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Neil Warnock disappointed with Chelsea's decision to let Tammy Abraham join Aston Villa

Cardiff City boss Neil Warnock has criticised the decision by Chelsea to allow Tammy Abraham to join Aston Villa on-loan, claiming that he'd chased the striker himself through the transfer window.

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Neil Warnock was disappointed to see Abraham (right) head to Villa after his interest was dismissed.

Abraham joined Villa on the loan deadline day at the end of August, with Steve Bruce himself claiming that he'd been keen on a move for the Chelsea starlet all summer long.

Warnock was disappointed to see his interest in the 20-year-old dismissed by Chelsea, with the club instead sanctioning a move to Villa Park later in the window.

"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." Warnock told the London Evening Standard.

"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."

Abraham was reportedly keen on a Premier League move before the top flight deadline passed, but following that closure Villa became the favourites to sign the England U21 international.

Warnock claims that he would have offered the striker the chance to be his 'main man' at the Cardiff City stadium, and also believes the move would have been more beneficial for the player and Chelsea.

"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?" he said.

“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.”

Meanwhile, the 69-year-old has also ruled out a move for John Terry following his decision not to join Spartak Moscow, as has former teammate and Derby boss Frank Lampard.

"I don’t think for us it would be the situation as we’ve got to have a lot more energy really." Warnock told TalkSPORT.

“He has got that class though hasn’t he? he did well at Villa last year.

“But I think if he is going to play again it would be something like a Villa, if I’m honest. But he’s still got a lot to offer.

“There are not many left for managers of those leaders on the pitch. I’m lucky I’ve got three or four in the squad I’ve got. Managers dream of having a leader or two don’t they?”

Following Terry's Villa exit after the play-off final failure, bookmakers tipped Terry to link up with former teammate Lampard at Derby, but the rookie manager has also dismissed rumours of a move for the veteran centre-back.

"John is a fantastic leader, a fantastic player and he’s got a lot to offer, but we have options in defence, so there’s no more movement from us,” he said.

“John will be great wherever he goes, wherever he chooses or whoever chooses him.

“It wasn’t possible for us at the moment; I make decisions with the owner in terms of what we can and can’t do.

“We had areas of priority in the summer, and a lot of that was trying to bring the age of the squad down. I had to prioritise – it’s as simple as that.

“John’s the best captain I’ve ever played under and what he would bring to any club, on the pitch and in the dressing room, is second to none.

“Whatever he does, as a player or a coach, he’ll do it brilliantly because of his personality.”