D-day for Cardiff City on Craig Bellamy deal
Wed Aug 31, 2011 8:22 am
CARDIFF CITY are facing D-day on their hopes of landing Craig Bellamy on loan – but look set to tie up the signature of Coventry defender Ben Turner and off-load striker Jon Parkin before the transfer window closes tonight.
With Bellamy told he has no future at Manchester City under boss Roberto Mancini, suitors Liverpool and Tottenham have until this evening’s 11pm deadline to secure a deal for the Wales striker.
But, while Premier League clubs will be unable to make any moves once the window slams shut, the Bluebirds could yet take advantage of the Football League’s emergency loan rules to bring Bellamy back to Cardiff City Stadium.
Cardiff chief Malky Mackay has remained tight-lipped over the Bellamy situation all summer, despite the 32-year-old stating he would be happy to follow up last year’s loan move with a second stint in South Wales.
But the Scot would be open to signing up the proven frontman, although the club accept the deal is not in their hands with the player still having 12 months left to run on his Man City contract.
Liverpool – and latterly Spurs – had been hopeful of bringing in Bellamy, with the Reds making room in their squad with the £4m sale of striker David N’Gog to Bolton yesterday.
But reports have suggested those hopes could be dashed by City’s refusal to make a final-year pay-off to the 63-cap international.
Both Kenny Dalglish and Spurs boss Harry Redknapp now have the rest of the day to try and make something happen.
Should they not, Cardiff could benefit from the fact Bellamy could then only move to a Football League club on an emergency loan from next week onwards, covering a period of up to three months.
A deal would still have to be thrashed out with the Bluebirds clearly unable to cover the entirety of Bellamy’s Etihad Stadium wages – allegedly as much as £95,000 a week.
But, with Bellamy otherwise faced with the prospect of sitting out the first half of the season as he looks set to be omitted from City’s 25-man Premier League squad, it could force the situation in the Bluebirds’ favour.
Cardiff will now face a waiting game as deadline day plays out, but have already moved to strengthen other areas of the field with centre-back Turner thought to have agreed terms on a three-year contract to join.
The Bluebirds are set to pay £750,000 for the highly-rated 23-year-old – with striker Jon Parkin heading to the Sky Blues as part of the deal.
Parkin is having a medical at Coventry City and looks set to agree a two-year contract.
Cardiff had feared a late play for Turner from Birmingham City, who are bracing themselves for further bids for centre-half Scott Dann having rejected one approach from Blackburn Rovers.
But, with Blues boss Chris Hughton keen to hold on to Dann, his hesitation to sign Turner as a potential replacement allowed Cardiff to make their move.
Turner came through a rigorous full-day medical and will start training at their Vale of Glamorgan Resort training headquarters immediately.
He is set to become the 10th new signing for Cardiff manager Malky Mackay, who will look to slot Turner into the back four alongside captain Mark Hudson or Anthony Gerrard.
Turner’s arrival pushes Gabor Gyepes and Dekel Keinan further down the pecking order.
Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z1WaosClnJ
With Bellamy told he has no future at Manchester City under boss Roberto Mancini, suitors Liverpool and Tottenham have until this evening’s 11pm deadline to secure a deal for the Wales striker.
But, while Premier League clubs will be unable to make any moves once the window slams shut, the Bluebirds could yet take advantage of the Football League’s emergency loan rules to bring Bellamy back to Cardiff City Stadium.
Cardiff chief Malky Mackay has remained tight-lipped over the Bellamy situation all summer, despite the 32-year-old stating he would be happy to follow up last year’s loan move with a second stint in South Wales.
But the Scot would be open to signing up the proven frontman, although the club accept the deal is not in their hands with the player still having 12 months left to run on his Man City contract.
Liverpool – and latterly Spurs – had been hopeful of bringing in Bellamy, with the Reds making room in their squad with the £4m sale of striker David N’Gog to Bolton yesterday.
But reports have suggested those hopes could be dashed by City’s refusal to make a final-year pay-off to the 63-cap international.
Both Kenny Dalglish and Spurs boss Harry Redknapp now have the rest of the day to try and make something happen.
Should they not, Cardiff could benefit from the fact Bellamy could then only move to a Football League club on an emergency loan from next week onwards, covering a period of up to three months.
A deal would still have to be thrashed out with the Bluebirds clearly unable to cover the entirety of Bellamy’s Etihad Stadium wages – allegedly as much as £95,000 a week.
But, with Bellamy otherwise faced with the prospect of sitting out the first half of the season as he looks set to be omitted from City’s 25-man Premier League squad, it could force the situation in the Bluebirds’ favour.
Cardiff will now face a waiting game as deadline day plays out, but have already moved to strengthen other areas of the field with centre-back Turner thought to have agreed terms on a three-year contract to join.
The Bluebirds are set to pay £750,000 for the highly-rated 23-year-old – with striker Jon Parkin heading to the Sky Blues as part of the deal.
Parkin is having a medical at Coventry City and looks set to agree a two-year contract.
Cardiff had feared a late play for Turner from Birmingham City, who are bracing themselves for further bids for centre-half Scott Dann having rejected one approach from Blackburn Rovers.
But, with Blues boss Chris Hughton keen to hold on to Dann, his hesitation to sign Turner as a potential replacement allowed Cardiff to make their move.
Turner came through a rigorous full-day medical and will start training at their Vale of Glamorgan Resort training headquarters immediately.
He is set to become the 10th new signing for Cardiff manager Malky Mackay, who will look to slot Turner into the back four alongside captain Mark Hudson or Anthony Gerrard.
Turner’s arrival pushes Gabor Gyepes and Dekel Keinan further down the pecking order.
Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballna ... z1WaosClnJ
Re: D-day for Cardiff City on Craig Bellamy deal
Wed Aug 31, 2011 8:42 am
I am sure Bellamy will still be a Man City player at 11.05 tonight, so we will have a good chance of getting him on loan like last season 