Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Thursday, February 23.
Lamouchi plans talks over contracts
Sabri Lamouchi plans to discuss the futures of Cardiff's five out-of-contract players during the international break.
Mark Harris, Joel Bagan, Tom Sang, Gavin Whyte and Connor Wickham all see their contracts expire in just four months' time and there are decisions yet to be made on all of them.
Harris has played a big part in this season and the previous two, while Wickham only joined in January. Sang has been in and out of the first-team squad, while Whyte and Bagan have barely been seen at all.
Of course, Lamouchi planning his squad for next season will largely come down to which division the Bluebirds find themselves in. By the international break next month, during which time another five games will have been played, it is likely City will have a better clue as to where they will be playing next term.
Then, the Frenchman said, the club can start planning its longer-term future.
"It's absolutely a good question," Lamouchi said when asked about when these players' futures will be decided. "So I will probably tell you that after the international break.
"Let me focus on Norwich on Saturday, Bristol after that, Preston, West Brom and Rotherham. Then, after Rotherham, during the international break, with the club we will sit and we will see where we will be at this moment.
"And then we will take our responsibility to look forward for the club."
Cardiff linked with Nottingham Forest goalkeeper
Cardiff City and Stoke City are both said to be keen on soon-to-be-out-of-contract Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Jordan Smith.
Cardiff have both Ryan Allsop and Jak Alnwick currently in their ranks, with Dillon Phillips out on loan with his deal also expiring in four months' time.
Allsop is the nailed-on number one, while Alnwick has had mixed outings when placed between the sticks at times this season. Youngster Rohan Luthra is the third-choice stopper.
However, the Stoke Sentinel claim that Lamouchi could be keen to raid his old club Forest for 28-year-old Smith.
Smith has been with Forest all of his life, but has seen his game time greatly reduce in recent seasons. He is currently on loan with Huddersfield Town, but is yet to play a game.
Declan Rice sends message to new Bluebirds signing
West Ham United captain Declan Rice has led the messages to former Hammers midfielder Lennon Peake, who this week completed his protracted move to Cardiff.
The 20-year-old leaves the London Stadium after a torrid time with injuries, not playing a competitive match for over two years that saw him miss the duration of the 2020/21 and 2021/22 campaigns, and will link up with City's academy for the rest of the season.
Peake, who has been with West Ham from the age of six, played twice for the Hammers' under-21s in Premier League 2 at the start of the term before going on trial with the Bluebirds, where he scored during an academy match against Charlton Athletic.
A number of current and former West Ham academy players commented to wish Peake well on his move to south Wales.
Among them was current Irons captain Declan Rice, who commented: “All the best my brother, it’s been a pleasure knowing you,” followed by a heart emoji.
Cardiff star with 'massive potential'
Sabri Lamouchi has hailed his defenders' impact on the turnaround in form last week, claiming Cedric Kipre has "massive potential".
The Bluebirds have reverted a back three of Kipre, Perry Ng and Mark McGuinness in recent weeks and it has paid dividends, with no goals conceded during the last two matches.
All of them have contributed in some way, shape or form and Lamouchi waxed lyrical about their impact.
"Ng is a big surprise for me. Cedric Kipre has huge, massive potential," Lamouchi said.
"But Macca (McGuinness) is a fantastic professional. A fantastic boy. Game by game, he is going up and getting confidence. Which is good for him and is good for us."
Mixed injury news
Cardiff City will be without Callum Robinson for five matches, but Callum O'Dowda and Jaden Philogene have been passed fit for the clash with Norwich City this weekend.
Robinson appeared to be struggling in the final 10 minutes of the win against Reading last weekend, feeling his hamstring and hobbling about until he was eventually brought off in injury time, with Cardiff finishing the game with 10 men as a result.
The forward, who has seven goals and six assists this term, went for a scan on Tuesday and manager Sabri Lamouchi confirmed that his worst fears were realised.
"It's the worst case," Lamouchi said. "He will be not available for sure not before the international break. One month. The next five games he will be not with us."
O'Dowda, who also went for a scan on Tuesday after a knock to the knee, is fit to play, while Philogene's injury was not deemed serious enough for a scan.
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