Five Free Agents Cardiff Should Look At After Promotion

Should Cardiff secure promotion, I wouldn't have thought that they will be short of a few bob to spend in the transfer market, but with plenty of good players soon to become free agents, there is no need to splash the cash. Here are five of the best;

Alex Pearce
Alex Pearce is Reading's reigning player of the year, having been a fixture at the heart of their defence during a Championship-winning campaign, alongside Cardiff's Matthew Connolly. Having progressed through the club's youth set-up, he has made more than 100 appearances for the club and has yet to agree terms on a new deal. A full Ireland international, having represented Scotland at youth level, Brian McDermott was keen to retain Pearce, but his dismissal may result in the 24-year-old's exit. Liverpool were rumoured to be interested in January, as Brendan Rodgers made him captain during his time in charge at the club, but the move failed to materialise. He would offer serious competition to Mark Hudson and Ben Turner.
Carlton Cole
The much maligned Carlton Cole is approaching the end of his current West Ham deal and a new contract does not appear to be forthcoming. With a wealth of Premier League experience, the 29-year-old would offer Cardiff a big, physical focal point in attack and represent a significant upgrade on Rudy Gestede. Having also halved his wages, from £28,000-a-week to £14,000-a-week, when West Ham were relegated a couple of years ago, his salary is reasonable enough. Never the most prolific of strikers, he is a former England international and has never quite fulfilled his potential, maybe Malky could harness talent?
Matt Phillips
"Slightly ambitious, slightly outrageous" was how Ian Holloway described Cardiff's £800,000 bid for Matt Phillips in January 2012. A transfer request and a few mangers later, 22-year-old Phillips is approaching the end of his current contract and will soon be available for a relatively small amount of compensation. The Scottish international winger has struggled to recapture his very best form this season, missing two months with a toe injury, but Malky is a big fan and it would be no surprise if he reignited his interest. One of the Championship's very best players and ready for the Premier League, he would walk in to the current side.
Lewis McGugan
Up there with Peter Whittingham as one of the Championship's most naturally gifted players, Lewis McGugan will soon be up for grabs, if a resurgent Nottingham Forest miss out on promotion. Influential and a scorer of great goals on his day, he has a reputation as being a bit flaky and Billy Davies has ordered the 24-year-old to bulk up to increase his power. A calculated risk, the Forest academy graduate would share the creative burden and his £5,000-a-week wages would be a relative drop in the ocean.
Marcos Alonso
Marcos Alonso represented Real Madrid at every level, through to the senior side, before joining Bolton in July 2010. A regular at left back this season, the 22-year-old has been in impressive form and has rejected a new contract offer. Fiorentina and Stoke were circling in January but neither met Bolton's valuation. A better player than Andrew Taylor, he would provide much needed strength in depth and a greater attacking threat.
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good shouts there fair play, all would really be good signings

Well researched and an excellent post.

However, we should also take a note of what Swansea did and look at the Spanish as well as the Italian, German and French leagues to.

With the sudden interest of Dutch players from the Dutch leagues I think thats where we'll be heading

With the sudden interest of Dutch players from the Dutch leagues I think thats where we'll be heading

I knew there was one that I missed

But yea good point.

Real Value in the Foreign leauges. I'm sure there are some decent players in Spain, Holland, France, Germany etc what would be a lot cheaper and possibly even better than some of the players over here.

Some good players there. Always liked Mcgugan. No one has said a bad word about Carlton Cole but im not convinced. I think Carlton Banks would do a better job.

I would prefer a Bentner, Crouch, Kenwyne-Jones although they wouldnt be free. I really think Rudy is gunna step up to the mark

Some good players there. Always liked Mcgugan. No one has said a bad word about Carlton Cole but im not convinced. I think Carlton Banks would do a better job.

I would prefer a Bentner, Crouch, Kenwyne-Jones although they wouldnt be free. I really think Rudy is gunna step up to the mark

McGugan would be my favourite out of those five. I love his long distance shots and outstanding distribution. However I have only ever seen him really perform well under the management of Billy Davies. But under Malky's management I'm sure that he would do well.

But I agree with other posters on here that we should go further into the foreign market like Spain or Italy. I wouldn't mind another Kim if Malky wants to go even further!

dont tell us tell malky

Would take Alonso, Carlton Cole, Pearce.

I think Phillips is a star in the making, be great to get him think he would do well under malky and show the premiership what he's all about and get back to his best.

I think Phillips is a star in the making, be great to get him think he would do well under malky and show the premiership what he's all about and get back to his best.

He is Scottish, bonus.

Alex Pearce - in a Reading defence shipping goals, not sure he would improve us.

Carlton Cole - never had a consistant run in a Premiership team as his previous managers don't think he's good enough.

Matt Phillips - has pace and ability but I've noticed if he's against a quick full back who he can't beat for pace, he doesn't seem to have a plan B. Blows too hot and cold for my liking and I think he would struggle in the Premiership with his lack of consistancy.

Lewis McGugan - blows too hot and cold in the Championship for my liking, so I definitely don't think he will be good enough for the Premiership.

Marcos Alonso - I know very little about him, I thought he was a holding midfielder and I thought Stephen Warnock was Bolton's left back? Will have to take a close look at him when we play them.

Apart from Alonso who I haven't had a good look at, I wouldn't take any of them sorry as I don't think any of them would be value for money with the wages they will be demanding. Don't forget although they are free transfers, the fact they are free transfers would mean there will be a bidding war and they will all demand a high wage. It's players wages that kills clubs and I would rather pay a few million for someone on cheaper wages, or pay a few million to get someone on the same wage as a freebie, but who is a much better player and better value for money.

If we go up, the only realistic British based players I think we should sign to strengthen our squad so far would be George Friend, John Brayford and Kenwyne Jones. I think these are the only British based players who we can realistically sign who are definite Premiership quality. For our other signings, I think we need to follow Swansea and Newcastle's examples of signing cheap foreigners playing in good leagues. Michu for 2 million or Torres for 50 million? Cabaye for 4.4 million or Jordon Henderson for 20 million?

Forget Britain, the foreign market is where I think we will bring in better players for cheaper prices. With us having scouts at a recent French game and the numerous players we are getting linked to in Holland, hopefully we are already preparing for this. People will argue over Velikonja's gamble, but Velikonja came from the Slovenian league. If we sign foreigners from Spain, France or Holland, then these are high standard leagues and I don't see signing players from these leagues as risks. I hope next season will be exciting with a few unknown foreigners coming in instead of Premiership flops/has beens on a free who will be declining in stature/ability and commanding an extortionate wage.

Stephen Warnock plays for Leeds not Bolton

Would only take Cole from that list.

The rest dont really improve us or are massively overated.

Speaking of players abroad that have potential. I signed a cracking little striker on FIFA called Erik Durm. He's a youth player at Borussia Dortmund but never made it in the Dortmund first team. Now, I know, real life isn't like FIFA but it is these sort of players we should be looking at to help us next season.

Carlton Cole isn't a Premiership player in my opinion. I'm not sure Lewis McGugan is either. They are in that bracket between Premiership and Championship. Alex Pearce is a good shout with huge potential. Marcos Alonso is an unknown quantity to me but think you're right about him being better than Taylor. Not sure on Matt Phillips though. Thomas Ince is the better player out of the two. Phillips hasn't shone enough this season for me.

Stephen Warnock plays for Leeds not Bolton

Just checked and he played against us on loan for Bolton earlier in the season. I didn't realise he was only at Bolton on loan.