Cardiff City target Ricky-Jade Jones was hauled off at half-time during Peterborough's FA Cup defeat by Everton, leaving Posh fans seemingly convinced the forward is leaving this month.

The Bluebirds had a bid knocked back by Peterborough this week. Cardiff are in the market for pace in the forward areas this month and Jones, 22, is a player they have identified.

It is said that Jones is among the fastest players in the world, having been clocked at 22.3mph. He also has 11 goals in all competitions this season.

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There are believed to be some stumbling blocks in the deal, however. Cardiff boss Omer Riza himself admitted on Tuesday: "Obstacles are in the way which we've spoken about previously, which is whether players want to come to our club or whether we can afford to play for our club."

After this week's revelations, Cardiff fans kept a keen eye on the Peterborough team sheet at Goodison Park on Thursday night to see if Jones, whose contract expires at the end of the season, was named in the Posh squad.

He was named in the starting line-up but Ferguson opted to take him off at the break, leading to supporters concluding that meant Jones would be on his way out the exit door. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.

Posh fan, Eddie, wrote on X: "Jones' pace is probably the best weapon we have against a PL side. Is there more to this?"

Matt PUFC said: "Last game for RJJ at Posh?" While Keeping it Posh wrote: "Think that might be the last we see of RJJ and Hector (Kyprianou). Jones playing like he didn’t want to get injured."

Another Peterborough supporter, DJ added: "RJJ clearly sandbagging to not get injured ahead of a big move, can't blame him."

Isaac said: "RJJ hooked as he's probably being sold. No need to risk it. I assume he wanted to play and that's why he wasn't left out."

Ferguson insisted, however, the half-time substitution of Jones was not planned and that it was simply to afford a debut for new signing Gustav Lindgren, whom many Posh fans believe is a replacement for the Cardiff target.

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Ferguson said: “I looked at it and I felt we needed a bit more freshness up top. I thought it was hard for Ricky."

He added: "I felt we just needed Gustav on the pitch, a bit of freshness as it had been difficult for Ricky.

“Gustav will be a good player for us, once we get to know his movement. He made some good runs tonight, but we didn’t pick him out. When the backline has the ball, he moves so well behind their lines. Funnily enough, it was Oscar Wallin that could have played him in a couple of times, but didn’t. He’s going to be a big signing for us.

"Hector was always going to not play a full game because he felt a little bit of tightness in his hamstring after Wrexham, so I had to be careful. It was a plan”