Striker Connor Wickham will turn down the chance of a big money move in January to remain with the Blues until the end of the season, according to one of this morning’s tabloids. The England U21 international has continually been linked with the likes of Tottenham, Arsenal and Liverpool in recent weeks.

“Sources close to” Wickham are said to believe that he wants to stay at Portman Road until the summer.

Meanwhile, one of this morning's other tabloids has claimed Wickham is on Newcastle’s January wish-list.

At the recent AGM, chief executive Simon Clegg outlined the club’s position regarding the 17-year-old frontman: “There are no offers on the table for Connor, there is a lot of speculation, a lot of hot air out there. Roy and myself are clear that we’d like to retain him, as indeed is the owner.

“But you may get to the point in the future where the offer for the player is considerably in excess of the value that we place on him as a club and financially it would be wrong not to take that.

“If you find yourself in that situation, you would expect that money to be reinvested to replace that particular player as that would be a huge loss for the team and that hole would need to be filled.”

Elsewhere, Sheffield United are reported to be ready to offer former Town keeper Richard Wright a contract until the end of the season. Wright signed a four-month deal with the Blades in September.

Wright has made only one appearance for his new club, in the 1-0 derby defeat to Barnsley earlier this month, and that was curtailed by a thigh injury.

Ex-Blues boss George Burley is set for the sack at Crystal Palace, according to another of this morning’s papers. Burley’s Eagles are third from bottom of the Championship.

Photo: Action Images

SurreyITFC added 08:27 - Dec 23 Great News if True. Look forward to seeing Connor hit the back of the net a few times over the Christmas period. COYB
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Karlosfandangal added 08:33 - Dec 23 Was so hoping he would light up the Championship this year, but has not happened, would love to see us give him a better contract and for him to be a town player in the Prem Cant see it happening but then it is Christmas so we can all dream!!! right
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muhrensleftfoot added 08:43 - Dec 23 If he's staying, then we need him to sign as long a contract as possible, so we get a decent fee for him when he does eventually leave.
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jas0999 added 08:56 - Dec 23 Tough one. On the one hand it is good news, but reading the article it implies he wants to leave in the Summer - so if that's the case there is an argument to suggest we would be better to profit now, so we can sign some new players in this window. However, Wickham is an exciting talent and as such it would be good to see him play for us for another 4 months. That said, he hasn't scored a goal all season (not helped by injuries and no doubt a lot of pressure for a 17 year old boy)! I think we all have to be realistic. Wickham will eventually be sold. When the right time to sell him is, well that's the debate!

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MaySixth added 09:05 - Dec 23 It's funny reading all the speculation about Wickham as all Town fans know he hasn't been that fantastic this season. Still, we should try and keep him for as long as we can but reading the press it would seem we have a young white Pele on our hands.
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truckertractorboy added 09:15 - Dec 23 as they keep saying on talksport these big clubs will pay big money 4 what he will b like in 5 years time.come on connor bang in a few 4 the fans
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Jesney_Havoc added 09:32 - Dec 23 I'd take cash now. I don't get it. The sort of money being talked about is completely overboard. All a bit of 'emporers ner clothes' I recon. We can find a far better replacement for 20% of that cash. Time to get pragmatic.
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itfc1981 added 09:44 - Dec 23 Long live King Connor!
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NW10_Tractor added 09:54 - Dec 23 For the minutes that Connor put in against Leicester, he certainly looked ready. Understandably Connor was injured, but I was always lead to believe that the Connor "injury" was a cover to keep him out of games so he doesn't get injured so we can pick up the most money we can for, come january, a match fit player... I guess I was wrong... or am I??
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bluelady added 10:32 - Dec 23 According to a tabloid, same one saying Pablo was coming back!??!
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trueblue added 10:39 - Dec 23 'Don't, don't, don't believe the hype'
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Karlosfandangal added 10:52 - Dec 23 If Wickham is the new Rooney, then we need to keep him till the end of season and play him. Some one with that amount of talnet will get loads of goals in this league or are we all believing all the hype and he is just a talented player who needs to move to a bigger club to progress.
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bobble added 11:43 - Dec 23 fool
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Blue_Square added 11:47 - Dec 23 Hopefully if - by implication he is considering leaving in the Summer - we'll have a new boss in place, who decides to use him week in week out - like he should be whenever fit.... A decent manager who understands the game and the importance of the ITFC tradition of bringing on home grown products - instead of these garbage loanees.
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JimBaxter added 12:05 - Dec 23 I would take the money - these clubs would be buying potential and not a proven goalscorer - I agree there is a lot of pressure on the lad - but he never looks like scoring - I think Rooney at this age was much more "developed".
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arc added 12:34 - Dec 23 I think if I were about to spend money on a young striker, I would prefer one who had actually scored a goal in the league this year.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 12:49 - Dec 23 the biggest fear is that he will stay and run down his contact and we get diddly squat from a tribunal
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bluetoba added 12:54 - Dec 23 Cash in..Improve squad..Sell-on clause..Simples.
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whoppit added 13:44 - Dec 23 Sell him and get whatever we can for Connor "all potential but no goals this season" Wickham.
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blueherts added 15:18 - Dec 23 If stories of fee are true we will sell . We are a business now - part of ME Empire - I would love to see him develop and grow with us -but I think board would look at the cah - I would be nervous giving Keane a big wad of cash to spend !!! Best deal would be to sell him get a couple of gooduns in return and then loan him back - lets be honest he will not get a game at one of the bigger clubs -I remember when John Bostock went !!!- Look where he is now !!!

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Back_The_Boss added 17:59 - Dec 23 Going to a "big" club, will ruin his career before it has begun. No first team football, bench warming and little experience come to mind.
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tom_the_blue added 18:39 - Dec 23 Good on ya Connor, get yourself a goal or two in the next few games, that'll do you a world of good confidence wise.
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michaeldownunder added 20:41 - Dec 23 I understand because of his age we could only sign him on a max 2 year deal and that still has over a year to run do contracts mean that much in todays world of football NO at 17 he want's to play football but that will not happen if he goes to any of the 'big" clubs.Better staying here, less pressure on mind and body to perform and play week in/week out. Football is littered with players who played too many games at a young age, especially when coming back from injury. Wickham is often compared to Rooney look how many times he has been injured then come back and been injured again Michael Owen his career as a top footballer was over at 29 because he played too many games when his body was still developing.

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