Ledley offers hope over contract

Last updated : 21 January 2010 By BBC Sport

Cardiff City midfielder Joe Ledley has hinted that he could be ready to sign a new contract with his hometown club.The 22-year-old Wales international's contract is up at the end of the season with a host of Premier League clubs reportedly interested in signing him.

Ledley and the Bluebirds have been in a contract stalemate for months.

"I've spoken to the chairman and will ring my agent and hopefully we'll sort something out and agree something we're both happy with," he told BBC Wales.

"I love playing for Cardiff and I'm a Cardiff fan.

"If it happens then brilliant, but if not, I've got to move on in my career and try to find the best club that would want me."

I love playing football and love playing for Cardiff City

Joe Ledley

Ledley and Cardiff have failed to agree terms on a new four-year deal - with the player feeling he deserves a wage closer to the club's top-earners.

Ledley, who has been with Cardiff since the age of nine, was once rated at £6m when Stoke had a bid rejected for him in September 2008.

But now his value has plummeted as his contract has run down and his form has suffered due to a troublesome hip injury which requires surgery.

Players can leave clubs on a free transfer once their contract expires but Cardiff will receive compensation, albeit a minimal sum, under FA rules for Ledley as the Welsh club developed the player.

And 32-times capped Ledley, who has been the subject of consistent transfer speculation for the last few years, can now sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club with Scottish old firm giants Celtic and Rangers interested.

Should he fail to agree a new contract, he could play his last game for the club in next Tuesday's league game at Bristol City.

That is because he will have an operation on his troublesome hips three days later which is expected to end his season.

Do you think Joe Ledley will stay at Cardiff City?

"It needs to be done and I will come back a better player," said Ledley.

"Officially that's [Bristol City] my last game, but hopefully if we get to the play-offs, maybe I can get fit and play a couple of games if I can get back into the squad.

"Hopefully I can get back April-beginning of May and if I can do that it's a great achievement.

"I don't want it [Bristol City] to be my last game for the season. I love playing football and love playing for Cardiff City."

Source: BBC Sport

Source: BBC Sport