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Neil Warnock has revealed Cardiff City have ALREADY signed a player ahead of the January transfer window, with others to arrive in the New Year.

Speaking ahead of Cardiff's trip to Championship frontrunners Brighton on Friday night, Warnock admitted the club had acquired 'a young lad from non league' with three or four other targets identified.

January is set to be another busy month of transfer activity at Cardiff City Stadium. The boss confirmed October free transfers Marouane Chamakh and Kieran Richardson had now left the club while Bruno Manga is likely to depart in January along with other players to balance the books.

"We're still looking at our list of targets," said Warnock.

"All I've done as a manager is see if I can balance the books. It might be towards the end of the window that I have to forego someone I perhaps didn't want to.

"Vincent (Tan) and Mehmet (Dalman) have never said no to anything."

Warnock then revealed he had, in fact, already made a signing.

"We've got a young lad in from non-league, which I'll discuss next week," he added.

"I've enquired about three or four players. I've left it now where clubs are coming back to me. It's all you can do, make enquiries and put offers in place for a number of players and that's what we've done."

Warnock also admitted defender Jazz Richards was closing in on a return to first team action after months on the sidelines. The veteran boss is desperate to replenish his depleted squad as soon as possible, with Richards a candidate to deputise for the injured Lee Peltier at Brighton.

(Image: Getty Images)

"It's getting players in so we're not in the situation like we were in the last couple of games (against Barnsley and Brentford)," said Warnock.

"Jazz Richards has trained for the first time this week. If we'd had someone like that on the bench the other day, I'd have been happy. We're so thin on the ground and it's frustrating that we're talking about being on 24 points. We've got to improve in the second half (of the season) and we can only do that with an influx of players."

That influx is likely to begin as soon as possible, with the transfer window opening on January 1.

Forget New Year's celebrations, Warnock will be celebrating the fact he can add to his Bluebirds squad.

(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)

"You've got to invest in players and improve," he added. "We're that kind of club, like Brighton. I can compare up with them. We want to be where they are. It's had to work to get there. It doesn't come overnight."