Neil Warnock is planning on many fronts as the 2016-17 Championship season comes to an end.
The Bluebirds have two fixtures to play, at home against Newcastle United on Friday and away to Huddersfield Town nine days later.
Cardiff City’s manager is also in contract negotiations with Peter Whittingham, Junior Hoilett, Kadeem Harris and Kenneth Zohore, while he is targeting a number of new signings for next season.
Senegalese midfield player Sidy Sarr, who plays in Belgium, is said to be among Warnock’s targets.
Sarr, 20, plays for Belgian KV Kortrijk and they, like Cardiff, are owned by Vincent Tan.
Kortrijk signed the 6ft 5ins Sarr two years ago after watching him help Senegal reach the World Under-20 Cup semi-finals.
Warnock has also decided Cardiff’s pre-season trip will be to Devon and Cornwall and a match against Plymouth Argyle has been confirmed.
More than 4,000 Newcastle fans are expected to be at Cardiff City Stadium for Friday night’s match (7.45pm). The clash is being shown live on Sky television and means a lot to the visitors, who are already promoted and could yet win the title if leaders Brighton slip up.
Centre-forward Zohore, who is expected to be fit after illness, is one of the players in talks with Warnock on a new contract.
Zohore, 23, has scored 13 goals this season after signing for Cardiff from Kortrijk.
“I’ve spoken to him a few times in the last few weeks,” says Warnock.
Whittingham, Hoilett and Harris are others in talks about a new deal.
On Whittingham, Warnock says: “Nothing’s changed.
“I haven’t spoken to Peter or his advisors for three or four weeks.
“We decided to get games out of the way and have a little bit more time, when we won’t be training for a few weeks other than just ticking over.
“That’s not just Peter. I’ll speak to a quite a number of players the week after the season ends.”
Warnock says he has ‘no worries’ about Hoilett’s situation, while he expanded on winger Harris: “We’ve had discussions, quite healthy ones.
“He has improved under me and become more of a regular. The opportunity is there for him to try and establish himself.
“He’s had a few years of not being able to command a position. The opportunity is there for him to decide.”
Centre-half Bruno Manga will have talks with Warnock later today (Thursday) and the manager says: “Nothing has changed. I’m seeing his agent later and I’ll know more about him later on.
“Bruno is happy here. It depends if there are offers from abroad.”
Goalkeeper Allan McGregor has been back in training this week and looks set to return for Cardiff against Rafa Benitez and his Newcastle team.
“McGregor will want to be on the telly, won’t he?,” said Warnock. “Everybody will want to play. Nobody will be injured.”
Newcastle will have former Newport County goalkeeper Karl Darlow in their team along with Wales international Paul Dummett.
Cardiff City: McGregor, Connolly, Morrison, Manga, Bennett, Gunnarsson, Noone, Whittingham, Zohore, Ralls, K Harris
Newcastle United: Darlow, Yedlin, Lascelles, Hanley, Dummett, Atsu, Shelvey, Hayden, Ritchie, Diame, Murphy.
