For Cardiff City fans, waiting to find out the latest regarding Erol Bulut’s situation is like pulling teeth. So, let’s look a little more broadly at the squad and the surgery it needs this summer – regardless of who is in the dugout.

Now, of course, the manager will have a massive bearing on transfers, but a close look at the squad as it currently stands, ahead of the 2024 summer transfer window, highlights where City need to strengthen.

Cardiff have relied heavily on loans over the last few years, believing them to represent value for money with regards to getting top talent for a cut price. The off-season squad gives you a real insight into just how heavily reliant the club have been on those temporary transfers.

So, if there was a game tomorrow – with the presumption that everyone was fit — what would the starting line-up be?

In goal, it’s a toss up. That position, as it often is at Cardiff, to be fair, is in rude health. You can argue the toss either way between Jak Alnwick and Ethan Horvath, with both impressing when afforded the opportunity last season. However, Horvath is the man with the gloves as things stand and he would likely start in goal.

The defence is very thin in terms of quantity but arguably high in quality, so would pick itself, with Perry Ng, Mark McGuinness, Dimitrios Goutas and Jamilu Collins the nailed-on starters.

Starting central midfielders would likely be Manolis Siopis and Joe Ralls, with Ryan Wintle representing an alternative option. Ahead of them there is a four-way tussle between Aaron Ramsey, Rubin Colwill and David Turnbull – the Wales captain pulls rank, though.

On the wings, well, that’s where we start to see the options getting light. Yakou Meite and Callum O’Dowda are probably the picks, although there are Ollie Tanner, Callum Robinson and youngster Cian Ashford, of course.

And up front, well, that’s the most glaringly obvious position that needs strengthening. Kion Etete is, really, the only option. Isaak Davies does return from his loan at KV Kortrijk, however.

Let’s take a closer look at each position, including returning loanees and youngsters involved in league matches at the end of the season, with some areas massively oversubscribed and others in desperate need of bolstering…

Goalkeepers: Alnwick, Horvath, Luthra*, Turner.

Defenders: Ng, Romeo, McGuinness, Goutas, Tsunoda, Collins, Bagan, Giles.

Midfield: Ralls, Siopis, Wintle, Adams, Rinomhota, Sawyers*, King, Ramsey, R.Colwill, Turnbull, J. Colwill.

Wing: Meite, O’Dowda, Tanner, Robinson, Ashford, Ojo*, Conte, Evans.

Striker: Etete, Davies.

*Expected to leave upon end of contract.

Centre-back is clearly an area which needs addressing, while central midfield looks a little bloated. Expect some movement there this summer, for sure.

The wings look a little light, too, particularly with regards to experienced wide players who can really make an impact and, importantly, last a full Championship season – Meite, O’Dowda and Robinson have all struggled a lot with injuries in recent years.

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