A report this morning claims that Fulham may be about to offer £1.5 million for Marcus Bent. Under the 'club in distress' rule clubs are can buy Town players and field them immediately.

Fulham watched Town at Palace on Wednesday along with a host of other clubs. Charlton were also there and have been at several recent games with a number of players said to be interesting them, including Hermann Hreidarsson, Thomas Gaardsøe and an unnamed midfielder.

It is also claimed that Portsmouth could be interested in Hreidarsson, although no move can take place until the end of the season due to his knee injury.

Recently David Sheepshanks told TWTD that Town owed a club part of a fee for a player. It is thought that this is the remainder of the £3 million payable to Blackburn for Bent just over a year ago. At the same time he told us that another club owed Town money from a transfer deal.

This is probably one of last summer's deals with Leicester, hit by administration earlier in the season, having paid the entire fee for James Scowcroft.

All other sides were told of Town's 'club in distress' situation a couple of weeks ago. The rule came in this season and up to now no one has chosen to take advantage of it.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls