Town boss Paul Jewell says he expects Doncaster striker Billy Sharp to leave the South Yorkshire club in January due to a clause in his contract at the Keepmoat Stadium. The Blues manager had a £2.3 million offer for the ex-Sheffield United man turned down in the summer and confirmed recent reports claiming he’s still keen to bring the 25-year-old to Portman Road.

Jewell says Sharp, who was applauded by Town fans after scoring at Portman Road this weekend, is likely to be on the move come the reopening of the transfer window: “Doncaster will have to accept an offer because Billy Sharp has got a clause in his contract. If a club meets that valuation, they have to give him permission to speak.

“We’d like to have him here. There’s no hiding from the fact we tried to get him in the summer because he’s a quality Championship player — he might even be Premier League standard.”

After Doncaster rebuffed Town's offer for the one-time Scunthorpe frontman, along with a further £300,000 for midfielder James Coppinger, Sharp, who has another 18 months left on his Rovers deal, turned down a move to Southampton, the Saints having had a £3.25 million bid accepted by the South Yorkshiremen.

Jewell, who has spoken to club owner Marcus Evans about a new move for Sharp, says he expects Southampton, who are managed by the player's former Scunthorpe boss Nigel Adkins, to renew their interest in January. But even with the Saints currently at top of the Championship, he believes the Blues are in with a chance: “I know Billy was interested in coming here in the summer, so we’ll see what happens.”

Speaking after Saturday’s game at Portman Road, Doncaster boss Dean Saunders was keen to keep Sharp but conceded that he could be sold: “I don’t want to lose goalscorers.

“When you’re at the bottom of the league you don’t want to lose them. I’m sure they’re queuing up for Billy but I don’t want lose him, I want him to be in my team.

“But if somebody comes along and offers us a ridiculous amount of money, the club would probably have to say yes.

“But I don’t want to lose him, I want him to play for me because if you keep your best players, you get three points.”

Meanwhile, Jewell has revealed that midfielder Colin Healy came to see him on Monday, unhappy that he was the man subbed during the first half of Saturday's defeat to Doncaster: “He’s come into my office and voiced his dissent, which he’s entitled to do.

“I said after the game that I could have brought any of my midfielders off at that stage and Colin thinks it was an easy decision for it to be him."

Speaking on Saturday, Jewell said he could understand the Irishman's disappointment and why he walked straight down the tunnel after he was replaced.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

Big_Foot_Blue added 11:06 - Nov 9 Sounds promising and the reception we gave him on Saturday can only help our cause...
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spanish_archer added 11:14 - Nov 9 I live near Donny....I will pick him up and drop him off for the signing in January.
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PimsOclock added 11:33 - Nov 9 I can see this being like the David Nugent scenario. We will be linked with him for years and never pay the wages that some of the top championship or prem clubs offer so we don't get our man. I hope I'm wrong! Oh, and I though Jewell didn't like to talk about other club's players!!
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clive_baker added 11:37 - Nov 9 I don't think PJ should be talking about another clubs player like this. Cotterill was out of order talking about Norris and this is no different in my opinion.
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Strider added 11:54 - Nov 9 I agree with comment that PJ shouldn't be talking but he's getting asked the question all the time by the journo's which makes it tough. Plus he's probably desperate after seeing Miskin play on Saturday. I think we should stump up the cash and get him here. He'd be great up front with Chops
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irishtim added 11:58 - Nov 9 sign him up
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HarryfromBath added 12:00 - Nov 9 It is worth investing that bit extra to bring in a proven goalscorer at this level, and someone who has demonstrably more mental strength than Chopra or Scotland. I have a feeling that Billy Sharp could be another Marcus Stewart for us, and I do not think that this is an overstatement.
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omuircheartaigh added 12:06 - Nov 9 I agree with you Clive Baker - that was my immediate impression as well. Maybe dimwit is panicking?
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Lesta_Tractor added 12:11 - Nov 9 I do rate Billy Sharp and would be happy to see him at PR, but is he really what we need? I think a right back, a keeper and signing Danny Collins up permanently are bigger priorities.
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itfc1981 added 12:19 - Nov 9 Try for Rhodes as well, I heard he had a education at a Championship club.
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debenturedave added 12:44 - Nov 9 Sign him up on loan until January and then permanently !!
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Mark added 12:46 - Nov 9 We do need another quality striker, yes. Chopra is one but who plays alongside him? Scotland seems to have had issues keeping him out of the team, he is getting on in years and may leave soon. Emmanuel-Thomas has only impressed in little bursts. Murphy can't get himself properly fit and is only on loan. Ellington hasn't been able to push into the team. Priskin has scored 5 in 2.5 years at the club and did not take his chance last weekend. I take the point about other priorities though, but if we are going to push on we need to strengthen in all those areas. As for Healy, Jewell's mistake wasn't subsituting him it was picking him in the first place! After the team went 2-0 down Jewell HAD to make a change, and as Bullard had scored in the previous match and as Andrews scores regularly they stayed on...Leadbitter is another question.

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nitroblue1970 added 12:50 - Nov 9 Not sure a loan for Sharpe is feasible, hardly and emergency is it???? I expect him to sign for leicester in January, he wont have to move home and they will be changing their squad no doubt as Pearson will clearing out svens boys from the dressing room at the crisp bowl!...they can afford the fee! so there may be a few ex prem has beens looking for a club, Ipswich is perfect for them!!!

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TractorMan added 12:53 - Nov 9 Almost wonder if Swansea may be his next destination - play the sort of football he would thrive off? I really hope not and would love him here!
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Pettitt10 added 12:56 - Nov 9 Would be an exellend signing if we can afford him, sign him up marcus!
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Lesta_Tractor added 12:58 - Nov 9 @Mark I agree that we need to bring in quality throughout the squad, but do we play the sort of football that both Chopra and Sharp would thrive off? and would Chopra and Sharp really compliment each other?
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Pettitt10 added 12:59 - Nov 9 *Excellent :L
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Paulc added 13:10 - Nov 9 The reason PJ is talking about another club's player (against his own policy) is to give us something to talk about other than his own dismal performance of late.
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depressed added 13:13 - Nov 9 Picking up on what Healy said, i think he is spot on. Jewell didn,t have the bottle to take off Bullard or Leadbitter. M.E spend some of the Wickham money and go get Billy Sharp
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bluelady added 13:27 - Nov 9 cant see him making any differance im afraid, once again recently the biggest issue has been supply to the strikers, we could have Crouch, Bent and Defoe up front but with out crosses into the box they aint gonna score!
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radiogaga added 13:54 - Nov 9 Fair play to Healy, top pro. It would be awesome to have Sharp at Town! Some passion and pride to wear our shirt would make a welcome change to the usual!
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iamipswich added 14:05 - Nov 9 still lacking height up front
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SomershamBlue added 14:24 - Nov 9 iamipswich - Well, yes - but Marcus Stewart and David Johnson weren't exactly giants. Play it along the ground son....
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Lesta_Tractor added 14:30 - Nov 9 @somershamblue We had Scowcroft and Naylor in and around the team to provide a bit of height.. The team of Johnson and Stewart also had a reasonably solid back four and a creative and well balanced midfield, cant say that about the current shambles.
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SomershamBlue added 14:51 - Nov 9 iamipswich - All true and wouldn't argue your point. I was there on Saturday....
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