Peter Whittingham has scored 42 goals in 158 Cardiff appearances

Cardiff City have rejected a bid in the region of £1m from Nottingham Forest for midfielder Peter Whittingham, BBC Sport Wales understands.

Forest have been heavily linked with a move for last season's Championship top scorer, who hit 25 goals.

Whittingham, 25, has already been the subject of a failed bid by Burnley.

Cardiff chief executive Gethin Jenkins has started talks with Whittingham over a three-year deal as he will be out of contract at the end of the season.

Losing such a key player would be a massive blow to the cash-strapped Bluebirds who are currently unable to bring in a replacement due to a transfer embargo that is in place.

Former England under-21 international Whittingham, who signed for a cut-price £250,000 from Premier League side Aston Villa in January 2007, is attracting attention due to his goal-scoring record last season.

He also hit the woodwork nine times and chipped in with 10 assists to help make Cardiff the fourth top scorers in the Championship.

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