Town boss Paul Jewell is said to want Liverpool youngsters such as midfielder Jonjo Shelvey as part of a deal to sell striker Connor Wickham, according to a tabloid report this morning. However, the Reds face competition from Sunderland, who were linked with a move for the 18-year-old yesterday.

The Black Cats are said to have made an £8 million offer for Wickham, which would eventually rise to £12 million on the usual appearance and achievement clauses.

Liverpool were previously reported to have made a bid at the same level but this is now said not to be the case, although an offer from the Merseysiders appears to be very much on the cards.

Blues manager Jewell, a Liverpool player as a youngster, is said to be willing to do a deal for Wickham and is believed to be keen on bringing some of his former club's current younger players to Portman Road if the Hereford-born frontman ends up at Anfield, including midfielder Jonjo Shelvey on loan for the season.

England U19 international Shelvey, 19, joined Liverpool from Charlton for an initial £1.7 million in April 2010 and since then has made four Carling Cup starts plus 15 sub appearances in the Premier League and a further two games from the bench in other cup competitions.

The 6ft tall Romford-born player was previously linked with Town in July 2009 when with the Addicks.

Wickham himself would appear more likely to join Liverpool, the team he supported as a boy, than Sunderland with Jewell saying in March that the England U21 international would only be interested in moving to one of the Premier League’s bigger clubs.

Wickham signed a contract tying him to the Blues until 2014 earlier in the year but with that deal believed to include a clause which would mean the one-time Reading academy schoolboy would be allowed to talk to clubs if an offer came in at a set level understood to be somewhere around the £10 million to £15 million mark.

Having suffered a minor ankle knock in training with the England U21s in Denmark on Thursday which saw him miss Friday's session as a precaution, Wickham will be hoping to win his fourth cap at that level on Sunday when Stuart Pearce’s side take on Spain in their opening group game in Viborg (Sky Sports One/HD1 4.30pm).

The English youngsters, of whom Wickham is the most junior and the only outfield player from a Championship club, subsequently face Ukraine next Wednesday and the Czech Republic on the following Sunday.

Photo: Action Images

broomfield123 added 09:09 - Jun 12 Even if we sold wickham why would we want to only take a player on loan as part of the deal. be miles better if we took all the money up front. not always over conferdant with loan players as they are not totally comitted to the club.. at the moment there are plenty of good players being relesed by their clubs . so whats the point in spending money needlesly when you can get a player for free.the likes of pratley who ive mentioned before is a decent player whos been let go by the swans.its time to look in the bargin bucket and save the money and use it when required.

0

LancsBlue added 09:47 - Jun 12 Darren Pratley has been widely reported to be joining Bolton.
0

Dissboyitfc added 09:55 - Jun 12 No way!!!!! we have to keep him. we have always sold players too cheaply. This trend has been going on for ever and has to stop if we are to progress. Remember Terry butcher going to rangers when at the same time Dave Watson left the scum to join Everton for more, Butcher was best CB in england. KEEP CONNOR I SAY.. Another thing thats to stop, is paying over the top for mediocrity and then give them away (the fate waiting priskin and scotland) COYB

0

broomfield123 added 10:15 - Jun 12 didnt realise pratley was going bolton so sorry for that 1.hope you understand my point about loanees and decent freebies at this kind of year.lets go and get um.dont forget neil alexandra a couple of seasons back.i know he only lasted 6 months at most but decent keeper and 500k profit which proves it can be done
0

cressi added 10:25 - Jun 12 Have to say the time we sold Dyer people moaned but it enabled us to buy 4/5 players including taking Marcus Stewart off a close rival remember we have to have players to get out of this league conner is one player and if he gets injured we have no one but if you was to get ten to twelve mill and add ons you could buy 5 to 6 quality players like Sharp a squad gets you up im sure Jewell know's best his done it before with Bradford and Wigan.

0

Dissboyitfc added 11:11 - Jun 12 cressi, good points you make, but i am assuming that there is money in the kitty to get these other players in, but of course if a stupid offer comes in ???? Just would like to see what he does this season as our player, if he comes back on loan and scores the goals that takes us up then we have to give him back , surely then false economy???
0

bluetoba added 11:25 - Jun 12 Well said cressi... When other talented sides start drop points due to injuries other stronger sides only benefit. Tough call.
0

broomfield123 added 12:24 - Jun 12 id still keep wickham. Give him a full season playing along side chopra up front with a good supply of balls to the both of um and away we go. Hopefully promotion and even more money.Lets takes the chance and keep him and go for it next season.Mr Evans obviously has a bit of moneyin the kitty so why not keep him.If we give Wickham a full season in the correct position then he has the potential to be a 15 - 20 mill player which equels even more quality players. Youve got to consider he may not want to move with his parents just up the road.Lets not ruin our best player we have had for years

0

TractorRoyNo1 added 18:06 - Jun 12 remind us how many premier league games they have played and how many for connor, the boy has great potential but so did bowditch - take the money! Chicago_Blue added 09:40 - Jun 11 I just think that if Henderson and Jones are worth £20m and £16m, then Wickham should be around £15m.
0

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls