Thu May 16, 2013 7:18 pm
Cardiff City chairman Vincent Tan wants the next Michu – here’s who he should buy
Our columnist scouts the strikers who could help the Bluebirds to stay in the Premier League
Welsh Football Weekly: While the football world was busy searching for more superlatives to heap on Alex Ferguson on the occasion of his last game in charge of Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, one man was intent on wrecking the cosy send-off.
And, when half a chance arrived for Miguel Pérez Cuesta — more commonly known as Michu — his instinctive stab saw the ball flash past David de Gea. Michu raised his index finger to his mouth in celebration and stunned onlookers into silence.
Luckily for Ferguson and the screenwriters of his future biopic, Rio Ferdinand struck an 87th-minute winner for the Red Devils.
Since arriving in south Wales from Rayo Vallecano, Michu has contributed 18 goals in league and cup matches — not a bad return for a player who cost just £2.2 million.
It’s little wonder then that, in an explosion of Welsh one-upmanship, Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan has expressed his desire to sign “12 Michus” this summer. Barmy billionaire Tan won’t take no for an answer — so this column is going to do the club’s stretched scouts a favour and flag up a few possible signings.
Beefy blonde bombshell of a striker Andreas Cornelius might attract Tan’s admiration. He’s banged home 18 goals for FC Copenhagen in a season where they look certain to reclaim the Superliga title.
The 6ft 4in front man has also scored an impressive five times in his first six appearances for the Danish national side. That has begun to attract the attention of English clubs like Everton who were reportedly ready to launch a £5 million bid to secure the services of 20-year-old Cornelius.
Slight in stature but technically untouchable, 19-year-old midfielder Dennis Praet looks to be the next big thing from Belguim. This is Praet’s first full season with Anderlecht’s senior side, but he’s already made 25 appearances and scored two goals in the Pro League.
Praet’s record doesn’t suggest he’ll match Michu’s goalscoring feats but for around £4 million he’ll put chances on a plate for strikers to finish.
They could compensate by buying Belgian in bulk and also adding 20-year-old Maxime Lestienne, who has scored a stunning 17 in 36 league appearances for Club Brugge this campaign.
If Tan really believes in the Michu story then he should look no further than the Spaniard’s former club Rayo Vallecano and striker Francisco Medina Luna, who is more commonly known as Piti. He’s bagged an impressive 15 goals in 32 La Liga outings this season and, at 31, he’ll come at a knock-down price.
Or perhaps more radically, Cardiff will give a chance to an exciting prospect already at the club. Etien Velikonja arrived in Wales last summer, fresh from firing Slovenian side Maribor to a league and cup double. He’s impressed all season in Cardiff’s development side and the 24-year-old will now expect a chance in the first team.
There are many decisions to be made over the coming months but one thing is for certain — Michu has been the Premier League’s buy of the season and Cardiff face fierce competition to secure one player of his ability this summer, let alone 12.