Warnock narrows search for new midfield general

CARDIFF City boss Neil Warnock appears to have whittled his hunt for a new midfielder down to a choice of two – with Marko Grujic or Senegal World Cup powerhouse Alfred N’Diaye believed to be the options.

The Bluebirds boss wants to bolster his team’s engine room ahead of the new Premier League campaign and hopes to do a deal for either Grujic or N’Diaye before the transfer window closes next Thursday.

The two men have each been linked with Cardiff and Warnock is stepping up moves behind the scenes to strike agreement.

Grujic has been his number one midfield target this summer and Warnock remains hopeful he can persuade the Serbian international to return to Cardiff City Stadium, where he spent last season on loan.

Warnock had arranged with Jurgen Klopp to take Grujic on loan again, but the issue has been complicated by the possibility of the player landing a permanent move elsewhere. If Grujic opts to stay with Liverpool, Cardiff are confident of landing their man for the 2018-19 campaign. The Bluebirds don’t intend to pay the transfer fee Liverpool will demand, with some suggestions Grujic could cost as much as £20m.

However, N’Diaye has emerged as a credible alternative and has the biggame experience Warnock wants in his team.

Villareal’s N’Diaye, 28, played 37 times on loan for Wolves last season as they won the Championship title but the Molineux club have opted against making the move permanent.

With N’Diaye down the Villareal pecking order, a number of clubs have been alerted to the prospect he could again be sent out on a season’s loan, or even be sold at a reasonable fee.

Warnock believes his robust tackling and ability to also play in defence are qualities Cardiff have to look at.

N’Diaye has won 20 caps and made two appearances in their midfield during the World Cup, playing in the 2-1 win over Poland and the 2-2 draw with Japan. Prior to Wolves, N’Diaye’s previous experience in the English game came with Sunderland and Hull City.

Warnock is also still after a centreforward, with Watford’s Tory Deeney amongst those who have been linked.