Neil Warnock speaks on link with Liverpool's Nathaniel Clyne but delivers transfer reality check
Friday 14th December 2018
He also said Cardiff need a director of football as the January transfer search hots up
He also said Cardiff need a director of football as the January transfer search hots up
Neil Warnock admitted he was keen on Liverpool's Nathaniel Clyne, but played down the chances of Cardiff City doing too much business in the January transfer window.
Cardiff are indeed interested in signing out-of-favour right-back Clyne on loan until the end of the season, but Warnock revealed he's only confident in signing one player next month.
Injuries to a number of Liverpool defenders have complicated the quest to sign the England international, while Warnock was also pressed further on his interest in Nantes forward Emiliano Sala and other targets.
He provided a comprehensive transfer update ahead of Cardiff's trip to Watford this weekend.
Neil Warnock:
"We’ve spoke about a number of players and even the player we’re talking about signing - as I said to Kevin Blackwell and Ken Choo this week - it doesn’t mean they’re going to be better than what we’ve got," said Warnock.
"No matter what you pay for a player, it doesn’t guarantee they’re going to hit it off in the Premier League.
"None (of the deals) have moved on, we're looking at targets all over the show and we've crossed a few off this week - and probably added one or two as well.
"It's nothing to do with price, we just didn't feel they were right for the club.
"We've got to keep things on a level platform and look to improve the squad if we can."
Warnock admitted finding the right players is proving tougher than he's ever known, adding: "January is such a difficult window and you can sometimes pay over the top.
"It’s as difficult as I’ve ever seen it."
And asked whether there was interest in Clyne, he added: "Yes.
"I know Nathaniel. I gave him his debut, a lovely lad and I know his mother well she is a wonderful woman."
The 70-year-old added the caveat of Liverpool's current injury list, which includes defensive options Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip.
"The thing about that is they've had a lot of injuries, they are in European competition, the league and they’ve got to look after themselves. So at the moment it's very difficult to get anybody to commit to letting us have one for definite - 100 per cent.
"We are finding that with everybody.
"He’d be one on our list definitely yes, we’re looking for that position but at the moment they have other problems.
"I don’t think they would bother about us at the moment, they have to look after themselves."
Pressed further on transfers, Warnock admitted Cardiff lag behind their Premier League rivals not just in spending power, but in terms of their staff.
He would love the Bluebirds to one day appoint a director of football to help out in an area currently managed by chief executive Choo, chairman Mehmet Dalman and Warnock himself.
"Mehmet and Ken are really working hard making numerous calls," he said.
"We haven’t got a director of football as such so we're doing it between ourselves.
Vincent Tan, Mehmet Dalman, Neil Warnock and Ken Choo
"Most Premier League clubs have probably got five or six more staff than we’ve got in that area.
"All clubs at this level now have to have a structure in place.
"We’ve ran before we can walk so it’s our own fault really.
"But it's the same everywhere, we’re short on every aspect: our medical staff, our PR staff.
"But we're trying to get up, that's why staying in the league would help because you've got another 12 months where you can try and become a better club all round. It's important.
"The club in the next 10 years, you'll see a massive difference.
"A manager cannot do everything, there's just not enough hours in the day. We all need help and that will come in the next few years."
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.