Neil Warnock is beefing up his Cardiff City plans for 2017-18.
The Bluebirds manager has made it clear that defender Bruno Manga looks certain to leave and that other players in his squad are battling for their future.
Warnock is also keen to be given a transfer budget to sign six players to strengthen his squad.
“Since I have been here we have not spent a penny,” says Warnock, who is preparing his Cardiff City team for their Bank Holiday clash with Nottingham Forest at home (3pm). “I Want to spend next season £5m-£6mill on 6 players.”
Cardiff, Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic have all been linked with a move for Falkirk wing-back Fraser Aird, who is out of contract at the end of this season.
Warnock says he has all but made up his mind on which players can leave this summer and reminded players they are facing their final chances to impress over the last four fixtures.
It has been revealed by Warnock that Manga has turned down a new contract on reduced terms. City paid £3.5m and Manga will now leave as a free agent.
Zohore will start for City and Warnock says: “He’ll be flying by then.”
The Danish hit-man was feeling ’shattered’ during the 1-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday and Warnock wanted to send on Rickie Lambert and give Zohore a break.
Former England forward Lambert, 35, has been suffering from niggling injury problems and Warnock says: “Kenneth looked shattered, but apparently Lambert wasn’t feeling good at half-time.
“His back wasn’t feeling good so we didn’t have much option.
“It is frustrating me. You put him on the bench to do a job, but the physio said he didn’t feel right in the second-half. We can’t risk anything like that.”
Lambert is thought to be among Cardiff’s top earners and still has a year to run on his contract.
He has made 16 Championship appearances this season, but has not started a league game since the start of December and hasn’t played at all since January 8.
Visitors Forest, who have earned only two wins in their last 12 Championship fixtures, are still not safe from relegation.
Manager Mark Warburton, who was linked with the Cardiff job when he was in charge at Brentford is pondering whether to start with a 4-1-4-1 system or go for a three-man central defensive unit and keep things tight.
He may well match up Cardiff’s formation. They are likely to have former Forest man Greg Halford operating in front of the back four with Zohore leading the attack.
Britt Assombalonga could return to the Forest starting line-up after being among the substitutes for recent fixtures, while Wales international David Vaughan looks certain to start against Cardiff.
He was withdrawn after just over an hour of Forest’s 1-0 home defeat against Blackburn Rovers on Friday.
Matty Fryatt is still not match fit, Stephen Henderson will not return until next season and former Cardiff striker Ross McCormack is unlikely to be involved after illness.
Ex-Forest loanee Lee Peltier has been out of Cardiff’s team for 10 weeks, but he is fit and looks likely to start.
The Bluebirds are offering discounted tickets to Monday’s match for anybody who had a season ticket between 2009 and 2016 and no longer has one.
The prices are: Adults from £13, senior citizens from £10, 16-21 years from £8, Juniors from £8, Family and child package in the family stand £15.
Possible teams, Cardiff City: McGregor, Richards, Morrison (capt), Peltier or Manga, Bennett, Halford, Hoilett, Gunnarsson, Ralls, K Harris, Zohore.
Forest: Smith, Worrall, Mancienne, Traore, Lichaj, Cohen, Vaughan, Osborn, Ward, Clough, Brereton.
