Make no mistake about it, Panzo would represent yet another sincere statement of intent from the Bluebirds Cardiff City have Make no mistake about it, Panzo would represent yet another sincere statement of intent from the Bluebirds made ambitious signings despite facing a transfer embargo, bringing in players like Karlan Grant, Yakou Meite, and Josh Bowler.- The team still needs to address their deficiencies, particularly in the central defender position, and they are close to signing Jonathan Panzo on loan from Nottingham Forest.
- Panzo would be a valuable addition to the team, being a left-footed centre-back with excellent ball-playing qualities that align with Cardiff’s possession-based style of play and help them build from the back.
- Cardiff City have embarked upon an ambitious shopping spree – albeit under transfer embargo – as they plot fresh targets and renewed ambition for this term.
With former-Fenerbache boss Erol Bulut now at the helm, the Bluebirds have pushed the boat out amid testing circumstances to welcome the likes of Karlan Grant, Yakou Meite, and Josh Bowler to the Cardiff City Stadium, alongside the captures of Dimitros Goutas and Ike Ugbo and, most notably, the homecoming of Aaron Ramsey.
That said, there are still deficiencies within the side, ones which were exposed on occasions during Cardiff’s 2-2 draw away at Leeds United last weekend.
A second central defender signing has been on the wishlist for some time now, and it looks as though Bulut is close to finally getting his man in the form of Jonathan Panzo.
Cardiff City’s Jonathan Panzo transfer interest
As per the Not The Top 20 Pod on Twitter, Cardiff are in talks with Panzo for a loan switch to the Welsh capital, which would see him become the second Forest player to make the move this summer after the acquisition of Bowler.
It comes after Bulut had denied any interest when quizzed on a previous report last week, confirming: “No. Right now, no interest.”
He made a lasting impression in the West Midlands and featured 29 times in the league for last season’s play-off finalists, looking every bit a player capable of competing at the top end of this division.
The key factor with Panzo is that he is a left-footed centre-back, which is, of course, a precious commodity these days.
Due to this and, naturally, a footballing curriculum at the famed Chelsea academy, he possesses excellent ball-playing qualities and, in turn, composure and resistance when pressed by opposing attackers, both of which align with Bulut’s possession-based modus operandi and would help Cardiff to build from the back even more.
During the trip to Elland Road, Cardiff’s defenders often found themselves launching punts upfield instead of progressing play right from the backline as they were repeatedly hounded by Leeds’ frontmen, but Panzo is the type of player with the weaponry to cope with this pressure.
Crucially, Cardiff are also in dire need of reinforcements in this area of this pitch.
Goutas and Mark McGuinness make for a solid defensive duo, but, away from them, City’s only other senior centre-back is Jack Simpson, who has really struggled ever since moving to Wales last year.
It was a disappointing start for the Owls in their first game back in the second tier after their promotion from League One last season as they were beaten 2-1 by newly-relegated Southampton at Hillsborough on Friday night.
The Saints took the lead in the eighth minute when Nathan Tella’s strike deflected in off Adam Armstrong, but despite dominating the first half, the visitors could not find a second goal and Wednesday equalised early in the second half through Lee Gregory.
It had looked set to end in a draw, but Southampton won it with three minutes remaining when James Ward-Prowse set up Che Adams, who slotted home to seal all three points for Russell Martin’s side.
The Owls progressed to the second round of the Carabao Cup after beating League Two side Stockport County 4-1 on penalties on Tuesday night following a 1-1 draw in normal time, with Tyreeq Bakinson’s 97th-minute equaliser ensuring the game would go to spot-kicks after Paddy Madden had given the Hatters a first-half lead.
It has been a tough start to the season for Hull, with back-to-back defeats in league and cup.
The Tigers were beaten 2-1 by Norwich City at Carrow Road in their opening league game on Saturday.
Liam Delap capitalised on some poor defending from the hosts to give Hull the lead in the 17th minute, but the Canaries turned the game around with Jonathan Rowe equalising in first-half stoppage time before Adam Idah won it in the sixth minute of added time at the end of the second half.
Liam Rosenior’s side endured further frustration as they crashed out of the Carabao Cup following a 2-1 home defeat to League Two outfit Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday night.
It will be an intriguing encounter in East Yorkshire on Saturday as both sides look for their first win of the campaign and as the countdown to kick-off continues, we looked at how Wednesday could line up.
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