Rumours Round Up

By Aston
May 28 2005

With about half the Ipswich Town Squad being linked with moves to away from Town this summer STB is simplifying it all in one article for you.

Players Outwards:

 

Tommy Miller: has been offered a two year contract extension has been linked with Leeds and Sunderland but wants to talk to Sunderland before deciding where his future lies. If we had offered him a contract back in February we may not face losing our third highest scorer (15 goals), but again the board screw up.

 

Shefki Kuqi: striker 20 goals last season, so far has been linked with Sunderland and Blackburn, again could be a free transfer because we didn’t offer him a contract until last week. We will miss his work rate and goals if does decide to leave he will be hard to replace.

 

Darren Bent: wants out and if he wants out I don’t want him here, so far been linked loosely with Sunderland but there has been interest from Charlton £3.2 million or £2.2 + Jeffers. Man City and Everton are reportedly keen to sign the England under 21 star.

 

Kelvin Davis: again Sunderland! David Sheepshanks and Sunderland chairman Billy Murray are reportedly in talks to take Davis to the Stadium of light, a fee of £700,000 is being reported half of which would go to MK Dons leaving Town with £350,000 to go shopping with.

 

Drissa Diallo: you are nothing short of rubbish to be honest and I’m glad your gone, good riddance.

 

Pablo Couñago: in limbo at the moment, been on a free transfer for ages but might actually get a new deal as he has said he will take a pay cut, Royle is going to be speaking to him next week.

 

Players linked inwards:

 

To replace Bent/Kuqi:

 

Derek Riordan from Hibs - 23 goals in league and cup and helped Tony Mowbray’s Hibs finish 3^rd in the SPL and reach the semi-finals of the Scottish FA Cup, but so far all parties are denying any firm interest in the 22-year-old.

 

Leroy Lita - got 29 goals in competitions for Bristol City last season but Bristol are very keen to hold on to the 20 year-old and have already rejected a reported £1million bid from Reading.

 

Heidar Helguson – Icelandic striker currently playing for Watford, got 20 goals for the hornets last season currently has a year left on his Vicarage Road contract but has today been offered and extension on better terms, was also linked with moves to: Charlton, Stoke, West Ham, Leeds and Sheffield United.

 

Iain Hume – 16 goals for Tranmere last season has also been linked with a move to Coventry City but Tranmere are also keen to hold on to the Canadian.  

 

Francis Jeffers- could come to Town as part of a deal that see Bent join Charlton, hardly set the premiership alight but could prove to a good championship level striker.

 

To replace Miller:

 

Steve Sidwell – Reading midfielder got 5 goals this past season for the Royals, a long way short of Millers 15.

 

Jaime Peters – Canadian international at just 18 years of age, to play for any nation at that age he must be half decent.

 

To replace Diallo:

 

Chris Coyne - Luton Town, scored five goals last season helping Luton win league one and have the best defensive record in the league at the same time.

 

To replace Davis:

 

No body as yet but Lewis Price is a more than capable keeper so maybe we don’t need any one to come in.    

 

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