LATEST: MARKO GRUJIC AND FRESH TARGET?

Cardiff City targeting another midfielder on permanent transfer as Neil Warnock delivers update on Liverpool's Marko Grujic
By Dominic Booth


Thursday 26th July 2018

The Bluebirds boss also spoke about Crystal Palace's reported interest in the Serbian after the 2-1 loss at Rotherham


Neil Warnock hinted that Cardiff City may sign Marko Grujic AND one other central midfielder before the transfer window shuts.


Cardiff have been frustrated in their quest to re-sign the Liverpool midfield star on loan but Warnock - while brushing off the news that Crystal Palace had a reported interest in Grujic - still expects a deal to be done.

Cardiff have an agreement in place to sign the Serbian starlet again and Liverpool want to let him go.

But the Bluebirds’ pursuit has been dogged by complications to the point where Warnock is now targeting another “back-up” player in the same position - this one on a permanent deal.

“If not Marko, (we want) somebody like that. We’re still optimistic and we should know within the next few days on that one,” he said after his side’s 2-1 pre-season defeat to Rotherham which prompted questions about Cardiff’s dirth of midfield options.

“I’m constantly in touch with him (Grujic), still optimistic but we’ve also found a back-up as well, which we’re trying to hold onto for another few days, just in case. I’ll be disappointed if I don’t get Marko but it won’t be the end of the world,” he added.

“We could do with them both really. I’ll be having a chat with Mehmet (Dalman) and Ken (Choo) and Vincent (Tan) in the next few days.

“I’m looking at a permanent deal and I’m also looking at the loan market. But I want Marko first.”

Warnock also dismissed reports that his former club Palace could gazump Cardiff with a loan bid for Grujic.


There has been further speculation that Liverpool may cash in on the 22-year-old, who played 14 times for Cardiff last season, with Italian clubs interested.

Warnock also added that a new Anfield contract could also be in the pipeline for Grujic, which is complicating matters further.

“I’m not sure about that if I’m honest,” said Warnock when asked about the Palace links.

“If he’s going to stay in the UK I think he’ll come to us. It all depends on the negotiations with him, I think a new Liverpool contract is involved or something like that.

“It will be resolved and I think they’d be silly to sell him at the minute because if he came with us and had a good season, he’d be worth a lot more. Another six months with us, more experience and I think he’d enjoy it with us.

“I’m sure they’ll make a decision shortly because they know I want him for that first (Premier League) game. But it’d be great to get him for the Real Betis game next weekend. But he’s not losing any fitness and it’s just a matter of waiting for what you want.”

Grujic played a 28-minute cameo for Liverpool later on Wednesday night during their 2-1 International Champions Cup victory over Manchester City in New Jersey.

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Another one of their midfielders signed a deal and was immediately shipped out on loan yesterday. Maybe they're working their way through the pile.

He'd be silly not to want to link up with Warnock after all the love he's getting.

And we definitely need the other player mentioned. Don't care who he is. But trust in NW.

So 2 midfielders and a striker? To come in. Great news.

Another one of their midfielders signed a deal and was immediately shipped out on loan yesterday. Maybe they're working their way through the pile.

He'd be silly not to want to link up with Warnock after all the love he's getting.

And we definitely need the other player mentioned. Don't care who he is. But trust in NW.

I'm hoping its James McArthur

Another one of their midfielders signed a deal and was immediately shipped out on loan yesterday. Maybe they're working their way through the pile.

He'd be silly not to want to link up with Warnock after all the love he's getting.

And we definitely need the other player mentioned. Don't care who he is. But trust in NW.

I'm hoping its James McArthur

I'd take anyone that ticked a few boxes:

- Prem experience,
- good attitude,
- will run all day,
- can pass,
- tackles through people,
- 2 legs,
- heartbeat.

Not asking for much. Get the deal done!

Well let's hope the club give him the blessing for the other signing too, because even if we sign grujic we'll have a weaker midfield than last last (no Halford and Bryson) which is not ideal to say the least.

2x midfielders and a striker and I think we may just have enough.

Another one of their midfielders signed a deal and was immediately shipped out on loan yesterday. Maybe they're working their way through the pile.

He'd be silly not to want to link up with Warnock after all the love he's getting.

And we definitely need the other player mentioned. Don't care who he is. But trust in NW.

I'm hoping its James McArthur

I read it as he’s hoping for Grujic but has a back up if that doesn’t work out. I hope we have both and s striker though

Well let's hope the club give him the blessing for the other signing too, because even if we sign grujic we'll have a weaker midfield than last last (no Halford and Bryson) which is not ideal to say the least.

2x midfielders and a striker and I think we may just have enough.

Agree we need 3 more

Don't think we need a striker - I'm more concerned with a full back myself.

Without a doubt we need a right back, 2 x CM and a striker. Anything less I think we will go into the season with regrets.

All of a sudden people wanting premier league experienced players wow lol.

I hope we don't sign grujic. I don't think he's the answer.

Another winger is a must !! Lol

All jokes a side , we need 2 cm and another Striker to give us a fair chance.

It will take another Warnock miracle to stay up. However, with this squad we'd come straight back up.

So if we don't get grujic it will be a back up to grujic?

All jokes a side , we need 2 cm and another Striker to give us a fair chance.

It will take another Warnock miracle to stay up. However, with this squad we'd come straight back up.

We definitely need to add quality in midfield and up front however I totally disagree re the comments “with this squad we’d come straight back up”. It’s not an easy thing to get out of the Championship just ask the other ‘big’ clubs sitting in the Championship & the teams who have spent major money and have still not got promoted.

It is vital that having done the hardest job of the lot in getting promoted you survive that first season back in the top flight. Reasonable investment & survive then you can look forward to 200m every season. Re invest a part of that money every season and the club would go from strength to strength. Debt would be non existent.

All jokes a side , we need 2 cm and another Striker to give us a fair chance.

It will take another Warnock miracle to stay up. However, with this squad we'd come straight back up.

We definitely need to add quality in midfield and up front however I totally disagree re the comments “with this squad we’d come straight back up”. It’s not an easy thing to get out of the Championship just ask the other ‘big’ clubs sitting in the Championship & the teams who have spent major money and have still not got promoted.

It is vital that having done the hardest job of the lot in getting promoted you survive that first season back in the top flight. Reasonable investment & survive then you can look forward to 200m every season. Re invest a part of that money every season and the club would go from strength to strength. Debt would be non existent.

I'm also worried about the RB position big time. Richards is a spy and Peltier won't be that effective in the prem.

Don't think we need a striker - I'm more concerned with a full back myself.

Bare in mind Reid isn't the kind of player that can play up top on his own (same applies to Healey). We have Zohore, Madine and Ward. Serious lack of quality there and basically no competition for Zahore.

So if we don't get grujic it will be a back up to grujic?

That’s how I read it mate. Some are saying that he’s indicating signing both but it’s not how I read it.

We do need both and I'd prefer a permanent signing such as Arter first tbh. How long have we got to wait for Grujic?

Don't think we need a striker - I'm more concerned with a full back myself.

Bare in mind Reid isn't the kind of player that can play up top on his own (same applies to Healey). We have Zohore, Madine and Ward. Serious lack of quality there and basically no competition for Zahore.

The goals will come from the wingers. we're not going to find a striker who'll score more than 10 and I reckon Zohore will get 6 or 7. that will the added goals from Madine / Ward will be enough.
There's no point signing a big name striker if we can't get the service to him.

So if we don't get grujic it will be a back up to grujic?

And if we don't get the backup to grucic hopefully a backup to the backup to grucic

So am I right in thinking the hold up is purely to do with his new Liverpool deal?

Sort of puts to bed Grujic holding out for something better if true.

Don't think we need a striker - I'm more concerned with a full back myself.

Bare in mind Reid isn't the kind of player that can play up top on his own (same applies to Healey). We have Zohore, Madine and Ward. Serious lack of quality there and basically no competition for Zahore.

Warnock said he would play Reid upfront on his own but would need to play Paterson as a number 10 to give us the physicality.

Another one of their midfielders signed a deal and was immediately shipped out on loan yesterday. Maybe they're working their way through the pile.

He'd be silly not to want to link up with Warnock after all the love he's getting.

And we definitely need the other player mentioned. Don't care who he is. But trust in NW.

the difference here is Allan { the Brazilian who has just gone out on loan..NOT Pembroke }. was not in the squad that travelled to the USA.

Another one of their midfielders signed a deal and was immediately shipped out on loan yesterday. Maybe they're working their way through the pile.

He'd be silly not to want to link up with Warnock after all the love he's getting.

And we definitely need the other player mentioned. Don't care who he is. But trust in NW.

the difference here is Allan { the Brazilian who has just gone out on loan..NOT Pembroke }. was not in the squad that travelled to the USA.

Had me worried there my other half thought i was being loaned to another another woman!

I'd love to see us go for Ryan Woods

Looks like Marko Grujic will sign for Cardiff City possibly on Friday but if not, early next week!

Personally, I'm happy with that, as I think he'll do better in the Premier League than the Championship

So 2 midfielders and a striker? To come in. Great news.

Where does he mention another striker.
.

Grujic has stated that he wants to see what happens at Liverpool over the next few weeks. Let's get Warnocls other target before Grujic or we could end up without anyone.