Here's your round-up of all the latest Cardiff City news for Thursday, January 26
Lamouchi close to Cardiff job
Cardiff City are closing in on a deal to make Sabri Lamouchi their new manager with Bluebirds fans' favourite Sol Bamba as his assistant, WalesOnline has learned.
Cardiff have been without a permanent boss since Mark Hudson was relieved of his duties almost two weeks ago following a 1-1 draw with fellow strugglers Wigan Athletic.
The club have had a large number of applicants, however they whittled down a shortlist of candidates, with Lamouchi, Valerien Ismael and another unnamed manager being actively spoken to.
Former Aston Villa boss Dean Smith is another who has been heavily linked with the role. Cardiff's hierarchy this week set to work on sounding out former Nottingham Forest manager Lamouchi and proceedings have escalated quickly over the last few days.
And in a big boost to City fans, it is thought club legend Bamba would be named as his assistant if a deal gets over the line. Lamouchi worked with Bamba while in charge of the Ivory Coast national team between 2012 and 2014.
Lamouchi to be followed by three new signings
Cardiff City's appointment of Sabri Lamouchi could be followed by as many as three new signings, WalesOnline has learned.
The club are yet to do a single piece of business in this window, although they have now recalled Mark McGuinness from his loan spell at Sheffield Wednesday. However, it seems they are now poised to make a breakthrough before the end of the month.
Interim boss Dean Whitehead had previously said the club were closing in on a new striker following the defeat to Millwall last weekend.
"We're very close on one and got a couple of other things that we're looking at," he said.
Asked what position the club was close to signing, Whitehead replied: "A number nine."
"We want to try and get strikers on the pitch and in the building, so that's our priority at the moment. To get people in who can score goals."
Drameh set to sign for Luton
Leeds United boss Jesse Marsch has confirmed that former Cardiff City loanee Cody Drameh is set to sign for Luton Town on loan.
The full-back has once again struggled for game-time at Elland Road, although he did receive a half-hour runout against the Bluebirds earlier in the month, his first appearance back at Cardiff City Stadium since his tremendously successful six-month loan stint last term.
Drameh was a huge hit under Steve Morison, and was even named the club's Player of the Season, despite only being at the club for six months.
Cardiff, along with a number of other Championship clubs, showed an interest in taking Drameh on loan for this campaign, but a move never materialised. However, he now looks set for another temporary stint in the second tier.
Interestingly, the deal taking him to Hertfordshire is not believed to carry any clauses that would potentially make the move permanent, with Marsch adamant the player still has a future in west Yorkshire.
"I no doubt see a future here for him," he said. "He and I have, I think, formed a pretty strong relationship over the last 8 months. If I go back to the first time I met him and he was very dissatisfied about coming back and he expressed that he didn't think this was going to be right for him.
"But over time, with us getting to know each other and him being a part of what we've been building here. He sees his potential here. The potential of what we're doing and as a club and I think he has a lot more excitement about what the long-term commitment and project could be like.
"I told him when he left that it was unfortunate we didn't have more opportunities for him to develop right here right now with us, because in many ways I think he's ready for those challenges."
The Leeds boss confirmed a number of clubs were interested in taking the 21-year-old, but hinted he was keen to ensure the player was testing himself at a higher level than the Bluebirds.
"But we were also very clear with each other that we thought it was important he go to a club that is pushing for something," he added. "That challenges him in a lot of ways. I think as a person, he's developed a lot in the last eight months and I think he's ready to put that to the test at a higher level than even being at Cardiff last year.
"And by the way, a lot of clubs were interested in him. So it was about trying to find the right challenge for him, so that when we see each other again in June or end of May that he's ready for more here and that he's improved and grown and ready for big challenges here with us."
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