Cardiff City are hoping to beat the transfer deadline and conclude a loan move for Fulham midfielder Alexey Smertin.
The Bluebirds are in London today for a work permit hearing for the Russian midfielder, with Dave Jones prepared to speak to the Home Office tribunal this afternoon in order to get the go-ahead to sign the tough tackling midfielder. Smertin, who has won 55 caps for his country, is keen to stay in England after fading from Roy Hodgson’s first team when the Cottagers’ head coach succeeded Lawrie Sanchez and kept Fulham up against all the odds.
Smertin would be the second Fulham player to make the move to Wales in this transfer window – with Cardiff having already signed Eddie Johnson on loan until the end of the season.
