Cardiff City: Omer Riza will hope to follow Erol Bulut's lead with Man City deadline day transfer agreement | OneFootball

Cardiff City boss Omer Riza will be hoping to land a late Premier League loan deal, just as Erol Bulut did for Josh Wilson-Esbrand twelve months ago

Cardiff City's mid-season transfer activity is poised to go right down to the wire ahead of next Monday's deadline, where they will hope to complete replication of a loan agreement struck with Manchester City on that same day twelve months prior.

The Bluebirds have made two signings to date in Yousef Salech and exciting midfielder Sivert Mannsverk on loan from Ajax, both of whom are the freshest examples of an intriguing, recently-adopted continental recruitment strategy.

Both Salech and Mannsverk joined Cardiff at a good time, with Omer Riza's side enjoying a strong run of form thus far in 2025 to go some way to alleviating growing fears of relegation to League One.

But it's no secret Cardiff are intent on welcoming another recruit before the conclusion of the window.

They were tipped to explore the Premier League loan market and are yet to seal a deal by such means this term, but that does feel a potential avenue to enter between now and deadline day, thus replicating the finale to the mid-season window under Erol Bulut last January.

Erol Bulut sealed Manchester City loan agreement for Josh Wilson-Esbrand at Cardiff City last year

Top-flight loan deals are commonplace during the January transfer window, as Premier League clubs have had ample time to both run the rule over players and stock their squads further in order to enable outgoings.

Cardiff know that all too well, of course, having frequently struck such agreements mid-season, and Bulut left it until deadline day to sign Josh Wilson-Esbrand last year.

Cardiff needed to bolster the left-hand side this time last year, with Callum O'Dowda spending much of the season out injured. That eventually led them to a deal for Wilson-Esbrand, who had spent the first-half of the season on loan from Manchester City with Ligue 1 side Reims.

Capable as either a left-back or on the wing, Wilson-Esbrand was recruited to provide much-needed versatility, depth and athleticism on City's left side.

It was a shrewd, if rather unremarkable signing; the ex-Coventry City loanee fell short of pulling up any trees, so to speak, and saw his own season prematurely concluded through injury too, but he did a solid job when required.

Wilson-Esbrand, who is now on loan with Championship rivals Stoke City, made 11 appearances and eight starts for the Bluebirds.

The signing is not one which will go up in Cardiff's Hall of Fame for top-flight loan agreements with the likes of Harry Wilson, Tommy Doyle, Cody Drameh and Jaden Philogene, for example, but the blueprint is broadly what Omer Riza will now be hoping to follow as he bids for a similar deal to what Bulut was able to pull off.

Omer Riza will be hoping to replicate Erol Bulut in landing late Premier League loan deal for Cardiff City

Admittedly, Cardiff are sure to avoid seeking reinforcements at left-back, with O'Dowda and Joel Bagan representing more-than-suitable options for the remainder of the campaign at least.

But further forward, the wide-left berth still needs to be strengthened in the final days of the window, and Cardiff will surely be looking to fill their second loan slot with a Premier League agreement.

Chris Willock and Ollie Tanner are the chief candidates for that role and both bring many redeeming qualities to the table, though arguably neither stylistically fit the bill of the profile which Cardiff need - namely a pacey and direct winger who can carry the ball at speed while also supplying a consistent final ball.

Chelsea's highly-rated prospect Harvey Vale or Southampton winger Sam Amo-Ameyaw - who flourished against City in the EFL Cup earlier this season - could be ideal targets for the club to pursue, if they still intend on tapping into the top-flight loan market.

Any such deal would likely take place right in the dying embers of the window, you would imagine, as is the nature of the beast. Bulut did so last year, though, and Riza should now be looking to follow suit.