Warnock relief targets, but will

Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock is more than relieved to have secured his main transfer targets this summer in time for the Bluebirds’ Championship opener against Wigan on Saturday.

And, after the arrival of Gavin Whyte and Robert Glatzel just this week alone, more new faces are expected.

Speaking at a pre-match press conference on Thursday, Warnock said of the two most recent signings: “It was great to be able to get two of them in before next Thursday’s deadline.

“We would probably have forsaken another position to get the striker and wide player, and possibly another striker if we could, but obviously there’s got to be one or two leaving as well.

“This was my main thing, I wouldn’t want to go through what we did in the last 48 hours on Thursday. It would have probably finished me off, that!

“We managed to tie it all up yesterday [Wednesday] including the medical, and put that to bed.

“That was my main concern, I just felt we needed freshening up.

“Gavin gives us something that bit different, and so does Robert.

“It’s nice to know I’ve got my main targets now, and I’m only looking for, probably, a squad striker that can give us something different.

“And if I have to make do with midfield and right-back, as people say, then I’m quite content with that.”

The veteran boss, who says this will be his last season as a manager, admits he will be surprised if more than one player comes in before the transfer deadline next Thursday, but is considering Cardiff’s loan options.

“I’ll be very surprised if it’s more than one. We’ve got targets.

“I’ve spoken to a couple of Premier League managers in the last week, and there may just be an opportunity at the death for a loan. We haven’t really got any loans.

“One or two names cropped up which I thought were quite interesting if I’m honest, so if we didn’t get anybody in I’d probably try and get one of those lads on loan.”

But, as is the nature of transfer overhauls, there have to be departures to

allow for new incomings.

Asked if people will have to leave before next Thursday - like the likes of Lee Tomlin or Gary Madine - Warnock said: “We can’t make anybody go.

“I think we’ve just got to look at whatever clubs come in for. You just don’t know with deadline, you could get a silly offer for one of your players. Anything can happen nowadays with the Premiership as it is and the Championship.

“I think I’ve just got to play that by ear.” Greg Cunningham, Tomlin and Madine are players whose futures don’t seem to be nailed down.

Warnock explained: “There’s a few lads who have asked me if they can play, they want to play football, I quite understand it.

“You can only play 11 as a manager so you are going to disappoint people. Greg is no different, he wants to play football but it’s whether anyone comes in for Greg that we feel is acceptable.

“He’s like a number of players who I’ve spoken to about next season, I’ll be glad when Thursday is out of the way and we can see what squad we’ve got.”

Asked if the same went for Tomlin and Madine, he added: “Yeah, all of them.

“Smithies as well, he needs to play football. The goalies have done really well in pre-season but unfortunately I can only use two of them. We’ve had one or two enquires for Damour as well.”