Bradshaw signs: How Cardiff City's dream summer transfer window could look | OneFootball

Cardiff City aren't too far off the play-off places, despite some real glaring gaps in their current squad.

Erol Bulut's team has a very outside chance of making the top-six, but the fact that they are even this close is amazing. They haven't paid a transfer fee for one player this season, and yet they are within sight of the top eight in the Championship. Considering they finished fourth-bottom of the league last season, only avoiding relegation because of Reading, who'd had six points deducted, that's an impressive turnaround, and one that should shift a lot of praise onto the manager.

They will have a difficult task of keeping this position come next season though. The likes of Sunderland and Bristol City below them will likely spend big between the current campaign and the start of the next one, so the Bluebirds are going to have to get smart with their recruiting.

They're also set to lose seven players at the end of the season, most of whom are loanees.

They will need to replace the important players that are leaving, and this is how an ideal summer window would look for Cardiff.

Devante Cole

It's been well documented that Cardiff were searching far and wide for a striker in the January transfer window. They attempted a move for former player Kieffer Moore, but he ended up with Ipswich Town. That gap in the team is still there, and the Bluebirds can't expect to rely on Perry Ng - a defender - to be their top scorer again next season.

Cole would certainly help solve that problem. The 28-year-old has been one of the most prolific players in League One for the past few years, racking up 32 goals across this season, so far, and last season.

The Barnsley forward will likely attract second tier attention, especially since he'll be available on a free transfer, and the pitch of a potential play-off push at that level could tempt Cole to come to South Wales.

Tom Bradshaw

The Welsh international would return to his homeland if this deal were to happen. His form hasn't been as good this season, but, in fairness, neither has the rest of his Millwall teammates. What should excite any scouts in Cardiff was his 22/23 campaign, where he scored 17 goals for the Lions.

Having Bradshaw and Cole would be a nice blend for Bulut. His system only plays one forward, but both would still need to fully cement themselves in that starting number nine role, so there would be good competition between two promising strikers.

Uros Radakovic

The boss of the Bluebirds would be using a bit of his influence in his home country to get this deal done. The 6'4" Serbian central defender will be available for free in the summer window, and Cardiff would be smart to get their hands on him.

For MKE Ankaragücü, this season, he has been a strong defensive force, winning 71% of his aerial duels in the Turkish Süper Lig, as per Sofascore. This defensive rigidity would be a welcome addition to Bulut's defensive unit.

Sam Byram

Collins and Wilson-Esbrand - Cardiff's first two left back options - are both scheduled to leave the Cardiff City Stadium come the start of July. They're probably going to need more than one addition in this area of the pitch, but Byram would be a good place to start.

This season, especially, he's been able to prove his worth as one of the top full-backs in the Championship. He provides the versatility of being able to play on either flank too. The question with him will be his fitness, which isn't likely to drastically improve. Another issue might be whether he lands a contract extension at Leeds United, where he's played regularly enough this season.