Sabri Lamouchi says he remains open to the possibility of Cardiff City exploring the free transfer market over the coming weeks but warns it would be a 'gamble' to sign any player currently without a club.
Cardiff head to Hull City on Saturday for Lamouchi's second game in charge, with the former Nottingham Forest boss overseeing a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Luton Town on Tuesday.
That result condemned City to a 12th game without a win in all competitions, and just three points ahead of the relegation zone, with fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town and Blackpool both now having two games in hand over the Bluebirds.
The prospect of falling into League One remains an alarmingly real possibility, and fears will have grown further following a transfer window that saw City add just one player.
Striker Sory Kaba has signed on loan until the end of the season and will hopefully arrive in the capital later today (Thursday) to meet up with the squad, although it seems unlikely he'll be in line to face the Tigers on Saturday.
There had previously been a suggestion Cardiff may well look to scour the free agent market for any further potential bargains, with a left-back believed to be near the top of their wishlist.
Lamouchi himself says he hasn't had time to really put too much input into any potential search, and admits he's wary of the lack of game-time that many free agents will have seen this season.
"The free transfers is a gamble," he said. "We need the players ready and the players to help us. I don’t have time to look around. But if we have some good opportunities and ideas to add players to this squad then why not. You never know
"The players on free transfers aren’t training with a squad. We have to know when they’ll be available to play with us.
"Kevin (Beadell), the head of recruitment, is a very good guy. He’s working out for the club. The club are working out to find the best players and the best solutions for the team. I believe in the club and I believe in Kevin. I believe in the chairman. I believe in all the people here to find the best solution for the club.
"So, it’s not time to complain. It’s not time to ask. It’s time to do. So we have a lot of things to do. First, my job. And the players as well. Each person here in the club should do the same because what we want, all of us, is to play in the Championship next season with Cardiff City.
"That’s it. The rest - good opportunities - why we don’t sign this one. Why we don’t sign that one. Why we don’t find a solution. Maybe, asking this question, you know the result. You know the answer. I know you guys don’t want a bad situation and you want to find a solution to help the club out of this situation."
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