Striker Michael Chopra has ruled out a move away from the Blues on loan during the season ahead and says he wouldn’t be willing to take a pay cut to join another club on a permanent basis. Chopra and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas were told they could find new clubs at the end of 2012/13 with the former Arsenal man believed to be ready to take a drop in wages in order to sign for Bristol City in a swap deal which would see Robins winger Paul Anderson move the other way.

Answering fans’ questions on Twitter, Chopra said he wants to play regularly but doesn’t want to go out on loan at this stage of his career: “I do want to play every week but not as a loan player. [I] won't be going on loan, I'm 29 not 17 anymore.”

The former Cardiff man, who like Emmanuel-Thomas has a year left on his Town contract, has stated on previous occasions that it’s down to him whether he leaves the Blues and says the same would be the case regarding a loan: “[I] won't go on loan, it's down to the player not the football club.”

While Emmanuel-Thomas is believed to be ready to take a drop in pay to move to Bristol City, Chopra, who was linked with Spartak Moscow and Bursaspor last week, says he won’t be following suit: “Why would I take a pay cut just coz I'm a footballer? People expect me to, would anyone else who's not a footballer take one?”

Emmanuel-Thomas, who we understand was initially a Robins loan target in January, is expected at Ashton Gate today for talks with the swap deal expected to go through in the next couple of days.

Speaking last week, manager Mick McCarthy confirmed that both players would still be in with a chance of getting into his team if they remained at Portman Road: “I don’t do any of that bombing them into the stiffs. What’s the point? If they’re here, they’ve got to be earning their keep.”

Elsewhere, former loanee Reece Brown is with the Watford squad on their pre-season training camp in Italy. The Blues were understood to have shown interest in the 21-year-old, who was released by Manchester United at the end of the season, returning to Portman Road on a full-time basis earlier in the summer.

Photo: Action Images

bluepeter added 13:43 - Jul 1 I am reducing my hours and reducing my yearly wage this week by a thousand pounds to spend more time with my family. Over to you chops!
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bluelodgeblue added 13:45 - Jul 1 This guy uses Twitter to wind everybody up and looking at the above posts it has worked?? Just ignore him and he might go away!
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radiogaga added 13:55 - Jul 1 Don't really understand StuartSlater's post at all, to be honest. The articles that are posted are reported as they are said & never biased towards Town fans' personal views. What reaction should Town fans have towards Chopra anyway, I think patience has been exhausted with many. Bizarre statement, to say the least.
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toxtethblue added 14:18 - Jul 1 Some things that are much more important than money Michael
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jocasaja added 14:47 - Jul 1 I agree with Chopra - he has a contract and it is now up to him to convince his employers that he is worth being in the 1st team squad - however If that is his stance then surely the club should now be taking payments from his wages to clear the 'debt' - assuming that he still owes ITFC for their financial support when he was in crisis - I think he could still be a very effective striker - lets see how determined he really is - an on form Chopra would be good enough for any championship team

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buryblue77 added 15:06 - Jul 1 Come on Marcus, pay up the remainder of his contract for the purpose of team morale and get him away from the club. I can't believe how excited is was when we signed Chopra and how let down I feel now. I don't think there's been ny Town player I've hated but this guy comes close.
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meekreech added 15:27 - Jul 1 Does he have an agent ? If he does the guy has to get a grip of his client to bring him back to this planet ! Does he not realise this sort of behaviour gets heard about and reduces his chances of ever getting another contract anywhere ! They must be the most ignorant ( of public feeling ) pair if they cannot understand the feelings these type of comments arouse . His agent must now do everything in his power to get MC to realise he has to accept that a move anywhere at any price is the only thing left to him if he wishes to continue playing football at any level .

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adamisablue added 15:52 - Jul 1 im not bothered by this. although he is strangling our wage bill for one more year, we still have enough good strikers and players without him. he owes us big time and in 5 years time, with his attitude and self destructive personality, he will go the way of gazza etc and will end up in re-hab with no one else to help him. enjoy it while you can chops, we will instantly drop and forget you.

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backwiththeboysagain added 15:54 - Jul 1 Without doubt the most detested player ever to pull on the ITFC shirt. What's the pr!ck claiming this season, 40 goals a season?
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Count_Arthur added 16:42 - Jul 1 "Why would anyone take a pay cut . . . would anyone else who's not a footballer?" Yes, I've taken a pay cut, and work with people now who haven't had any sort of pay rise for 10 years - just so we can keep our jobs! We don't want to, but Chopra, we have to - wake up man! Surely Chopra, if you're a footballer why would you not want to play football? Maybe becasue it's easier sitting on the bench at Portman Road and collecting your money every month! You're not going to get a game, or a club, here, or anywhere else if no one sees you play!? You have the business sense of a sherbert lemon, you have no respect for the fans, the club that HELPED you with your issues or for yourself. M.E, sack the man and sign someone who wants to play for the Town. Please, 'Chop' off to another club and play there! Any club!

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jas0999 added 17:30 - Jul 1 Don't get me wrong, I disagree with the way that Chopra deals with fans on twitter and really hope he leaves sooner rather than later. BUT hands up who on here would take a pay cut? The reality is PJ signed this player - knowing his personal issues - and the club; whether that be Clegg or ME - gave him a very decent contract. It's not Chopra's fault he is on good money and if I were him, I would also not sign for anyone else for less. This will be his final year of earning really good money. I fear the only way we will get rid, is if we pay his contract up. This could be Bullard all over.

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h32 added 17:46 - Jul 1 ....... another massive mistake by the Club, and Supporters, who hailed him as being the 'messiah' when he signed. Far too much baggage from the start - totally overlooked by many. Humble Pie to whoever it fits - and that will be many. Another waste of natural talent.
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Blue_Fred added 17:54 - Jul 1 Option 1) he goes ....ok good, gets the bad apple out Option 2) he stays ....... Play him ... give him the service some on here think is the reason he didn't score 30 last year....and hopefully he scores a hatful as we get promoted to the promised land............. ...........then shake his hand, but don't offer him another contract
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meekreech added 17:57 - Jul 1 Jas099 I have changed jobs on 3 occasions when I have taken a pay cut ! Each time it was for :- 1 A bigger challenge 2 Better chances of promotion 3 Family reasons and on all three occasions they proved to be worthwhile changes so people do take pay cuts on job changes !
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h32 added 17:58 - Jul 1 StuartSlater - totally unfounded and unfair comment. End of.
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h32 added 18:03 - Jul 1 ...... in mitigation it is only fair to say that when he has played - service, and providing him with the game he needs, has never been forthcoming. He has never been played to his strengths - and most people who understand the game, and his particularly, would agree.
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Dissboyitfc added 18:35 - Jul 1 yes chopra people from other walks of life take pay cuts, i did and it improved my life, think about it, well actually you dont think a whole lot do you? .....coyb
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 18:46 - Jul 1 h32 - what would we do without you on here, i bet your a joy to work with .
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TimmyH added 19:21 - Jul 1 h32 - correct about Chopra, a few on here thought we had a 'steel' getting him for £1m and aquired a top striker but for me he was always past his best.
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h32 added 19:23 - Jul 1 Bobblehat - .... a joy to work for ..... !!!
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 19:28 - Jul 1 h32 - lol, of course, silly old me.
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jas0999 added 19:40 - Jul 1 meekreech - noted and thanks for the response. BUT all I am saying is that ITFC gave Chopra a decent contract, which has one year left to run. He is a footballer and will continue to play football. He won't be changing 'jobs' or have any incentive to move for family reasons etc. Although I concur moving for better opportunities is a good thing, the reality is Chopra is very unlikely to get a 'better opportunity' than ITFC. At 29, he is getting towards the end of his career and at the end of next season, when he is released, he'll probably not get 30% of what he's on now at anywhere else. Therefore, this being his last big contract - if I were him - with money troubles - why move on for less? I'm not in any way defending him. I hope he leaves. But I am just looking at the other side of the argument. In his position - few would move on for a fraction of their current wage. Particularly when their earning power is never likely to be the same EVER again. It was PJ, ME and SC who gave Chopra this contract and a fairly lengthy deal. ITFC have to take some of the blame.

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h32 added 20:11 - Jul 1 jason0999 - ... shows what you're up against - you've got a minus for a totally fair and logical post. Some people absolutely amaze me. Like I've said - maybe it's why we're where we are - and perhaps likely to be.
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 20:48 - Jul 1 It would be interesting to hear Mick McCarthy's point of view on this. Chopra is the total epitome of everything Mick would be against im sure. Chopra - you are an outspoken, ego driven, has-been who has been pulled out of the sh*t - BIG STYLE, by ITFC. On top of that, performances and goal ratio have not lived up to expectation. Talking openly on Twitter about how you shouldn't take a pay-cut from 17k a week, when most of us struggle to make ends meet on £500 per week is very offensive and very disrespectful and should not be talked about on social networking sites. ITFC owe you nothing Chopra - do the right thing and leave.

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RegencyBlue added 20:53 - Jul 1 jaz0999 - I agree with a lot of what you say. Another point to make is that in his time here Chopra has pretty much always been played as a lone striker which is not his game!
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