Why Cardiff City should go all out to sign Connor Wickham
According to The Sun’s Alan Nixon (h/t Bristol Live), Cardiff City are eyeing up a loan move for striker Connor Wickham and are willing to pay him more wages than Sheffield Wednesday, who are also interested in him.
Cardiff City are currently in 12th place in the Championship, level on points with 11th-placed Sheffield Wednesday. They have sent Ciaron Brown and Gradie Madine on loan to Livingston and Blackpool respectively and have sold Bobby Decordova-Reid to Fulham this month.
The Bluebirds have endured a mixed season so far and a draw against Birmingham in the league pushed them further down the table. And they need to make signings to improve their chances of finishing higher up in the table.
Forwards Danny Ward has scored just 5 goals and Robert Glatzel has 4 to his name whereas Omar Bogle and Isaac Vassell have scored one each.
While Ward and Glatzel have been performing consistently for the team, Vassell hasn’t made it to the squad for more than 2 games. He has been left out of the squad since the 1-1 draw against Derby back in September.
With only two established strikers in their ranks, Neil Harris has work to do upfront. That makes Cardiff’s interest in Connor Wickham logical.
Wickham, 26, made 72 appearances for Ipswich Town in two years before moving to Sunderland in the summer of 2011. He then enjoyed loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United. He scored 15 goals each for Sunderland and Leeds before moving to Selhurst Park in 2015.
In his debut season with the Eagles, Wickham scored 5 goals and provided 3 assists but the next three years did not go according to plan. And injury problems over the last two years affected his form and game time.
Since returning to the squad this season, the Englishman has featured 7 times and has scored one goal and was heavily involved in the equalizer against Manchester City two weeks back.
The 26-year-old has some experience under his belt, having played in the Premier League and Championship.
Verdict
Wickham could do with a fresh start and Cardiff must offer him a chance. With Cenk Tosun’s arrival at Crystal Palace, the former Ipswich striker has slipped further down the pecking order.
Therefore, Cardiff must lure Wickham ahead of Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest – all of whom are interested in his services, according to the report.
