Everton and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with Welsh winger, Joe Ledley, of Cardiff. Ledley has not signed a new contract for Cardiff and looks to be seeking a move to the Premier League after his current side missed out on a play-off spot.
Everton and Spurs have been reported today as leading the running to sign Ledley if he chooses to leave Cardiff ahead of next season. David Moyes could well get his signature as this is a classic example of his club operating on a shoe string budget and dipping into the Championship to poach the best talent that could easily play at a higher level.
The theory behind a Spurs bid however, is a lot more interesting. Ledley is a player who can operate on either the left or the right flank, in a similar vein to Aaron Lennon. This could be the first signs of a strong hint the Lennon could be on his way out of the club, with Manchester United reportedly ready to make a big bid for him.
An insider at Cardiff has said: “We offered Joe a contract that included a get-out clause which would allow him to leave for a Premier League club but he did not want to know. There is no way we would let him walk away for nothing.”
This is the very problem that Cardiff are faced with. If Ledley sees out the length of his current contract and does not sign anything else which ties him down, then the only bid another club would have to make would be over personal terms as he would become a free agent.
Cardiff quite rightly must try everything they can to make sure that one of their best players does not leave the club for free. Ledley should see sense and make sure that Cardiff are able to net a decent amount of money from his move but it is unlikely that he will want to relinquish any personal virtues that would come his way.
If he does leave then realistically Everton would be his best choice. Spurs will be going for a Champions League spot next season and are much more likely to bring on high profile and better calibre players than Ledley. This would mean if he went to Spurs that he would be sitting on the bench for a large part of his early Premier League career.
Regardless of any amount of personal wealth there is nothing a professional football player hates more than having to sit on the bench and not play. Therefore Everton would offer him a better chance, as they are not at their strongest in the flanking positions.
He would also compliment the Merseyside club’s style of football, which likes to blend experienced players with raw talent and flair. There is no doubt that Ledley will one day get a Premier League move, but let’s hope the personal issues that surround Cardiff are quickly dealt with so both parties can move onto a better future.
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