Town have confirmed that Wolves defender Richard Stearman is joining on loan for the rest of the season, subject to paperwork. The Blues had been linked with the 25-year-old, who was taken to Molineux by Blues boss Mick McCarthy, since before Christmas but with a £1.8 million price tag understood to have scuppered a permanent deal.

The formalities relating to the move are likely to be completed tomorrow with Stearman expected at Portman Road.

Boss McCarthy has been keen to add to his defensive options with Stearman able to play at both centre-half and the right-back role recently vacated by Bradley Orr when he returned to Blackburn.

The former England U21 international hadn’t made an appearance for Wolves since Dean Saunders took over as boss at Molineux. Prior to that, he had made 11 starts and four sub appearances this season.

Stearman, who has 18 months remaining on his contract, was previously linked with the Blues back in the summer of 2011, although then-manager Paul Jewell dismissed the reports.

The signing takes Town's domestic loan total to four - Stearman plus Patrick Kisnorbo, Aaron Mclean and David McGoldrick - with McCarthy not having ruled out West Ham keeper Stephen Henderson rejoining and becoming the fifth permitted in a matchday squad.

Meanwhile, another of the Wolves players linked with the Blues, striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is reported to be the subject of a successful £1 million bid from Crystal Palace.

The Eagles were understood to be the frontrunners for the signature of former Blues loanee DJ Campbell. Whether their move for Ebanks-Blake ends their chase for the QPR frontman remains to be seen.

Hull City, who said they could recall striker Aaron Mclean from his loan at Portman Road at the weekend, are also interested in Campbell.

Photo: Action Images

62WasBest added 00:19 - Jan 29 I think it is very unrealistic to expect much more than loan players at this stage of the season. We cannot be sure in which league (why they are called leagues when they are divisions I cannot understand) we will be playing next season for a start and secondly I think McCarthy will sit down and want to apprease the whole squad during the close season. Too many signings now may hamper that, and of course, there is always a scramble for players to find new clubs in the summer break, so there may be more choice on offer.

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62WasBest added 00:20 - Jan 29 " That should read "appraise"
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suffolkpunch1978 added 00:34 - Jan 29 A better player than orr, more versatile for starters amd mick and conner know full well how good he is, that position os now sorted. Next please
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Wickets added 02:16 - Jan 29 Top quailty defender.
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bedsitfc added 06:02 - Jan 29 Hollywoodginge - when we signed GMAC from the foxes his partner in defence was kisnorbo
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Hally543 added 06:20 - Jan 29 Reading these comments only shows what little knowledge about football some of our fans have, unbelievable. We are in the s***, £60 mil in debt and fans asking why we can't afford the inflated January prices for players?
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bluemikey100 added 06:40 - Jan 29 we need to have some flair and goalscorer in midfield only loan signings now cos the board wont spend when they dont no what division we gonna be in
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PYBlue added 06:54 - Jan 29 Zzzzz signing
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essexboy added 07:01 - Jan 29 Great if it happens. !
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omuircheartaigh added 07:06 - Jan 29 Delighted! Welcome aboard Richard Stearman. Best of luck!
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Tufty added 07:37 - Jan 29 My Mates a wolves fan. Thinks Staerman ok he would have preferred to have lost Berra. personally reckon he will be better than Orr. Loans understandable at this stage then big summer rebuild hopefully.
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gypo added 07:38 - Jan 29 Well if palace are getting Blake and only hull mentioned with dj it looks better as the days go on we might just get him. 3 Days 15 hours and 22 minutes to go fingers crossed
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WarkyWonderLand added 07:56 - Jan 29 Don't really understand the negativity from some people. We lose saturday and all of a sudden people are on the bandwagon of doom!! Mick is not going to throw millions around at this stage of a season, he knows he has the tools to stay up. Even if you average out all of our points which includes 7 points from first 13 we would still get enough points. Those below will have to get nearly the same number of points they have already in the last 17 games. Get behind the team and the boss which we support. Coyb

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kevtblue added 08:02 - Jan 29 We need to realise that loans make sense we are one place above the relegation zone and cannot take the risk of relegation having bought high wage earners at inflated prices. So long as the loans want to play and are good there shouldn't be a problem MM will sort it out. Let's get behind the team.
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Stato added 08:25 - Jan 29 this is good news as long as there is no recall clause.
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ericgatesrules added 08:44 - Jan 29 After Saturdays defensive horror show some more ptions would be more than welcome. Def. have faith in MM and TC to make progress. COYB
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campowasgod added 08:51 - Jan 29 WarkyWonderland.... actually only one of the teams below will have to double their points tally. Peterboro ??
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airliner added 08:56 - Jan 29 Too many moaners who cares what their fans say, same with fans here over Delaney going to crystal palace, look how he improved without the boo boys.
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brian_a_mul added 09:03 - Jan 29 Delighted Stearman is joining, he is an excellent defender. MM knows exactly what he is getting with Stearman. He has experience of Premierleague relegation dogfights from his time at Wolves and is a commited player. If this leads to a permanent deal I would be very happy. At 25 he is experienced, has played alot of Premier league football and coming into his prime. He would be a big asset to our club.

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gazmangaz added 09:09 - Jan 29 Good news on the face of it but why can't he get in a struggling Wolves side even with a new manager ?
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portman23 added 09:13 - Jan 29 POW!!
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brendanh added 10:34 - Jan 29 Another loanee, no long term strategy. Continued championship mediocrity beckons. I'm sure Stearman is a decent player, but we won't go anywhere unless we start taking risks and developing our own players. I don't blame MM in the slightest. Evans' £1m staying-up bonus to him has sealed our mid-table fate this and next season at least. When will Evans ever learn? Know our history FFS: player-development, player-development, player-development.

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kerryblue added 10:50 - Jan 29 Decent player and hes young to shut up the moaners on here now for a keeper Mick
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runningout added 10:55 - Jan 29 wish some of you would be more level headed.. Stearman is not a 'fantastic' signing. He hasnt impressed Dean Saunders, and Wolves fans quite content he's away.. Not going to be anymore harsh, but hope he pulls his socks up for us
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SamWhiteUK added 11:20 - Jan 29 C_HealyIsAPleasure, how can you compare Scotland and Stearman. One's a defender, one's a striker. One we need, one we didn't. What's your problem?
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