What next for Josh Murphy, Cardiff City's £11m signing once tipped for Chelsea and Celtic who lost his way

"I had to fly 14 hours to get that over the line. I had to go out to speak to Vincent [Tan].

"I wanted Josh. He has always been my number one."

After guiding Cardiff City to promotion to the Premier League, Neil Warnock was in no doubt that the Norwich City man was his ideal first signing.

Four years on, he remains a source of debate in south Wales.

Murphy won't play for Preston North End against his parent club this weekend due to the terms of his loan, but his future nevertheless remains a talking point given he'sone of 10 stars who's out of contract this summer.

At time of writing, it seems an exit is looking increasingly likely.

Indeed, even if there was any enthusiasm to keep him on board, one suspects Tan would need a far more convincing pitch this time around.

Nevertheless, Warnock clearly saw something there. In fairness, we all did at some point.

Three assists and two goals perhaps wasn't the best of returns in the top flight, but when Cardiff were back in the Championship, Murphy was perhaps one of the key men many fans, and indeed Warnock himself, will have looked to.

Links with Chelsea were even fleetingly floated at one point, although a move to Stamford Bridge never really felt realistic, and was blown out of the water completely when the Blues were handed a transfer ban.

Even so, it was perhaps an indication of just how highly regarded he was at that time.

Murphy was raw, yes, and certainly wasn't the finished product. Often flattering to deceive.

And yet, there was still a feeling that he still had the ability to excite, affording him a sense of magnetism that, in hindsight, might have been a little misguided.

But it's no less of a shame that his career has got to this point.

Then again, the warning signs