier for themselves by being so candid in stating their need to sign new players?

Time well tell, but perhaps it is unsurprising Cardiff are finding prices higher than they would like, considering they've been so open about how much they need players.

It feels as if Bulut's future is inextricably linked to the level of business Cardiff do before the transfer window closes, with anything less than several new arrivals unlikely to be well received by the manager.

It's going to be a really interesting few days in the Welsh capital.

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Cardiff City are launching a new ‘Former Players Association’ to help commemorate the club’s 125th anniversary.

The club says it wants to recognise former male and female players and "reconnect" them with supporters, in addition to celebrating the club’s landmark year.

The Bluebirds have also asked for "expressions of interest" for a representative of the club’s women’s team to join the interim board of the new association.

Already on the board are former Bluebirds Roger Gibbins, David Giles, Lee Jarman, Gary Bell and Damon Searle, as well as club medical director Len Noakes and historian Terry Phillips.

Cardiff City CEO, Ken Choo said: “We are delighted to help support this initiative to reconnect our former players with the club.

"These legends and icons are part of Cardiff City’s rich history, and their contributions will be forever valued.

"We want them to feel welcome and that they will always be a huge part of our club.”

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Cardiff City have completed their first signing of the January window after confirming a deal for Japanese defender Ryotaro Tsunoda.

But the 24-year-old will not be available to manager Erol Bulut this season having immediately joined Belgian side KV Kortrijk on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan is also majority shareholder at the Pro-League side.

Bluebirds boss Bulut had revealed earlier this month the deal had been agreed but the paperwork has been finalised, with Cardiff saying the loan move is aimed at allowing Tsunoda to gain experience of football in Europe.

Tsunoda can play at both left back and the centre of defence and has been part of the Marinos side that qualified for next month's AFC Champions League knock-out stages.

He was called into the Japan squad earlier this season but the former youth international missed out on a cap through injury.

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There's been no cup run to get excited about for Cardiff City fans this season, so how about reminiscing of glories past instead?

An FA Cup third round exit against Sheffield Wednesday means no tie for Erol Bulut's side this weekend, but the League Cup takes centre stage before the fourth round action.

It includes Championship Middlesbrough aiming to maintain their advantage in the second-leg of their semi-final against Chelsea tonight.

If they do, they'll become the first team outside the top-flight to reach the final in 11 years.

And the first Championship team since 2012 - when Cardiff met Liverpool at Wembley, as referenced in a look at the seven non-Premier League sides to reach the final since 1991.

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Cardiff lost out in a rollercoaster final having first taken the lead through striker Joe Mason.

Martin Skrtel forced extra time before Dirk Kuyt put Liverpool ahead, only for Ben Turner to equalise and send the game to penalties - prompting the big defender's shirtless celebrations.

Anthony Gerrard's penalty miss handed Kenny Dalglish's side the trophy but it remains a memory to look back on and smile.

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Cardiff City defender Oliver Denham has returned to the club after his loan spell at Dundee United was ended early.

Denham, 21, agreed a season-long loan with the Scottish Championship side.

But he has now returned to the Bluebirds after making just two competitive appearances for the Tangerines.

Dundee United said it was a mutual agreement with Cardiff to terminate the loan with immediate effect.

Denham, who has previously been called into Rob Page’s Wales squad, broke into the Cardiff first-team in 2021 under his former Under-21 manager Steve Morison.

It included an FA Cup appearance at Anfield against Premier League Liverpool.

But after seven outings in his maiden season, Denham made just one appearance last year ahead of his move to Scotland where his only minutes came in Scottish League Cup fixtures in July.

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Former Cardiff City No.1 Alex Smithies has seen his career ended early by injury.

The 33-year-old had spent the past 18 months at Leicester after leaving the Bluebirds at the end of his contract.

But he failed to make an appearance for the Foxes after moving from south Wales, with the club confirming he has "regrettably been forced to call time on a 17-year playing career, external."

Smithies had made almost 400 appearances for Huddersfield and QPR before he was snapped up by Neil Warnock in a deal worth £3.5m following Cardiff's promotion to the Premier League in 2018.

The former England youth keeper failed to oust Neil Etheridge as first choice in his debut season at Cardiff City Stadium, but was a regular between the sticks from then on.

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He helped Neil Harris' side reach the Championship play-offs in 2020 and wore the gloves for the Bluebirds 100 times during his four-year spell, also playing under Mick McCarthy and Steve Morison.

But his time in the Welsh capital ended when he opted to move closer to his home with the Bluebirds unable to agree a new deal as they cut their wage bill.

It also saw Morison drop Smithies before the end of the season to give understudy Dillon Phillips game-time.

Smithies' final outing for Cardiff was far from a happy memory; the 4-0 south Wales derby win for Swansea City in 2022.

That would ultimately be the final game of Smithies' career.

Erol Bulut’s revealing interview with BBC Sport Wales has certainly got Cardiff’s fanbase talking, with many hoping the Bluebirds boss stays in his role.

Supporters on BBC Radio Wales’ Call Rob Phillips programme gave their thoughts on Bulut’s revelation that he could leave the club if he feels he’s not supported by the club’s board during the January transfer window.

“I thought the interview was explosive to say the least,” said Steve from Barry.

“We all know things haven't been right down the city since October, something has gone on behind the scenes.

“You can see Bulut is under pressure, maybe from above, and he’s obviously disgruntled with the lack of investment.

“But the manager does tweak throughout games, the tactics and formation, and players don't know what formation they’re playing. There’s no pattern to the play at Cardiff City.

“Listening to that interview, reading between the lines, it looks like the manager has had enough. I’m a big Cardiff fan, I've been going since 1966, and the football has been abysmal”.

Paul from Cardiff is also unhappy with recent performances but hopes Bulut gets support:

"He was promised money in January, pre-season we signed good players that no one had heard of and I thought we would have built players around them,” he said.

“I think the biggest problem with Cardiff at the moment is midfield, it’s shocking it is.

“A lot of my friends are big Cardiff fans and they said if we can finish in the top ten at the end of the season they’d bite your arm off.

“The way the manager spoke he's as frustrated as we are. Between now and next week, a lot is going to happen at that club one way or another”.

Former Wales striker Iwan Roberts says manager Erol Bulut needs the support of the Cardiff City board in the January transfer window.

Bulut has cast doubt on his future at the Championship club following his comments after their 3-1 defeat by Plymouth that he's "not happy about many things" during the transfer window.

"I'm not surprised (by Bulut’s post match comments)" Roberts said on BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast programme

"It’s been a quiet month so far for Cardiff. The fans had been hopeful they could bring a striker into the team. Right back defender Perry NG is the Bluebirds' highest goal scorer this season, and he only has five goals, and you wouldn’t have expected that from him.

"Aaron Ramsey is nearly fit, but the man (Bulut) needs help. They’re currently on a disappointing run: they’ve lost three now in a row, have lost four of their last five, and nine of their last 14. It’s pretty obvious Erol Bulut needs help and that’s the problem. They’ve scored one goal or less in their 15 of their 28 games, and it’s plainly obvious where the squad needs to strengthen."

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Former captain Jason Perry has described Cardiff City's hierarchy as a "circus" amid concerns Erol Bulut could leave the club.

Following his side's 3-1 loss at Plymouth Argyle, Turkish boss Bulut stated he was not happy with "many things" at the club.

He went on to suggest he would have to consider his own future with the Bluebirds.

And former Wales and Cardiff defender Jason Perry feels the club's owner Vincent Tan should not have publicly declared his intentions to back Bulut in the January transfer window given the club's inability to bring any players so far this month.

"I've been saying it for years, Erol Bulut is finding out what every manager finds out when they step into the hotseat of Cardiff City... it is a circus above you, and there in itself is the problem at Cardiff City, and it will not change," Perry said on BBC Radio Wales' Call Rob.

"I was at the game working with [BBC Sport Wales football correspondent] Rob Phillips when Rob interviewed Vincent Tan. Vincent Tan said he was going to give the manager money in the January transfer window, play-offs he was talking about.

"I came back with negatives. That does not give me any confidence, I wish he wouldn't talk, you'll cause more harm than good.

"January is a difficult time to spend your money. You know if you're going to spend in January, you're going to pay over the odds. It isn't a secret.

"If you're not prepared to do that, you don't get your players. So if you're not going to do that, don't say anything."

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Nathan Blake feels Cardiff City boss Erol Bulut's "hands are tied" given the club's failure to bring in any players so far during the transfer window.

Bulut has regularly stated his desire to add to his squad in the winter window, although with two-thirds of January now gone, Cardiff are yet to sign a player.

"The manager has been talking about bringing in players in the January transfer window since early December, maybe late November," Blake said on BBC Radio Wales.

“You try and keep those cards close to your chest but I think it’s probably as a result of trying to convince the owner to do some business.

“He’s probably come in with the assumption that, come January, we’ll make the squad a bit stronger and move forward. He’s trying to embed himself in the club while progressing, but it’s just not happening.

“He’s blindfolded, his hands are tied. He’s not sure what’s happening."

Blake's comments come after Bulut said"some things have to change" at the club following Cardiff's 3-1 defeat to Plymouth Argyle.

“Where does he go from here? The next step is ‘I have to start questioning myself and my own future’," added former Wales and Cardiff striker Blake.

“I’ll still maintain, I think he can get more out of this team. These players earlier on in the season were doing far better than what they’re doing now, and I don’t think they’ve really improved from a coaching perspective.

“But at the same time, if he doesn’t feel he’s getting backed or the club has a plan to move forward, then it’s almost ‘what’s the point?’ and I think that’s what you’re hearing from him now.

“He’s starting to question whether it’s worthwhile for him to be here because there doesn’t seem to be any sort of plan in place."