Bruno Manga: Cardiff City have replacement lined-up, says Neil Warnock

Bruno Manga joined Cardiff City from French club Lorient in 2014

Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock says he has already lined up a replacement for centre-back Bruno Manga.

Manga, 28, is out of contract this summer and has been offered a new deal to stay with the Bluebirds, but on reduced pay.

Warnock is resigned to losing the Gabon international this summer.

"We're down the line on somebody else coming in for that position so we're not going to let anything worry us," Warnock said.

"I was supposed to meet his (Manga's) agent and they cancelled the meetings, but now it will be next week. You can't agree anything if you don't talk to anybody.

"Bruno tells me one thing, but I know what agents will be like and I don't expect that to be successful.

"If people don't want to play for Cardiff City and if they don't want to put a blue shirt on, then they're not for us."

Peter Whittingham has made over 400 league appearances for Cardiff City

Midfielder Peter Whittingham, who has spent 10 years at Cardiff, has also been offered a new contract on reduced terms by the Championship club.

Warnock said negotiations with the former England Under-21 international are on-going, but admitted a decision might not be reached until the end of the season.

"Nothing's changed, I can't say anymore," Warnock added.

"I would imagine we will sit around the table again, but it might not be until the end of the season.

"We've lined up a number of positions, you can't leave it to the last minute. We've spoken to probably half a dozen players and agents in the last week."

The Bluebirds have three Championship games remaining, starting with a trip to Wigan on Saturday.

Neil Warnock has also managed Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers and Leeds United

Cardiff could send the Latics down with victory and if other results go against the Lancashire club but Warnock said that would give him little pleasure as his men look to finish the campaign on a high.

Warnock had previously been accused of criticising the appointment of novice Warren Joyce, who was sacked last month by Wigan.

But he said he had just been trying to point out the importance of managerial experience in the Championship.

"There's no pleasure in sending them down," Warnock added.

"I wanted to beat Nottingham Forest especially having an interview with them in preseason. But we don't want Wigan to have a double on us.

"What I said was his (Joyce's) inexperience in the Championship makes it difficult. It's a league which is difficult to come and manage for your first time.

"There's nothing wrong with saying that, it wasn't a criticism of Warren himself. But for someone who's never been in the Championship, it was a massive gamble and it didn't pay off."