Wigan’s Chris Kirkland and free agent former Portsmouth midfielder Michael Brown are the latest players to be linked with the Blues by this morning’s tabloids. Town are also said to have renewed their interest in Doncaster’s James Coppinger, while there are the now regular stories claiming Sunderland have made a bid for Connor Wickham.

With Márton Fülöp looking likely to leave Portman Road this summer Turkish side Bursaspor's interest having become known earlier in the week, it was perhaps inevitable that Kirkland, who played under Paul Jewell and Chris Hutchings for the Latics, would be linked.

The 30-year-old, whose career has been blighted by injury problems, is unlikely to be the first choice at the DW Stadium next season having made only four appearances for Roberto Martinez’s side during 2010/11, in addition to a short spell on loan at Leicester which included the infamous snow match at Portman Road.

Capped once by England at full level, Kirkland started his career with Coventry before moving on to Liverpool for £6 million in August 2001.

The 6ft 4in tall keeper failed to establish himself at Anfield and spent time out on loan at West Brom and Wigan before joining Jewell’s club permanently in October 2006 for an undisclosed fee.

Having established himself as the first choice keeper over a number of years, Kirkland lost his place to Ali Al-Habsi early last season. The Barwell-born keeper is contracted to Wigan until the summer of 2012.

Michael Brown has been rumoured to be a Town target for a few weeks now, having left Portsmouth at the end of the season, with one of this morning’s papers claiming the Blues have offered him a one-year deal.

The combative 34-year-old started his career with Joe Royle’s Manchester City, spending time out on loan with hometown club Hartlepool, Portsmouth and Sheffield United while at Maine Road, before joining the Blades permanently in January 2000 for £400,000.

It was at Bramall Lane that the 5ft 7in tall midfielder made his name prior to a January 2004 move to Spurs.

After two years at White Hart Lane, Brown joined Fulham, then in July 2007 current Town coach Chris Hutchings took him to Wigan and in August 2009 the midfielder signed on at Pompey.

The Blues are also said to have offered Doncaster £400,000 for James Coppinger, an increase of £100,000 on the earlier offer which was turned down along with a bid for striker Billy Sharp.

Last week Paul Jewell confirmed that he would continue to target the 30-year-old, who is a former Exeter team-mate of Town coach Sean McCarthy. The Grecians are entitled to 15% of any profit Doncaster make on the £35,000 they paid the Devon club for Coppinger in 2004.

Today’s Connor Wickham story repeats earlier claims that Sunderland have triggered a bidding war by making a £9 million offer with Liverpool, Newcastle, Spurs and Arsenal also all in the battle to sign the 18-year-old, who could win his fourth England U21 cap tonight when Stuart Pearce’s side take on the Czech Republic in their final group game at the UEFA European Championship in Denmark (Sky Sports One/HD1 7.30pm).

Town are said to have targeted a fee of £12 million for the striker, who is contracted to the Blues until June 2014. Wickham has also been included in The Guardian's list of Europe's top 50 summer transfer targets.

Elsewhere, Nathan Ellington, who is understood to have been the player who held talks with Paul Jewell at Portman Road last Monday, has tweeted that he isn't returning to loan club Preston for the new season: “Won't be going back to Deepdale, I'm afraid. Things were bit complicated for the club which meant it couldn't happen.”

Ellington, who like Kirkland played for Jewell at Wigan, is a free agent having been released by Watford at the end of the season.

Photo: Action Images

floridaboy added 10:23 - Jun 19 Would take all 3 if honest. To get out of this league we will need all the experience we can get. No good relying on the Wickhams (although he wont be here) and Carsons of this world - no experience Will be an interesting few days/weeks
0

robdaful added 10:24 - Jun 19 Yeah an intresting couple of weeks ahead oof us.
0

dundeebloo added 10:30 - Jun 19 Phil yet more pointless speculation Wickham will be going now where unless there is a silly offer.As for the three linked would only take Coppinger there are better keepers around than Kirkland and as for Brown what's the point in wasting a years wages on a has been to
0

streety86 added 10:31 - Jun 19 Yes to all three please
0

itfcjc added 10:43 - Jun 19 I'd take all 3
0

itfc1981 added 10:52 - Jun 19 I would only let Wickham go for 15mil, which is his release value I belive, and with Maynard as a 5 mil replacement.
0

manualthetisfanclub added 10:54 - Jun 19 Kirklands got a dodgy injury record,wouldn't last a month let alone a rough and tumble championship season! As for brown,why waste good money on someone like that carbon copy of leadbitter(mr sideways and backwards!!),are there any under bargains in the lower leagues out there then!
0

StochesStotasBlewe added 10:55 - Jun 19 Chris Kirkland would make a fine no 1 keeper, can then recoup the money paid for Mr Fulop when he moves to Bursaspor, though still dont think ALB is good enough & we need a no 2 keeper. As for the other two, i would take Brown for the experience he has, not a big fan of Coppinger, but Mr Jewell is a much better judge of players than me.
0

TheRef added 10:57 - Jun 19 Kirkland stayed injury free when he spent the last 6 months on loan at leister, would be a good signing, brown is pretty good, still, wouldnt have him in my team, as for copp, well he has been good so might be worth a gamble. Wickham, going nowhere
0

dundeebloo added 10:59 - Jun 19 Manual yes there are bargains in the lower leagues hate to say it but how did the in breds do it players signed from Colchester Gillingham etc with good loans like Lansbury
0

dundeebloo added 11:00 - Jun 19 Manual yes there are bargains in the lower leagues hate to say it but how did the in breds do it players signed from Colchester Gillingham etc with good loans like Lansbury
0

Mark added 11:02 - Jun 19 Kirkland - well we do need a new goalkeeper as Fulop must be sold (or offered a new contract, which I don't think he is worth). Kirkland has loads of Premier League games under his belt so could be ideal. I hope he is over his injury problems as we don't to have to rely on Lee-Barrett too long if our first choice keeper gets injured. Brown - Not an exciting signing at 34, but he doesn't turn 35 until January so could be good for a year. We need a defensive midfielder, although I still hope Hyam can be a first team player for us. Perhaps Brown could help him. Coppinger - Sounds a good player and won't break the bank if they accept a £400K bid, but why would they if he is such a good midfielder? We have to be realistic about who we can sign, as we need so many players and we have to work to a budget. I am pleased so much is happening though, which is refreshing after all the late August deals of recent years.

0

theblueginger added 11:05 - Jun 19 I would take brown, no to kirkland, and would prefer another doncaster player to join with coppinger. What is strange is that wee linked with over 30 players, and wouldn't offer norris a longer deal on account of his age.
0

Karlosfandangal added 11:05 - Jun 19 Brown not good enough for Portsmouth but Norris is, Cant see the point and not one to take us forward. Kirkland struggles with injury so would be a risk but a good one if he is over the worst of his injury Coppinger would be very good to replace Norris. Wickham going to Sunderland really cant see it, Liverpool yes as boyhood hero's Wickham has still to prove himself in the Championship and this will need to be the season if he is to reach the potential that everyone said he will be. Struggling to get a game from the bench at U21 so it goes to prove how much more he needs to learn and sitting on the bench at Sunderland wont do that for him.

0

Drew added 11:05 - Jun 19 No to Michael Brown, he is more of a thug than a footballer, also, didn't he get Counago sent off a few years back, when in fact it was Brown who was kicking Pabs who was on the floor?!?
0

sixtouchfootball added 11:17 - Jun 19 Brown would do a job for us. The kind of player we need to get out of this league. He was good enough for Portsmouth... They stopped playing him a 1 more game would have triggered and improved, extended contract which they couldnt afford. No to kirkland as a goalkeeper with a dodgy back isn't worth the risk.
0

RYITFC added 11:21 - Jun 19 I know we need some experience but am just concerned we are targeting to many older players!we need to grow as a team!
0

jas0999 added 11:23 - Jun 19 Kirkland - not for me I am afraid. Injury record is very suspect. Plus IMO he is not a particularly good keeper. Brown - yes, I think he would be a good signing. Coppinger - the pick of the three for me. Would be another excellent addition to the squad. Ellington - Poor goals to game ratio. Wickham - will I suspect leave the club - which means we will need to sign another striker - in addition to the one PJ is already after.

0

Keaneish added 11:24 - Jun 19 Yes to all 3 although Kirkland's injury problems would concern me. Much rather Westwood. Give us 15 million Sunderland, give up your interest in Westwood and throw Campbell and Colback into the deal!!! Easy!!!!
0

Buryblueboy added 11:25 - Jun 19 In my opinion... An injury free Kirkland would be the commanding type of keeper we have been longing for. Brown certainly has both experience and an edge that our midfield has lacked for some time - we might not want to have a team of players like this but one or two might help us cope with the demands of the Championship (just think what Derry could've added this year); on to many occasions in recent years I have seen powerful teams come rampaging through our midfield that then results in our defence having to fire fight far too often. Coppinger is someone who might not only score goals for us from midfield (which we came to rely on from Norris) but also has a bit more craft than some of our current midfield and at the same time would not be on crazy money. If any of these players genuinely want to come here I am all to happy to see them play for Town, and we must move on from crying over the departure of certain players who ultimately had desires to be elsewhere.

0

ipswich85 added 11:28 - Jun 19 Would take all 3 plus Ellington if he is on a free transfer.
0

joshberry94 added 11:55 - Jun 19 Would definitely take all three of these players. Kirkland has bags of experience and obviously has talent, you dont just go to liverpool for 6m and get a full england cap if you are just average, and given that fulop looks like he will be moving on, i think kirkland would be a great ready made replacement. Michael Brown, whilst not being the most attractive proposition, he could give us the grit that our midfield has lacked over the past few years that help you get out of this league, which has been proved the case with teams like QPR ( Derry, Clint Hill) Coppinger i believe to be very similar to norris, all i can think of is that he would be on less money . of the three i would say he is most suited to us and would fit right in. another player who has worked hi way up tothis level, which i like

0

62WasBest added 12:12 - Jun 19 Kirkland is inconsistent andinjury prone. Coppinger yes. More creativity needed in midfield.
0

james1989 added 12:19 - Jun 19 i actually feel confident for next season and cant wait for some amazing away days, our time is coming, i honestly think we can push for playoffs if not better if the right people come here, chopra has now opened the gates for other players to sign, COYB NEXT SEASON!!!! west ham away buzzing
0

Thetruth added 12:25 - Jun 19 Another manager going back for players he worked with before, wait for the glut of Wigan has beens, face the facts this club will go nowhere next season and a lot of fickle people will return calling for heads on here within months mark my words. First Roy Keane soon to be Paul Jewelll........
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls