Roko Simic makes Sunderland AFC transfer revelation after Cardiff City switch | OneFootball

Roko Simic has revealed the clubs he turned down in order to sign for Cardiff City on deadline day

Roko Simic has revealed that he almost joined Sunderland prior to his Cardiff City switch.

The forward signed for the Bluebirds on transfer deadline day, making the move from RB Salzburg.

Simic has already been loaned back out, joining Belgian side KV Kortrijk for the rest of the season.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the deal to sign Simic cost Cardiff €2 (£1.7) million, with a further €500,000 (£420,000) potentially due in add-ons.

RB Salzburg also negotiated a 10 per cent sell-on clause in the deal, but he will spend the rest of the campaign in the Belgian Pro League instead of the Championship.

Simic reveals Sunderland interest

Simic has revealed that he had interest from a number of different clubs this summer before making the decision to join Cardiff.

The Black Cats were searching for a new forward option throughout the transfer window, but were unable to convince the 21-year-old to move to the Stadium of Light.

“Sunderland was close,” said Simic, via the official KV Kortrijk website.

“My first club, Dinamo Zagreb, also wanted me.

“There was interest from Udinese and some other clubs, but that is not important now.

“Now I am here.

“And I feel good here: I feel calm and peace at the club here and that is important for me.”

Simic will be hoping to gain valuable senior experience in the Belgian top flight by earning consistent game time.

The youngster made 28 appearances in the Austrian Bundesliga last season, including 16 starts, and contributed five goals and one assist to RB Salzburg’s second place finish in the table (all stats from Fbref).

Simic signed a four year deal with Cardiff, tying him down to the Championship club until the summer of 2028.

Cardiff City’s 2024 summer transfer business

Cardiff made a number of signings this summer in a bid to improve Erol Bulut’s first team squad.

The likes of Jesper Daland, Will Fish, Alex Robertson and Anwar El Ghazi were all signed on a permanent basis, as well as Chris Willock and Calum Chambers.

Wilfried Kanga has also arrived on loan from Hertha Berlin for the remainder of the season, with the Welsh outfit eyeing an improvement on last season’s 12th place finish in the table.

But it has been a disappointing start to the campaign for the Bluebirds, who go into this weekend’s clash against Derby County sitting bottom of the Championship.

Roko Simic deal can prove a coup for Cardiff in time

Winning the race to sign Simic was a positive step for Cardiff, even if he was immediately loaned back out and thus won’t impact their current campaign.

The forward was bought for a reasonably affordable cost, and is still only 21.

He has a lot of time to grow and develop into a top talent, and the club will be hoping that this loan move will prove very beneficial in that respect.

It’s no surprise Sunderland were also interested in him given their striker search, so winning the race to his signature could prove a real coup in the years to come.