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Aston Villa are chasing Cardiff City goalkeeper Neil Etheridge and have already had a bid knocked back.

WalesOnline understands Villa saw a bid of around £8m rejected by the Bluebirds , who aren't interested in selling one of their star performers unless a "generous offer" is made for his services.

Fulham have also taken an interest, and are understood to have made a bid closer to £10m last week.

However, Etheridge is believed to have indicated he has no interest in a move to the club that released him back in 2014. If he is to leave he wants to play in the Premier League, with Cardiff looking for a fee of over £10m.

Etheridge has attracted a fair bit of interest on the back of an impressive season in the Premier League and was previously linked with a move to West Ham United.

The signings of Espanyol stopper Roberto and Millwall's David Martin have surely ended any chance of a move to East London, but a move to Villa, who are reportedly in the market for a new number one, could prove tempting.

Boss Dean Smith and goalkeeping coach Neil Cutler are both known to have a strong personal relationship with the Philippines international, having worked with him at Wallsall during the formative years of his career.

Etheridge, who kept nine clean sheets for Cardiff in the Premier League last season, has previously credited Cutler as being a key influence in his career.

Thinking back to his time with the Saddlers, Etheridge said: "When I arrived, I don't think many people understood me on or off the field.

(Image: 2018 Getty Images)

"I'm quite a complex character and sometimes it takes people time to warm to me.

"But Cuts understood I am laid back and enjoy a joke, but I take my work extremely seriously.

"He has taken me to another level."

The chance for a reunion with the pair, along with a potential return to the Premier League, is likely to appeal to Etheridge, but Cardiff owner Vincent Tan is believed to prefer keeping the 29-year old.

In contrast, boss Neil Warnock has already indicated that he would be willing to sell Etheridge should the right offer come in.

Speaking before the end of the season, the Yorkshireman said : " I was there yesterday and someone mentioned, I don't know if they were joking, ‘oh someone’s making a 20m offer for Neil Etheridge gaffer. What would you do?’

"I said ‘I’d put him in my car and drive him there! And I wouldn't let him out until he'd signed!'

"You have to take it all with a pinch of salt really. There's bound to be clubs circling to look at what you've got. But would any of our players get into their sides?

"You just don't know what other teams are thinking about."