Sir Alex Ferguson has joined the growing list of Aaron Ramsey’s admirers and has contacted Cardiff City to register an interest in the 17-year-old midfielder, according to the Championship club’s chairman, Peter Ridsdale.

Cardiff are eager to cash in on the Wales Under-21 international, who has helped the club to the FA Cup semi-finals and is reputedly attracting interest from, among others, Everton and Newcastle United as well as Ferguson’s Manchester United.

“Sir Alex Ferguson did make a telephone call to [Cardiff’s manager] Dave Jones but that is the only contact of any sort,” said the Cardiff chairman. “It was no more than a call to ask what the youngster is like. We know of course there is strong interest in Aaron among a number of Premier League clubs but nobody has made any sort of offer and we certainly have not agreed anything.”