Championship side Cardiff City have been linked with two free agent signings as Aaron Ramsey has visited the training ground, as well as the club is linked with Reading free agent Yakou Meite, as reported by Wales Online.
The former Arsenal star Aaron Ramsey fuelled speculation surrounding his future, as he stated he would ‘love to go back to the club’ where he began his career, despite spending most of his career with the Gunners in the Premier League. The 32-year-old is now a free agent, according to Transfermarkt, with this being the final day of his contract with French Ligue 1 side OGC Nice.
However, there are doubts around whether or not the Welshman is in fact free to leave the French side, with suggestions that the midfielder has made enough appearances for the club this season for the club to trigger an extension clause that exists in his contract. There is yet to be any clarity on his contract situation in France, but the midfielder has added more to the rumours as he has posted to his Instagram story at the Vale training ground for the Welsh national team.
Ramsey made 262 appearances for Arsenal between 2008 and 2019 and scored 40 goals, before he departed for Italian giants Juventus. He would spend three years at Juventus, as well as joining Rangers on loan in that time, before he left Italy for France, joining OGC Nice, making 27 appearances for the club and scoring once.
Another free agent signing the club has been linked with is Ivory Coast international Yakou Meite. The forward is also out of contract with League One side Reading, who were relegated from the Championship last season, but has also been linked with a move abroad to Belgian side Standard Liege. The 27-year-old made 27 appearances for the Royals last season in the Championship, scoring four goals and providing three assists and departs the club following their relegation to the third division.
It was reported by Darren Witcoop yesterday that the Bluebirds were keen on the Ivorian forward, but it does look to be difficult for the club to secure his signature with offers in Europe on the table for the twice capped player and he looks to be headed abroad according to reports.
Cardiff are in need of reinforcements up front, after they saw Conor Wickham leave the club. Wickham joined in January, spending the first half of the season with Forest Green Rovers, but was subsequently released from his contract with the Gloucestershire club. The club’s new boss Erol Bulut has already confirmed that more attacking options are one of his priorities in the transfer market this summer, with the club only having three forwards in the senior team, Max Watters, Kion Etete and Callum Robinson.
Writer’s View
Cardiff are clearly in need of more attacking options after narrowly avoiding relegation and free agents might just be the way the club need to go this season. With this being said, players like Ramsey could normally command a high wage, however, his sentimental connection with the club could play a part in seeing him possibly take a reduced wage with the Bluebirds.
