"Missing all of those qualities" - Cardiff City urged to sign League One star out of contract this summer | OneFootball

The Bluebirds are interested in the Posh striker as per a Football League World exclusive.

Cardiff City are already looking to make strides towards survival in the Championship by utilising the transfer market, with reinforcements desperately needed in South Wales.

Football League World exclusively revealed on Monday that the Bluebirds are showing an interest in Peterborough United's Ricky-Jade Jones and have enquired about his services, although Wales Online have reported a deal is unlikely at this stage.

Nevertheless, Omer Riza has stated that his side have held talks with the player over a move, with the 22-year-old's contract due to expire at the end of the season.

It has been an incredibly difficult campaign for Cardiff so far, and forward options are required to help push them out of trouble, and Jones could be the perfect acquisition this month.

Cardiff City urged to complete Ricky-Jade Jones deal

Riza's team currently sit 23rd in the Championship table, and despite improvements when he first took over following Erol Bulut's sacking, results over the last couple of months have scuppered any momentum that they once had.

January will be crucial to ensuring their future in the second tier, and there will be a desire to see incomings in the next few weeks in the Welsh capital.

FLW has asked their Cardiff Fan Pundit, Jack Price, if he believes a deal for Jones would be a good one, and just how important it could be for their season.

"Ricky-Jade Jones would really fit the profile of the type of signing that Cardiff need to complete this month," he started. "He is absolutely rapid; he has frightening speed. He's been clocked in as the fastest player in League One, and with that comes the ability to pin back opposition defenders, stretch defences, get up the pitch, make things happen, and we're missing all of those qualities from our wide players and strikers.

"Obviously, he is a very versatile player. I believe he can play on the left or up top, so, as I said, he fits the profile, and he would bring something pretty unique and something that's been sorely absent from this Cardiff side, not only this season but over the last couple of years.

"There are concerns about the lack of productivity. He’s scored 25 goals in the last year and a half, but not too many of those have come in League One and a lot of big chances have gone begging for him as well.

"But he is only 22, so I think the best is still yet to come from him. With Peterborough’s track record of developing EFL talent, but namely forwards in particular, you've got to be excited when you get a link to a player like him."

Jack continued: "A deal does look unlikely because, although he's out of contract in the summer, Peterborough will demand significant tribunal-determined compensation and that will make it hard for us to complete a deal. So, I don't see it happening, but I would be all over it.

"I think even if we aren’t able to sign him, I think seeing us going for that profile and calibre of signing is promising and represents the route that we need to explore. We need to go for younger players with a lot of potential and a lot of resale value. On the pitch as well, he would really fit what we need.

"So, I hope there's life in this deal because he's a player myself and a lot of supporters would really like to see down at City."

Ricky-Jade Jones could help Cardiff City with their issues in the final third

Cardiff have found it tough to find the back of the net consistently in the Championship this season, and despite scoring five goals in one game against Plymouth Argyle in October, they have only scored 20 other times.

It is crucial that they bring in more talent to the forward line to help put these issues to an end and push up the table in the second half of the campaign.

Jones does not have a brilliant record in front of goal in League One, but he can be a threat, and if he builds confidence he could become an excellent signing for the Bluebirds.

Cardiff need to make decisions quickly to avoid being left behind by their rivals and the 22-year-old might just be the perfect tonic to a difficult year.