Cardiff set for January additions

Last updated : 29 December 2010 By BBC Sport

The Bluebirds suffered their heaviest defeat of the season at Watford and boss Jones insists Cardiff have began talks with potential January signings.

And Jones did not rule out a moan move for England defender Jonathan Woodgate.

"Good players are available and we're in the position where we can try to get them," said Jones after the 4-1 defeat.

Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp has told his centre-back Woodgate that he can go out on loan to aid his recovery from a long-term groin injury.

"I would be willing to do that just to give him some games," Redknapp said last week.

And Jones feels last season's play-off finalists Cardiff, who are now second in the Championship, are held in high enough regard to be an adopted home for a quality player such as Woodgate.

Jones, who has also been linked with Millwall centre-back Danny Shittu, wants to bolster his centre-back position in the January sales as their promotion campaign reaches a crucial stage.

A loan move for Woodgate would suit Cardiff as they hope to build a Premier League promotion bid on a more solid backline - but a number of top-flight clubs would also be tracking the 30-year-old.

Jonathan Woodgate joined Tottenham from Middlesbrough in 2008Jones did concede that he has already started transfer negotiations with possible new additions as Cardiff seek a return to English football's top-flight after a 49-year absence.

The Welsh club were under a transfer embargo for the most of the 2010 close-season following a protracted take-over.

But once the new Malaysian consortium - led by chairman Datuk Chan Tien Ghee paid the debts and the ban was lifted, Cardiff signed Craig Bellamy, Seyi Olofinjana, Jason Koumas, Tom Heaton, Danny Drinkwater, Andy Keogh.

And the squad Jones feels is his "best" in his five-and-a-half years as Cardiff manager has put them in a good position.

Jones has been told he does not just have the financial clout to keep star players like Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra now - but also spare cash to spend on reinforcing the squad for their top-flight assault.

"I have been told we can strengthen," Jones told BBC Sport.

"And we've already started the process on a couple of players and we are hoping to have them early in January.

"We wanted more points at the halfway stage of the season but we're happy at the position we are in with the size of squad we have got - I don't think anyone could complain.

There will be new faces because we need them

Cardiff City boss Dave Jones looks ahead to January transfer window

"It is now about whether we can kick on. We will be expected to kick on and I will be expecting us to kick on and I'm hoping to bring a couple of players to strength us.

"If we pick up injuries as we have now, you have to look at our bench at the moment, it is not strong enough to do anything with.

"The games will come thick and fast and you need squad to rotate."

Cardiff fans certainly need a boost after what Jones acknowledges was their "worst performance of the season" and "unacceptable."

Jones offered "no excuses" in the aftermath of their Vicarage Road mauling and Cardiff have only won twice in their last nine league fixtures - coming after a run of five successive victories.

Top-scorer Bothroyd and fellow striker Craig Bellamy were out against Watford but Jones admitted the 4-1 humbling was "a big kick in the teeth."

"We should have dug in a little bit more," he said.

"Too many were not at it today. We were well beaten, we looked jaded. We've had a bad week with illnesses and it all caught up with us. That could be a reason."

But Jones pointed to Cardiff's injury absentees as the need for splashing the cash in January on new players.

"There will be new faces because we need them," Jones insisted.

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport