Neil Warnock has backed up his statement that he would not swap defender Sol Bamba for any other centre-half in the Championship or Premier League.
He says: “Sol is a better defender than Virgil van Dijk.”
Liverpool have agreed to spend a World record £75m, for a defender, when he joins the Merseyside club from Southampton.
“Sol Bamba is slightly better than Van Dijk, defensive-wise,” said Warnock.
“Van Dijk has better attributes on the ball, but I don’t think he’s a better defender than Sol.”
Dutch defender van Dijk, says Warnock, ‘is more confident on the ball and easier on the eye, but he’s not better defensively.”
The former Celtic and Groningen centre-back almost joined Warnock when the Yorkshire was Crystal Palace manager three years ago.
“When I was at Palace, the centre half I was looking at was Van Dijk and I suggested we buy him for £6m,” said Warnock.
“At the time the chief scout said he wasn’t quick enough, he was playing in the Scottish League and he didn’t see him stepping up to the level we were looking for.
“I hope that chief scout was watching this morning. £75m? It made me smile when I saw that.”
Warnock is preparing his team for Friday night’s Championship home clash with Preston North End, while he is also intent on strengthening the Bluebirds squad.
He is keen to have at least one signing before Cardiff play Mansfield in the FA Cup third round on Saturday, January 6.
City have a list of five top targets and Warnock hopes to bring in three. One of those will be a full signing, while others could be on loan.
“If I get the loan signing I want then I might not do the permanent one,” Warnock said.
“I’m trying to get a deal done as early as possible. I’m hoping come the FA Cup tie, I’ll have somebody on board.
“That’s what I’m aiming for, but as you know it’s usually 10 o’clock at night on deadline day you get your player in.”
Captain Sean Morrison, midfield player Aron Gunnarsson, striker Danny Ward, winger Kadeem Harris, goalkeeper Lee Camp and full-back Jazz Richards are still ruled out of a Cardiff team who have lost their last two matches.
Owner Vincent Tan was at the 4-2 defeat against Fulham, the first time Cardiff have been beaten at home this season, and he will also be at the Preston game.
“I’m meeting Vincent in the next few days just to have a chat,” says Warnock. “It’s important he wants to support me the best he can as well.
“I don’t think it’s a time to spend massive money in January.
“It’s a difficult window and you should do most of your business in the summer.”
The Cardiff squad have had a meeting to talk about their back-to-back defeats against Bolton and Fulham.
Midfield player Ralls said: “We’ve spoken as a group and we’re looking to address our performances.
“There is a huge desire in the squad to do that.
“We’ve been on an amazing run at home. That may have ended against Fulham, but we want to do that again.
“As we all know, there are no easy games in this league. There are a lot of strong squads in this division – but we are one of them.”
Preston left-back Greg Cunningham could be in line for his first start for more than four months at Cardiff City Stadium.
Cunningham has been out since the middle of August when the hamstring muscle in his left leg came away from a tendon. He had surgery to re-attach the muscle and tendon and has been steadily working his way back to fitness.
He was on the bench for Preston’s Boxing Day draw against Barnsley and Neil says: “Greg will come into consideration for this game because Kevin O’Connor has played a lot of minutes lately after not playing for a long time.
“I thought Kevin looked a bit tired towards the end of the Barnsley game which was only natural.
“Greg, like we did with Tom Clarke, could get chucked in at the deep end.”
Cardiff City, possible: Etheridge, Peltier, Bamba, Manga, Bennett, Ralls, Zohore, Mendez-Laing, Damour, Bryson, Hoilett. Subs: Murphy, Tomlin, Feeney, Pilkington, Halford, Healey, Paterson.
