Striker IN but to be loaned OUT

Last updated : 31 August 2024 By Michael Morris

C:WindowsTempphp5C9D.tmpMahlon Romeo has had his contract terminated by mutual consent.

Raheem Conte – Loan (Woking)

Malachi Fagan-Walcott – Loan (York City)

Incoming City have signed striker Roko Simic

Cardiff City have signed Red Bull Salzburg striker Roko Simic and will send him out on loan for the season, write BBC Sport

The Croatia Under-21 international was reportedly a target for other clubs, including Championship rivals Sunderland.

But Cardiff landed the 6ft 3in 20-year-old with their "long-term recruitment strategy in mind".

The Bluebirds confirmed Simic "will shortly go out on loan" for 2024-25 and say his "development will be closely monitored throughout the season by club staff".

Simic is expected to spend that loan period at KV Kortrijk, the Belgian club owned by Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan.

“We want quality players who can help us. We won’t just take a player who will sit on the bench, we want a player who can change a game,” said manager Erol Bulut.

“I hope I will get one in but until now we haven’t been able to manage it. What clubs are asking, what players are asking with their wages, is difficult.

“[Simic] is a club signing for the future. He will have a loan to Kortrijk but we still have a little bit of time to get a player in, I hope. But it's not easy to bring only one in... it has to be the right person.”

Cardiff have now signed eight players so far this summer, with striker Wilfried Kanga and wingers Chris Willock and Anwar El Ghazi bolstering their attacking options.

But with striker Kion Etete and winger Isaak Davies both injured, Bulut was keen to add to his squad.

Simic, who scored six goals from 34 appearances in all competitions for Red Bull Salzburg last season, has been earmarked for a first-team role at Cardiff next year.

Other Cardiff players have spent time on loan at Kortrijk recently, including Davies and defender Ryotaro Tsunoda in the 2023-24 campaign.