Sabri Lamouchi has held talks with Mark Harris and wants him to remain at Cardiff City with his contract heading towards his expiration.
Lamouchi's own future is still up in the air, but he is set for talks with owner Vincent Tan next week, with the Malaysian businessman jetting into London this weekend ahead of the club's final game of the season against Burnley.
However, the Bluebirds boss is still planning for the future and has told Wales international Harris that, should he stay, he would like to work with the forward next season.
"I talked yesterday with Mark Harris, because we would like to do something with him," Lamouchi said on Friday.
"With the others, we will wish them the best luck for the future. Because, probably, we need to renew the squad to change some energy and to try to do what we can.
"He knows absolutely what I'm thinking about him. He can leave, because it's he end of his contract, but he knows I like him. I didn't have too much time to work with him and in a different context I'm sure we can do something better for him. Better for him, better for the club, for everyone."
Harris is one of five players out of contract in June. As ever, there are always casualties at the end of the campaign and it appears Tom Sang and Gavin Whyte have likely played their final matches for the club.
"We will try to discuss with everyone," he added. "But for some players who never played for me, Gavin Whyte or Tom Sang, I don't think we will offer them something."
One player in potential limbo is Connor Wickham, a striker with undoubted pedigree at this level but has not really hit the heights many might have expected.
For Wickham, the jury certainly still appears to be out.
"I was really happy with him in the beginning, but it's been up and down. We have to sit and discuss together, we have one more game," the manager said.
"Connor is an experienced player, he knows the Championship. He knows he can give us more."
Ardent followers of the Bluebirds' youth teams will be pleased to hear that Lamouchi has recommended contracts for Joel Bagan and Eli King, both of whom are set to travel to Turf Moor on Monday as Cardiff take on Burnley.
"To be completely clear, I was talking with the club one month ago, before the Swansea game, and I asked the club to sign them at this moment," he said of Bagan and King.
"Joel Bagan and Eli King, I spoke with the players and told them what I asked the club. I don't know what the issue is. Joel and Eli are happy with us and they will probably be at Burnley on Monday. We will see."
The three loan players — Jaden Philogene, Sory Kaba and Cedric Kipre — will all depart back to their parent clubs. Lamouchi believes both Kaba and West Brom defender Kipre want to stay, but it seems unlikely the Bluebirds will be able to get them back this summer.
Kipre, in fact, has played his final game in a Cardiff shirt, with the centre-back undergoing surgery on his mouth on Friday morning.
"Cedric Kipre will not be in the game because he has a big operation this morning on his teeth, his mouth, he will not be available," Lamouchi said..
"Jaden and Kaba will go back to their clubs and I just want to say to them, 'Thank you, you saved the club.' Jaden, in the second half of the season, was unbelievable. Kaba scored important goals and Cedric was a rock in our defence.
"But West Brom, Aston Villa or the Danish club want them again, because they played well. So, they are happy with this loan, we made the job for them. They want them with the club or maybe to sell them somewhere else and we cannot buy any players at the moment. Kaba wants to stay, Kipre wants to stay, Jaden enjoyed playing with us, but it is what it is and we know the rules. Unfortunately they have to go."
Asked on the possibility of signing them, he added: "I'm not a magician. We have an embargo, we cannot pay players, they are doing very well and have potential. The clubs will not make a gift for Cardiff Football Club, this is the reality.
"We were looking for them before the season, they came, did a great job, we are safe, mission done, thank you for that. But if we could keep them, I would sign three of them immediately. I can't say we will try to find something. The players want to stay, but they have a contract with another club and we cannot pay because of the embargo. It's very clear."
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