NEIL WARNOCK is making a bold £15million bid to bring Watford striker Troy Deeney to Premier League new boys Cardiff City.

Warnock hopes to persuade the Hornets to sell their iconic forward and then talk him into helping the Welsh club fight for their lives.

3 Cardiff want to land Watford's Troy Deeney in a £15m deal Credit: Getty - Contributor

The Cardiff chief thinks Deeney is the type of battling target man he will need in the uphill battle for top flight survival.

And Watford may cash in on Deeney now after he was squeezed out of the side on many occasions last season and is not certain to be a starter in this campaign.

Warnock wants to agree a fee for Deeney in the next 24 hours but may face a fight for him if an auction starts as the experienced forward has other admirers.

Cardiff are also refusing to admit defeat in their bid for Liverpool's Serbian midfielder Marko Grujic on loan.

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3 The Hornets skipper may find himself on the fringes of the Watford first team this season Credit: PA:Press Association

3 Neil Warnock wants to bring Marko Grujic back to Cardiff on loan Credit: AFP or licensors

Watford’s Troy Deeney grabs Stoke’s Joe Allen by the throat during scrap at Vicarage Road

Lazio want him but Warnock is selling the idea of guaranteed game time with him.

Following the defeat against Rotherham last week, Warnock said: "If not Marko, (we want) somebody like that.

“We’re still optimistic and we should know within the next few days on that one.

“I’m constantly in touch with him (Grujic), still optimistic but we’ve also found a back-up as well, which we’re trying to hold onto for another few days, just in case.

“I’ll be disappointed if I don’t get Marko but it won’t be the end of the world."