Bellamy poised for move home to Cardiff on six-month loan

Cardiff City are set to sign Craig Bellamy from Manchester City on a six-month loan deal today. The forward has favoured a move back to his hometown club despite interest from Tottenham, Fulham and Celtic. Cardiff’s manager, Dave Jones, will make the fiery Welsh international his captain.

The 31-year-old suggested earlier in the week that he would be open to a move to the club he supported as a boy at a press conference in Cardiff prior to Wales’ friendly against Luxembourg, he said: “I have always wanted to play for Cardiff. I’ve never been shy in saying that. My wife and kids live here, I’ve missed them now for the last five or six years, so that would have more of a pull to me than most. Would I love to get Cardiff City to the Premier League? Of course I would.”

The Manchester City coach, Roberto Mancini, admitted in the week Bellamy would not be included in his 25-man Premier League squad this season.

The club believe that acceding to requests from Shay Given for a transfer may put them at risk of enduring the same goalkeeping calamity they suffered last April and they will demand the right to recall him from any loan deal if the 34-year-old agitates for a move. Fulham are monitoring the situation.