Erol Bulut Is Put On Hold As Cardiff City Made To Queue For Kieffer Moore

Cardiff City manager Erol Bulut celebrates after the Sky Bet Championship match at Loftus Road, London. Picture date: Monday January 1, 2024. (Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)

Erol Bulut Is Put On Hold As Cardiff City Made To Queue For Kieffer Moore

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By Gareth James

Erol Bulut has admitted he is in a queue to buy Kieffer Moore from Bournemouth – but he doesn’t know who’s ahead of him, or when he’ll get served.

A frustrated Bulut still hasn’t landed Moore in the January transfer window and has now learned Calum O’Dowda will be out for another six weeks.

The Cardiff City boss pronounced before Christmas that Wales striker Moore was at the top of his New Year shopping list and that he hoped to get in players, either on loan or permanent singings, in the first week of January.

But so far, no business, and it looks unlikely he the Turk will have any new blood to add to his side for this weekend’s home clash with Leeds United.

“We want Kieffer but other clubs are also interested in him. They (Bournemouth) want to buy a striker, so it takes time for them to let him go,” said Bulut.

“I lose time because of this, so then I need options, like Umut Nayir, of Fenerbahçe. He is one of those players we have an interest in.

“It’s not only up to us – it’s also about the other clubs and the player. We have a few players and strikers as targets because we can’t focus on one player – if not, then I don’t have anything.

“We are close to signing two players, although we haven’t finalised anything. It could be tomorrow everything is finished, it could be next week.”

But while the transfer negotiations are frustrating enough, the on-going injury saga surrounding Bulut’s two most creative players, Republic of Ireland wing O’Dowda and Wales skipper Aaron Ramsey.

O’Dowda seemed to be on his way back to full fitness last month after undergoing hamstring surgery on an injury sustained only 26 August, but has suffered a set-back.

Ramsey is still recovering from a knee problem that has kept him out since 16 September.

“He (O’Dowda) was starting back with us and then he got a small injury. Now it looks like six weeks until he can play again – we’re not lucky with this,” added Bulut.

“I think Aaron will be back with the group in the next week or 10 days. I just hope he can continue without any more problems and he can be back in the team.”

As Bulut tries to build foundations for the long term at Cardiff, he has admitted his planning is hampered by uncertainty over his own long-term future.

The former Fenerbahce player and manager signed a one-year deal when he took charge last summer as Cardiff were reluctant to commit to a longer deal after recent managerial upheaval.

It means Bulut is in the dark over his own future, although he is keen to discuss a new deal to remain at the club.

“I said I’m happy here. I think the fans know that because we’ve had many times meetings together,” he added.

“I’d like to continue to make changes here, work together. We can make many changes, add many things to the club.

“It’s not easy to change everything from today to tomorrow but we’ve changed many things from the start of the season until today. We can see also that’s not enough for me.

“We have to continue to work, we have to invest to bring in quality players and bring young players through the academy to make a really good structure.

“For that to work, we need a plan. To make a plan work, we need to work together. My contract ends at the end of the season. We’ve not had any talks yet. It’s not up to me.”

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