Scottish winger Craig Conway and Middlesbrough player Andrew Taylor are two names linked. Both are out of contract this summer and would be available for free if Malky could sign them up.
City have also been linked, but through fan gossip, with a move for former strikers Ross McCormack and Robert Earnshaw.
Mackay might still explore the option of getting Jay Bothroyd back but Bothroyd will be looking for a move to the Premier League. There's also the matter of Craig Bellamy and Mackay could well go back to Watford and look to sign one or two of his preferred players at Vicarage Rd.
One player who has self confirmed a link between himself and Cardiff City is 19 year old Emmanuel Frimpong. The Ghanaian missed 8 months last season with a cruciate injury and has admitted he may move away from The Emirates.