Cardiff City have rejected an £8million bid from recently promoted Aston Villa for goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, Wales Online have reported.

Despite Cardiff's relegation from the Premier League last season, Etheridge impressed during the Bluebirds campaign, making himself one of the club's key players.

With Villa having used four 'keepers during their promotion campaign, it appears the Midlands side are keen to find a more established first choice stopper, and Etheridge's performances appear to suggest he would fit that bill.

It has been claimed however that Cardiff will only sell The Philippines if a 'generous offer' is received, and have rebuffed Villa's £8million offer as a result.

The report also claims that Cardiff have turned down a £10million offer for the 'keeper from Fulham, who have been promoted and then relegated alongside the Bluebirds in each of the last two seasons, and it is thought that Etheridge will only leave the Cardiff City Stadium for a return to the Premier League.

Etheridge, 29, has made 85 appearances in all competitions since joining from Walsall in the summer of 2017, and has two years remaining on his contract with Cardiff.

The Verdict

This is a promising start to the summer window for Cardiff.

They will need to keep their key players if they are to challenge for promotion next season, and Etheridge has quickly made himself one of those during his time in Wales.

This is a clear marker that the Bluebirds will not be taken advantage of simply because of their relegation, and that is something that they must now stick to for the rest of the summer transfer window.