Striker Michael Chopra has ruled out a move away from the Blues on loan during the season ahead and says he wouldn’t be willing to take a pay cut to join another club on a permanent basis. Chopra and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas were told they could find new clubs at the end of 2012/13 with the former Arsenal man believed to be ready to take a drop in wages in order to sign for Bristol City in a swap deal which would see Robins winger Paul Anderson move the other way.

Answering fans’ questions on Twitter, Chopra said he wants to play regularly but doesn’t want to go out on loan at this stage of his career: “I do want to play every week but not as a loan player. [I] won't be going on loan, I'm 29 not 17 anymore.”

The former Cardiff man, who like Emmanuel-Thomas has a year left on his Town contract, has stated on previous occasions that it’s down to him whether he leaves the Blues and says the same would be the case regarding a loan: “[I] won't go on loan, it's down to the player not the football club.”

While Emmanuel-Thomas is believed to be ready to take a drop in pay to move to Bristol City, Chopra, who was linked with Spartak Moscow and Bursaspor last week, says he won’t be following suit: “Why would I take a pay cut just coz I'm a footballer? People expect me to, would anyone else who's not a footballer take one?”

Emmanuel-Thomas, who we understand was initially a Robins loan target in January, is expected at Ashton Gate today for talks with the swap deal expected to go through in the next couple of days.

Speaking last week, manager Mick McCarthy confirmed that both players would still be in with a chance of getting into his team if they remained at Portman Road: “I don’t do any of that bombing them into the stiffs. What’s the point? If they’re here, they’ve got to be earning their keep.”

Elsewhere, former loanee Reece Brown is with the Watford squad on their pre-season training camp in Italy. The Blues were understood to have shown interest in the 21-year-old, who was released by Manchester United at the end of the season, returning to Portman Road on a full-time basis earlier in the summer.

Photo: Action Images

IvorFeeling added 21:52 - Jul 1 not a suprise since Chopra's ex has alledged he is close to bankrupcy. Whovever is advising Chopra needs to look at himself and here is a classic case of a player needing an agent to step up and help the player see the bigger picture. By making such a stance he is limiting his suitors next time, by not playing regular football he is limiting his market and hence future wages, we/if he does get a chance he is likely to be under pressure to perform due to his relationship (lack of it) with the fans and also with the manager. I say manager as he has never used, to my knowledge 'i love what the gaffer is doing here and i am prepared to fight so hard for a 1st team shirt'. As i said before he will wake up too late and live the rest of his life with so many regrets.

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Taricco_Fan added 21:56 - Jul 1 Michael Chopra - the embodiment of all that's bad with the modern footballer. Greedy, arrogant, narcissistic....and well, just a bit thick. It's a short career, Michael. You'll do well to remember that.
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suffolkpunchdrunk added 22:41 - Jul 1 Shock horror as Chopra continues vacuous rambling on twister. How about we stop feeding his martyr victim complex.
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:58 - Jul 2 i believe you reap what you sow,Chopra has given the Club nothing,taken from the Club with both hands.Been a constant pain with all his baggage.He will get his come uppance in life.he is an arragant waster with a big ego.I hope the Club treat him with the contempt he deserves, and if lumbered with him make life as miserable as they can for him .
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DrJeckyll added 10:43 - Jul 4 A quality, talented goal poacher. He could easily be top scorer in the championship this season. In my opinion the problem is his relationship with the fans. Our Trolls have got in to his head. Would you be highly motivated to perform for people who were constantly slagging you off? He is a human being just like you and I. Football is simply his job. I think there is a lot of envy involved as well. People are envious that he earns very good money, but wealth has it's downfalls as well. I saw him in town the other day and he didn't look happy or relaxed, almost afraid of what I would say or do. How would you like to live like that? He's not a paedophile or a murderer. He's a man just like the rest of us, he's got his problems just like the rest of us, except his are made worse by his job. If i have a bad day at work, I don't have to be looking over my shoulder when I go to town in case some idiot decides to start abusing me

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