05-31-2023, 10:25 AM
A year ago, Stoke manager Tony Pulis was extremely keen to sign Cardiffs highly rated left sided midfielder Joe Ledley, with Stoke bidding as much as 6 million for the 22 year old, who is equally comfortable in a more central role, at the time. The Welsh club insisted he wasnt for sale back then, saying that he was a key part of the squad that they hoped would get them promotion to the Premier League. We tried to lure him to the Britannia Stadium again in January. Again, Cardiff wouldnt budge. Five months on however, the Bluebirds have mi sed out on promotion after finishing seventh in the Championship, while Stoke have Kosuke Fukudome Jersey confirmed our status as a top flightside for next season. This has heralded a change in Cardiffs attitude, with Ledley making it clear that he wants to move to a Premier League club this summer, and Cardiff chairman Peter Ridsdale apparently accepting that they are set to lose him, and hinting heavily that he would accept a bid of 6 million now, saying I dont accept that Joe is le s valuable today than a year ago, with the tone of his interview suggesting that they see that as an adequate price for the Welsh international.Tony Pulis is a big fan of his fellow Welshman Ledley Back in August, when we were originally linked with Ledley, I would have been delighted if we signed him. My thoughts at the time were that he would add a little craft and quality to our squad that would make survival a Jose Quintana Jersey lot more likely. Now I feel differently. We have comfortably stayed up without Ledley, and have signed Matthew Etherington, who after impre sing in the left-wing role will be hard to dislodge. With a host of central midfielders at the club, including the Nico Hoerner Jersey likes of Glenn Whelan, Rory Delap and Amdy Faye, it seems unlikely hed walk straight into the team in that position either. Is this really worth 6 million that could be spent on the full-back positions it is generally agreed we need to strengthen, or on boosting our goalscoring options? You can never be too sure when signing a promising young player from a lower league. He hasnt had the best of seasons, hence the suggestion that his value could have fallen, and we cannot be sure how he would take to the top flight. Hes a player who likes to have time with the ball at his feet. Perhaps hed struggle to adjust to the faster pace of Premier League football. The last thing we need, following our signing of Dave Kitson from Reading last summer, is another club record signing who turns into a very expensive flop. He may also struggle to fit into our physical style, though I think an Tyler Chatwood Jersey extra touch of cla s and guile in our midfield could only be a good thing.Despite impre sing for Wales, theres no guarentee Ledley would be a hit for Stoke Then again, he is without doubt a very promising player. Hes already racked up 27 full Wales caps and has shown he isnt afraid of a big occasion, scoring the winner in Cardiffs FA Cup semi final Kerry Wood Jersey succe s over Barnsley last year. Its not surprising that hes been linked with a Premier League move, and thinks hes good enough for one, with clubs like Tottenham, Wolves and Stokes opponents tomorrow Wigan also reportedly interested. Its atricky call for Stoke, made even more difficult by the a sertion that we could now have a bid accepted for him if we wanted to. Maybe hed fit right into our side, helping us push on next season. Maybe hed be the latest on the long list of promising youngsters who never quite make it. With a lot of other talented players in his position and others available for the same price or le s, Im really not sure about this one. I think Ill let Tony decide.