Birmingham City manager Lee Clark has said that it would be a mistake for Tom Adeyemi to join a Championship club, because he believes that he is good enough for the Premier League.
The Blues are said to have turned down a bid for the midfielder from Cardiff City, which has led to Adeyemi reportedly handing in a transfer request.
Clark has said that the 22-year-old should set his sights higher than a fellow club in the second tier.
"For me, he doesn't need to go to another Championship club. He's a Premier League player," the Birmingham boss told talkSPORT.
"He's a fantastic young man. I've known him since he was 14 or 15, when we worked together at Norwich. He's very intelligent and is developing into a really top player. Tom has kicked on again this summer.
"We've made him vice captain of Birmingham at 22 years of age, that tells you what we think of him. He's a leader."
Adeyemi joined Birmingham last summer after being released by Norwich City.