Here are your Cardiff City headlines for Sunday, May 29.
Nottingham Forest enter fray for Bale signing
Gareth Bale has officially played his final game for Real Madrid, with the world's eyes now zeroed in on where his next destination will be.
The Wales captain, 32, bowed out by earning his fifth Champions League winners' medal in Paris following Real Madrid's 1-0 win over Liverpool on Saturday night. Bale played no part, but picked up a medal owing to featuring earlier in the tournament.
READ MORE : The options for Gareth Bale as stellar Real Madrid career ends
His focus now, of course, will be on Wales and that all-important World Cup play-off final against either Scotland or Ukraine in Cardiff on June 5. Only after that game, we are told, will Bale make his decision over where he plays next.
Cardiff are heavily fancied, indeed they are the bookmakers' favourites at 1/3, however other clubs in the MLS and also Tottenham and Newcastle are mentioned in dispatches. However, in recent days promotion hopefuls Nottingham Forest have shot out of nowhere and into the odds list, now priced at 20/1 just below Atletico Madrid.
Forest will hope to earn promotion to the Premier League when they take on Huddersfield Town at 4.30pm at Wembley.
Gareth Bale next club odds
- Cardiff 1/3
- Any MLS club 6/1
- Tottenham 6/1
- Newcastle 12/1
- Atletico Madrid 16/1
- Nottingham Forest 20/1
- Southampton 20/1
- Manchester Utd 22/1
- Rangers 22/1
- Celtic 25/1
(Odds courtesy of SkyBet, correct at time of publication)
Hudson goes under the knife
Cardiff City first-team coach Mark Hudson has undergone a full hip replacement, he revealed on Instagram.
The former Bluebirds captain, who last season joined Steve Morison's staff as a first-team coach, has taken the opportunity during the off season to address an issue which has been plaguing him for some time.
Hudson, 40, cited a 'sharp incline in pain' which led to him deciding to go under the knife.
"Full hip replacement done," he wrote on Instagram. "Last couple of years before retirement I knew it was coming. The last five years there has been a steady decline and a very sharp incline in pain regardless of what or how much I did in the gym.
"Anyway, it's done. Thank you to the surgeon and all the staff and thanks for all the messages and me crying out for attention lol. Here goes to trying to get back better than I was pre-retirement (not playing)."
Semenyo receives first Ghana call-up
Cardiff City right-back Jai Semenyo has earned his first call-up to the Ghana under-20 for the upcoming Toulon Tournament.
The 18-year-old Bluebirds defender has seen his stock rise immeasurably over the last 12 months. This time last year, he was playing for non-league Mangotsfield United, by January he had made his senior Cardiff debut against Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup.
He is certainly a player Cardiff think highly of. They expect him to go out on loan next season and gain some much-needed senior experience under his belt before coming back and fighting for a place in Morison's first XI.
And he has topped off an incredible year by receiving his first call-up to the Black Stars under-20s side, one of eight uncapped players in the squad for the eight-team tournament. The Black Satellites, as they are known, will compete in Group B against Indonesia, Mexico and Venezuela.
It will take place between May 29 and June 12. Semenyo will hope to make his first Ghana under-20s appearance in their first game against Mexico on Monday.
The call-up comes days after his brother, and Bristol City forward, Antoine got his first call-up to the Ghana senior squad.
Ward hoping for better fortunes with Huddersfield
Danny Ward is hoping to top a fantastic season with promotion to the Premier League - and wants next term to be a more successful personal top-flight campaign than the one he had with Cardiff.
Having played a part in City's promotion to the Premier League under Neil Warnock, scoring four goals in 18 appearances, he was primed to help the Bluebirds sustain their top-flight status.
Cruelly, though, his Premier League captain was cut short after just 14 games when he sustained a nasty knee injury. Ward has the chance to reach the Premier League again, with the Terriers taking on Nottingham Forest at Wembley on Sunday afternoon for the right to play in the top tier next term.
Ward has been excellent for the Terriers all season and believes it has been his best one to date, having scored 10 goals in 27 Championship outings.
“When I was at Cardiff I got promoted to the Premier League but I had a knee injury in December and missed the second-half of the season," he said ahead of the play-off final.
“To have played most of this season and finished third, plus reaching the play-off final, it’s massive. I’d probably say it’s been the best one (season).”
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Richards extends stay
Jazz Richards has extended his stay with JD Cymru Premier club Haverfordwest Town.
The former Cardiff defender has penned a two-year extension. The 31-year-old joined the other side nicknamed the Bluebirds in March last year and has made 34 appearances for the club in all competitions since.
On their website, the club stated: “Ever since his arrival at the club 14 months ago, Jazz has been a real asset, not only to the football club – where he has embraced the community and the local area – but also to the league, with his presence helping to attract added attention and provide real credibility to Wales’ top flight – which continues to go from strength to strength.
“The club are over the moon to have retained someone with the quality and experience that Jazz possesses, as we look to build on our performances from the last two seasons in the JD Cymru Premier.”
