Cardiff City

Cardiff City are being linked with a whole host of players now the transfer window has re-opened and that can come as little surprise.

Boss Erol Bulut has been abundantly clear for two months that he wants reinforcements in this transfer window.

After a transfer embargo on paying fees for players that applied last January and in the summer, Cardiff are expected to be looking for new recruits.

Bulut first told BBC Sport Wales on 2 November that he wanted "three or four" signings this month, adding a week later that he expected the club to back his vision.

Later in November, Bulut also identified one of his key targets, Bournemouth striker Kieffer Moore.

Last month Bulut reiterated that he has been promised financial backing from club owner Vincent Tan.

"I think our owner Vincent Tan knows from our chairman (Mehmet Dalman) what we have to do, because I had talks with our chairman," Bulut said.

"These are only good things for Cardiff City. I am asking for players [who can help] push a little bit more, or stay in the level we are in right now."

So it seems pretty clear Cardiff are going to be making moves, with a striker still their priority.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Rex Features

As Wales mourns the loss of rugby icon JPR Williams, football is also coming to terms with the death of the great Franz Beckenbauer.

A World Cup winner as both a player and manager, 'Der Kaiser' was one of the most important figures in both the German and the global game.

His list of achievements is too long to mention fully, but Wales can lay claim to be the home of at least one of the milestones in his glittering career.

Beckenbauer's only playing appearance against Wales came in October 1976, in a match held in Cardiff to celebrate the Football Association of Wales' centenary. It was the captain's 101st appearance for the then world champions West Germany - and also the scene of his final goal for his country.

Yet it was his aura and elegance, not to mention his ability, that Wales and Swansea City legend Alan Curtis remembers most from that game, describing him as the best he's ever encountered.

Speaking to BBC Radio Wales' Drive programme, Curtis, who also played for Cardiff City, recalled: "They beat us 2-0 and I was playing up front by myself, as a lone striker.

"I played against three centre-halves in that game. Franz Beckenbauer was the sweeper - and he honestly strolled through the game. If you tried to close him down, he would play the ball first time; if you laid off him, he would take a touch, run with the ball, and come through with it.

“Honestly, I think he could’ve taken his kit off at the end of the game and just put his clothes back on, he wouldn’t have needed to shower. He was super cool, super composed and just a fabulous player.

“I do these question-and-answer sessions quite a lot and I regularly get the question, who’s the best player you ever played against? It’s Franz Beckenbauer, it always looked that it was just a kick about with the boys on a Saturday. He was genuinely a world class and fabulous player.

"If you gave him a little bit of time, he would just glide past players. When I played him he was coming to the end of his international career so what a player he must’ve been in his prime. Everything he did was so effortless, he didn’t give the ball away and everything he did had class stamped all over it.”

Beckenbauer only played a further two matches for West Germany, returning to manage Die Mannschaf, including two matches against Wales (a 0-0 draw in Cardiff and a 2-1 win in Cologne) as they qualified for their triumphant 1990 World Cup in Italy.

Jonathan Panzo missed Cardiff City’s FA Cup clash with Sheffield Wednesday due to an agreement with parent club Nottingham Forest.

Panzo joined Cardiff on loan last summer for the duration of the 2023-24 season but is yet to start for the Bluebirds in the Championship, featuring just five times in all competitions.

He was left out of the matchday squad for Cardiff’s 4-0 third round thrashing by the Owls at Hillsborough last Saturday.

Speaking after the defeat by Danny Rohl’s side, Cardiff assistant coach Nikolaos Karydas said of Panzo’s absence: “I think it’s part of an agreement with Nottingham Forest, but I don’t know any other details.”

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Do Cardiff need to sign a new striker in the January transfer window?

Former Wales front man Iwan Roberts certainly thinks so, after the Bluebirds missed two penalties as they were thumped 4-0 by Sheffield Wednesday in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Ryan Wintle and Callum Robinson both had spot-kicks saved by Owls goalkeeper Cameron Dawson as Cardiff were dumped out of the competition in miserable fashion.

“It would be nice if someone could put the ball into the back of the net from a penalty,” Roberts told BBC Radio Cymru's Dros Frecwast.

“Ryan Wintle missing after four minutes, Callum Robinson missing after seven minutes.

“If I was a Cardiff supporter, I wouldn’t want to see Callum Robinson anywhere near a penalty.

“I think that’s the fourth he’s now missed.

“They had enough efforts on goal, they had more shots than Sheffield Wednesday but they need a striker.”

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Erol Bulut is expected to return to the dugout for Cardiff City’s Championship clash with Leeds United.

Bluebirds boss Bulut was absent for his side’s 4-0 FA Cup third round loss to Sheffield Wednesday due to illness.

But assistant coach Nikolaos Karydas – who took charge of Cardiff at Hillsborough – says Bulut should be on the sidelines when the Bluebirds welcome Leeds to the Welsh capital on Saturday.

“I can inform you that’s he’s (Bulut) healthy,” said Karydas.

“I believe that he will be back soon.

“I’m sure that against Leeds he will be on the bench.”

Cardiff are currently ninth in the league and sit three points adrift of the play-off places.

Leeds are seven points off the automatic promotion spots in fourth.