City play waiting game

[Beefy]

Cardiff boss Dave Jones is prepared to be patient in the bid to bring West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jason Koumas to Ninian Park permanently.
"This time of the year is what you would have to call the silly month really," Jones told the club website.

"Everyone is basically trying to get players in while we're all chasing the same pot of gold.

"As far as Jason is concerned all I can say is that it's ongoing... we're trying to bring in players."

Cardiff are thought to have offered £1.5m for the Wales midfielder, with the Baggies wanting that up front plus another £500,000 to follow.

Koumas, 26, is keen to join the Bluebirds after a highly successful season-long loan last year, and personal terms are likely to be easily sorted out.

He scored 13 goals last season and proved the creative lynchpin of the team, winning the adulation of Cardiff fans and making the Championship team of the season.

Koumas, who has two years left on his Baggies contract, accepts that he has no future at West Brom after a falling out with manager Bryan Robson.

Cardiff have money available to finance the deal after the £3m (initial fee) sale of Cameron Jerome to Birmingham.

But money remains tight at Ninian Park, with the wage bill still higher than Jones would like.

Further summer exits from the club seem likely, while Mark Kennedy (Wolves) and Scott Carson (Liverpool) are thought to be the Bluebirds' main transfer targets after Koumas.