Ledley - he's out of our league

One of the nationals claim Celtic have offered him in excess of £20k weekly. That's about the minimum I expected bearing in mind they get him for free. It's still a bargain package.


However, as I suspected, he's not rushing any decision and is apparently going on holidays to Portugal for a while anyway. He may yet also visit clubs in Greece (Panathanaikos) and Turkey (Galatasary and Fenerbache) as well as Rangers having also been to Roma in Italy. He's either collecting AirMiles or getting as many bargain flights with Ryanair as possible!


It's interesting that with so many Premier League clubs reportedly interested, none seem to be making any move so far while this is going on.


Personally, as much as I'd love Joe to stay, I don't believe we could or should compete with those sort of wages and I suspect Joe is just not willing to spend another year in the Championship, he's ready to push on now.


I just hope he makes the right football choice, not the richest money choice and, of course, I do hope he goes tro the Prem and Cardiff City get some benefit from it too.

Another Rangers Man Heading To Cardiff City?

Cardiff City have been raiding Scotland fast and often for talent, so much so that BMIBaby flights between Wales and Scotland are probably surving on players and their famiily/friends flying between the two countries.


Rangers have been the most raided club of all with Steven Thompson, Gavin Rae, Chris Burke and Super Ross McCormack heading to Ninian Park whilst Kevin McNaughton arrived from Aberdeen although it's not one way traffic with Warren Feeney, Willo Flood and Glenn Loovens gone the other way.


Now it appears another may be coming this summer. Promising but injury hit defender Steven Smith, who played well for Cardiff in a friendly at Merthyr last week, is being touted as a possible signing. Gavin Rae commenting, "“I heard that and I spoke to Smithy when he was down. There’s a lot of ex-Rangers players at Cardiff and the gaffer seems have a bit of success with the ex-Rangers boys, so it’s great and he’s a great wee player.”

Official - Rangers man is now a BlueBurke

After a couple of days of advanced speculation and 36 hours after arriving in Cardiff, Chris Burke was officially confirmed as a Bluebird this evening.

The 25 yr old Flying Scotsman wings in with a 2.5 year contract but will be a spectator for tomorrow's home game with Derby County. His wages are high, he was believed to be earning £12,000 weekly at Rangers who are conducting a firesale to raise finance and reduce their outgoings, but it appears the deal was conluded as a free transfer for Cardiff City after Rangers were initially hoping to secure £150,000.

Speaking to Rangers World, the official Rangers website, Burke in a lengthy interview said, "The Championship is a very difficult league and anybody can beat anybody. I'm sure it will be difficult to reach the Premiership but that's my aim, to play in the Premiership. I feel as though that's where they belong and that they are a Premiership club because they have come on in leaps and bounds over the years. They keep progressing and hopefully they can continue to do so.

"If you look at the standard down there, it's a good standard. You see some Championship teams in the cups doing well against the top Premiership teams. It will be difficult but I'm looking forward to it. It's a new challenge for me, I loved my time at Rangers but I felt as though it wasn't progressing the way I wanted, I wasn't playing as much as I would have liked. Like any player, I want to be playing football and back enjoying it again. The only way you can do that is by playing matches and that wasn't happening at Rangers.

"The way forward is to move on and hopefully I can do that at Cardiff. I'm not saying I'm going to walk straight into the team - I'm going to have to fight for my place - and hopefully I can do well there. It's always disappointing with injuries but I'm back now, I'm fit and raring to go and I'm just looking forward to a new chapter in my life."

McCormack excited by Burke

CARDIFF CITY striker and fellow Scot Ross McCormack appears to have been involved in the process that is set to bring Rangers wideman Chris Burke to Ninian Park having been approached by boss Dave Jones for his opinion.






In this interview, he tells the Daily Mail what he believes Burke will bring to the Bluebirds.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1110079/Burke-tipped-star-turn-Cardiff-Rangers-exit.html

Burke Wings Into Cardiff

It is now widely reported that Rangers wideman Chris Burke flew into Cardiff Airport this morning with a medical underway and personal terms to be agreed with City aiming to complete a £150,000 transfer later today.

Burke was identified as one of several players Rangers wished to release in a failing season. As the 25 year old earns £12,000 a weekly and played just 2 x 30 minute substitute outings all this season, you can understand why. However he is talented, holds 2 Scottish caps, is seen by City as an ideal replacement for Wayne Routledge and with Dave Jones vastly improving both Jay Bothroyd and Mark Kennedy this season, he will be looking to achieve the same here.

Cardiff about to get a Burke?

The Rangers official website have confirmed that midfielder Chris Burke is being linked with a move to Cardiff City.

I don't know much about him but the stats show he came through the ranks at Rangers, is 25 years old and scored 14 goals in 81 starts plus 35 sub appearences for the Ibrox club. However, he has suffered injuries and missed a season with a mystery virus. This term, he has played just 1 hour of first team football including half hour in a 3-0 win at Inverness last weekend. Burke also scored the only goal in a private friendly with Morton today but would appear to be a gamble if indeed City are looking to take him.

Having failed in Europe this season and falling behind Celtic in the chase for domestic honours, Rangers are conducting a firesale and made it known that they would listen to offers for a number of players, Burke included. The clubs seem to conduct business regularly these days with Thommo and Gavin Rae coming to Wales and Glenn Loovens going the other.

LOOVENS SALE - THE NEWSPAPER REACTION IN WALES AND SCOTLAND

FROM THE WESTERN MAIL

Loovens deal was ‘good business,’ says Perry
Loovens in £3m Celtic deal

FROM THE SCOTTISH HERALD

Celtic snatch Loovens but Mendes is Ibrox bound

FROM THE SCOTSMAN

Celtic poised to gazump rivals in bid for Loovens

LOOVENS SIGNS FOR CELTIC - Sad but inevitable

After Glenn Loovens refused to sign a new Cardiff City contract and had had both Glasgow giants courting him, it always seemed to be a matter of time before he would be on his way.

Tonight it was confirmed that Celtic gazumped their neighbours and stumped up the £3 Million fee that Peter Ridsdale was demanding for the player. It is a better move for Glenn - who impressed their boss Gordon Strachan against his side in the Algarve Cup victory 3 weeks ago - as Celtic offer Champions League group football while Rangers have only domestic football on their agenda for the rest of this season.

Loovens - yessssss, I'm leaving!!!

However it is Rangers who courted Loovens for several weeks and who became more desparate as their key centre-half Cuellar signed for Aston Villa for £7.8M this week. Yet they seriously under-valued the player and never got close to City's price in their couple of offers. Rangers and boss Walter Smith are tonight said to be shocked. Well tough shit boys, you messed about and lost out.





It is a sad day for Cardiff City however as Glenn has been a magnificent servant and, for many, our key defensive man and there is no way Dave Jones wanted to lose the player but City were in an impossible position. DJ must move fast to get replacements. Darren Purse will step in but that's little comfort to many Bluebirds supporters. It is great business as we paid just £250,000 to Feyernoord for his services.

Good Luck Glenn -

you will be fondly remembered and certainly missed.

LOOVENS PONDERS HIS NEXT MOVE KNOWING IT'S DECISION TIME

Glenn Loovens via a *source has told this morning's Western Mail about his feelings given the first Old Firm battle of the season with both Rangers and Celtic bidding and fighting for his signature.



Loovens has loyalty to City but wishes to play higher status football, ideally in the Premiership and, best of all, with City. However by refusing to commit to a new deal, he is pushing a situation where he may well be set to leave the club.



The only offers so far are from Rangers and Celtic and although both are yet to bid a figure that Peter Ridsdale and Dave Jones will accept, it is widely believed they will be back. Loovens though is (rightly) concerned that playing in Scottish football is hardly a step up from a leading Championship side. So while Rangers have shown most interest, Loovens appears to be leaning towards Celtic of the two clubs simply becuase they are in the Champions League group stages while Rangers are already out of Europe this season.



You have to suspect a deal will take place sooner rather than later and, for all parties concerned, you have to hope something is sorted fast as this has now dragged on for far too long and does appear to be affecting Glenn's football.

Today Western Mail Story

Loovens dilemma on future

*Source means a pal of Glenn's or Loovens saying it himself but not wanting to be quoted! ;>)

PETER RIDSDALE ON GTFM's CARDIFF CITY PHONE-IN

Publicity Pete was the guest on the CCFC phone-in last night and, even if he got a predictably fairly easy ride, it was a rattling good listen. Ridsdale does project himself extremely well in these arenas but it is well worth checking out.

You can download it through the following link:

http://www.mediafire.com/?zzsfsbyof4n

Its a windows media mp3 - so just click the link and download.

Peter talks about the club, the stadium, the finances, the presence of moneymen in the game, the ongoing situation with Langston, the Hasselbaink fiasco and more.

A couple of football-related revelations:

He has received bids today from both Celtic and Rangers for Glenn Loovens. Neither meet City's valuation so they were declined but he will be "pragmatic" if either get close to City's £3M value as he realises the player effectively becomes a free transfer in September.

He also had a bid today for Joe Ledley and recent bids for Johnson and Whittingham but none are for sale.

Despite media reports, City have not bid for, and are not interested in, Fulham's David Healey at this time.

An interesting story about Remco Van der Schaaf, the Dutch midfielder who was in Cardiff this summer and, available on a free transfer, wanted to sign for the club - well, free apart from the player demanding £150,000, double his previous wages and his agent asking for £500,000 for himself!! Burnley fans believe they pinched him off us ... I doubt they realise the cost.

A good listen.

RANGERS ABOUT TO MAKE £2.5M OFFER FOR LOOVENS

Today's Western Mail reports that Rangers are to oush again for Glen Loovens with a straight £2.5M bid, the same price they paid Watford last week for their centre-half Boughera.

The background to this is explained in a blog post yesterday below http://nigelblues.blogspot.com/2008/08/with-aaron-ramsey-transfer-saga-long.html

The offer is below the £3M trigger fee City want to start talks but with the transfer window shutting in 18 days and Loovens able to walk away for nothign next summer, such a bid would seriously test Peter Ridsdale and Dave Jones.

I'd hate Glen to leave and hope it sorts itself out but he is refusing to sign a new deal, even one with release clauses, which is a problem. He also look affected last weekend with his personal performance against Southampton.

The questions are, if he goes, can City bring in a suitable replacement immediately ... and will this money be ploughed back into team investment?

RANGERS SET TO RETURN FOR LOOVENS?

With the Aaron Ramsey transfer saga long resolved, the rumours regarding Glenn Loovens to Rangers are running longer than a West End play.

Loovens has still refused to sign a new Cardiff City contract as he wishes to play higher status football but is happy to stay with City until his present deal expires next summer. Unless anything changes, he is able to talk to any club with a view to a 'free' transfer next May.

In the meantime, City have placed a £3M fee on his head (or should it be 'Dutch cap' in his case?) which has seen no takers at all. Rumours have Premiership new boys Stoke and Hull having interest has not materialised but Rangers have been chasing him for a month or more.

The problem, however. is that Rangers have seriously undervalued Loovens, have refused to consider a straight swap for striker Kris Boyd (with Boyd himself uninterested apparently) and then they bought Watford centre-half Boughera at considerably more than they were willing to pay for Loovens.

That seemed to be the end of it - although Rangers hinted they would look to get Loovens for nothing next summer - but the Glasgow side had a shock Euro exit last week leaving them without a £12M budget shortfall. It may see key players leave Ibrox and the first came today as key centre half Cuellar was snapped up by Aston Villa for £7M.

Guess Rangers will want a replacement then - let the next round of rumours and talks begin.

LOOVENS TALK

The Echo/Western Mail's Terry Phillips discuss the many twists and turns of the "is he staying? is he going? when should City sell? should we lose him for nothing?" Glenn Loovens saga.

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/videos-and-pics/audio/2008/08/01/focus-on-football-the-glenn-loovens-saga-91466-21451075/

CITY DENY TALKING A LOOVENS DEAL WITH RANGERS, THE SCOTS SIGN A CENTRE-HALF BUT JONES BELIEVES HE MAY LEAVE

Another day of transfer gossip with nothing happened except a lot of talk and hot air.

Yesterday morning, speculation was rife that Rangers were back in for Glenn Loovens and making their final assault to land the player. Talk was their striker Daniel Cousins, a player City are lukewarm about, was being offered as exchange bait. City only seem to want Kris Boyd or nobody.

That talk seeemed to have been put to rest by the end of yesterday as Peter Ridsdale authorised an official website release denying any ongoing discussions were taking place (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/7535731.stm).

Late night, brought another development as Rangers signed a centre-half in Algerian Majiid Bougherra from Watford for £2.5M - a fee which suggests they were seriously undervaluing Loovens or taking advantage of his contract situation.

It remains to be seen whether Rangers still want Loovens or whether another club will swoop for him. City are desparate for him to stay but as he continues to refuse to sign a new contract, his value will diminish and someone will surely realise he's a commanding player every side would like available at a good price.

Dave Jones, in this morning's Western Mail, sounds almost resigned to losing the player. Check his quotes in this story which also hints that the Kenny Cooper deal may not yet be dead. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/cardiff-city-fc/2008/07/31/city-deny-cousin-talks-91466-21445477/

NO OFFICIAL CITY NEWS BUT MORE COOPER AND LOOVENS RUMOURS

It's now been 3 days since MLS leaked that they had accepted Cardiff City's offer for Kenny Cooper but, strangely, the player starred next day for FC Dallas in a win over L.A. Galaxy and there is no news yet if/when the player is flying to meet Dave Jones and Peter Ridsdale which is expected to early happen this week.

The other club officially known to have enquired about the player is Rosenbourg of Norway who doesn't offer the same level of football but can provide European exposure. However they've been unable to match City's offer - and it's doubtful that they will - and would seriously struggle to get near the personal terms that The Bluebirds are prepared to put to Cooper.

However this has not stopped agent Jan Schiefloe - who is believed to be representing Rosenborg in any deal (so self-interest isn't a factor here eh?!!) claims Norway is where Cooper would prefer to move. Schiefloe claims, "Cardiff are in the race but the move is not interesting for him. We hope to get clarification of Cooper's situation in the next few days but it is too early to say anything definite." So why say it then pillock!?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meantime a new twist in the Glenn Loovens will he stay/will he go saga as no new bids have been received but Marco Van Basten's Ajax of Amsterdam, Cardiff's opponents in a friendly on Friday night, are believed to have registered an interest in taking the player back to his homeland with a fee of upt £4M. This blows Glasgow Rangers out of the water as they were only offering a ridiculous £1M.

City fans, of course, will hope against hope that Glenn stays as he is a pivotal member of the side and his partnership with Roger Johnson is arguably the best in the Championship.

COOPER AND O'RIORDAN ON WAY IN BUT LOOVENS ON WAY OUT (Sunday papers)

Who knows how many more twists and turns before the serious action starts versus Southampton in 13 days and before the transfer window shuts firmly at the end of August but there is more news and counter-news today.





Wales on Sunday have splashed big on Cardiff City agreeing a fee with incentives totalling £2M for MLS star Kenny Cooper who they want to feature against Ajax in City's keynote final friendly this Friday.





However they revealed that Cooper is to choose between City and Norwegian Champions League side Rosenbourg and will fly in to visit both clubs this week before making a final decision.



A quick trawl of the net, though, reveals some gossip that any move by Cooper to Europe may be on hold or scrapped altogether and that he has been named in the FC Dallas squad to play Devid Beckham's LA Galazy tonight which suggests he isn't coming at all this week.





Meanwhile, while Rangers still seem to be deciding whether they want to make a more appropriate offer and increased bid for Glenn Loovens, the rumour mill suggests Celtic and Gordon Strachan are going to gazump them. Loovens was mightily impressive making Celtic's forwards look ordinary in last Thursday's friendly and it has alerted Strachan.









(O'Riordan - is it me or does he look like a midget in this picture?!?!?)

Another twist is that he may offer past City target Derek O'Riordan as a sweetener. The 25 yr old forward who chose Celtic over City 2 years ago has only has 25 games since and been told he has no future there and can move on.

Finally, it's believed Cardiff City are currently talking to 4 strikers in the hope of landing 2 so we may end up with players completely different to these names ... on current form, if we get anyone at all, they almost certainly will be!

27th TIME LUCKY IN BLUEBIRDS ELUSIVE STRIKER HUNT ???

Peter Ridsdale - who didn't want to talk about signings anymore until the deal was done! - has confirmed that Cardiff City have had what has been described as "a multi-million for a young European club striker" accepted and talks over personal terms are about to start with the club hoping to have the man in place for next Tuesday's away friendly at Swindon Town.

The Riddler confirmed that, “We have made a substantial offer ... I am talking to his agent but we will keep the identity of the player private until we know exactly where we are".

City are looking for other players, mindful of all the previous let downs, but remain tentative about Wolves forward Jay Bothroyd who has been linked all sumer loan. If him, Ridsdale added, "He is available and a player we have talked about" but continued, "We have not made any offer ... and he is not a player we are in contact with.”

In the outgoing scene, Rangers still seem to be on the trial of entre-half Glenn Loovens apparently with 3 of their managerial team in Portugal to watch him oplay against Celtic tonight and rumours that R's boss Walter Smith will also fly in to make a personal check.

McCOIST WATCHED LOOVENS IN PORTUGAL

It has been revealed that Rangers assistant manager Ally McCoist was despatched to the Algrave by Walter Smith to take a personal check on Cardiff City's dominating centre-half Glenn Loovens which rasies speculation that Rangers may return with a new bid for the player.

There is a stalemate at present with Rangers offering £1.5M for Watford's Danny Shittu and unable to agree personal terms with the player which saw them turn to Loovens but they have substantially under-valued him at only £1M which met with understandable objections for Peter Ridsdale and Dave Jones who would both like to keep the player anyway.

However, Rangers have a deadline of this Thursday if they are to register a new centre-half in time for Champions League action and are desparate for a new face.

McCoist will have learned nothing lat night as Loovens only played 2nd half and had little to do in a quiet game which City bossed.

RANGERS STILL WNAT LOOVENS BUT TELL CITY TO FORGET BOYD

Rangers boss Walter Smith despite yet making any official bid or enquiry to Cardiff City according to some went public yesterday over his interest in Cardiff City centre-half Glenn Loovens.

If some City fans were warming to a swap and reluctantly losing Loovens for Boyd, the message is Forget It. Smith confirmed he is not allowing the player to go while sources in Scotland say Kris Boyd himself has nil interest in moving to Wales.

It is believed, though, they Rangers may dangle the carrot of another Rangers striker Daniel Cousin but this may hit problems too as Cousin has refused to accept a new contract in Scotland, his terms apparently are well beyond anything City would consider.

Denying no contact with City, Smith said: “We have been making enquiries – and Glenn is a player who has been recommended to us. We are looking to bring in another central defender and we have had a look at Loovens. That is where we are at this stage. We have not taken things further, but we want to strengthen our squad.”

Rangers want a new centre half by next Thursday in order to register for Champions League football so need to act fast.

On Boyd, Smith commented: “I don’t want to let Kris Boyd leave Rangers. I have said that from day one. We have a few strikers here and I am sure one or two will go, but not Boyd. He is under contract and is remaining with Rangers.”

The next move still belongs to Rangers while City will continue to play hardball simply becuase they don't have to sell by next week. However they also won't want start of season plans thrown into chaos. Who will give on this one first?

LOOVENS / BOYD "SWAP" STALLING

There's a game of hardball at play between Cardiff City and Rangers over the Scottish side wanting Glenn Loovens and City desiring their main summer target Kris Boyd (but does Boyd want City?).

Cardiff City recently bid £2.5M for Boyd and value Loovens at £3M so, in their eyes, it should be Boyd and a cash adjustment in City's favour ... although I'd hazard a guess they'd take a straight swap.

Rangers, however, want Loovens and Peter Ridsdale to pay £1M extra to get Boyd.

The added dimensions are that City will be forced to sell Loovens if he continues to refuse to sign a new contract offer on the table but Rangers have a more pressing deadline as they need Loovens' signature by next Thursday (July24) if he is to feature in Champions League action and with only a couple of centre-halves on the books, the Scots must have a new face.

Their initial target, Danny Shittu, may still be in the picture too as Rangers agreed a lesser fee of £1.5M for his signature but the deal broke down over the player's excessive personal terms but Shittu has since gone public saying he is hoping talks can resurrect and he would like to join them.

Let's see what the next epidsode brings.