Former Arsenal and Juventus left-back Armand Traore has become Cardiff City’s fifth new signing in 2018.
Traore was released by Championship rivals Nottingham Forest and immediately signed by Cardiff as a free agent.
He follows £5m midfield arrival Gary Madine from Bolton, striker Jamie Ward, Yanic Wildschutt and Marko Grujic.
Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan was heavily involved on transfer deadline day, staying up through the night in Malaysia and talking go Warnock and chief executive Ken Choo throughout.
“Vincent was up throughout the night and was regularly on the phone,” said Choo. “He has invested in the players and backed our manager Neil Warnock. Without Vincent Tan this would not have happened.”
Senegalese international Traore, 28, played under Warnock at Queens Park Rangers and the two men know each other well.
The defender, who made 18 appearances for Forest this season, is set to make his debut for Cardiff at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday with Joe Bennett ruled out because of suspension.
Cardiff chief executive Ken Choo said: “We (Cardiff and Forest) submitted the paperwork but we are awaiting clearance from the Football League.”
Warnock’s team are fourth in the Championship with a game in hand on the teams above them.
Tan showed trust and respect for Warnock and backed him to keep Cardiff in the hunt for promotion.
Deadline-day departures from Cardiff were attacking player Lee Tomlin to Forest (loan swap for strike Ward), goalkeeper Lee Camp to Sunderland (loan) and striker Omar Bogle to Peterborough, also on loan.
Warnock’s signings:
Jamie Ward. Former Aston Villa player on loan from Forest for the rest of this season. Northern Ireland international who has won more than 30 caps, while he scored 31 goals in 74 matches while at Chesterfield.
Neil Warnock spoke to cardiffcityfc.co.uk, saying: “I’ve always liked Jamie.
“His attitude is fantastic, he’s quick, dynamic and can play anywhere across the attacking line.
“Lee [Tomlin] needs a run of games and he has more chance of that at Nottingham Forest. The manager knows him and he’s played well under him in the past. We wish him well while at the City Ground.”
Yanic Wildschutt. Dutch winger with genuine pace signed from Norwich City until the end of the season. He will compete with Kadeem Harris and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
Marko Grujic. The 21-year-old Serbian midfield player has joined Cardiff on loan from Liverpool and will be a first team regular. There is a clause in the contract saying he must play at least 15 matches – and there are financial penalties on Cardiff of that doesn’t happen.
Gary Madine. It was fourth time lucky when the Bluebirds snapped up Madine. Cardiff made four separate offers for the midfield player – and Bolton said yes when the transfer fee reached £5m plus add-ons.
The deal was completed at 9pm on transfer deadline day.
Madine, 27, has netted 10 goals for Bolton this season and has signed a Cardiff contract through to 2021
Former Arsenal and Juventus left-back Armand Traore has become Cardiff City’s fifth new signing in 2018.
Armand Traore. Left-back. Looks certain to be in Cardiff’s starting line-up at Leeds United.
Staying:
Liam Feeney. Signed on loan from Blackburn and has extended the agreement until the end of this season.
Out:
Lee Tomlin (loan swap to Nottingham Forest). Playmaker Tomlin headed to Nottingham as striker Jamie Ward came to South Wales.
Omar Boole (loan to Peterborough). Has joined the Posh promotion chase in League One.
With two players coming into the Cardiff squad to challenge for the forward positions, it was perhaps inevitable that Bogle was sacrificed.
He joins Peterborough United on loan until the end of the season, where he’ll form an integral part of Grant McCann’s League One promotion-chasers.
Lee Camp (loan to Sunderland). The goalkeeper joined Cardiff on a free from Rotherham, but has spent his time trying to recover from a knee injury. He also suffered a groin strain.
Former Wales manager Chris Coleman is in charge at the Stadium of Light and he wanted a goalkeeper in January. Camp could be Coleman’s number one.