Cardiff City's loan agreement with West Brom for Cedric Kipre does not include a recall clause in January, it has been revealed.
Kipre has been one of the standout performers for the Bluebirds this season. He has been a rock at the heart of defence, is lightning-quick and is so comfortable running with - and passing - the ball.
He was man of the match against Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday night and has been close to getting that accolade a number of times this season.
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Some supporters were almost resigned to the fact that West Brom would activate a recall clause, which seems commonplace in almost all loan deals, in the new year. It would have left Cardiff scrambling in the January transfer window as they looked to replace a ball-playing brute of a centre-half for the back end of the campaign.
But Cardiff state there is no such clause in the deal which brought Kipre to the Bluebirds on a season-long loan and he will be with the club until the end of the 2022/23 campaign. Brilliant news indeed, if you are a City fan.
"I wouldn't have picked up the phone anyway!" Cardiff interim boss Mark Hudson laughed.
"He has been brilliant. We were a little bit worried when he came off with two knocks in the one moment with (Ashley) Barnes. But he has put himself back out there and showed what he was about on Tuesday.
"But he has to show it again on Saturday, and again, and again, and again. That's what we've spoken about, a consistency in his performance. He is showing that at the moment and long may that continue."
Kipre was included in the official Team of the Midweek XI for the Sky Bet Championship for his colossal performance against Rovers on Tuesday night.
He was everywhere in defence, peerless in the air and was even winning free-kicks for Cardiff 30 yards from the opposition goal after dancing past two or three defenders.
Fellow Bluebird Andy Rinomhota was effusive in his praise of the centre-back.
"He could be a forward player!" the midfielder said of his team-mate.
"He has been really good and it was another really big display from him. You can see, he has got everything. His physical stature, he is quick as well.
"On the ball, you can see how comfortable he is. The Burnley game, he shrugged someone off, showed his strength and flicked the ball over someone's head. It just shows his strength and quality. It's phenomenal.
"He's been a really great addition and it's great to be playing in the same team as him."
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