Town boss Paul Jewell has confirmed that the Blues paid only £1 million for striker Michael Chopra during the close season. After the former Cardiff man recently netted his third and fourth goals of the campaign against Brighton various national newspapers claimed Town had spent as much as £3 million on the 27-year-old, while previous reports had indicated that the ex-Newcastle and Sunderland man had cost a fee of £1.5 million.

Jewell said: “I’ve seen what prices have been mentioned, but we only paid £1 million for him.

“I think Cardiff wanted to change things around a bit, maybe Chops wanted a fresh challenge. All I know is that we got a terrific deal because I think he’s the best striker in the division.”

The Blues boss says he hopes the brace against the Seagulls is a start of a rich vein of form: Everyone knows what a good player he is, but he is a streaky player - he gets his goals in fits and starts.

“He’s very bright, he’s very clever and he never stops working for the team. He’s one of our major players and hopefully he can go on a goalscoring run now.”

Jewell says the former Bluebird is unlikely to be fazed by facing his old side on Saturday: “Sometimes you can try too hard against your former club, but I think Chops is experienced enough to know that he did a lot for Cardiff.

“I don’t think there is any acrimony on his part and I’m not aware of any from Cardiff towards him either. Sometimes people just move on.”

Chopra’s former Bluebirds team-mate Darcy Blake hopes there’ll be no boos for the striker from his old supporters: “Hopefully he’ll get a good reception from the Cardiff fans. He deserves it because he did well for the club.

“You are always going to get one or two who have a go, but Chops was good for Cardiff. He went to Sunderland and came back, so I think he’s got a good respect for the club.

“He likes Cardiff, but I think he thought it was time for him to move on and he’s fitted in well at Ipswich and has got goals.”

Blake says Cardiff know what to expect from their old boy: “I saw the two goals he scored the other day against Brighton and they allowed him to cut inside and he just curled them in.

“We know him. We know his strengths. If you let him cut inside the first thing on his mind is to shoot. He’s a goalscorer and you can’t afford to give him half a chance or he will finish it.

“It will be interesting, but our team is OK right now. The work ethic is just so great in the side.”

Photo: Action Images

pazelle added 12:12 - Oct 12 Priskin and Chopra - streaky strikers who can help each other's streaks.
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btrevelyan added 12:18 - Oct 12 Bargain.
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8ashblue added 12:26 - Oct 12 like many i was disappointed we didnt get him last season but at this price he's looking a real bargain. i hope PJ keeps picking scotland with him as they could be great pair in the making. its up to the others to raise their game if they want to be included (Priskin JET etc)
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Southamptonblue added 12:26 - Oct 12 A good bit of business considering the asking price when Keane tried to buy him.
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suffolkpoker added 12:26 - Oct 12 wow - that is some coup.
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irishtim added 12:27 - Oct 12 great value
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GreenwichBlue added 12:32 - Oct 12 Should help dispell some of the myths other clubs and media pudits have perpetuated that we have spent big this summer.
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clive_baker added 12:47 - Oct 12 VFM
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Tillz9 added 13:10 - Oct 12 Absolute steal at that price. £1m does not normally get you much these days. Excellent work by jewell and co
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DiamondGezzer added 13:29 - Oct 12 The last time I heard of a steal like that, the guy was wearing a tri-corn hat and a black mask ! The deals Jewell has made [ Chopra, Cresswell, etc, ] have been nothing more than miraculous. Seems like a million years ago, people were saying " Chopra won't come ", well all I can say is, I'm glad he did !
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CardinalRansome added 13:30 - Oct 12 Various newspapers PLUS TWTD Come on Phil you are one if them now
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Fendogg added 13:32 - Oct 12 Good effort PJ
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roytheboy added 13:40 - Oct 12 And worth every penny.
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Garv added 13:43 - Oct 12 TWTD never reported anything near £3m, it was always £1.5m. But for just £1m? Steal. He better score on Saturday though!
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saffronblue added 13:45 - Oct 12 The last deal that offered this much value was Rhodes going the other way
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:35 - Oct 12 We usually moan about being on the receiving end of bad deals. But with this one, we definitely came out on top. Chopra for £1m or the likes of Mackail-Smith for £3-5m or whatever? No contest! We got arguably the best Championship striker, if not exactly for peanuts, then at a bargain basement price. Well done PJ!
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dirtydingusmagee added 15:10 - Oct 12 cheap as chips coyb
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TractorRoyNo1 added 15:55 - Oct 12 good business, shame we didn't buy him 1/2/3/4 years ago
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youidiots added 17:05 - Oct 12 New headline. Cheap as Chops. Damn I'm genius
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gypo added 17:18 - Oct 12 If it was £3m it would still have been a good price for a quality player
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jas0999 added 17:22 - Oct 12 A good piece of business - but clearly one of those where Cardiff wanted a change/good money before his deal expired - whilst Chopra needed a change of scenery. This is why the price went down - plus he missed a lot of last season. Nevertheless, this is a good deal for all parties.
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bluelady added 17:27 - Oct 12 Cardiff lost the plot at the beginning of the season and have suffered for it. it appears although some cardiff fans were happy to see him leave a majority feel the board made a massive mistake. Ok he can score goals but more than that he is a very clever player who covers a great deal of the pitch, is clearly a team player and worries defences enough to open them up allowing others to score - he may not have scored a hatfull yet but he has a good number of assists to his name.

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das_bones added 19:16 - Oct 12 Looks like we have the arther daly of foote mangement!
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NastyPasty added 19:34 - Oct 12 Absolute bargain and he's only gonna get better. Cressy yet another bargain.... Pls Mr Jewell sign Andrews n Collins and premiership here we come :-)
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harlingblue added 20:05 - Oct 12 What a bargain, a skillful handful that works very hard for the team, and scores as well...great signing Mr Jewell.
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