The strikers Cardiff City could target on loan in January

The strikers Cardiff City could target on loan in January


Henri Saivet, Zach Clough and James Wilson could be on Neil Warnock's Cardiff City radar

Media Wales

Tuesday 19th December 2017


Cardiff City's push for promotion continues to roar, and in hope of realising this ambition, Neil Warnock will have funds to play with come January says Cardiff City Chairman

A striker tops his Christmas wish-list, but the Bluebirds boss has conceded it will have to be a temporary acquisition with a view to a permanent solution.

"We’ll look to possibly loan," said Warnock. "It’s a difficult to buy in this window unless money is no object — like it is for one or two clubs.

"It might be more advisable to loan a player, pay a loan fee and bring somebody in and possibly agree a (permanent transfer) fee if we get promotion”.







Here are three possible candidates...


' Zach Clough '

If Warnock is looking for a tenacious and driven striker who also possesses canny movement and sharp finishing, he need look no further than out-of-favour Nottingham Forest forward Zach Clough.

Clough was linked with a move to Cardiff when he first burst onto the scene with Bolton Wanderers — this weekend's opponents. Clough netted five times in eight appearances in his breakthrough year and caught the attention of potential Premier League suitors.

Amid interest from several clubs after his second season at Bolton, Clough chose Forest but has yet to carve out a permanent starting berth in two seasons at the City Ground.

Having made just three starts and eight substitute appearances this season, the forward voiced his frustration at his lack of game time under Mark Warburton.




“I have not been on the pitch as much as I would have liked and it has been hard," he admitted.

Though the diminutive striker would not be as proficient in holding the ball up as Zohore — or Omar Bogle for that matter — he would compensate with his energetic style and off the ball movement.

Zohore’s return is mooted to be in the new year, so Clough’s hypothetical arrival may well coincide with the Dane re-emerging from the side lines.

Thus Clough’s inability to be a target man may be rendered irrelevant; if so, the savvy forward would add another dimension to Cardiff’s attack. Still just 22 years old, Clough will be looking to find a permanent home and if he were to join on loan and make an impression, a transfer at the end of the season could be conceivable.






' Henri Saivet '

A rough diamond, exiled and an apparently bleak future. Where have we heard that story before? Henri Saivet’s experience at St James’ Park has startling similarities to that of Zohore’s (pre-Warnock).

“But if he did not play in England, now I know why: he is no longer hungry —at all," rued St. Etienne boss Cristophe Galtier, after Saivet’s unsuccessful spell last season.

Henri Saivet in Newcastle Under-23s action
While this might look ominous, there is nothing Warnock enjoys more than turning flawed players into revelations, and in Saivet, the veteran could be able to replicate the success he wrought with Zohore.

It is not only a potential tale of redemption that connects Zohore and Saivet, but the qualities the Senegalese has mirrors the Dane.

Saivet may lack the height of Zohore, but he has the strength to hold off defenders and is a good protector of the ball. Marry this with Saivet’s speed, technique and powerful heading and he emerges as a similar player to Cardiff’s striking kingpin.

Admittedly, Saivet has seldom shown these qualities in the black and white stripes of the Toon, but if there is a manager who can coax the best out of him, it is Warnock. Saivet will have a point to prove.

He is, however, rumoured to be earning substantial wages and any loan deal would likely include a Magpies subsidy for some of his salary given Cardiff’s limited budget.






' James Wilson '

Memories of a fresh-faced, jubilant and unbelieving Wilson knee-sliding in front of the Stretford End after scoring a debut goal for Manchester United at the tender age of 18 now seem distant.

The young Englishman has failed to kick-start his career despite showing such promise in the top flight.

A lengthy injury lay-off has not helped his cause, but after a year of rehab and frequent game time with United’s development side, Wilson is now open to a move in January.

“It’s certainly a possibility. I’m not ruling it out”, said Wilson.

With a star studded forward line of Romelu Lukaku, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to choose from, it does not seem Wilson is in Jose Mourinho’s immediate plans.

Previous loan spells at Brighton and Derby attest to the 22-year-old's ability to deal with the rigorous nature of the Championship. Like any player bred in the Red Devils' academy, the striker is a naturally gifted youngster who plays intelligently.

A striking instinct coupled with quick feet mark Wilson out as a handful for opposition defenders and Warnock could do a lot worse than bringing in a player raring to go after months watching on from the sidelines.

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If pushed maybe wilson annis but none inspire huge confidence in my opinion no better thsn what we got

If pushed maybe wilson annis but none inspire huge confidence in my opinion no better thsn what we got

Stephen, I'm with you on that

By the way Merry Xmas Stephen to you and your family

We need a proven striker to get us 12/15 goals minimum in the second half of the season.

No gambles on unproven youngsters or foreign failures.

There are a few names out of favour at the moment who could be interested in playing at this level.

I would break the bank for one of these

Danny Ings at liverpool
Saido Berahinho at stoke
Conor wickham at palace
Sam Baldock at brighton
Leo ulloa from leicester

They are the type of striker we need if we are to pull away from the chasing pack imo

A bit expensive yes but will be worth it if we can get any one of them on loan for 6 months. None are playing regularly for there clubs.

We need a proven striker to get us 12/15 goals minimum in the second half of the season.

No gambles on unproven youngsters or foreign failures.

There are a few names out of favour at the moment who could be interested in playing at this level.

I would break the bank for one of these

Danny Ings at liverpool
Saido Berahinho at stoke
Conor wickham at palace
Sam Baldock at brighton
Leo ulloa from leicester

They are the type of striker we need if we are to pull away from the chasing pack imo

A bit expensive yes but will be worth it if we can get any one of them on loan for 6 months. None are playing regularly for there clubs.

I agree Thomas, We can't afford to gamble at this stage of the season


Merry Xmas Thomas

If pushed maybe wilson annis but none inspire huge confidence in my opinion no better thsn what we got

Stephen, I'm with you on that

By the way Merry Xmas Stephen to you and your family

Cheers annis same to you my friend merry xmas

If pushed maybe wilson annis but none inspire huge confidence in my opinion no better thsn what we got

Stephen, I'm with you on that

By the way Merry Xmas Stephen to you and your family

Cheers annis same to you my friend merry xmas

All the best

We need a proven striker to get us 12/15 goals minimum in the second half of the season.

No gambles on unproven youngsters or foreign failures.

There are a few names out of favour at the moment who could be interested in playing at this level.

I would break the bank for one of these

Danny Ings at liverpool
Saido Berahinho at stoke
Conor wickham at palace
Sam Baldock at brighton
Leo ulloa from leicester

They are the type of striker we need if we are to pull away from the chasing pack imo

A bit expensive yes but will be worth it if we can get any one of them on loan for 6 months. None are playing regularly for there clubs.

Good shout and I’d much rather choose from your list than the one on the OP.
Like you say though, the costs are probably prohibitive on most.

We need a proven striker to get us 12/15 goals minimum in the second half of the season.

No gambles on unproven youngsters or foreign failures.

There are a few names out of favour at the moment who could be interested in playing at this level.

I would break the bank for one of these

Danny Ings at liverpool
Saido Berahinho at stoke
Conor wickham at palace
Sam Baldock at brighton
Leo ulloa from leicester

They are the type of striker we need if we are to pull away from the chasing pack imo

A bit expensive yes but will be worth it if we can get any one of them on loan for 6 months. None are playing regularly for there clubs.

Good shout and I’d much rather choose from your list than the one on the OP.
Like you say though, the costs are probably prohibitive on most.

Berahinho? Wow, I remember him when he was a decent player! Surely, we couldn't afford the car parking fees in our city?

I’d love to see Danny Ings here can’t see h ever getting back into Liverpool contention but I think he’d be to expensive for us.

Wick Ham is a class shout as he too seems to have stalled and plenty of potential still left in him.

Sam Baldock would be more our price range mind