A Great Dane could save City 1.5 Million!!

The Cardiff City player who might have just saved the club £1.5m
Warnock admitted the player has made him rethink his plans

Neil Warnock could be ready to ditch plans for a new frontline striker after admitting he would struggle to buy better than Kenneth Zohore.

But he hinted he is still in the market for a new goalkeeper despite praising the performance of third-choice stopper Brian Murphy in claiming only the second clean sheet of the Yorkshireman's reign in the 1-0 win over Aston Villa.


Warnock admitted he is already in talks with “two or three clubs” about targets now the window is open for business, though it seems he is prepared to switch attentions away from a new frontman following Zohore's shock impact.

The 68-year-old praised the Dane's attitude since being given a surprise chance under the Bluebirds boss, saying he's saved him £1.5m on his January budget.

Warnock had long maintained he needed a new forward in the transfer window having seen short-term Bosman signing Marouane Chamakh flop.

Rickie Lambert has struggled with fitness since his summer deadline day move from West Brom while Frederic Gounongbe has failed to make an impact.

But Zohore, 22, has won over Warnock with his work-rate since coming on as a second-half sub in last month's win over Wolves.

And despite missing a chance against Villa to add to his season-first goal against Brentford on Boxing Day, Warnock said: “I think he's only going to get better. For me he's the find of my time here – he's probably saved me £1.5m I would imagine.

“I can't see me buying anybody better than that. I've just got to wrap him up in cotton wool and hope he doesn't get injured because the goals will come for him.

“He's created chances every game, he's been thwarted by good goalkeepers at times, but that will come. He's learning all the time and the energy he has, I don't think even Ken thought he could work as hard as that, but he's showing his commitment to the team and the lads appreciate it.”

The sentiment was echoed by Joe Ralls who admits the former FC Copenhagen forward is on a confidence-high following a run in the side with what was undoubtedly his last chance to impress in South Wales after initially arriving on loan from Denmark via Belgian sister club KV Kortrijk last year.

He said: “He had chances before and maybe he didn't do as well as he could have but I think it shows when he gets a bit of confidence – which he's got in abundance at the minute – you can see he's a really good player. The last two or three games he's played he's caused nightmares for defenders, he was brilliant again, held the ball up well, gets us up the pitch and gives us a release from the back and looking a real threat.”

Warnock has added to his forward options after revealing last week he had signed a player from non-league, the player rumoured to be former trialist Ibrahim Meite who rose to prominence in Harrow Borough's recent FA Cup run and who attracted the interest of a number of Premier League and Championship clubs. Meite, 20, did not feature for Harrow Borough over the Christmas period.

But Warnock still seems set on going after a new No.1 having appeared to have lost faith in Ben Amos with Irishman Murphy replacing him for the past two games following mistakes from the on-loan Bolton man.



Neil Warnock could be ready to ditch plans for a new frontline striker after admitting he would struggle to buy better than Kenneth Zohore.

But he hinted he is still in the market for a new goalkeeper despite praising the performance of third-choice stopper Brian Murphy in claiming only the second clean sheet of the Yorkshireman's reign in the 1-0 win over Aston Villa.


Warnock admitted he is already in talks with “two or three clubs” about targets now the window is open for business, though it seems he is prepared to switch attentions away from a new frontman following Zohore's shock impact.

The 68-year-old praised the Dane's attitude since being given a surprise chance under the Bluebirds boss, saying he's saved him £1.5m on his January budget.

Kenneth Zohore has impressed since becoming Warnock's first choice striker
Warnock had long maintained he needed a new forward in the transfer window having seen short-term Bosman signing Marouane Chamakh flop.

Rickie Lambert has struggled with fitness since his summer deadline day move from West Brom while Frederic Gounongbe has failed to make an impact.

But Zohore, 22, has won over Warnock with his work-rate since coming on as a second-half sub in last month's win over Wolves.

And despite missing a chance against Villa to add to his season-first goal against Brentford on Boxing Day, Warnock said: “I think he's only going to get better. For me he's the find of my time here – he's probably saved me £1.5m I would imagine.

“I can't see me buying anybody better than that. I've just got to wrap him up in cotton wool and hope he doesn't get injured because the goals will come for him.

Aston Villa win shows 2017 can be a memorable year for Cardiff City under Neil Warnock!

Zohore in action against Aston Villa
“He's created chances every game, he's been thwarted by good goalkeepers at times, but that will come. He's learning all the time and the energy he has, I don't think even Ken thought he could work as hard as that, but he's showing his commitment to the team and the lads appreciate it.”

The sentiment was echoed by Joe Ralls who admits the former FC Copenhagen forward is on a confidence-high following a run in the side with what was undoubtedly his last chance to impress in South Wales after initially arriving on loan from Denmark via Belgian sister club KV Kortrijk last year.


Joe Ralls won the game for Cardiff City against Villa, and thinks Zohore's confidence is sky high

Cardiff City linked with £500,000 bid for Aberdeen winger Jonny Hayes
He said: “He had chances before and maybe he didn't do as well as he could have but I think it shows when he gets a bit of confidence – which he's got in abundance at the minute – you can see he's a really good player. The last two or three games he's played he's caused nightmares for defenders, he was brilliant again, held the ball up well, gets us up the pitch and gives us a release from the back and looking a real threat.”

Warnock has added to his forward options after revealing last week he had signed a player from non-league, the player rumoured to be former trialist Ibrahim Meite who rose to prominence in Harrow Borough's recent FA Cup run and who attracted the interest of a number of Premier League and Championship clubs. Meite, 20, did not feature for Harrow Borough over the Christmas period.

But Warnock still seems set on going after a new No.1 having appeared to have lost faith in Ben Amos with Irishman Murphy replacing him for the past two games following mistakes from the on-loan Bolton man.


Warnock has given Brian Murphy the gloves for Cardiff's last two matches

The wealth of available players Cardiff City could target in the January transfer window
Murphy won praise for a number of saves during the win over Villa, but Warnock would only say the well-travelled former Swansea, Ipswich and QPR 33-year-old would keep his place next weekend in the FA Cup clash with Fulham.

“He'll be in goal next week, but that's as far as we go,” said Warnock. “We'll have to wait and see, but he's experienced and nothing fazes him, I said to him let the centre-halves deal with it and then get us out of trouble with his saves but that's what keepers are for.

“I had (current Bluebirds assistant boss) Kevin Blackwell with me for 40 years who used to let centre-halves head it and then save it when he had to. But I'm pleased for Brian, he's a good lad, a good pro who's worked hard for the last few years without really getting an opportunity.”

Of his home debut, Murphy said: “The lads were fantastic in front of me, there was only the last 20 minutes I had something to do, but it's a good way to start the new year. I made some saves but that's my job. I haven't played a lot in the last four or five years so I'm delighted to be playing and I'll just keep going.”

I was a non believer in the lad, but was so impressed with him yesterday. He did cause chaos.


At this level coaching and tactics are overstated. Qualifications, studying tape, running stats are all well and good, but this is a man management game. The difference makers are those who can get into your head. Warnock obviously has this, this is why he has been so successful for all these decades.

If he can keep Kenny on the straight and narrow he'll be in the Danish senior set up and the premier league soon. Rudy has had two multi million pound moves, that makes you for life !!!!

He has got Gunnar playng stuff i never believed he was capable of doing, Whitts is topping the KM's ran chart each game. The manager is a genius !!!!

Is this saying that the club were willing ot go up to £1.5m to get a striker in?

The lad is a trier I'll give him that, he's strong and has pace but, I still believe we need a proven striker to start taking the chances we've been missing lately.

I think it's Warnock doing what he does best, giving him confidence but I still think he'll bring a striker in.

We need a nippy striker to play with Zahore

After the Bristol Rovers game I would've been happy to never see him in a city shirt again but the turn around and improvement has been incredible. Hats off to Warnock for getting most out of him he looks 10 times more agile, quicker, stronger, composed and all in all a pain the ass to play against. Fair play to Zahore aswell he's been put up to the challenge and has responded brilliantly, his work rate and attitude has been first class. Long may it continue !

We need a nippy striker to play with Zahore

Exactly what we need

Zahore has definitely proved me wrong for the time being

Not sure we need a nippy earnie type, but move the wingers in more. Very surprised we haven't used Pilkington as a wide forward.

For that Earnie type we need 442 and a main gut who knows the role. Jay knew when to lay it off, turn and go and and as its Jay, dive. Peter Thorne knew the role better again and was an intelligent footballer. I don;t think Kenny needs to be thinking about anyone else. I have given up hope that Lambert may play for at least 70% of the season.

We need a nippy striker to play with Zahore

Exactly what we need

Zahore has definitely proved me wrong for the time being

Or at least another hoilet type winger/forward. Get rid of Noone and bring someone in who can score and create chances.

Don't sound like he is ditching plans for a striker, just the cost will be less.

Non league kid it looks like meite

We need a nippy striker to play with Zahore

Exactly what we need

Zahore has definitely proved me wrong for the time being

Or at least another hoilet type winger/forward. Get rid of Noone and bring someone in who can score and create chances.

Agree a nippy goal scoring winger if not a striker