Championship side Cardiff City have entered transfer negotiations for England under-21 international Jonathan Panzo, according to the Sky Sports Transfer Centre (January 7, 3:22pm).

Panzo, who has five caps for the under-21 national side and has been capped at four other youth levels, currently plies his trade at French side Dijon, who play in the second tier of the country's footballing pyramid.

The young centre-back, who is also comfortable as a left-back, left Stamford Bridge in 2018 to join AS Monaco and played for both their senior team and secondary outfit before joining Dijon in 2020.

Panzo played 22 times in Ligue 1 last season as his side were relegated but he missed the first few months of the current season with a knee injury, and has featured just three times - all in the Coupe de France cup competition.

It is not just the Bluebirds who are interested in the 21-year-old though, with league rivals Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers said to be interested in bringing Panzo back to England after three-and-a-half years away.

The Verdict

Panzo is one of many who have passed through Chelsea's famed academy but instead of sticking with the Blues and heading out on loan deals, he decided to step out of his comfort zone as a teenager and head to France.

He's picked up some experience in the top flight last season with Dijon which will have stood him in good stead for a potential return to the United Kingdom - which is what seems to be happening.

Panzo's contract at Dijon does not expire until next summer so there will likely be a decent-sized fee required to sign him, and all three clubs linked are in need of a centre-back this month so it could be a hotly-contested battle.