Cardiff City are in negotiations with Bristol City over Nahki Wells and Kasey Palmer, however there remains an impasse over the type of transfer with the Bluebirds making loan offers but the Robins insisting the duo can leave on permanent deals.
Bristol Live understands that Cardiff made a renewed attempt to sign Wells on Monday afternoon having failed with their first bid on Sunday night. The new offer remains a loan but with a greater contribution towards the Bermudian’s salary.
The Bluebirds have also made an approach to take playmaker Kasey Palmer to south Wales on a temporary move but, as it stands, neither are likely to be accepted.
Cardiff have been forced into action due to the impending sale of Kieffer Moore to Bournemouth for £3.5m, rising to £5m in add-ons, and head coach Steve Morison wants to make additions in that area of the pitch.
Having been unsuccessful for Wells on Sunday, Stoke City’s Sam Surridge looked to be their primary option, also on loan, but the 23-year-old has now emerged as a target for Nottingham Forest following Lewis Grabban’s injury sustained against Cardiff.
Unlike the Bluebirds, who are insisting they’re only willing to do loan deals, Forest are prepared to make it a permanent transfer helping the Potters recoup some of the £5.5m they paid Bournemouth for the striker last summer.
That has then made the Bluebirds switch their sights back to the West Country and Wells but the 31-year-old’s salary at Ashton Gate has made any agreement unlikely.
Ultimately, City want a substantial proportion of his wages covered to allow a senior player to move to a Championship rival, potentially strengthening them, or for it to be a permanent switch.
Pearson has maintained a message throughout this window that he won’t allow players to leave the club and strengthen rivals unless there is something in it for the Robins. At present, quite simply, there isn’t.
There is a feeling within City that with the money earned from the sale of Moore, Cardiff potentially have room to manoeuvre but they insist a loan is the only offer they’re willing to make.
The chances of taking Palmer on loan appear increasingly remote with the 25-year-old against another temporary switch away, having already experienced five in his career and unless there is a considerable change in circumstances he will remain with the Robins.
In the background, however, is City’s desire for a full-back which is largely dependent on getting one of Wells or Palmer’s salaries off the book, and in an ideal world a transfer fee, to enable Pearson to enter the market.
But with only a few hours of the window remaining a lot needs to change for any movement to take place beyond continued talks.
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