Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock has confirmed that Fulham are in discussions with Bluebirds left back Joe Bennett over a potential move to London.
Speaking after Cardiff won their third league game of the season for the first time in their history and remained top of the Championship following an impressive 3-0 dismantling of Sheffield United, Warnock clarified the reasons behind the former Aston Villa full-back not featuring in the starting line-up having played in the opening two wins.
Fulham are talking to our people. I’m not aware anything has happened, but he (Bennett) has a buy-out clause in his contract and it’s up to them if they meet it. They are entitled to talk to him but it doesn’t mean he’s going anywhere.
Reports yesterday afternoon suggested that Fulham had made an approach for Bennett as Slavisa Jokanovic seeks to add a left-back to his squad before the close of the transfer window. Fulham have been short of options in that position since the departure of Scott Malone earlier this summer – and teenager Ryan Sessegnon has started all three of the Whites’ league fixtures at left back.
Warnock refused to speculate on how quickly he might move to replace Bennett insisting:
You don’t know what’s going to happen in the next two weeks in this game. We miss a naturally left-footer, but we’ve got to look at other options just in case people leave and that’s what we are doing.
I might get someone in this week. I have made an offer for a player because I want to top the squad up. I want that hungry type of player who can come in to the squad and bide his time,