Why Cardiff City should go back in the market for Famara Diedhiou
According to a previous report from Wales Online during the summer transfer window, Cardiff City were interested in signing Senegalese striker Famara Diedhiou from Bristol City.
The same report added that Neil Warnock was keen to bring in attacking reinforcements prior to the start of the season and Diedhiou was very much on the Bluebirds’ radar.
However, no move materialized for the 26-year-old, despite Cardiff City losing the likes of Kenneth Zohore and Bobby Reid to West Brom and Fulham respectively, with the latter completing a loan move away from the Welsh outfit.
The Bluebirds went on to sign Isaac Vassell from Birmingham City to plug the hole up top, while Robert Glatzel came through the door at the Cardiff City Stadium as the main statement signing.
Having bagged an impressive tally of 24 goals in 61 games for Heidenheim in the German second-tier, Glatzel came in with a massive reputation of scoring goals and his towering 6ft.4-inch frame led to many to believe that he could possibly make a massive impact in the Championship.
With that in mind, however, the German hitman has only flattered to deceive in South Wales. The 25-year-old has only managed to find the net twice in 9 starts in the Championship and those are clearly not the kind of returns that the fans would have expected from him.
Cardiff City were widely regarded as one of the promotion favourites this term following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of the previous campaign but the Bluebirds have endured a bit of a hit and miss start to the season.
Neil Warnock’s side currently sit 11th in the standings with 4 wins and 4 draws from their first 11 league fixtures and it is imperative to say that lack of goals from the centre-forwards has been one of the key takeaways from their mediocre start to the season.
With Glatzel struggling to adapt to his new surroundings, Vassell currently nursing an injury on the sidelines and Gary Madine only playing a bit-part role, the Bluebirds might have to go back in the market for a new striker in January.
Danny Ward has made a positive impact as a substitute on a number of occasions but one does get the feeling that the lack of a prolific goalscorer could be a stumbling block in the pursuit of promotion.
To that end, reigniting interest in Famara Diedhiou could do Cardiff City a world of good. The 26-year-old Senegalese international has already scored twice in 5 Championship starts for Bristol City this term and recently netted a penalty in Senegal’s 1-1 friendly draw against Brazil.
The 6ft. 2-inch striker has proven himself to be an inspired addition to the Robins’s ranks since making a move from French top-flight club Angers back in 2017, racking up a tally of 29 goals and 7 assists for Lee Johnson’s side over the course of the past couple of campaigns.
Diedhiou, though not the most prolific goalscorer in the Championship, has impressed up top for Bristol City and bringing him in could possibly add that extra bit of firepower to Cardiff’s squad, something that they have been lacking thus far this season.
The Bluebirds have only managed 16 goals in 11 games, which looks decent on paper, but they would probably need to improve on those numbers, given that the likes of Preston. West Brom, Bristol, Fulham and even QRP have struck more goals.
Suffice to say, Cardiff City reigniting interest in the 5-cap Senegalese international in January could make a telling difference in the promotion race, albeit the Robins might be unwilling to let him depart midway through the season.
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A deal for a striker with proven pedigree in the Championship would be a real coup, nevertheless, and one that might just transform the Bluebirds’ fortunes later on in the season when the race for promotion goes down to the wire.