"More than most Championship clubs could afford" - Confident Cardiff City, Yousef Salech prediction issued | OneFootball

Football League World's resident Cardiff City fan pundit discussed the likelihood of Yousef Salech staying after relegation to League One

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Cardiff City are poised to undertake a rebuild of the playing squad in the coming weeks and months following relegation to League One, with the drop in both division and revenue necessitating a number of outgoings.

The Bluebirds need to clear house and shift a clutch of big-earners as they prepare for life in English football's third-tier for the first time in more than 20 years, and certain departures would perhaps be warmly welcomed.

But there are a number of players that the Bluebirds will be desperate to retain in order to have the best possible chance at returning to the Championship in swift fashion. Yousef Salech, naturally, is Cardiff's prized asset and, should he remain at the club, will be central to any success that comes their way in 2025/26.

The Danish-born striker only signed for Cardiff back in January from Swedish side Sirius in a deal reportedly worth up to £3.3 million, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract. His impact in the remainder of the campaign was instant and remarkable, with Salech enjoying a near-seamless transition to the rigors of the Championship despite arriving from a new country after not playing football for two months owing to the conclusion of the Swedish top-flight campaign, and coming into a struggling side with very limited service.

Salech scored eight times from just 20 Championship appearances and while his goals were not enough to keep the Bluebirds in the division, they were more than enough to establish him as a fan favourite and the single-most important player in the Welsh capital.

The 23-year-old was visibly distraught upon Cardiff's relegation following a 0-0 home draw with West Bromwich Albion and has vowed to "bounce back" via his official Instagram page, too, which has led supporters to believe he will stay put beyond the summer despite the seeming inevitability of interest from elsewhere.

Cardiff City backed to keep Yousef Salech this summer

FLW asked our resident Bluebirds fan pundit, Matt Hall, if he fears a summer sale for Salech, albeit for a significant figure. Matt acknowledges that Salech is a real asset, with his age and goal record both likely to make him an attractive proposition for a number of second-tier sides.

Indeed, Matt has told Cardiff to set the sort of valuation which would price most Championship clubs out of a move, and he does believe that Salech will spend one season in the third-tier to try and help Cardiff to promotion.

"My gut feeling on Yousef Salech is that he's going to stay," Matt told FLW.

"There's every indication that he is happy to stay. I know you can't read into a social media post, but the posts from him are about how we'll fight back.

"It's little bits of language like that, as well as the way he goes about himself. From his point of view, I don't think he's going to be someone who will force his way out or push to leave and that's a great thing for us.

"Beyond that, you're looking at him having a four-year deal. While there will be interest, I think the club have enough players elsewhere that will be able to generate the funds that they will not need to just cash in on him.

"I think everyone in the club understands he is our best chance of bouncing straight back up.

"He will be wanted by a lot of people. What sort of money they offer us, no idea, but I would be looking for quite a lot of money - probably more than most Championship clubs could afford.

"As long as he doesn't push for it, which it doesn't seem like he's going to do, I do think he will stay.

"The counterpoint is that if we are in League One beyond one season, I think he will go. But I think for one season down there, he will stay loyal to us, he's only been here five months."

Yousef Salech could do serious League One damage for Cardiff City

Cardiff fans are confident and excited about what Salech could do in League One, and rightly so. The powerful forward would likely amass 20 goals across a full Championship campaign, so there is little doubting his capabilities in the third-tier.

With sharp and intelligent goalscoring instincts, coupled with both the natural physicality and determined, high-intensity edge to dominate the majority of opponents in ground and aerial duels, Salech would thrive against tough and physical League One defences looking to rough up the Bluebirds - a reality the rest of his teammates may need to accept rather quickly.

Keeping hold of him would be a statement of intent from Cardiff, and it could decide just how 25/26 unfolds for the Welsh side.