Town skipper Luke Chambers’s surprise return to his former club Nottingham Forest could take place before this evening’s 11pm deadline, TWTD understands.

News that Forest were making a shock move for their ex-skipper broke earlier this morning but with the Blues understood to be unwilling to allow their captain to move on.

However, we understand the 31-year-old is far from averse to a return to his old side, which he left for Portman Road on a Bosman in the summer of 2012, and discussions between the clubs are ongoing.

At a press conference a fortnight ago, the Kettering-born defender admitted his frustration that no new contract had been offered by Town with only six months remaining on his current deal, although the Blues have an option to keep him at Portman Road for another year.

Town are likely to want a not insignificant fee for Chambers, who manager Mick McCarthy would be loath to lose, recently describing him as “important to me as captain”, following previous reports of interest from Wolves.

Chambers joined Forest from Northampton in January 2007 and made 209 starts and 20 sub appearances, scoring 21 times, before moving on to the Blues.

Speaking after joining Town, Chambers said he had good memories of his time at the City Ground but admitted he wasn’t popular with supporters towards the end of his time there, largely due to comments which he felt were misinterpreted as “hammer[ing] the fans”.

Forest are currently without a manager, the latest incumbent Philippe Montanier having been sacked earlier this month. Academy manager Gary Brazil is currently the boss on an interim basis.

Town are understood to be working on a number of potential deals ahead of tonight’s deadline with McCarthy still searching for a striker to replace Daryl Murphy who departed for Newcastle towards the end of the summer window with the Blues boss appearing to have given up on persuading Preston to part with Jordan Hugill having had a £2 million bid rebuffed last week.

Photo: TWTD

AYACCA added 11:36 - Jan 31 I really don't understand the running of our club these days....
31

StringerBell added 11:36 - Jan 31 Would be disappointed to see him go - he's still a damn fine player when played in the correct position. Can't blame him for being keen to listen to the offer though. He's constantly criticised by the fans over his form when it McCarthy's fault that he nearly always plays him the wrong place. 100% committed, never moans, and a good professional. Good luck whatever happens Luke.

39

tallguy6767 added 11:37 - Jan 31 Can go in my book probably one of the biggest earners at club. Always felt a tad sorry for him having to play RB. But we all know who's fault that is !!!!!! Good luck if you do go can't fault commitment but definitely past his best days
12

Michael11 added 11:37 - Jan 31 Would be absolutely mental to let him go. Since he's been back in his natural CB position, he's been so much better. Getting rid of the club captain during an injury crisis in that position on deadline day is surely a ridiculous decision even for ITFC's standards.
21

MeenoITFC added 11:37 - Jan 31 Would be a big loss in the changing room. Big character around the club and will be missed. On the pitch MM might be moving on now, Taylors come in with experience as well as Emmanuel and Spence that side
6

Len_Brennan added 11:38 - Jan 31 He's not a great right back, but it would be a mistake to lose him as a centre back, particularly when we are short for fit players in that position who are good enough at the moment. Taylor can't play, won't be match fit & may take some time to settle. It would have the same unsettling effect that losing Murphy at the last minute has had.
8

Cloddyseedbed added 11:38 - Jan 31 Won't blame Chambers at all if he wants away. He needs to secure his future while ITFC dilly and dally over their future and direction of the club. I think it would be a good move for him. As usual no forward planning of the club.
11

theblueginger added 11:39 - Jan 31 I find the lack of coherent thought at this club disturbing.
11

BlueGoonie added 11:39 - Jan 31 Unless we have a replacement (better) CB lined up we should keep him and extend his contract for the additional year, to give him stability and allow him to concentrate on his game
7

hoppy added 11:39 - Jan 31 Think, despite criticism of him at RB, he'd been performing better back in the middle. To let him go today would be a shooting ourselves in the foot situation, creating another problem to fill rather of benefitting us in any way. Especially with a fairly big game tonight...
8

Smithy added 11:39 - Jan 31 MM would not want him to go full stop, so any move out would show a clear lack of support to him from ME imo
6

Guthrum added 11:45 - Jan 31 Would be an odd decision, even if a respectable fee is secured. With Taylor's international clearance not yet having arrived (if I'm correct) and a game this evening, that would leave us mighty short. Also losing the Captain on deadline day (after the Murphy blow in August) would not help the morale situation.
7

SuffolkBlue13 added 11:47 - Jan 31 chambers plus money for assombalonga?
7

Brownie added 11:48 - Jan 31 Maybe Mick is going to play himself at centre back... Madness in my view if they let the Captain go now. If they were going to let him go perhaps do it earlier. Does the name Murphy and no future planning ring any bells at Portman Road. Did ME really make some money as a business man because my dog Monty could do a better job & as you can see from his picture he spends his time asleep on the sofa!

10

Surco72 added 11:49 - Jan 31 Is a good centre back , became disillusioned playing out of position with the fans on his back - bad management by MM . Said a good few weeks ago Chambers wants to leave , house sold - Taylor and Spence have been brought in as free replacements for right back and centre back . Lack of transfer dealings due to abiding by FFP ..... ??? Isnt that what the club normally roll out at this stage

6

harleymarshall added 11:52 - Jan 31 Think it be crazy to let chambo go now and rely on a unfit Taylor, an injured Tommy smith,paul digby and an out of form berra.We need make sure we get enough points to survive first and foremost tough run ahead not logical decision but who knows with MM!
5

wayway added 11:54 - Jan 31 Kerching Kerching. Evans Corporation bank account
4

itfchorry added 11:55 - Jan 31 McCarthy Out
5

deano85 added 11:55 - Jan 31 Someone coming in the operdite direction???
1

tractorboyjim added 11:58 - Jan 31 Why don't we let him go and wait to get a replacement 6 months down the road like we've done with Murphy... see where that gets us?! I hope MM and ME have something up their sleeve because let Chambers go and start shipping even more goals and we will be in dire straits
1

runningout added 11:59 - Jan 31 no time to dilly dally :-)
0

dukey44 added 12:01 - Jan 31 So much for fist pumps and kissing the badge?? Cya
-7

gibbo added 12:05 - Jan 31 New 5 point plan, 1) reduce wage bill by selling or releasing highest earners 2) look at non league players after all why pay 5k a week when you can pay £500 a week. After all it worked out for mings and Jamie vardy why wouldn't it work for everyone else. 3) feed the fans with false hope and then say "well we tried but with players going for over 15million we can't pay that, yet at two championship strikers have moved to other championship sides for less than 1million. 5) bring in loans that makes the rest of the team look poor but say from the of set ( we can't buy them) 5) say well bring through the youth player's, but in reality there not ready when the team is playing so poorly.

10

DurhamTownFan added 12:12 - Jan 31 Anyone else think this could just be a clever way to get that new contract he apparently wants? 'Value me or sell me' etc.
-2

midastouch added 12:13 - Jan 31 I'm all for giving youth a chance and trying to scout talent from the lower leagues, as there is plenty there to be found. However, you also need to mix this up with a reasonable and realistic level of ambition. Most teams that consistently keeps selling players and replacing them with much cheaper options usually end up coming a cropper. Look at Villa in the Prem league last season. Lately we've been selling players for millions and replacing them with players that cost £10k. Back in the 80s we were signing players for much more than that, and that's before inflation! Remember when we signed Sedgley for 1 million, and Paz for 1.1 million. Now we're paying peanuts! Yes sometimes we have got lucky like with Mings. But if we keep doing this over and over again we're going to push our luck too far and end up going down a division or worse! So yes please keep the youngsters coming and scouting the lower leagues for talent, but please Marcus sometimes open that old rusty chequebook again and sign somebody that is proven at this level and will give us a much needed edge!

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