Cardiff fail in bid for Villa star

Cardiff City Dave Jones looks to have lost out in his bid to sign 22 year old Aston Villa centre-back Liam Ridgewell on loan.

Cardiff have been suffering a lack of options at centre-half recently with a 6 week lay-off for skipper Darren Purse as well as a suspension to Glenn Loovens. Jones then drew up a shortlist of suitable loan candidates including Cardiff City old-boy James Collins.

The crisis has abated now with Darren Purse returned to the squad and Loovens available once more but Jones had apparently maintained his interest in Ridgewell.

Ridgewell has fallen out of favour with Villa boss but is likely to regain a place on the bench after Villa suffered injury problems of their own. It was hoped that Cardiff’s close links with Villa, involving the recent transfer of Peter Whittingham, could have seen a deal struck but the plan now looks to have been abandoned and Cardiff will continue with their current squad.

It is thought that Jones may return with an offer of a permanent deal in the summer.