Reading are being linked with a loan move for Town midfielder Jimmy Bullard. The Royals reportedly want to land the 33-year-old before their weekend game at Middlesbrough.

Bullard, who joined the Blues on a two-year deal after having his contract terminated by Hull last summer, hasn’t started a game since the 4-0 defeat at Burnley in November.

With Andy Drury and Luke Hyam currently in the team, skipper Grant Leadbitter waiting in the wings, Lee Bowyer fit after his groin injury and Ryan Stevenson signed from Hearts in January, Town may be open to loaning Bullard, who is believed to be the club’s highest earner on a reported £18,000-a-week.

Meanwhile, Reading boss Brian McDermott is also reported to be in talks with Wolves regarding the vacant manager's job at Molineux.

Photo: Action Images

itfchorry added 23:28 - Feb 20 Would not let this happen - JB is itching to get back in the team Put Clegg out on loan
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TractorMan added 23:28 - Feb 20 Can't see it, as he's the obvious replacement if Drury gets injured or goes off form
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ITFCSparklepants added 23:31 - Feb 20 ^^^ funniest 5 words i've heard in a long time. Cannot let him go, he just lifts the whole team, surely he won't want to leave anyway, him celebrating our 3rd goal was absolutely quality, loan out fecking ledlegs. I would pay him 18,000 a week just to bring some morale.
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BROTHERBLUE1974 added 23:36 - Feb 20 Get shot of him, free his wages up and put it towards young hyam and smith getting a decent wage and contract. He's not interested in this club, got what he wanted and is now taking the piss. Far to much money to pay a club clown.
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CavendishBlue added 23:37 - Feb 20 Agreed .Definately put Clegg out to seed....
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Garv added 23:42 - Feb 20 They can take a running jump if its up to me. Bullard still has things to offer for town and it would be truly horrible to see him go and do it for someone else. Just because Drury and Hyam are taking their chance with both hands and really making us tick, that doesn't instantly mean Jimmy isn't good enough. F*ck off Reading.
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village_blue added 23:48 - Feb 20 For goodness sake get rid of this overrated overpaid Primadonna and throw in Leadboots and Bowyer as well.
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TractorBeezer added 23:51 - Feb 20 There is an outside chance of playoff contention and Reading is one of the teams that we would be competing with. Let's enjoy having a bit of depth (at least in midfield and up front) for once.
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rosseden added 23:52 - Feb 20 Bad move if this happens. He's good for morale about the place and a good teacher to have for the younger lads. As he proved when on loan here he is a game changer, and we might need that over the rest of the season. Leadboots can go tho . . . . .
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harlingblue added 23:57 - Feb 20 If Reading wants him, let them buy him! Time to stop this loaning rot, right across to board! (and that goes for ITFC). Buy Murphy now, let Reading have their 3rd choice keeper back, if we need back up, let it come from the Res/Academy.
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gorse added 00:22 - Feb 21 He was looking knackered, and now his tail's up again. Get out of it Reading, i bet he's itching to play. We could certainly do with looking more dangerous from set pieces...
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ade_itfc added 00:23 - Feb 21 I would extremely upset if he goes! he's a great role model to the likes of hyam and drury and wouldn't be surprised if that's why they are playing so well. He's an extremely good player with a great spirit, why when we've gota great spirit are we looking to change. If he goes i bet some of those players will be upset and could change the whole mood of the camp and especially giving them a rival team! why on earth would we even be considering this. i'd pay him myself for putting smiles on thousands of people! all round top guy.

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OnlyOneSirBobby added 00:23 - Feb 21 Thanks but no thanks Reading....would not be a good move to let him go. The things he brings to the table off the field as well as on it are vitally important to the morale and spirit of the team....do not break any of it up when we're doing so well
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Keaneish added 00:36 - Feb 21 Ha! Any Towen fan thinking he's overrated or a primadonna must have a very short memory...he kept us in the division last year!! No way go to Reading. Loads to offer. A good player with bags of character to add to the team. Agreed he's chomping at the bit and if Martin or Drury ever went off the boil he's the perfect addition from the bench. Like to see Stevenson on the bench instead of Leadbitter. Think Bowyer might have made his last appearance for Towen,

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JustSpivvyChops added 00:36 - Feb 21 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO The most gifted player to have worn the ITFC in many, many years, a game changer, a character within the club, great for morale, head & shoulders above, still premier league standard, a class act, simple as that. The question is, what's happened? It's amazing that he hasn't been playing and one can't help feeling that there's more to this than a mysterious illness. If he isn't going to be selected, then let him go, but there better be a bloody good reason for doing so, as this league simply does not possess players of his quality.

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arc added 00:54 - Feb 21 I wonder if he's fully over his New Years "bug" yet.
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garethch added 01:37 - Feb 21 Do NOT let this happen! We need strength in depth & either Bowyer or Leadbitter can go before Jimmy (problem is, who would want either of them?!)
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SuperSevens added 02:59 - Feb 21 Great move to send him out on loan to get some match sharpness and form. Lack of reserve games will always affect a player. Call him back when needed. The only downside would be not having him about in the squad for morale.
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bobble added 04:39 - Feb 21 i am glad we are reading more its always good to read,so no harm in linking it to bullard moving......is the opposite of bullard..... coward ?
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piersmorganisatool added 06:10 - Feb 21 sorry folks, but the future aint Bullard. like too many players in our squad he's too old and too slow for this league. yes i know his brain is quick and he has the experience but we're on a better path now.
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floridaboy added 07:04 - Feb 21 We can let Reading have the keeper who is warming the bench! Would rather see Leadbitter shipped out on loan to get a few games under his belt before he leaves at the end of the season.
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irishtim added 07:06 - Feb 21 No way should he be allowed to move.
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nbsiyag added 07:36 - Feb 21 We want 5 out of the top 6 to keep taking points off everyone bar us. Let Reading have Jimmy on a short loan with an immediate recall if needed. It will help the wage bill, get Jimmy match sharp and be a handful for all of Reading's opponents. No problem!
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Kitman added 07:36 - Feb 21 This 18 grand a week figure being bandied about. Is that flat basic or the whole package including stuff like appearence money and win bonuses etc? Yes it does seem a lot but knowing how stingy Town seem to be for personal terms he must be here to stay for a reason. On the face of it, it looks crazy to loan him out to someone then..
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Mark added 07:53 - Feb 21 It looks like we're not going up and we're not going down, and it seems madness to pay someone £18K a week (if true) to sit on the substitute's bench. Bullard was fantastic last season for us, but this year he has been a huge disappointment. If Reading were willing to take on his wages and maybe a small loan fee then I would let him go there. £18K for three months is over £200K and that could buy us a decent young player for the future.

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