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

gav_g added 12:31 - Aug 9 keane admits we are 'thin on the ground' so i would only be interested in bringing in players and not laying on stead or priskin. Instead keano why not ask dave about peter whittingham who would bring width and attacking flair to the team? And also make bids for charlie austin and george boyd and well have a real crack this year, with or without chopra and walters.
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Seasider added 15:55 - Aug 9 Priskin looks a class footballer at times,especially this season,with the arrival of his mate Marton and Roy Keanes recent backing is just starting to look the business.Cant say the same for Pablo;but lets face it RK cant force him out,although is trying his best but Counago seems happy to sit back and take his money,great pity.Certainly need replacement for Walters if he goes,and a right back although mustnt forget that Jamie Peters can play in Jons position. Whatever we do must not do what JM did and RK last year,and bring in too many players as I would like to see the youngsters given more chance like Saturday,and dont forget the injured players we have to come back in as well.After all we did win 3-1 away to one of the promotion favorites.

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jas0999 added 19:13 - Aug 9 This would be good news. But how accurate is this? Personally i would swap Stead. Where will he fit in if we sign two new strikers and have Priskin and Wickham? Sadly, I doubt anyone will want Pablo.
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bluelady added 20:46 - Aug 9 oh no dont offer Pablo with the deal we would have to pay them far to much to take him and they wouldnt give us anyone in return :-)
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paddypowell added 17:17 - Aug 10 macormack would b a good buy,watched him the weekend has a good left foot something we r short of,and gives 100%,about stead people forget before going on loan he scored 6 goals and was leading scorer and i think if we had kept playing him last season he would have scored double that at the least,so i would keep him.
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