Exclusive: Cardiff City set to hijack Sunderland transfer…..

Cardiff City are on the verge of signing Roko Simic from Red Bull Salzburg before Friday’s 11pm deadline.

A report from WalesOnline on Thursday morning indicates that Cardiff have outmaneuvered several clubs, including Sunderland, who were also in discussions with the Croatian youth international forward.

Earlier this summer, Cardiff brought in Wilfried Kanga on a season-long loan from Hertha Berlin, but they’ve been seeking additional attacking options due to long-term injuries to Isaak Davies and Kion Etete during pre-season.

Overall, it’s been a positive transfer window for the Bluebirds, who have secured players like Anwar El Ghazi, Chris Willock, Calum Chambers, and Alex Robertson after finishing 12th in Erol Bulut’s first full season as manager.

Recently, Cardiff focused on strengthening their defense by signing Jesper Daland and Will Fish following Mark McGuinness’ move to Luton Town. However, the club has always intended to bolster their attacking options this summer.

Reports suggest that Cardiff will finalize the signing of Simic on a permanent basis, reflecting their strategy of focusing on long-term deals rather than relying heavily on loan signings under Bulut’s leadership.

While most of Simic’s potential suitors have not been revealed, *ChronicleLive* recently reported significant interest from Sunderland. The Mackems have been openly searching for a striker this summer, having struggled with goal-scoring in the previous season.

Cardiff City has faced similar challenges in front of goal, but Sunderland’s issues were more pronounced, with none of their strikers scoring more than two league goals during the 2023/24 season, which led to a disappointing 16th-place finish in the Championship.

Under the ownership of Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, Sunderland has made notable progress in adopting a sustainable recruitment approach. This strategy focuses on acquiring young, high-potential players from less-explored markets with the aim of generating significant future profits.

Alongside the news of the move itself, Cardiff’s own strategy for Simic has been revealed. As per WalesOnline’s report, which does indicate as though the situation could yet be subject to change, the Red Bull Salzburg forward is poised to be loaned out to sister club KV Kortrijk of the Belgian top-flight.

Cardiff have sent the likes of Ryotaro Tsunoda, Sheyi Ojo and Davies to the Vincent Tan-owned side, where the latter thrived and enjoyed a 12-goal haul last term.

It will be hoped, then, that Simic can replicate Davies’ form out in Belgium and return to the Welsh Capital as a more well-rounded, refined proposition.

Simic is expected to be a long-term solution to Cardiff’s persistent striker issues, which have been evident in recent years.

The Croatian forward netted six goals for Salzburg last season, including the opening goal in their 2-0 UEFA Champions League group stage win against Benfica in September.

While Cardiff City fans may appreciate the ambition behind signing Roko Simic, concerns linger about their overall striker situation. Although the idea of bringing in a young, well-regarded striker from overseas with potential is generally well-received, Cardiff will likely need to secure another forward to alleviate ongoing worries about their attacking options.

Questions have already arisen about Wilfried Kanga, and with two strikers sidelined long-term, the only other senior option is Callum Robinson. Robinson, who recently scored in the South Wales Derby, may be looking to revive his form, but he’s not a natural center-forward, which further underscores the need for additional reinforcements.

On its own, an immediate loan move to a club that has already nurtured Cardiff’s striking talent seems like a suitable path for Simic.

The young forward, with over 100 senior appearances at a young age, has yet to establish himself as a prolific scorer outside of Austria’s second division with FC Liefering. A gradual adaptation and additional experience in a competitive yet slightly lower-tier league, such as Belgium, could be highly beneficial for his development.

Jaden Philogene made a move to Aston Villa this summer, a year after his impressive loan spell with Cardiff City.

However, Cardiff cannot afford to rely solely on their current attacking options until January. After last night’s 5-3 Carabao Cup exit to Southampton, Bulut mentioned in a press conference that he expects “maybe one more in,” and it’s well-known that Cardiff is aiming to sign another striker before the transfer deadline.

It’s unclear whether Simic will be the only striker Cardiff brings in or if there will be additional signings. Bulut is expected to provide more details in his upcoming press conference later this afternoon.

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