TWTD understands that Town are close to completing the loan signing of Hull City midfielder Jimmy Bullard. The 32-year-old is expected at Portman Road today and looks likely to be reunited with his former Wigan boss Paul Jewell in the next few days.

Sources at Hull City confirmed Town’s interest in the ex-West Ham, Peterborough and Fulham man earlier in the week with the Tigers desperate to off-loan the 32-year-old’s £45,000-a-week wage.

As with previous loan deals involving players on Premier League wages, such as last season’s recruitment of Daryl Murphy and David Healy, Town are likely to have agreed to pay only a proportion of the Londoner’s salary.

Bullard joined Hull from Fulham for £5 million during the Tigers’ stint in the Premier League and is contracted until 2013.

Speaking after last night's game at Arsenal, chief executive Simon Clegg was typically taciturn regarding transfer speculation but told TWTD that the first deals of the transfer window were close: “I think that we are near to a couple of situations and I would expect people to be hearing some movement on what our intentions are over the next couple of days.”

Earlier in the week, manager Paul Jewell revealed that the club had made two bids with Bullard and Luton's Andy Drury likely to be the players involved.

Photo: Action Images

brian_a_mul added 11:09 - Jan 26 Hull were such mugs!
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BseaBlue added 11:09 - Jan 26 Cracking signing if it happens!
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My_Left_Foot added 11:10 - Jan 26 great passer, corner taker and free-kicks - IF...he stays fit
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My_Left_Foot added 11:11 - Jan 26 quite refreshing not to be linked with Irish, Sunderland players
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Karlosfandangal added 11:14 - Jan 26 Possible Bullard and Luton Duary on the way to town Is that goodbye Norris? St Legaer also linked so could be McAuley is also on the way?
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Town_Jewells added 11:15 - Jan 26 Great news, I'm feeling more confident by the day that we'll preserve our championsship status. Just hope that the deal is on a 'pay per play' basis given Bullard's injury history.
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BrightBlue added 11:15 - Jan 26 Fingers crossed SC can seal this deal!
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HighgateBlue added 11:15 - Jan 26 Fingers crossed!
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ipswichtillidie added 11:18 - Jan 26 would be a great loan signing... he is too good for this league so would be a moohoosive coup...
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gtd added 11:20 - Jan 26 Get in!!! And a loan is definitely the best way to go - it's low risk and we can assess whether it's worth a permanent move. Superb Mr Jewell!
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djbreeze added 11:21 - Jan 26 If Bullard only took free kicks and corners i'd be happy ...
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BrettenhamBlue added 11:25 - Jan 26 Pleasing signing IF it happens!
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Vic added 11:25 - Jan 26 myleftfoot - but hull is only just down the road fro sunderland isn't it! And he does know a lot of the mackims players (apparently)
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ChelmsfordBlu added 11:27 - Jan 26 Great loan signing in this division as long as he stays fit (fingers crossed) - just the player we need to ensure safety this season - he will roll his sleeves up and work hard for the team - COYB
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dobbie73 added 11:30 - Jan 26 He looks vaguely like Eric Gates, which can only be a good thing!
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bluelady added 11:31 - Jan 26 pity he couldnt have played for us last night may just have been the differance! Just remember him sitting the players around in a semi circle taking the P out of Phil Brown, a real character and a seasoned pro!
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BlueMoolay added 11:34 - Jan 26 Jim Bullard ma lord, Jim Bullard.. Quality player when fit. Nice one (hopefully) PJ.
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casanovacrow added 11:41 - Jan 26 no longer the player he was. always injured, on stupid money. does make you worry about SC and ME mentality if we let DD GM and DN go because of wage demands but we have money to waste on injury prone has-beens
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bluelady added 11:44 - Jan 26 casanovarcrow but they havent gone yet? Jewell as already said he hopes to bring in a face or two but doesnt have to loose anyone to make way... Also i understand (Phil could you confirm) D Delaney has option of a years extension?
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casanovacrow added 11:48 - Jan 26 What Jewell wants n what he gets looks to be two seperate things. Its well known DN and GM are miles from agreeing a deal because MS n SC aren't digging deep enough. Cant see either being happy that Bullard will be coming in n getting paid more than they want to get.
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bizman added 11:49 - Jan 26 YES PLEASE! He is quality and will be hungry to prove himself after his injury layoff. Just what the Taaawn need -Creativity! really proud of the team again last night......Lets keep it all moving in the right direction Taaawn! COYB!!
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Matteo_Sereni added 11:50 - Jan 26 Great news! Makes me feel a little better this morning after the disappointment of last night. Bullard is a class act and will be great for morale.
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StortfordBlue added 11:51 - Jan 26 Great news, and a cracking deal to get him on loan, there's less risk that way. With him and the lad from Luton (also a midfielder), can we read into this that Norris could be on his way?
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PhilTWTD added 11:51 - Jan 26 BlueLady Keane hinted that that was the case with Delaney when asked about his situation before Christmas: http://www.twtd.co.uk/news.php?storyid=17580
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bluearmy78 added 11:52 - Jan 26 Casanovacow, yes he has been injured a lot recently, but when fit he is awesome. He is only on silly wages because Hull signed him when they were in the Prem and he was on top of his game. If we do loan him we will only have to pay a percentage of his wages, not the full 45k!!! Definately worth a punt on loan.
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