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Tom Coleman

Cardiff City transfer headlines as Sunderland appear to close book on transfer and ex-Bluebird tipped for the top

The latest Cardiff City headlines for Wednesday, January 19.

Batth completes Sunderland move amid Flint rumours

Sunderland boss Lee Johnson says he's delighted to have experienced centre-back Danny Batth on board at the Stadium of Light.

Batth completed his move to Wearside on Tuesday evening, and Johnson will be hoping he can add steel to his side's bid for promotion from League One.

The move comes against the backdrop of speculation linking Sunderland with a move for Cardiff defender Aden Flint, who is out of contract in the summer.

Where the deal for Batth leaves any potential interest in the Bluebirds defender remains to be seen, but it surely seems unlikely that Sunderland will pursue any potential deal in this window.

Johnson, of course, worked with Flint during his time as Bristol City manager, but has also shown a historic affection for Batth, revealing him to be a long-term presence on his radar.

Speaking to the club's official website, Johnson said: “Danny is a player that I’ve tried to sign a couple of times before, so it’s third time lucky.

"We have some good characters already in place at the football club and you are always looking to nurture leadership qualities, but Danny’s come ready-made.

"A dominant centre-back, he has a great personality and I think he will have really positive effect on and off the pitch.”

Waite tipped for big things after Exiles move

Former Cardiff youngster James Waite has been hailed as a potential star of the future by former Newport striker Rhys Griffiths.

Waite made his Exiles debut off the bench during the 4-0 win over Harrogate Town on Saturday, having recently signed an 18-month deal with County.

The move has seen him reunite with former Bluebirds coach James Rowberry, who took the County hotseat at the beginning of the season.

And he's hoping to hit the ground running in League Two, after developing under former Newport star Griffiths at Welsh League side Penybont.

"I have to say that in training he is the best finisher that I have ever seen – with his feet that is because he's not going to score a lot of headers!" Griffiths told the South Wales Argus.

"I played with one or two players who went on to play in the Premier League and I was with some very good forwards during my time at County.

"In terms of finishing in training he is on another level to all of them so the task for James Rowberry, as it was for me, is to get that out of him in games.

"James is not the complete article in terms of the knowledge of his own game but he has got amazing technical ability and a high IQ for finishing."

Bacuna added to list of out-of-contract stars

Leandro Bacuna's Cardiff City contract is up at the end of the season, WalesOnline has learned.

It was initially reported that Bacuna, who joined from Aston Villa when Cardiff were in the Premier League in January 2019, had signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with the Bluebirds, taking him up to the summer of 2023.

However, it is understood that his deal in fact runs out in June this year, adding to a lengthy list of experienced players who will also be out of contract.

It means Bacuna joins Sean Morrison, Joe Ralls, Aden Flint, Will Vaulks, Marlon Pack, Ciaron Brown, Josh Murphy, Isaac Vassell and Alex Smithies as players who have only five months left to run on their deals.

Read the full story here

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