Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Tuesday, June 7.
More than 10 clubs after Bale
More than 10 clubs have registered their interest in signing Gareth Bale as he prepares to leave Real Madrid, according to the Daily Mail.
Cardiff are understood to be keen on opening negotiations in earnest to bring Bale back to his hometown club, with talks expected to begin in the coming days and weeks following Wales' win over Ukraine which booked them a spot at the 2022 World Cup.
However, the Bluebirds, as expected, will not be the only team sounding out the player's camp ahead of his next move and the Mail claim the number of teams to have declared their interest is "well into double figures".
While no clubs are mentioned specifically, Cardiff, Southampton, MLS club DC United and Newcastle have all been mooted as potential destinations in recent weeks.
However, The Telegraph report that Bale's former club Tottenham have no plans to sign the Wales captain, 32, for a third time, despite reported interest from the north London outfit heading into the summer window.
Drameh 'won't get a look-in at Leeds' next season
Cody Drameh will be struggling for game time at Leeds United next season with the arrival of Rasmus Kristensen expected when the window opens, according to The Athletic.
Drameh said in no uncertain terms that game time next term was extremely important for him next season, having come on leaps and bounds during his loan stint with the Bluebirds at the end of last season. His loan was so impressive, in fact, that he won both the Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards.
In an interview with WalesOnline, the 20-year-old right-back spoke of the importance of seeking assurances over game time next term, saying: "I think game time for me is really important. You saw in January, if I'm not promised game time then I don't really want to be waiting around.
"As a player, everyone wants to play. If you're not in that mindset then I don't know why you're playing football. I want to play games, I'm very young but there are players in my age bracket who have already played 100 games! That's where I want to be."
Well, The Athletic believe that the signing of Kristensen will have a big impact on Drameh's season next year, writing that the expected arrival of Kristensen "doesn’t suggest he’ll get too much of a look-in back at Leeds next season".
Where does that leave his future, one wonders? Well, a decision will have to be made very shortly on what his next steps are. Cardiff would have no hesitation in welcoming him back with open arms, that's for sure.
Cardiff hold 'outside possibility' of signing Aaron Ramsey
Cardiff City have an outside chance of sealing the seemingly improbable capture of Aaron Ramsey this summer, according to reports.
On Monday it was confirmed to WalesOnline that the Bluebirds are to step up their efforts to sign fellow Wales superstar Gareth Bale, with chairman Mehmet Dalman poised to head up negotiations over a potential deal. If that deal were to be pulled off, it would be a monumental feat for the Welsh capital city club, however there is now talk they could go one further.
The Telegraph report that Cardiff have an "outside possibility" of signing the playmaker, 31, and claim he is now part of the conversation along with Bale. The report adds that Ramey's future is currently "uncertain following his mixed loan spell at Rangers" and that he is "not thought to be part of Juventus' plans next season."
It comes after reports in Italy claimed Juventus are ready to rip up Ramsey's contract in a bid to get his exorbitant £400,000-per-week wages off the bill for next season. Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport have claimed that negotiations have already started over terminating the player's contract a year early, with a severance package reportedly being thrashed out by all parties.
Ramsey has previously refused to rule out a return to his boyhood club, where he rose through the academy ranks before making 22 appearances for the senior team. Back in April 2020, in an Instagram Q&A with fans, Ramsey said of a return to Cardiff: “They helped me become a professional footballer. So, why not? Who knows?”
Get your Wales World Cup 48-page souvenir special on Saturday, June 11. Order your copy via the online shop here.
Stoke enter Flint race
Stoke City are reportedly lining up a bid for centre-back Aden Flint amid interest from League One side Derby County.
The experienced defender, 32, is on the search for a new club after announcing his departure from the Bluebirds this summer to end his three years in the Welsh capital.
While Wayne Rooney has reportedly been keen on signing the defender, our sister title StokeLive now claim that the Potters are registering an interest in landing his signature.
Flint is one of 10 first-team stars to have come to the end of their contracts with the club, and has followed Marlon Pack and Alex Smithies in confirming his departure from South Wales.
Coventry close in on Palmer
Coventry City are reportedly closing in on signing Bristol City's Kasey Palmer, who was the subject of transfer interest from Cardiff City earlier in the window.
The 25-year-old former Chelsea prospect has been deemed surplus to requirements at Ashton Gate, playing just 204 Championship minutes, and it is understood the Bristol club want the player off the wage bill ahead of next season.
WalesOnline learned that Cardiff were in talks to sign Palmer, despite registering strong interest. A source said the club "looked into it but it wasn't going to work" with "other options" in the pipeline. Palmer has another year left on his contract, too, so would have cost a transfer fee to get a permanent deal over the line.
And CoventryLive report that the Sky Blues are now ready to pounce. The Championship club's assistant manager and first team coach Adi Viveash is understood to be a huge driver in the deal, having worked with Palmer during their time at Stamford Bridge.
Cardiff are thought to be pursuing other midfield options.
Evans: Loan move away benefitted me 'massively'
Cardiff City youngster Kieron Evans has spoken of how he benefitted from his end-of-season loan at Linfield, although admitted he would have liked more game time at the Belfast club.
The 20-year-old winger broke into Mick McCarthy's first team last season before it was decided that a stint away would be advantageous for a player who had really only played youth-team football.
He played just six games, though, as David Healy's side romped to the league title, with the manager largely opting for tried-and-tested options rather than young loanee Evans. But the Brithdir-born youngster still saw the positives from his stint in Northern Ireland.
“This loan spell has benefited me massively," he told the Linfield website. "It has introduced me to men's football which is a lot different to development football. Particularly, the physicality of the Irish League was a learning curve for me, because what I’ve been used to across the water is mostly just technical and tactical. Men's football and physical players has taught me a lot in my short time with Linfield.
“This was my first time out on loan, my first time leaving Wales, and I won the league, so this club will always hold fond memories for me. I’ve enjoyed my time here, the experience has been great.
“My team-mates have been brilliant since I came in. They welcomed me to the club and to Northern Ireland right away. As I said, it was my first time leaving home but they made it easy for me to settle in and they’re a great bunch of people. The same goes for the staff."
Evans is expected to head out on loan again next season, having recently gone down to National League side Torquay for a day's training ahead of a potential loan move, however nothing has come of that just yet.
WIldig signs for Newport
Former Bluebirds midfielder Aaron Wildig has signed for Newport County after turning down a new contract at Morecambe
The 30-year-old, who rose through Cardiff's youth ranks before leaving for Shrewsbury Town in 2012, has linked up with former Bluebirds first-team coach James Rowberry at Rodney Parade.
"Aaron brings a wealth of experience to our attacking department and the team," said Exiles boss Rowberry. "Having two promotions on his CV, along with his leadership qualities, I'm really looking forward to working with Aaron."
