Matthews has played for the Bluebirds 17 times this season

Cardiff City's teenage defender Adam Matthews says he would have to consider a move to a big Premier League club should one come in for him.

Bluebirds chairman Peter Ridsdale has confirmed that Manchester United and Arsenal have been looking at the highly rated 17-year-old.

Wales squad member Matthews told BBC Sport Wales: "If that ever came about I'd have to think about it.

"But I'm just happy to be playing for Cardiff at the moment."

A move to a major Premier League club would mean Matthews following in the footsteps of another recent Bluebirds academy player, Aaron Ramsey.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has recently praised Ramsey for exceeding expectations following his move to the Gunners in June 2008 that left other suitors, including Manchester United, frustrated.

Matthews has since attracted the attention of the Premier League rivals and that has come as no surprise to Cardiff boss Dave Jones.

"I don't think he's come from nowhere," said Jones. "He's been on our radar and on other football clubs' radar for a long, long time, since the age of 14.

"He's just another one of the academy players that we think highly of and we try and do the right thing for them.

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"We know he's got a bright future. There are certain parts of his game he needs to improve on - as all youngsters do."

For the time being Matthews is happy to continue progressing with the Bluebirds and says the speculation linking him with a move is not a distraction.

He also believes he can reach the top flight with the Bluebirds, who are lying fourth in the Championship.

"I don't think the speculation is distracting," he said. "I'm quite a level-headed boy and obviously I'm very happy to get noticed.

"But I'm happy to be with Cardiff and play the rest of the season and I've heard nothing. It's just rumours.

"My ambitions are just to play as much as I can and play well and hopefully the team can get promotion to the Premier League.

"I think we've got as good a chance as any. We've got a good squad here and if we keep the key players fit, I think we can make a good push for it and I think we can do it.

"Every player wants to play against the best players in the country so if that ever happens, I think that's a good motivation for us to get promotion."

Matthews made his senior Cardiff debut in the 1-1 draw at Blackpool in August and has gone on to make 17 league appearances, including 14 starts.

The Swansea-born youngster was given his chance following injuries in the Bluebirds defence and has earned praise for his displays.

Matthews was called into the Wales senior squad for the 3-0 friendly win over Scotland, but did not feature.

But he did win his first Under-21 cap four days later in the 1-0 defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina.

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