Keogh is a Bluebird

Last night's speculation turned to today's confirmation as Cardiff City announced this evening that Wolves' Eire striker ANDY KEOGH has signed for the club. However it is a season long loan rathert than a permanent purchase making Keogh the 8th signing of 5th loan signing of this season.

Still 24, Keogh was signed by Wolves from Scunthorpe in 2007 and had 79 starts plus 37 sub outings in the league with the Molineux club, netting 24 times. He played a half in Wolves opening Premier League win over Stoke 12 days ago.

There is speculation over where he could play and how he will fit into this City side which is packed with attacking talent ... and speculation over whether his arrival may mean the departure of a name player but we'll soon know I guess.

Olofinjana leaves Tigerish Hull for Bluebird Heaven

Dave Jones today suceeded in landing a key transfer target as Seyi Olofinjana joined Cardiff City on a season-long loan from fellow Championship outfit Hull City. He becomes City’s third loan signing after Danny Drinkwater and Jason Koumas and further strengthens what had been a threadbare midfield and must place question marks over the futures of players such as Gavin Rae, Aaron Wildig and Solomon Taiwo.

Chasing Torres but warming up for City!

Cardiff fans have been craving a midfield enforcer, Olofinjana, with 51 international caps, fits the bill. As mentioned on the blog last night, he featured in half of Hull’s doomed Premier League campaign last season and has moved between Wolves (where he was once managed by Dave Jones of course), Stoke and Hull for fees totalling almost £8M in the past 5 years.

The Tigers need to drastically reduce their wage bill and playing squad being in severe financial difficulties themselves. On £20k per week, it is believed Hull will still pay the majority of Olofinjana’s weekly wage but they realised they had little or no chance of selling their contracted player and this was the best option … all of which helped Jones make the deal.

The player, an unused Hull sub in their win over Swansea at the weekend, is drafted straight into the squad for tomorrow’s Carling Cup home round 1 tie with Burton Albion.

Reading & City in battle for Stoke's Andy Griffin

So claim the press in Reading.

Griffin's a right back, spent the second half of last season on loan at Reading when they went on that fantastic run from a relegation spot to play-off challenger and doesn't seem to be wanted by Stoke.

They reckon Cardiff are offering the better financial package but appear to be bankiong on the fact he was there last season to help their cause.


From the Wokingham Press
Royals fight Cardiff City for Andy Griffin
By Jonny Fordham
June 04, 2010

Reading FC are still confident of landing Andy Griffin despite interest from Championship rivals Cardiff City.

Dave Jones's beaten play-off finalists have the financial edge on Royals, who have been trying to sign the Stoke City right-back since he ended his successful spell on loan at the club last month.

Although Reading are unwilling to pay a fee, director of football Nick Hammond could offer the promise of a cash windfall if Griffin helped the club win promotion next season.

Joe's season (and Cardiff City career) set to end

Cardiff City today revealed that Joe Ledley will enter hospital at the end of January for his delay hip operations - he will have ops on both hips within 10 days - which means that his season will be over in a couple of games ... and quite possibly, his time at Cardiff City too.

The club confirmed that Joe had played on for a while but that it could not be delayed any longer. They will hope to have ther return of Steve McPhail and possible new singings to cover him by month end.


However fans will question whether we will now be seeing his last moments for Cardiff City as he is out of contract this summer, can talk to other clubs now and can leave for compensation only in he stays in England or Wales or free if he goes abroad.

He had been linked with moves to Celtic, Stoke and Blackburn alrerady this month but this news will be the end of that.

Bluebirds boss Dave Jones said, "When the day comes for him to go in [for the surgery] I hope that won't be the last time we see him in a blue shirt, but if it is, that's football for you."

Another day, another load of Cardiff City rumours

Once again, the newspapers are speculating over imminent arrivals and departures at Cardiff City but leading the way is the Hull Daily Mail who report that Hull City are set to bid upto £10M for the Bluebirds duo of Ross McCormack and Joe Ledley and that the club expect to have two players for medicals on Wednesday.

Tigers boss Phil Brown directly named the players but was non-commital over whether they are in his sights saying, "Joe Ledley, Ross McCormack and Daryl Murphy are all names who have been bandied around but it is important that we do our business behind the scenes. "

Hull may find competition in the form of long-term Ledley admirers Everton and Stoke City, both understood to be ready to make their move ... according to the papers of course.

And if Ledley goes, The Daily Mirror have reported Dave Jones already has a replacement lined up in the shape of Liverpool's French 21 year old midfielder Damien Plessis. Cardiff are said to want him on a 1 year loan. He played 5 times for Liverpool last season - twice in the Champions League, twice in the Carlign Cup and 1 Premiership start.

Let's see what tomorrow brings

Ledley to Stoke, Routledge back to Cardiff - wild rumours or soon to be realised?

Rumours are gathering momentum tonight that a deal for Joe Ledley may be close to fruition.

Ledley, out of contract next sumnmer and rated, has not seen offers materialise to date as Cardiff hiope for £5M but Premiership clubs are holding back to increase their chances of a knock-down price.

Joe is believed to favour a move to Everton who have tracked him for some time and are believed to be playing a waiting game but speculation has it that Stoke - who had a £6M offer declined in January - may be making their move now and a deal is close.

Could it be rumour or fact?


While the Ledley rumour sounds believeable, a more unbelieveable rumour is developing that Wayne Routledge could be returning to the club. Routs proved a massive success on loan from Aston Villa last season and Cardiff certainly played their best football when he was around but after verbally agreeing a permanent stay, he drove off without warning to sign for QPR which caused ill feeling but their salary was double Cardiff's money and it was closer to his family home.

However after a blistering start with the R's, Routledge struggled to hold down a place by the end of the season and with a change of manager, it could be the R's want changes of personnel. I can't see his happeneing but, clearly, if Joe is sold and the club have funds, they will wnat to invest in midfielders and wide men. I'll believe it when I see it but speculation is rife at present so watch this space.

Leading Bluebirds linked to Prem clubs, little inbound links to date

It's the silly season and newspapers are falling over themselves with transfer speculation - it'd just be too much hassle to reproduce them but here's a key summary.

JOE LEDLEY - seems to be linked with half the Premiership. At last count, it was Everton, Spurs, West Ham, Snderland, Stoke and Wolves. I may well have missed someone. However contract talks are dead with Joe so, with a year to go on his existing deal, it's only a matter of time before he ends up elsewhere. The figures being banded are all in the £5M-£6M range.

ROGER JOHNSON - Roger has a couple of years left on his City deal but having declined Premiership bids for him in January, it would be tough to do so again when the player believes it is time for him to make his move to that level. Strongest link so far is Portsmouth but Sunderland, Middlesbrough (if they survive which looks unlikely) and Wolves are mentioned in despatches too. Figures of £3M have been mentioned but surely he is worth more than that?

ROSS McCORMACK - Ross has commented that he wishes to stay in public but, in private, with his faincee believed to be unsettled in the area and Premiership clubs showing reported interest in him while he is also being mishandled by Dave Jones who has shifted him wide or out of the side to accomodate a disappointing (to date) Michael Chopra, it may be a different story. West Ham and Wigan are linked with the player. Figures of upt £5M would be outstanding business for a player who cost City only £200K last summer.



The one name being linked to the club is former centre-half JAMES COLLINS. No news of whether it is loan or permanent, whether it would be part of a deal with a City star moving the other way or whether a player who has previously declined a return and may still feel he belongs to the Premiership would be interested if it is a possibility. He's clearly seen as a replacement for Roger Johnson if/when RJ leaves but he also stuggles with fitness and injuries - can City's perennial small squad afford the gamble?

Joe Set To Be A Toffee??

The silly season starts right here, right now and while Cardiff City are not being linked with any arrivals yet, the departure door is having WD40 applied to assist exits right now.
City have long accepted skipper Joe Ledley would make the Premiership next season if they didn't and with only a year of his contract remaining, interest is hot.


Cardiff will hope to have a bidding war with Everton, Wolves, Birmingham and Stoke all showing interest of sorts but Everton have shown the biggest interest - boss David Moyes making a couple of personal checks last season - and irt's being reported they are indeed favourites to get him with a deal maybe only a matter of days away.


It would be a great move for Joe - joining a higher ranking club with European football next season - and after his service for City, who could possibly begrudge him the chance? The fee will be interesting,


Cardiff turned down £6M from Stoke in January and City will surely look for that at least but does his contract ticking down have an impact. Another issue is that City may look for Everton players coming on - on loan or permanently - as deal makeweights. Striker Voctor Anichebe is being mentioned in dispatches as a possible loan.

Ledley In Demand if City Don't Go Up

The difference between success and failue as Cardiff City potentially enter thei biggest month of football history for almost 50 years could not be more stark.


So close to the Premiership which would see the world's biggest clubs visit the new stadium and big names players sign for the clun, it's mouth-watering.


Yet miss out and Dave Jones would surely have another major rebuilding job with names like Joe Ledley, Roger Johnson and maybe Kevin McNuaghton, Jay Bothroyd and Ross McCormack in demand after magnificent seasons.


Talk has already started and it's rumoured Wolves would look to buy Joe for £7M if, as expected, they make the Premiership. Stoke and Fulham have watched all season too and a bidding war may unfold for a player who has 1 year remaining on his contract.

Let's hope Joe stays ... as that could only mean we've gone up!!

Now it's Wigan cash + Koumas for Ledley

The Daily Mirror reports that Wigan Athletic are the latest club to be ready to make an offer for Joe Ledley with a £6M package deal, £4M cash plus Jason Koumas. The Latics needs players and have funds available having just sold Palacios and Heskey for £17.5M but whether that offer will be made and, more to the point, whether it meets City's valuation is a different matter. The Bluebirds have made it clear that they are fighting to keep Joe at the club and put a £8M asking price on his head but Wigan are stated to be interested after previous target, Reading's Steven Hunt, is believed to be have turned down the club.

Monday's South Wales Echo also stated that Peter Ridsdale turned down a weekend bid from the player with hints that it may have been Fulham who need to replace sold star Jimmy Bullard, who joined Hull City, and require a replacement for him.

As for Joe himself, his only words are he hopes to play in the F.A. Cup replay at Arsenal - that game coming the day after the transfer window closes - and that he's happy to stay unless City accept an offer for him to consider.

The line of suitors for Joe is getting bigger if you believe the press. By my reckoning, it's Spurs, Everton, West Ham, Fulham, Aston Villa, Wigan, Stoke, Portsmouth and Newcastle. No interest yet from Accrington Stanley however.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/2009/01/26/wigan-to-offer-jason-koumas-to-land-cardiff-star-joe-ledley-115875-21071947/



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Who wants Butts?

Former Cardiff City assistant boss Ian Butterworth is suddenly finding himself in demand after a period out of the game.

Butts arrived at Ninian Park alongside Alan Cork in 1999 and stayed after his dismissal to serve alongside Lennie Lawrence and helped oversee the Millennium Stadium playoff win over QPR in 2003.

Lennie Lawrence started to struggle and lost the supporters, if not the dressing room, but Sam Hammam decided Butts was the problem and scaked him instead to bring in Terry Burton who now assists Dave Jones of course.

Butterworth was appointed no 2 at Hartlepool only last month and made a great start as the Div 2 club beat Premiership Stoke in F.A. Cup Round 3. He is now preparing the squad to face West Ham in Round 4 this weekend.

However with his former team-mate and friend Bryan Gunn appointed Norwich City manager this week, it is believed the Canaries want him to return to the club where his enjoyed his playing success to assist there and moves are expected to take place once this weekend's game is out of the way.

JOE 'FLATTERED' BY PREM INTEREST BUT CONCENTRATING ON CITY

Cardiff City skipper Joe Ledley confessed to be "flattered" by reported interest from Premier Leaguers West Ham about paper gossip that they are about to make a £5M bid for the Kairdiff Kid.

Talking to BBC, Joe insisted, "nothing is happening" but added, "It is great to be linked to a Premier League club and if I continue playing well, then who knows what might happen? I must continue to do what I've been doing on the pitch. I've got to put all of the speculation to the back of my mind, it's flattering and proof that I must be doing something right. It is not down to me anyway, it's down to the club so I will just concentrate on playing well and helping the boys against Arsenal."

With former Cardiff player and Welsh international mates at West Ham in Danny Gabbidon and James Collins plus close friends Aaron Ramsey, Chris Gunter and Gareth Bale also in the area, he may be interested but Cardiff turned down an higher offer - £6M - for the star midfielder last August from Stoke City which, privately, was believed to have devastated the player.

Joe seems to be no closer to discussing a new contract with Cardiff and with less than 18 months remaining on his present deal, any bid will seriously test their resolve and ambitions. City fans will be bracing themselves as they don't want to lose Joe and if it happened so close to Deadline Day in the transfer window, it leaves little or no time to replace him although I'm sure Dave Jones will have plans in place.

Stoke ready to strike for Joe - Fact or Fiction?

Teamtalk, that notorious purveyor of complete fantasy, has made its latest claim today ... Cardiff City's Joe Ledley is close to joining Stoke City.

The Potters, of course, desperately tried to land Captain Joe, in the August window making successive bids rising to £6M but found themselves knocked back and made noises that they would look again so they were widely expected to make another move in January but this has not happened yet. Teamtalk claim Cardiff Cirty have agreed to sell and the deal is being delayed by minor quibbles and contract wrangling with Joe's agent.

Chairman Peter Ridsdale confirmed only yesterday that no bid has yet been made for any player ... he is the sort of owner who says this every transfer window which a cynic can interpret as him drumming up interest and making it known he would be interested without admitting that, it's happened after he's publicised it in the past.

Joe to show or Joe to go? The answer is, I just don't know.

Geordie Joe???

Newcastle United are the latest club to be linked with an imminent bid for Cardiff City local hero Joe Ledley.

Ledley, currently captain of the side having rediscovered his very best form, is reported in the North East as being one of three Championship players coveted by Magpies boss Joe Kinnear, the others being Reading striker Kevin Doyle and Wolves striker Michael Kightley.

Spurs, Everton and Stoke have long been in the running and City are bracing themselves for bids in respect of a player that Dave Jones and City fans alike would love to see stay and help for a serious tilt at the play-offs or promotion in the second half of the season but if a £6M+ bid arrives, can Cardiff seriously decline it again for a player out of contract in 18 months.

The only official words so far are from Peter Ridsdale saying that no bid has been made since August while Ledley himself told today's South Wales Echo, "I have heard nothing from the club or my agent and I don’t believe that Plymouth was my last game for the club. I have an 18-month contract to run and I have always said that my ultimate dream would be to play for Cardiff in the Premiership, that dream has not changed".

Let's hope he stay but, without question, expect more developments.

South Wales Echo Ledley story:
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2008/12/30/ledley-i-m-still-a-cardiff-player-91466-22570977/

LATEST CARDIFF CITY TRANSFER GOSSIP

I can't be bothered commenting on them lately as there's so much of it and nobody will know what is happening unil the transfer window opens next week but here's the latest snippets doing the rounds.



Stoke City will offer Cardiff City £7m for winger Joe Ledley in January. (Daily Telegraph).


Cardiff City defender Roger Johnson is attracting the interest of Everton, Stoke City, Tottenham, and Bolton. (The Times)

Led or MisLed? Joe Show or Joe Go?

The trials and tribualtions of whether Joe Ledley will stay or go continue and is set to run and run until there is definitive news.

After yesterday's splash that Everton are set to bid £6M for the player in January with Toffees boss David Moyes taking a personal check in City's 2-2 Tuesday night draw at Burnley, national media have claimed that Stoke - who made a final declined £6M offer in August - are set to return with a similar bid or possibly increase it to £6.3M in January.

On the local front however, City are set to open new contracts talks with Joe whose current deal ends in June 2010. Despite his clu and international success, he is believed to be well behind other players in terms of pay. Some say Joe is on £7k a week basic at City, much less than half Eddie Johnson earns for considerably less contribution while Chops is on at least £20k.

Whether Joe is interested in any further deal with City is another matter altogether and, as if to emphasise that, his agent has entered the mix with his comments that Joe won't leave in January and wuill walk away on a free when his current deal expires.

No way could City allow that to happen so it does appear to pave the way for his imminent departure. Football, contracts and politics is quite nauseous but this needs to be sorted out fast.


Joe Ledley's agent dismisses prospect of £6 million move to Stoke CityTelegraph.co.uk

City splash the cash in bid to keep ace LedleyWalesOnline

Tony Pulis says there are funds availableTimes Online

Joe Ledley - The January Sales Talk Starts Here

According to today's South Wales Echo, Everton are poised to offered £6M for Joe Ledley when the next transfer window opens which is 3 weeks today.

The Toffees have been long rumoured suitors of Joe but failed to move for him and instead opted to try and take Aaron Ramsey who was prised away by Arsenal for £5M.

Newspapers have also speculated that Spurs may bid for Joe who could then team up with the North London Taffia of Ramsey, Chris Gunter and Gareth Bale. It also seems inevitable that Stoke City whose £6M bid was declined in the August window will try their luck again too.

All of this makes it tough, if not impossible, to hold onto a player who is out of contract at the end of next season and who had been unsettled by summer rumours only recently rediscovering his form. When it is rumoured that Stoke were willing to more than treble his Cardiff City salary and dangle the carrot of Premiership football, it is easy to understand why he may have been distracted but it also suggests City have next to nil chance pf gettign him to sign a new deal too.

Of course, it may be mutually beneficial to club and player to sell as City would love to keep Wayne Routledge and Michael Chopra plus add a midfielder to the squad for the run-in. Publicly, they may say they wish to keep Joe but, privately, I can imagine Joe being sold if the only way to raise funds to give them any opportunity to do such deals. .

Cardiff City braced for £6m Everton bid for Joe LedleyWalesOnline

McPhail issues apology for seeing red but is he is denial?

In an unusual move, although clearly feeling the wrath of Cardiff fans for his idiotic red card costing City a likely win at Swansea, Steve McPhail has issued a personal apology on the Cardiff City website for his actions.

McPhail's apology
http://www.cardiffcityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10335~1473434,00.html

A past McPhail red card pictured - oops, he did it again

McPhail, City's skipper in that game, kicked the ball 40 yards away on halfway after the whistle was blown when already on a yellow card at a time The Bluebirds were in a 2-1 second half lead and in complete control of the Liberty Stadium encounter. It was the second time McPhail was sent off at Swansea this season - having received two silly yellow cards in the early season Carling Cup tie - and came after the Irish one footed midfielder issued a pre-game notice that he was out to make amends for that night and his red card which would never happen again in a derby. Talk about famous last words.

McPhail must have been acutely aware of City fans venting their spleens about his actions coming in a game that matters more than most to them, some even thinking it is time we looked for chance in a central midfield combo of Rae and McPhail that has under-performed all season. I'd include myself in that number as I cannot recall a single stand out McPhail game this term but more than a few anonymous ones. His apology is heartening. Credit to the player for that but does he really believe his weekend antics were 'out of character'?

A look at his Bluebirds record reveals that the player now has 4 red cards and 15 yellow cards in 115 Cardiff City outings and has experienced at least 2 suspensions every season at the club. Those who watch him will know that a majority have come from poor, niggly or late tackles and general frustration. Some players are like that, McPhail is certainly one of them although, his first two red cards at the club were due to a harsh decision at Colchester and some play-acting by a player at Stoke.

However what happened last Sunday suggests that he isn't really learning. As an experienced pro and the team's captain, it just wasn't good enough. If the player remains with the club, we can only pray he's learned a lesson the hardest way possible if/when he regains his place and knuckles down to play the type of football that he used to but which has not been evident this term.

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JANUARY TRANSFER TALK - WEST BROM BACK FOR JOHNSON?

As one transfer window closes, the media now have to speculate on what may happen in January when the next opens and a couple are reporting that West Brom remain determined to land Roger Johnson.

They were turned down with a £4M bid in August but there is speculation they will return with a £5M bid in January for storming and vastly improved centre-half Roger Johnson. Stoke City have also pledged to spend big in January and it would be no surprise if they return for Joe Ledley at that time having been denied with a £6M offer last month when he was top of their shopping list.

At the same time, via the Echo, Cardiff City are pledging to spend money and buy players in January - something they have failed to do any time recently. However when it comes to spending and signings, we have learned the hard way that talk is cheap at Ninian Park.

I guess that much will depend of City's league positon in 4 months, what's in the player's contracts inlcuding release clauses and what may have been siad privately between the club, Johnson and Ledley when City stopped them going last month. Of course, it's also possible no bids at all may be made.

LEDLEY - MY HEAD'S IN A SPIN

You Spin Me Right Round

Baby Right Round

CARDIFF CITY star and local boy JOE LEDLEY has broken his silence on remaining with The Bluebirds after Dave Jones and Peter Ridsdale apparently denied him the opportunity to talk to Premiership newbies Stock City or accept their increasing bids rising to what would have been a club record £6M. The Deadly Duo claiming City are on a Premiership push this season - they seem more believing of that than most fans - and that Stoke is not the best club for Joe.

WESTERN MAIL ARTICLE HERE
Ledley head in a spin over transfer tug of war

I fully appreciate Joe's feelings and dilemma. His profile with Cardiff City is unlikely to get any higher than it is now.

He may only be 21 as Dave Jones wants to remind him but he's not any 21 yr old. He's closing in on 200 Cardiff City appearances and he's got 20 caps for Wales. For club and country, he's one of the very first names on the team sheet. He's also seen kids come through the Academy system long after him and get Premiership clubs.

And as a City fan - as well as player - even he will know deep down that there's a world of difference between Ridsdale and Jones talking up the Premiership with City and the reality in which we've sold out best players (yet again), replaced them with lesser talents and have barely shown the ambition talked about.

I questionned at the start of the week whether City's decision not to sell was about Joe and the teams interests or Ridsdale more worried about losing his credibility even more than he already has. I still feel that way.

Maybe I'd feel different if I felt we were hell bent on keeping Joe but we're not. I know it's only a matter of time before we do that anyway (and it could be as soon as January) and that the player himself knows deep down it's time for pushing on ... and after 5 years service to this club when all we've given him back is teams to produce mid-table obscurity, who can deny feeling like that?

Although, I have to say, when the time comes I hope he gets a better club than Stoke City ... I do feel Dave Jones makes a valid point about going there.