' CARDIFF CITY TARGET THREE QUALITY NEW SIGNINGS '
Cardiff City target three quality new signings and get prepared to shed up to a dozen players this summer
Thursday 19th May 2016
BY PAUL ABBANDONATO
Trollope seeks striker, dominant midfield playmaker and pacy wide-man, but it could be the end for several unused Bluebirds currently on the books
Cardiff City boss Paul Trollope is ready to conduct a massive shake-up of the Bluebirds squad by shedding up to a dozen players and bringing in three quality newcomers for the 2016-17 campaign.
Trollope will have to work on names with the Bluebirds’ board before heading off in Wales Euro 2016 duty shortly, where he will be a key member of Chris Coleman’s backroom team in France.
Cardiff believe they already have in place the nucleus of a side who can challenge for promotion next season, but want three new kingpins to drive them over the line.
A goal-getting striker is clearly the key priority. However, we understand the Bluebirds are also targeting a ball-playing, dominant midfielder to partner youngster Joe Ralls in the centre, as well as a winger who can bring real zip and creativity to the front line.
Trollope believes Cardiff already possess one of the best defences in the division and in David Marshall the number one goalkeeper outside of the Premier League.
The idea moving forward is to focus upon quality over quantity to supplement the main players already in the team, with Trollope accepting the squad he has taken charge of is far too top-heavy with numbers.
Cardiff owner Vincent Tan feels uncomfortable continuing to pay players who don’t get a look-in when it comes to significant first-team action and wants Trollope to sort out who goes, and who stays, ahead of the August Championship kick-off.
That is what chairman Mehmet Dalman meant when, upon announcing Trollope as manager, he also revealed further cutbacks would be necssary.
The Bluebirds believe it is even more important to trim numbers from the wage bill if they are to sign the trio of quality players Trollope needs to work with to turn Cardiff into a Championship force.
Trollope will be away with Wales from the start of June and his focus has to be on helping Gareth Bale and co make their mark in the Euro finals, when they tangle with England, Russia and Slovakia.
However, his advice and guidance on who to shed, and who the Bluebirds could target, will be taken before that.
Even though Trollope will be away in June, Cardiff have a transfer committee in place to decide upon and negotiate deals.
There are a plethora of players whose Bluebirds futures will come under scrutiny, including a number who have been out on loan this season.
They include outcast strikers Adam Le Fondre, Federico Macheda and Eoin Doyle, plus midfielder Tom Adeyemi and goalkeeper Joe Lewis.
Kenwyne Jones is also techncially still a Bluebird, but his contract runs out this summer and he is unlikely to be retained on his bumper wages.
Trollope may wish to keep one of Cardiff’s own loan signings, Wales youngster Tom Lawrence, but shed the other, Newcastle’s Sammy Ameobi. He has been a disappointing flop with the Bluebirds and is unlikely to be asked to return.
Others whose names who may come up for discussion include defenders Ben Turner and Scott Malone, midfielder Kagisho Dikgacoi, plus rookies Matt Kennedy, Kadeem Harris, Kenneth Zohore and Idriss Saadi.
Trollope already has Bruno Manga, Matt Connolly and Sean Morrison to perm from as his two centre-backs. If Manga stays, Turner may be handed the opportunity to get regular football elsewhere. If Manga is sold, with French clubs keen on signing him, Turner may be retained to do battle with Connolly and Morrison.
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