Cardiff City have completed the capture of Leandro Bacuna, who joins from Reading for a reported fee in the region of £4 million, according to BBC.
The former Aston Villa midfielder has signed a four and a half year contract with the Bluebirds and is coming on the back of being in impressive form in the Championship this season. But is the right acquisition for Neil Warnock?
Leandro Bacuna
Following his move to Reading in the summer of 2017, Bacuna has emerged as a key player for the Biscuitmen, making 33 appearances during his debut campaign with the club.
This season, he has been equally important, notably being involved in six goals in 22 league matches – a performance that has helped Reading maintain their fight for survival in the Championship.
The addition of Bacuna will surely add more depth to the Cardiff City squad as thanks to his versatility, the Dutchman, who usually functions as a central midfielder, can be deployed in the wide-midfield as well as the right back position.
As a matter of fact, the 27-year-old was slotted in as many as seven different positions during his time at Aston Villa during the 2016/17 campaign, including the right-wing position – making him arguably the most versatile player for Cardiff City at the moment.
Aside from that, Bacuna is an athlete, who is fully capable of living up to the tag of also being a box to box midfielder as he can not only press the opposition and therefore give them minimal time on the ball but can also provide thrust to the attack with his driving runs forward.
The Dutchman can be utilized in the right-back role, where he can provide more width to the Cardiff attack while his excellent crossing will certainly boost their chance creation in the final third.
He has delivered as many as 40 key passes this season, half of which have come from crosses while 19 have come from either corners or freekicks, which is indicative of his set-piece prowess that could prove to be useful for Warnock’s men.
Defensively, he has attained moderate numbers, averaging 0.8 interceptions, 1.2 tackles and 1.3 clearances while featuring in a central midfield position but those numbers can surely improve in a far more defensive role.
However, in the past, Bacuna has struggled with lack of consistency – something he definitely needs to improve upon if he is to make a mark at the Cardiff City Stadium this season and beyond.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored