Cardiff Close In On Federico Macheda After Man. United Release

Cardiff City are expected to sign former Manchester United striker Federico Macheda on a free transfer.

The 22-year-old Italian striker is available after being released from Old Trafford.

Cardiff manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer coached Macheda in the reserve side at United, before he broke into the Reds first team as a 17-year-old.

Macheda spent last season on loan at Championship side Birmingham, scoring 10 goals in 18 appearances.

The former Lazio youth player became an instant Old Trafford hero when he scored a stunning injury-time winner on his debut against Aston Villa in April 2009.

But despite that early success, Macheda has struggled to claim a regular first-team place at Old Trafford in recent seasons and has spent time on loan in Germany with Stuttgart and in his native Italy with Sampdoria, plus spells with Queens Park Rangers and Doncaster Rovers.

Macheda is set to be Solskjaer's third signing this summer, with the Bluebirds having already recruited Spanish striker Javi Guerra, 32, and Austrian midfielder Guido Burgstaller, 25.