Cardiff City have agreed their 12th deal of the summer with the loan arrival of West Brom ace Cedric Kipre, but can further strengthen their ranks by re-signing these former players.
The Bluebirds acquired Kipre on a season-long deal this Friday, to follow Sheyi Ojo through the door after the winger’s arrival on Wednesday. Head coach Steve Morison still remains active in the off-season sales, however, despite the vast influx of new stars in south Wales.
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Reports by Wales Online claim the Cardiff boss is keen to add at least one further striker to his side. Derby County signing James Collins in a free transfer from the Cardiff City Stadium outfit on Wednesday has also heightened Morison’s longing for attacking reinforcements.
Collins’ exit has left Mark Harris and Max Watters as the only recognised senior strikers at Cardiff. But neither of the men Morison is about to head into the new Championship term with have prolific records, with the 23-year-olds scoring six and one goals each last season.
Cardiff should re-sign former player Paterson to boost striker options
So, Morison should look to see Cardiff re-sign a former player in Callum Paterson to boost his striker options. The 17-cap Scotland international is now in the last year of his contract with Sheffield Wednesday, having penned a three-year deal to leave the Bluebirds in 2020.
Paterson spent three years at the Cardiff City Stadium following his arrival from his former academy side, Hearts. Over his spell, the London-born forward recorded a steady haul with 21 goals over 106 games across all competitions, along with laying on another eight assists.
The 27-year-old has continued to offer a steady offensive output since moving to Sheffield Wednesday. Paterson boasts 15 goals in 90 games with the Owls so far, plus seven assists. Yet he is not a guaranteed starter at Hillsborough, with 23 outings coming from the bench.
Cardiff should re-sign Zohore and end former player’s West Brom nightmare
Cardiff could also strive to re-sign another former player in Kenneth Zohore of West Brom to solve Morison’s striker search. The 28-year-old bagged 24 goals and 11 assists over 101 games with the Bluebirds between 2016 and moving to The Hawthorns in 2019 for £8m.
Life with the Baggies has proven to be a nightmare for the Danish forward, though. He has only made 23 appearances for West Brom to date due to regular fitness issues, in which he boasts five goals and one assist. Zohore’s last West Brom appearance also came in August.
Zohore could need a miracle to turn his situation in the West Midlands around under Steve Bruce. He is also in the final year of his Baggies contract. But The Athletic claim West Brom are confident that there still lies a valuable star in Zohore, if he can have an injury-free run.
Cardiff should accept Glatzel mistake and re-sign former player from Hamburg
Cardiff should accept they made a mistake by letting Robert Glatzel leave for Hamburg last summer and now re-sign their former player. Morison would welcome a forward with the record the 28-year-old produced in the 2.Bundesliga last season, having lashed in 22 goals.
Glatzel endured a mixed period in south Wales after Neil Warnock paid Heidenheim £5.5m for him in 2019. His Bluebirds career ultimately hit an end under Mick McCarthy, having hit just 11 goals from 58 games across all competitions and not cementing a vital starting role.
But what the German showed back in his home country last season proved that in the right system, he is a major threat. A towering 6 ft 3 threat that Morison should ask Cardiff to re-sign after their former player’s magnificent haul still failed to see Hamburg win promotion.
Morison should look to take Heaton back to the Bluebirds this summer
Morison can also improve his squad in other areas of the pitch by re-signing former Cardiff players like Tom Heaton. The 36-year-old has had two spells in south Wales over his career so far, having first signed on loan in 2009 before sealing a permanent move in 2010 to ‘12.
Heaton made 64 appearances across his spells at the Cardiff City Stadium, in which he kept 18 clean sheets. Now, the goalkeeper can help Morison to strengthen his options between the sticks after a year back on the Old Trafford bench, after re-joining Manchester United.
The Red Devils re-signed their former player in a free transfer from Aston Villa in July after Heaton’s contract had expired. But the three-cap England international only enjoyed one appearance last term in their dead-rubber Champions League draw with BSC Young Boys.
Morison can offer Ramsey a new hope as Juventus long for his exit
Morison could offer Aaron Ramsey a new home back at Cardiff as Juventus long for his exit this summer. Calciomercato.it note the Serie A side are desperate to sell the midfielder as he has no future back in Turin following a frustrating half-season loan at Rangers last term.
Juventus have held talks with Ramsey’s representatives over terminating the final year of his £400k-a-week terms at the Allianz Stadium. It is also the most likely option for the 31-year-old to depart, having rejected a move to Galatasaray in favour of the Premier League.
Bianconeri chiefs hope to resolve Ramsey’s situation swiftly, so Cardiff should swoop and present a return to Britain. A regular role in Morison’s plans next season would allow the 74-cap Wales star to head to the World Cup in form, and possibly help to a promotion push.
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