Town are set to make a move for Cardiff striker or winger Ross McCormack having given up their pursuit of Michael Chopra, according to reports in Wales this morning. The Blues are said to be offering former England U21 international frontman Jon Stead in exchange for the 23-year-old.

Boss Roy Keane has been tracking Chopra, who played for him at Sunderland, all summer but Cardiff have continued to rebuff Town’s offers. The Blues’ highest bid is reported to have been £2.5 million, the same as the figure Cardiff still owe the Black Cats on the £3 million fee agreed for the 26-year-old last year. The cash-strapped Bluebirds recently renegotiated a £1.5 million payment which was due to Sunderland next month with a further £1 million payable in a year’s time.

Glasgow-born McCormack started his career with Rangers and had a loan spell at Doncaster in 2006 before making a permanent switch to Motherwell two years later.

McCormack joined Cardiff for £125,000 in the summer of 2008 and had a hugely impressive first season, netting 23 goals, although missing a penalty in Town’s 3-0 win in Ninian Park’s last game, which was Roy Keane’s first match as manager of the Blues.

That summer Hull City were reported to have made a £3 million offer for the 5ft 9in tall Scotsman, but that fell below what was Cardiff’s valuation at the time. The player was reported to have made a transfer request and Portsmouth were also linked.

McCormack, who is contracted until 2013, is understood to be frustrated at Cardiff and was a sub in yesterday’s opening match 1-1 draw at home to Sheffield United.

Capped at U21 and B level in addition to his five full caps and one goal, McCormack would appear to be an ideal potential replacement for skipper Jon Walters, who is expected to move on to Stoke City or one of the other interested clubs sooner rather than later.

Despite his goal at Middlesbrough on Saturday, Stead was on the list of eight players Roy Keane was looking to move on this summer with fees previously having been agreed with Bristol City and Blackpool, those moves falling down due to the striker failing to agree personal terms.

On Thursday, Keane revealed that he had been speaking to Cardiff boss Dave Jones and suggested that Chopra wasn't the subject of their conversation: "I spoke to Dave Jones about other stuff. It’s not always about Michael Chopra, trust me.”

Photo: Action Images

trulyblue added 08:52 - Aug 9 I'd happily swop him for Stead !
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FootballsMyLife added 08:53 - Aug 9 Lovely Job!
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PartyDaz added 08:53 - Aug 9 A busy few days ahead I expect, especially after another couple of injuries at the weekend.
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darkroonsitfc added 09:07 - Aug 9 personally i would'nt use stead in the deal, when he came on, on saturday, he changed the game, can we not use Priskin or Counago in this deal??? why get rid of someone thats always going to give 100%???, why should we be left a striker that only plays at home(Counage) and a striker that is out of form and tbh doesn't really look intrested, (priskin) he didn't exactly look ecstatic/relieved that he'd scored did he???? Ross McCormak is a player that has caught the eye of many, he's a decent player and has got a good cross on him, so would be good to see him here, potentially to replace walters??

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GinjaBumBum added 09:08 - Aug 9 Mcormack is an outstanding player but look how Stead performed at Middlesbrough and then you will realise why i would swap Counago instead
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robdaful added 09:09 - Aug 9 I'm not worried he isn't Chopra or Scotland. As it sounds like Scotland is on his way. I'm not sure if he will be put in as winger to replace Jon Walters or be used as a striker?
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Blueknight85 added 09:16 - Aug 9 him and chopra were argueing on sunday during the game
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Superfrans added 09:29 - Aug 9 Ha ha. I love some of the comments on here. Darkroons - Stead didn't turn the game when he came on. We were already 2-1 up and bossing the game. Stead scored the third goal, credit to him for that. But he didn't turn the game. If anyone did, it was Tommy for his hit and hope shot or Priskin for putting us ahead. Stead has been an occasionally good player for us, but he only seems to make an impact off the bench. I would keep him, if he were content to be a bench-warmer. But I doubt he would be.

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OnlyOneSirBobby added 09:37 - Aug 9 im a bit surprised we are supposedly swapping stead for mccormack considering we are low on numbers at the moment, doesnt make much sense! roy has stated we are low on players and therefore i dont understand why we would simply swap players which would leave us no better off squad-wise. however, would be happy with mccormack coming in, he is a good player at this level

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StowTractorBoy added 09:45 - Aug 9 Stead is very happy in Suffolk if not with the footballing side of things but I cannot see him going to the reaches of Cardiff. I would keep him as an impact player and hope that Scotland does appear. McCormack is OK but does not fill me with excitment- his attitude is very questionable.
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itfc1981 added 09:49 - Aug 9 this is another Keane classic! he's no better than Stead and will not provide the goals needed, Stowtractorboy has it spot on. why cant he just go for an out and out goalscorer, not players who do it for a while then fade.
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Seasonticketsteve added 09:51 - Aug 9 I really rate McCormack and am genuinely excited by this signing, more so that Scotland as he is young & very hungry, has a good touch of class about him and most importantly he has excellent pace. If we can get him for anything less then £2.5 million then I think it is a steal!
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Skip73 added 09:52 - Aug 9 I met Jon Stead on Thursday when I cut him some wood (I work at a DIY store) and I asked him about Bristol City and Blackpool. He told me that he'd spoke to them both but he didn't want to leave but they were trying to make him go anyway. With the attitude he's showing, (seems to me he loves the club and the reaction when he scored on Saturday showed the players like him too) and his performance when he came on saturday, I think he should be given a chance. I'd like to see McCormack here though, but give them Counago, even if its not part of the deal just give them the useless lazy w@nka for nothing.

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Lightningboy added 09:52 - Aug 9 Would be a decent-ish replacement for Walters but I just don't get why Keane doesn't rate Stead..scored a cracker saturday..give the guy a chance Roy. Would much rather get shot of Priskin.
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CGH added 09:55 - Aug 9 A like for like replacement for Walters so it looks as though that deal will go ahead. OR just poor journalism.
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blue added 09:57 - Aug 9 All in all who comes and who goes the stats on saturday again last years premier side and favourites to go up this season ,we put them in there place and to strengthen in anyway would be a plus and we can push on from this game.This can be our season what with hopefuls mc cormack and scotland wow what season we could be looking forward too.Have faith in this team this year 45 games to go cmon you blues !!!!

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tom_the_blue added 10:18 - Aug 9 Good player of similar or better ability than Walters, certainly better technically though without the height Jon provides. He would be a good replacement for Walters, and for cheaper than we are selling him for.
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corshamblue added 10:40 - Aug 9 Like most I'd be keeping Stead. Roy said he wants competition for places and Stead is a very decent standard, moreover gives 100% all the time! He also has a good eye for goal from 18yrds - which is important when it's difficult to get in behind teams. Priskin I think will also come good, but his 80% effort doesn't reflect his pay packet! McCormack as a replacement for Walters would make sense, swapping for Stead? not sure - whould Cardiff need Stead with Boothroyd and Chopra? I don't think so and I don't see Stead moving to be warming the bench elsewhere either!

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darkroonsitfc added 10:44 - Aug 9 i didnt say stead turned the game, i said he changed it lol, huge difference!! we seemed more dangerous with him on the pitch rather than priskin. i believe if stead was given a fair crack of the whip and played the majority of games he'd easily get us 15 goals a season, some of you may not agree, but there is certainly something about him that our other strikers could learn.

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yorksblue added 11:21 - Aug 9 I agree with those who believe Stead should stay. Get rid os Priskin and/or Counago instead. They're garbage. A least Stead's a tryer.
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bluelady added 11:37 - Aug 9 Yorksblue agree in part (PABS) Think Prisken will come good and is looking much more up for it - was so delighted to win saturday it was great to see. Counago however can go anytime.... a player with all the potential but none of the 'want' - happy to be a highly paid bench warmer and annoys me each time i see him as he really could have been exceptional - a wasted talent.

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devontractorboy added 11:38 - Aug 9 Why have we given up chasing Chopra??? Is it the clubs cannot agree a fee?? We need an out and out striker and Chpra is the man!
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Upbeat~ added 11:56 - Aug 9 500k + Couñago would be the deal of the century. However, there is no chance that dave jones would even consider taking on Pabs and it would be a shame to see Stead go - there is something about him that brings a certain energy to the side and I think we are all agreed that he gives 100% on that pitch. Plus a great goal at the weekend and if walters does go we can't afford to lose both surely. 2 in 2 out doesn't seem to address the issue, as an injury later on in the season up front could prove very difficult to cope with.

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JohnyJohnson added 11:59 - Aug 9 2 words SIGN HIM!
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dobbie73 added 12:05 - Aug 9 Keep Stead & Priskin, ditch Pablo. McCormack would be a very good signing, whether with or without Chopra/Scotland. I'm getting good vibes! COYB!!
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