Cardiff City transfer rumours rated as links rubbished but others not ruled out

Cardiff City head into this summer transfer window looking to add quality over quantity.

Erol Bulut's first year in charge saw him navigate two tricky windows, the first of which saw Cardiff operate with a ban on paying transfer fees, while they were hit with a change of Profit and Sustainability regulations late on in January forcing them to pivot.

The Bluebirds need to bolster in key positions this summer, with Bulut having told the club's hierarchy this week he wants two strikers, a winger, a central midfielder and a centre-back. So, who has been linked so far? We take a look...

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Lazaros Rota

Before the season ended, Cardiff were linked with a move for Greek right-back Lazaros Rota. The link made sense, with Bulut's links to Greece from his playing days, plus there are two Greeks on his coaching staff, plus Cardiff could dive into the right-back market if a big-money offer was table for back-to-back player of the season winner Perry Ng.

But Bulut rubbished the rumours at the end of the campaign when asked by WalesOnline. "I know him. He is a right full-back from AEK. I can tell you straight, the truth, we didn't have any conversation or talks," Bulut said.

"He is a good player, for sure, but don't forget he still has a contract until 2026. If you want to take a player from AEK, they won the championship last season, maybe they are going to win it this season, and he still has two more years on his contract. How are you going to get him out?"

A firm no, however Bulut did seem awfully familiar with the player's contract situation, which just makes you wonder whether he has taken a look at some stage.

Musa Drammeh

Sevilla striker Musa Drammeh was linked with a move to south Wales back at the end of April. The forward, who plays for Sevilla's B side, looks certain to leave the Spanish club this month.

The Gambian has scored 11 goals in 63 appearances for Sevilla Atletico. He helped them secure promotion to the Spanish third tier last season.

Cardiff are understood to want a striker with experience of scoring goals in the Championship and Drammeh certainly does not have that under his belt. However, with Bulut wanting two strikers, it is understood the club could bring a centre-forward in from abroad.

Drammeh is clearly pushing for a move to England, with a glut of Championship clubs having been linked with the 22-year-old.

Nat Phillips

Bulut made clear his feelings about Nat Phillips last season, saying he would love to have the Liverpool defender back permanently next season if the chance was presented to him.

Indeed, sources at Cardiff have refused to rule out the prospect of him returning, while Phillips himself has said he would "certainly consider" a return to the Welsh capital if his time at Anfield was up this summer.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot started his new job on Merseyside this week and the club have already been linked with as many as four centre-backs. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to surmise that the end could be nigh for Phillips at Liverpool.

From Cardiff's perspective, well, it would all come down to price. Liverpool have a track record of selling players with relatively little first-team experience for extortionate amounts and the Bluebirds would be unable to compete if that was the case. If the asking price was reasonable, well, there just might be something there that can work.

Theo Bair

A little out of left field, but Cardiff were this month linked with a move for Motherwell striker Theo Bair.

Championship sides Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers are also linked, while Severnside rivals Bristol City have previously been credited with having an interest in the forward. The 24-year-old, who has two caps for Canada, has also been mentioned as a target for Charlton Athletic in recent weeks.

However, the report adds that German outfit St Pauli, who have been promoted back to the Bundesliga, are leading the race for his signature.

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Jordan Williams

Jordan Williams left Barnsley in the summer as a free agent and Cardiff were credited with interest. However, it was always a non-starter, with sources at the club quickly distancing themselves from any interest.

And that rang true, because recently-promoted Portsmouth announced his signature last week.

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Kieffer Moore

You didn't think you'd get through this article without seeing this guy's name, did you?

The club are keeping their cards close to their chest with regards to Kieffer Moore this summer. Perhaps that's understandable, because them missing out on him twice last season was particularly agonising for City supporters after Bulut made his admiration for him so clear.

The same things hold true, though. Bulut is a big admirer, he plays the way the manager wants a centre-forward to play, and he has experience of scoring goals in the Championship, which is high on Cardiff's criteria list for signing a striker.

He also has fond memories of his time in Cardiff and has many friends there still. Indeed just last week he attended the wedding of Isaac Vassell, who still lives in the area, along with Ryan Wintle and Joe Ralls, as well as former players Sean Morrison, Ryan Giles, Curtis Nelson and James Collins.

It seems unlikely Moore will play in the Premier League next season and Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has by all accounts left the decision up to the Wales striker, who has a year left on his current deal.

Asked about Moore, the Spaniard said: “All the players we have on loan, they will return at the beginning of July. Then in these situations, for me, I always say it, first we have to listen what they want to do.

“If they say ‘I prefer to leave, because here I am not going to have the minutes I want’, then we have to discuss with the clubs, so the money works and everyone is happy. They might tell me ‘I want to stay here and fight for the minutes’. They are our players. They’ve played some minutes this season with us and I value them.”

Connor Barron

Cardiff's name was lumped in with a host of Championship clubs for midfielder Connor Barron, but there never appeared to be any substance to such links.

The Scottish midfielder, formerly of Aberdeen, always looked destined to sign for Rangers and so it has transpired, with the 21-year-old putting pen to paper on a transfer this week.

Marc Leonard

Cardiff's links with Marc Leonard go back as far as last November, but nothing has ever materialised.

The Bluebirds are stacked in midfield and while they do want a commanding central player in there — which Leonard is not — they will have to ship some players out if any more midfield signings are made.

Cardiff have Joe Ralls, Manolis Siopis, Ryan Wintle, Ebou Adams, Andy Rinomhota, Eli King and Joel Colwill as options there, while Aaron Ramsey and David Turnbull are also midfield options.

Brighton are said to want only £300,000 for Leonard's signature and that represents a good price for the Rangers academy product, one wonders whether signing a player who has played only in League One and League Two — during two loan spells with Northampton Town — would hinder the progress of Cardiff's own youngsters.