Jason Koumas is seen as central to Cardiff's ambitions

The Baggies want �2m for the Wales midfielder, 26, and have angrily refused all the Bluebirds' attempts to arrange payments in instalments.

Meanwhile, Koumas has been fined for refusing to attend pre-season training and his rift with West Brom manager Bryan Robson has deepened further.

"I'm hoping it'll done in a few days and I can get playing," said Koumas.

"Cardiff is definitely my aim, I want to play for them under [manager] Dave Jones.

"It's frustrating not to be involved at the start of the season, but I'll be happy as long as my future gets sorted.

"I have been keeping fit over the summer, but I need to get back into training and playing."

It's obvious that I don't get on with the manager and don't want to play for him, so it's time to move on Jason Koumas

Koumas enjoyed a successful season-long loan at the Bluebirds last year and is the club's number one transfer target.

He scored 13 goals last season and proved the creative lynchpin of the team, winning the adulation of Cardiff fans and making the Championship team of the season.

The former Tranmere star has two years left on his Baggies contract, but a bitter falling out with club manager Bryan Robson means he has no future at the Midlands side.

Robson claimed in the media that Koumas had refused to speak to anyone at the club and said he was prepared to let the player linger on the sidelines.

"Bryan's comments were disappointing, I've not had one call off him since I've been at Cardiff," Koumas told BBC Radio Wales' Back Page programme.

"I knew what I was doing when I didn't turn up for training and I knew I'd get fined, but anyone who knows me knows that I'm not a troublemaker.

There is no way we can meet West Brom's terms at the moment and stay within our business plan Cardiff owner Sam Hammam

"The West Brom chairman [Jeremy Pearce] called me and has been brilliant, I've got a lot of respect for him.

"He asked me if the only reason I didn't want to be at West Brom was because of the manager and I said 'yes'.

"It's obvious that I don't get on with the manager and don't want to play for him, so it's time to move on."

One boost for Koumas has been his inclusion in Wales' squad for the 15 August friendly with Bulgaria in Swansea.

"I spoke to [Wales manager] John Toshack before he named the squad and told him what was going on," said Koumas.

"I'm looking forward to meeting up with the national team."

Although Cardiff remain desperate to land Koumas, money remains tight at Ninian Park and they have warned that they will not meet all West Brom's demands.

"There is no way we can meet their terms at the moment and stay within our business plan," Bluebirds owner Sam Hammam told BBC Sport Wales.

"But as long as there remains a chance in hell of doing it we will try."