Three positions Cardiff City must prioritise during January transfer window

Cardiff City failed to make up ground in the Championship playoff race on Saturday, suffering a heavy home defeat to Leeds United. The Bluebirds were outclassed at home, but results elsewhere meant they didn’t lose ground on the top six.

Erol Bulut has performed better than expected so far this season, but it feels as though City may have reached their ceiling with their current squad, needing reinforcements to compete with the better teams in this division. Signings are likely during the January window, but Bulut will have to shop on the cheap.

Here we have rounded up the three types of players Cardiff most need to sign as they look to put together a serious playoff charge.

Holding midfielder

What Cardiff arguably miss the most is a holding midfielder who is comfortable on the ball. Emmanouil Siopis has been a nice addition this season, while Joe Ralls is a steady pro, and Aaron Ramsey has the talent to make incisive passes when fit. But the Bluebirds don’t have anyone who can receive or win the ball and then have the composure and confidence to put their foot on it and slow the game down.

The Bluebirds are quickly overwhelmed against fast-paced teams who move the ball quickly, and they desperately need a player who can control the rhythm of the game. Ramsey may well be forced to take up this role, but City would be better served signing a defensive midfielder who is comfortable both breaking up play defensively and keeping the ball offensively. That Aron Gunnarson, Marko Grujic-type.

Striker

It’s clear Cardiff need a striker, and Bulut has made no bones about it. The Bluebirds have lost loanee Ike Ugbo during this window, and that even mean they go after two frontment this winter, providing they can get one on the cheap and another on a loan deal.

Kion Etete is currently Cadiff’s leading scorer with five, while Karlan Grant has four. City need a reliable goalscorer who is consistent in front of goal to make the difference in tight games. A striker has not been responsible for the winning goal in any of Cardiff’s last three wins, and that tells a story.

Though, it’s not only goals the Bluebirds need. They could also do with a forward who can hold up play and give the midfield a chance to step up the field. That may well be why Kieffer Moore has been so heavily linked this winter.

Pacey winger

While the top two positions are clear priorities, the third is a little more difficult to pick. Jak Alnwick has performed well of late, likely ruling out a goalkeeper signing, while the back-line has been relatively solid this season. Centre-midfield will need addressing at some point, but Cardiff need goals more than anything else, and they could do with a pacey winger to help make that happen. Even better, a wing-back may suit given a lack of depth at full-back.

The likes of Josh Bowler and Ollie Tanner have been bright sparks at times, while Grant has played wide. But City could do with a winger with pure pace both to stretch opposition back lines and to take on opposing full-backs. We haven’t seen enough of that this season.