Cardiff City look good following trio of savvy early-Summer buys
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Despite a late-season flourish, Cardiff City’s difficult start to the 2016-17 campaign meant a play-off spot was beyond the Bluebirds – who finished up in 12th place.
However, with the South Wales outfit having impressed since Neil Warnock’s arrival in October, there’s every chance they’ll be promotion challengers in the Championship next term – having also made three savvy Summer buys already.
Neil Etheridge has arrived to offer experience between the posts, having impressed greatly for League One Walsall in the previous two seasons. And with the 29-year-old a regular for his national side, the Philippines, he’s also proven his worth against a number of top international teams.
However, the most exciting addition to the side’s defensive unit is Callum Paterson, who has arrived from Ladbrokes Premiership side Heart of Midlothian, following an excellent campaign.
The 22-year-old has an extremely bright future ahead, and though a current injury – sustained in the second half of last season – is likely to keep him out for the first month of the coming campaign, he has all the attributes to be one of the Championship’s best defenders.
He chalked up 10 goals and two assists for Hearts from right-back last term, and that creativity will make the right-back an excellent counterpart to the solid Joe Bennett on the opposite flank.
At the other end of the pitch, it’s another new arrival, Nathaniel Mendez-Laing who’s set to excite fans, with the former Rochdale man producing a stellar haul of eight goals and 12 assists in League One last term.
Add to that the 25-year-old’s natural pace and excellent close-control, and he could be a nightmare for defenders – and a blessing for talented strikers like Frederic Gounongbe, Rickie Lambert and Kenneth Zohore.
All of that makes the Cardiff look generously priced to lift the Championship title next term at odds of 25/1. Make a couple more quality additions before the window closes, and those odds could soon look even better.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
