Boss Roy Keane says the proposed swap involving Cardiff City’s Ross McCormack and Jon Stead looks unlikely to go through. The Town manager felt the deal was always going to be complicated and there are other sides interested in Stead, who has already turned down moves to Bristol City and Blackpool this summer.
Keane said: "We’ll see what happens over the next few days because there are one or two clubs in for Steady. That one was always going to be the most complicated one because when you’re doing a swap deal you’ve got wages and agents to consider.
"With a few clubs in for Steady, he has every entitlement to speak to other clubs and I’d advise him to do that anyway. He’s got to pick the right club and that could upset the deal anyway. That’s going to be the hardest one to get sorted.”
Keane has been impressed with Stead’s attitude and performances this season, despite the uncertainty regarding his future: "Steady’s not once come to see me and said ‘it doesn’t look like I’m in your plans’ or any nonsense like that.
"He’s done it properly where we’ve had an offer accepted and I’ve spoken to Steady. He’s done it the proper way.”
Bristol City could be set to renew their interest in the former Huddersfield, Blackburn, Sunderland and Sheffield United man according to rumours amongst Robins supporters.
Meanwhile, Cardiff boss Dave Jones has confirmed that he is weighing up whether to sell McCormack: "I try and keep my best players, but if it means I've got to move one or two out to try and get some in then I'll have to do that. If that means it's one of the players the fans like, then that's my job."