HOPES of Ipswich Town rekindling their interest in Michael Chopra could hinge on high-level talks in the Far East.

The Blues were linked with a cut-price �1million move for the Cardiff City striker yesterday for the second successive summer – on the day Paul Jewell met with an unnamed transfer target.

But a source close to the Welsh club has said that Chopra’s future remains on hold until a decision is made on under-pressure Cardiff manager Dave Jones.

The Bluebirds boss has been the subject of frenzied discussions between City chairman Dato Chan Tien Ghee and Malaysian investor Vincent Tan and it is thought that the manager’s fate will be known this weekend.

There is increasing speculation that Jones’s failure to win promotion during his six years at Cardiff, capped by last week’s dismal play-off semi-final defeat by Reading, could spell the end of his tenure.

Chopra is expected to wait and see what develops but he could well seek a fresh challenge should Jones be given a stay of execution by his foreign owners.

The 27-year-old was a top target for Town under Roy Keane last season but has since endured a stop-start 2010/11, struggling with injuries although still scoring 11 goals in 27 starts.

It has been claimed Jewell will turn his attention to Chopra in his crucial search for a striker after refusing to get into a bidding war with Doncaster over Billy Sharp.