Cardiff City are interested in signing Chidera Ejuke as they look to back new boss Erol Bulut in the transfer market this summer, Abbeylivenetwork.com reports.
According to WalesOnline reporter Glen Williams, the Bluebirds are believed to be “working hard” on a deal for CSKA Moscow winger Ejuke on a one-year temporary contract.
Ejuke is attracting interest from the Bluebirds, seven years after he missed out on a dream move to Premier League giants Liverpool.
A FIFA rule allowed non-Russian players to suspend their contracts with Russian clubs until June 30, 2023. Ejuke, 25, spent the season at Hertha BSC in Bundesliga, where he made 9 starts and 11 substitute appearances.
Last summer, Ejuke unilaterally suspended his contract at CSKA Moscow until June 2023, paving the way for him to join Hertha Berlin on a season-long loan.
Ejuke ranks above 99% for both attempted and successful take-ons, with 9.81 and 4.75 respectively across a per 90 minutes time frame.
He averaged 2.4 shots per 90 last season, on a par with attackers that find the net. But there is room for improvement where accuracy is concerned, with just a quarter of those shots being on target, for a rate of 0.6 per 90.
Ejuke, 25, started his playing career in his native Nigeria before moving to Norway and making a €2m switch to Eredivisie side SC Heerenveen in 2019.
After 10 goals and 6 assists in the Netherlands, Ejuke’s move to Russia just one year later demanded a fee of €11.5m. He remains the second most expensive arrival in CSKA Moscow’s history.
The winger has 23 goals and 13 assists in 123 club games across Nigeria, Norway, Russia, Germany and the Netherlands.
Wherever Ejuke plays his football next season, he will hope for a run of games that puts his name back in the conversation for a Nigeria call-up with the last of his eight caps coming in January 2022.
Cardiff working hard on deal to sign Chidera Ejuke on a 1-year temporary contract. FIFA allowed the winger to suspend his contract at CSKA Moscow last year due Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and he signed with Hertha BSC. Cardiff hoping similar can be done again.
Exciting times ?? pic.twitter.com/zGQd7HeoAW
— Glen Williams (@GlenWilliams12) July 1, 2023
