Cardiff boss Dave Jones has confirmed that the Blues have made enquiries regarding Michael Chopra but says the money on offer is less than the Bluebirds still owe Sunderland for the striker. Town manager Roy Keane refused to comment on his reported interest in the 26-year-old after this afternoon's defeat to West Ham.

Jones said: "Roy has made enquiries about him, but the money they are offering is less than what we owe Sunderland.

"Chops is happy here, but, like everyone else, he wants to see people come in. I've spoken to his agent a lot over the last week and he is happy for Chops to stay here. Why would I want sell one of my best players unless it's a knock-out punch?

"Most of the players have had enquiries about them, particularly when a club is reported to be in financial trouble. I would do exactly the same thing. That's always going to happen."

Cardiff paid Sunderland an initial £500,000 for Chopra a year ago and recently renegotiated the terms of a payment of £1.5 million which was due this month. The overall fee for the ex-England U21 international is believed to be at least £3 million, although some reports have claimed it was as high as £4 million.

Meanwhile, Keane says that he is looking to strengthen his strikeforce, but wouldn’t be drawn specifically into commenting on Chopra: “It’s an area of the club we certainly have to look at. I’ve spoken to Dave Jones regularly while I was trying to buy Mark Kennedy and we have had conversations about all sorts of players.

“But I think we have to be respectful to Dave, to Cardiff and to Chops. There are a number of strikers that we’re interested in and I think it would be wrong for me to say which players we’re interested in.”

Keane was pleased with his side’s display against the Hammers: “It was a very good game, we’ve no new injuries that I’m aware of and a few of the young lads got a run out. I thought it was played with good intensity, there was a good pace to the game.

“Again, like the PSV game, we failed to score and obviously that’s something which is a concern for us, but the application of the players was very, very good.

“In terms of the game, we had the better chances but they put the ball in the back of the net. That’s the hardest part of football and we failed to do that again today.”

Meanwhile, TWTD understands that Owen Garvan will undergo a medical at Crystal Palace on Monday, Keane having confirmed that the £225,000 deal taking the Irish U21 international to Selhurst Park will probably be completed early in the week.

Photo: Action Images

Mark added 19:31 - Jul 31 I am glad to read that "There are a number of strikers that we're interested in". Chopra would be a very good signing I think, but we should not break the bank for him and we need to keep our options open, as there are lots of good strikers about and we MUST make sure we get one or two in. I'd hate for Chopra to fall through at the last minute leaving us without any fire power.

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SurreyITFC added 19:31 - Jul 31 We will have a "New" striker in place by the time we play Middlesborough next week for sure. The big question is who will it be? I'm sure Keano has a few irons in the fire but he not letting any info out at present. COYB - Keano Keano Keano
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bontcho added 19:46 - Jul 31 Agree with you STEAD14 apart from one thing, i think Keane will be willing to wait until nearer transfer deadline to ensure he gets a better deal.
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willmister added 19:53 - Jul 31 I do hope it is chopra, with him a wickham upfront we will get goals, another good thing is that priskin is looking much better. The only dissapointing news is that we are letting in my view a very good midfielder go for an insulting amount of money. Very dissapointing
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gibbo added 20:02 - Jul 31 It showed today same old story, played well at times but nobody to put the ball in the net.
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Back_The_Boss added 20:03 - Jul 31 He will be here by tuesday. Chopra and Priskin; who looked somewhat better today, to start at Boro.
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Mark added 20:04 - Jul 31 Ipswich may wait until near the close of the transfer window, but the trouble is I can't see us getting many points against Middlesbrough, Burnley, Crystal Palace and Bristol City in August if we don't bring a striker in, and our promotion rivals will steal a march on us. Indeed we may find ourselves near the bottom and dumped out of the cup. Hopefully there will be a press conference next week announcing signings...

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SiBo added 20:09 - Jul 31 Kingkeano: I think we will probably keep the same formation we used today... 4-3-3, or more acurately 4-1-2-2-1, a back 4, a defensive midfielder, 2 central midfielders, 2 wide attacking midfielders/forwards, 1 striker. I also think RK will wait for the right deal rahter than be rushed to sign someone before next Saturday... better to get the right deal at the right price, than rush in... let's hope it's done by next week, but I wouldn't count on it!

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AFCC added 20:10 - Jul 31 We need someone in place fast to bond with the team read for Boro and with Lisbie gone, Stead on the way, Connor injured, Pabs past it and Priskin unable to hit a cows arse with a banjo I think we need another striker even if we do get Chops. What about Marlon Harewood or Jerome Aliadiere who are both free agents.
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Lower_North added 20:39 - Jul 31 Marlon King anyone?
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pottyblue added 20:52 - Jul 31 king has done his time no problem with that
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mickeyjb added 21:07 - Jul 31 Chopra yes please, watch Leeds come and pinch him. I hope he wants to come here.
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Pique added 21:26 - Jul 31 If we signed Marlon King, I think I'd find it difficult to take Keane's talk about 'getting the right characters in' seriously...
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blrmy added 21:35 - Jul 31 Marlin king? Dear God, bottom of the barrel....
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Vic added 22:40 - Jul 31 No ones commented yet on the fact that the ITFC offer must be considerably less than the £3+ mill figure that keeps getting bandied about.
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bluearmy4life added 22:52 - Jul 31 Its going to be quite an anxious week next week. If Keane is looking at a number of strikers who are they apart from Chopra? He won't be cheap we will probably have to offer just a tad more to lure him away? Its good news to hear Priskin is gaining confidence but we need goals we cant have the same excuses next week and in the near future come on town sign him up!!

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TrueBlue4Eva added 23:00 - Jul 31 Aliadiere seems a good shout , free
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runaround added 23:02 - Jul 31 If we do get Chopra, I think it wont happen until August 31st. Reasoning is Cardiff really dont want to sell but finance issues may mean that they have to and once the window closes there is no chance of the getting any transfer cash till January which could be too late, therefore they may take what is on the table then. I would like things to be sorted before then though as I fear his wages may take protracted negotiations. I dont think we can really wait till then though and this needs to be sorted out 1 way or another very soon, ideally before saturday as we just dont look like scoring goals at present. Perhaps we may look at a loanee striker in the short term and then buy Chopra or A.N Other at end of August?

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arc123 added 23:10 - Jul 31 People can't be serious about us signing Marlon King. I'm all for giving people a 2nd chance, but this scumbag has done this kind of things many times before.
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runaround added 23:20 - Jul 31 Signing Marlon King would be a big risk. The club would be pilleried in the press for doing so. I have never met the bloke, but what you read about him makes him sound like a nasty human being,(makes Chopra's alleged gambling problems seem insignificant) some fans(not me)dislike Keane purely because of things he has said and done, if we gave King a contract, I think they would go beserk! He would be a target for abuse from opposition fans, players and press with every move he makes being scrutinised and he will always be associated for the crime he was convicted off rather than any footballing talent. If given the choice between no=one and King I would rather sign no-one

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naaridge1coly7 added 01:22 - Aug 1 keep dreaming,how many more times we gonna hear this rubbish.......
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ChambersM added 01:37 - Aug 1 Not many people like us as it is with keane as manager so let's not make it worse by signing king, let's just sack keane instead :)
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Marcus added 03:15 - Aug 1 All talk... Cardiff are trying to talk up the price and Town are hinting that if they do that then they'll look elsewhere and collapse the deal. Transfer negotiations are almost constantly close to collapse for this reason. Sit back and enjoy the show.
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ipswichfrancis added 05:58 - Aug 1 RK can leave and join Marlon King and that'll be a good start for the season.....
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suffolksam added 07:01 - Aug 1 dont think chopras good enough for us look further roy or better still resign and let a proper manager get us a striker
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