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Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock says he does not understand Chelsea's decision to send Tammy Abraham back to the Championship with Aston Villa.

The striker lit up the division with Bristol City two years ago before making the step up to the Premier League with Swansea City last season.

Whilst the former Robin faltered in South Wales and the Swans were relegated, Abraham attracted Premier League interest this summer again, with Warnock keen to take him to the Bluebirds.

Yet no move materialised, and, on transfer deadline day, Abraham went on loan to Aston Villa, returning to the division where he first made his name with the Robins.

Warnock has now told Standard Sport that he found the Blues' conduct disrespectful during the saga.

He said: "I wanted Tammy Abraham from day one. I spoke to Eddie Newton (Chelsea’s loan player technical coach) about it, but he ended up at Aston Villa.

"I was really disappointed they didn’t even come back to me. I thought I at least deserved a phone call saying ‘sorry Neil, he’s not joining’.

"It might have been because our deadline was three weeks before the Championship’s.

"Perhaps they weren’t sure at the time and then he ends up leaving at the end of the month, when only a move to a Championship club is possible. But even then, a phone call would have been better and shown a bit of class.

"Tammy would have been my main man in the Premier League – surely that would have been better for him? I don’t understand it. Surely they would want him playing in the Premier League?

"I don’t think it was a question over the size of the loan fee - we would have paid it. I just the felt the way we played, he would have enjoyed it and had an impact.

"I missed out on a few players waiting for him too, which disappointed me. But that’s life."