The 2016/17 season is one that has the potential to promise so much for Cardiff City fans with new manager Paul Trollope set to inject some life and passion into a club, that struggled to captured the fans' imagination during the reign of the more timid Russell Slade.

It will be a tough start for the Bluebirds on the opening day of the Championship league season when they take on Birmingham at St Andrew's.

However, there is enough confidence within the Cardiff camp and their fan base that this could be a positive season for the Welsh club.

Trollope has already started his revolution at the club by releasing a number of first team players including Ben Turner, Kenwyne Jones, Joe Lewis, Etien Velikonja, and Filip Kiss. The search is now on for players to replace those departures.

Football League World writer Steve Day takes a look at which THREE new signings could well be made by Trollope over the coming weeks and play a key role in the first game of the season for the Bluebirds......

 

Lex Immers

Lex ImmersLex ImmersLex ImmersLex Immers

Yes, we know Immers spent last season on loan at Cardiff City but his permanent transfer to the South Wales side was only confirmed this summer.

The former Feyenoord attacking midfielder impressed at the Cardiff City Stadium last season scoring 6 goals in his 16 Championship appearances for the club.

Immers will likely be deployed in the creative attacking midfield role behind the striker this season.

He has already shown he can deliver the goals and the assists needed to make it in the Championship and he is certain to be a hit with the Bluebirds.

The one question that remains is whether Immers can carry his loan spell form now he's made the transfer permanent.

Some players lack the motivation when a permanent deal is secured but given the passion and determination, Immers has displayed during his time at Cardiff already that seems unlikely to be an issue, and he could be a pivotal player for the club this season.

David Cotterill

David Cotterill

The Cardiff-born winger was an example of the Bluebirds constantly missing out on the best young talents to their arch rivals, with Cotterill starting his career with English club Bristol City.

The Birmingham midfielder has since enjoyed spells at Wigan, Sheffield United, Swansea, Portsmouth, Barnsley, and Doncaster but has failed to play for his hometown club.

That could be about to change with rumours that Trollope is keen to add more of a Welsh identity to this Cardiff squad.

Trollope has worked with Cotterill at international level within the Wales national side, and the 28-year-old has impressed at his current club 13 goals in 71 league matches for the Blues.

It is no secret that Cardiff are keen to add strength to their wings.

Craig Noone has failed to recapture the form he showed during the single season in the Premier League and Anthony Pilkington has thrived with the club but is notorious for his injury problems.

Cotterill seems like a logical option to bring in and remain within budget.

Hal Robson-Kanu

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The final potential new signing is the Welsh national side's cult hero who entered Welsh football folklore for his winning goal against Slovakia in the opening 2-1 win of the 2016 European Championship.

Robson-Kanu was always highly-rated growing up having first spent time in the famous Arsenal youth set-up before moving to Reading.

Despite impressing at international level with 3 goals in 32 caps, the 27-year-old English-born midfielder has never quite managed to re-produce that form at club level.

He has spent loan spells with Southend and Swindon that never worked out and he is now available on a free transfer, after departing Reading at the end of his contract.

It is rumoured that he is pushing for a move to the Premier League hoping that exposure at Euro 2016 will put him firmly at the front of the shop window.

However, Trollope is out in France working with the Wales squad as a coach right now and there is no doubt he will be trying to get into Robson-Kanu's ear about how Cardiff is the best place for him.

What do you think about these new signings? Are they enough to make Cardiff go that extra step and reach the Championship Play-Offs this season? Or are they a sign of a continued lack of ambition by Vincent Tan? Let us know your thoughts below!