NEIL WARNOCK reckons he could spend £150m in the January transfer window and still have no guarantee of keeping Cardiff in the Premier League.

The Bluebirds sit just above the drop zone with their boss giving them six out of 10 in the first half of the season.

Warnock (inset) is chasing two or three signings to boost his side’s chances of hanging on to their top-flight status.

Nantes’ striker Emiliano Sala is top of his shopping list as he seeks someone to supplement the goals provided by emergency striker Callum Paterson in the opening five months of the season.

But Warnock warned: “I’d need to spend around £150m to keep us up, but there are still no guarantees even with that.

“It doesn’t matter what you spend or who you buy, it is all up in the air.

“We have only got three or four months really.

“The players have to come into the squad from a different country or different culture and fit straight into a Premier

League side – it’s the most difficult thing to do.”

With a trip to Leicester today followed by a home game with Spurs on New Year’s Day, Warnock is not anticipating getting much joy in the next few days.

“If I am going to get flu it will be in the next 24 hours, then I can let Blackie (Kevin Blackwell) sort it out,” he quipped.

“We are facing two teams who are flying and we are up against it. Anything we get out of these two games will be a bonus.”

Cardiff got a double boost to their chances of staying up with the news that keeper Neil Etheridge will not be called up by former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson for the Philippines’ Asian Cup matches, while La Liga side Real Betis have confirmed midfielder Victor Camarasa will remain with City on loan for the rest of the season.