Cardiff City: Delivering QPR heartbreak is Erol Bulut statement of intent - View | OneFootball

Cardiff City have pulled off their first signing of the summer transfer window - and it's a significant one

Cardiff City are poised to initiate their summer transfer activity in style with the acquisition of Chris Willock following his departure from Championship rivals QPR.

This is according to a report from Football Insider shortly after news of Willock's Loftus Road departure was officially announced.

The Bluebirds have been in the market for additional options out wide after loan duo Josh Bowler and Karlan Grant returned to Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion respectively following the conclusion of the 2023/24 campaign. Bowler and Grant returned a combined total of 11 goals and four league assists, amplifying the need of wing investment during the off-season.

A multitude of reasons are at play for Cardiff's attacking deficiencies last term, despite marking significant improvement with a 12th-placed finish in Erol Bulut's first season at the helm. Cardiff scored just 25 times from open play and ranked 21st in the Championship for big chances created (63), 22nd for xG accumulated (44.3 versus a goal return of 53) and 15th for goals per match (1.2), as per FotMob.

Their over-reliance on set plays and routine lack of attacking patterns and dynamism - which both Bulut and his players hold accountability for - made Cardiff a sore watch at times, even when they were winning. Cardiff's lack of distinguished second-tier strikers offers context to their goalscoring woes, although it's difficult to downplay the impact of limited progression and chance creation from wide areas too.

However, signing Willock should offer supporters hope that such glaring issues are en-route to remedy.

Cardiff City to sign QPR's Chris Willock

Football Insider's update reveals that Cardiff have successfully fought off competition from several other clubs to win the race for the out-of-contract winger. Among other clubs, Norwich City and Sunderland had previously been credited with an interest in Willock.

Willock established himself as a household Championship name following four productive seasons with QPR, in which he registered 20 goals and 23 assists in the division from 140 appearances.

A statement from R's CEO Christian Nourry read: "On behalf of the football club I want to thank Chrissy for his contributions during his time with us.

"It is no secret that, as a club, we would have liked to have found a way to continue the adventure with him. After several months of talks, Chris has decided to go in another direction.

"Whilst we are disappointed not to see him continuing with us, it is important that we have players in the building who we know are all-in on being a QPR player, committed to the club’s game model and the work that Marti and Xavi and the rest of the coaching staff are undertaking. "Most importantly, we need individuals who are as convinced and excited about the project that the club is now building as we are, whilst respecting budgetary constraints.

"We wish Chris well for the future and thank him for four years of excellent service."

Prior updates had suggested that Cardiff were in negotiations for an "ambitious" winger and Willock, it must be said, certainly ticks that box off.

Chris Willock is a statement signing for Cardiff City - at QPR's expense

On his own, Willock won't solve all of Cardiff's pitfalls in the final third. However, he represents a strong starting point for solution, a stronger indication of the style of play that Bulut may just be implementing next season and, above all, a real statement of intent.

Cardiff mean business this summer and they've shown exactly that by pinching Willock from a direct rival and under the noses of many others who had been vying for his signature. Though a free transfer, the 26-year-old won't arrive cheap, which signals that Cardiff's top brass are firmly delivering on investment promises ahead of a potential play-off push in 2024/25 - and such ambitions are enforced by signing Willock over rivals who will no doubt share similar success targets.

On the pitch, Willock possesses the natural quality to address most of the contributions that Cardiff have fundamentally needed from their wingers over the last year. For reference, Willock ranked in the 88th percentile among Championship wingers for successful take-ons in the previous season, whereas Yakou Meite was in the 54th percentile, Grant in 56th, Ollie Tanner - admittedly from a smaller sample size ranked 64th and Bowler scored somewhat higher in the 72nd.

Of course, successful take-ons aren't a viable determinant of a winger's ability and productivity in isolation. Willock, however, has multiple strings to his bow.

For the purposes of balance, it's worth noting that Willock's productivity has declined over the last twelve months. Four goals and four assists in 39 Championship matches last season does place him above all of Cardiff's 23/24 wingers for overall direct contribution barring Grant, but if we're being honest, that's not too much to shout about.

By nature though, the Arsenal academy graduate is a high-volume shot and goal creator, as evidenced by his career-high tally of seven goals and 11 assists in 21/22 and the underlying numbers for many of his previous campaigns.

The reality is if Willock was operating at his full potential, he wouldn't be about to sign for Cardiff. Supporters must remember that. An extremely and innately gifted winger capable of playing centrally or on either flank, Willock has suffered the same bouts of consistency as Championship wide players aplenty tend to and there's perhaps little doubt that he'd be playing in the Premier League if his most eye-catching displays were more frequent.

At the age of 26, though, Willock is approaching what typically represents a prime age for footballers generally. Development isn't always linear, but it's a solid ballpark region and you get the impression that the best is yet to come from him. Cardiff will be hoping to unlock his rich potential just as they did with then-Aston Villa loanee Jaden Philogene two seasons ago, who, fittingly, shares a footballing profile with Willock that Cardiff failed to replicate last year.

Willock is a naturally progressive ball carrier who is daring, athletic and intelligent enough to help his side get up the pitch quickly and given how static and slow Cardiff have been at times, such traits will doubtlessly be welcomed. He's a similar type of mercurial talent too, who has both the confidence and flair to take risks - and succeed in doing so - that other players simply can't conjure, making him unpredictable and talented enough to change a game in an instant.

Granted, he needs to become more consistent. His end product requires refinement too, and Cardiff should now seek to pick up a winger on the opposite flank that offers more guarantees in the goals department. But it's crucial to remember what he's good at, which is taking on opponents, leading attacking transitions and, conclusively, just making things happen. That's very simplistic terminology, but the reality is many of Cardiff's wingers in years gone by just haven't done that.