Tonight's Cardiff City transfer news as Bakasetas agreement reached and Danny Ward stumbling block emerges
These are your Cardiff City headlines on Monday, January 8
These are your Cardiff City headlines on Monday, January 8
Bakasetas agreement reached
Reports in Greece state an agreement has been reached between Besiktas and Trabzonspor for the transfer of Anastasios Bakasetas.
A two-and-a-half-year deal has been laid out, according to Sport 24 in Bakasetas' homeland, with the Turkish giants to pay 1.5 million euros for the midfielder. Sign up to our Cardiff City newsletter here.
Cardiff have been heavily linked with a move for the attacker, but it appears any hope of landing Bakasetas are rapidly fading. Greek side Panathinaikos had also been strongly linked, with former Turkey manager Fatih Terim having recently taken over the latter.
READ MORE: Today's Cardiff City transfer news as second Wales star targeted and Kieffer Moore chase hots up
But it appears Bakasetas has now made his choice and he will remain in Turkey to play his football.
Ward stumbling block
Cardiff and Sheffield United's reported interest in Leicester City stopper Danny Ward is complicated by the Premier League and Championship loan rules.
The Premier League states top-flight clubs are permitted to have only two temporary loans in their squad and the Blades already have a duo on their books; Luke Thomas - on loan from the Foxes too - and James McAtee, from Manchester City.
If the Blades want to sign Ward on loan, one of the above would have to return to their parent club. The same would apply to the Bluebirds; as a Championship club, they are allowed five loans in their squad throughout the season, which they currently have in Karlan Grant, Ike Ugbo, Josh Bowler, Jonathan Panzo and Alex Runarsson. So something, somewhere, would have to give. If Cardiff were to firm up their interest in Ward, Runarsson would almost certainly return to Arsenal.
Thirty-year-old Ward was Brendan Rodgers' first-choice man in the Premier League last season, featuring in 26 of the 38 games, keeping six clean sheets. However, he has not picked up any minutes since Leicester's relegation to the Championship, so could be in search of a challenge elsewhere.
Ward will be looking for game-time ahead of Wales' potential Euro 2024 appearance in Germany this summer.
Return of the King
Eli King has returned to Cardiff from his loan spell with Morecambe. In a short statement on the club website, the Bluebirds confirmed the move on Monday. It said: "Eli King has been officially recalled from his loan spell with League Two side Morecambe.
"The 21-year-old midfielder made 24 appearances in all competitions for the Shrimps throughout the first half of the 2023/24 season, scoring twice. An academy graduate, Eli has featured for the Bluebirds on seven occasions since making his first-team debut in October 2021. Welcome back, Kingy!"
Morecambe manager Ged Brannan said he saw it coming. Speaking at the weekend, he said: "We're just waiting to find out if the clubs are calling them back. There's no doubt they will because they have all been really successful here at Morecambe. If you're successful you get punished sometimes as a small club.
"They'll all get called back to their clubs I would have thought. And we will have other players to come in."
Meanwhile, Chanka Zimba has extended his loan spell with Maidenhead United until the end of the season.
Hornchurch wish Morison good luck
Hornchurch FC have wished former Bluebirds boss Steve Morison good luck after he left the club to join Sutton United. Morison leaves the Isthmian League club seven points clear at the top of the table.
He was at the helm for just six months but the non-League side have parted on good terms with the former Wales striker.
Chairman Alex Sharp said: “I’m disappointed to confirm that Steve will be leaving us after six months, following probably the most impressive first half of a season we have ever seen!
"Steve has brought a level of professionalism to the club that has lifted us from the disappointment of last season’s play-off final defeat and whilst I am sad to see Steve leave from the club’s perspective, I am delighted that he has got an exciting opportunity to return to the Football League so quickly and feel proud that Hornchurch has provided the platform for that return.
"Steve has been fantastic for the club and the foundation he has put in place sees us top of the league with games in hand and a fantastic goal difference and we will do our best now to close out the season as we have started off. I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to Steve and to Ant Fenton who will take up the role of Steve’s assistant from Monday.
"Best of luck to Steve and Ant for the future, it has been great getting to know you both and your families and we can guarantee you a very warm welcome whenever you return to the club."