Cardiff City: Big January “shake up” mooted with defender set to be first exit

Cardiff City: Big January “shake up” mooted with defender set to be first exit                                                             

According to Darren Witcoop, many Saudi Arabian clubs are interested in the 30-year-old, who has only made three

Championship appearances for the Bluebirds this season.

According to Witcoop, Cardiff City are planning to restructure their roster in January to maintain their second-tier

status for another season. Collins is one of 12 players whose contracts at the Cardiff City Stadium will expire this summer.

Collins was a regular for Cardiff last season, but has battled for playing time under Omer Riza this season.

Collins has not played much for Cardiff this season, despite being a key player the previous year. In 2023/24, the

Nigerian appeared in 36 Championship games, scoring one goal and providing four assists. At the start of the

summer, his contract was extended for one year based on his performance last season.

This season, however, he has fallen behind Joel Bagan (pictured) and Callum O’Dowda in the battle for Cardiff’s left-

back position.

Collins joined Cardiff in the summer of 2022, but only played four games in 2022/23 due to an ACL injury that cut

short his season.

Prior to arriving to South Wales, he played five consecutive seasons with Paderborn in Germany, where he helped

the club win back-to-back promotions from the 3. Liga to the Bundesliga.

Collins has also played for Sibenik and NK Istra 1961 in Croatia, plus a spell with Slovenian side NK Krka, in a career

that has taken him all across Europe.

The 22-cap Nigerian international is considering a transfer to Asia for the first time in his nomadic career.

Overhauling the team is normally linked with the summer transfer window, considering how little room for

movement there is in January, but Cardiff sorely needs changes in January to save their second-tier status.

The Bluebirds are currently in the bottom three after an eight-game losing streak, raising the threat of relegation to

the third tier for the first time since 2002/03.

City is one of just three teams in the division that have yet to win a game away from home. They must improve if they

are to survive.

Cardiff has the lowest league goal scoring record in the Championship, which Riza should improve in January.

Failure to do so could mean demotion.

Cardiff might take heart in the knowledge that the Championship’s relegation battle appears to involve at least seven

teams, but they must improve if they are to avoid danger.

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