Town boss Paul Jewell says the Blues are trying to tie up the signing of loan midfielder Keith Andrews on a permanent basis but warns it might not be an easy deal to do with the Blackburn Rovers player having another 18 months on his contract and with other clubs likely to be interested.

Jewell said: “The problem for Keith is he’s done so well and scored lots of goals for us. We’d love to keep him but he has another year to go at a Premier League club on a Premier League contract.

“It’s something we’re trying to sort out. I spoke with the owner and he’ll no doubt speak to his agent."

Premier League Wigan and Swansea have both been linked, while Leeds targeted the 31-year-old in the summer, and the Blues manager expects other sides to show an interest in January: “With him being available and with a lot of clubs in for him before he came to us, we’ll have some competition, I’m sure.

“I know Keith likes it here and we’d like to keep him. Whether we can do will be down to finances.”

Andrews’s first concern will be to play regular football during the second half of the season in order to seal his place in the Republic of Ireland side ahead of Euro 2012, which might give Championship clubs such as Town an unusual advantage over Premier League sides.

Blackburn have said they will be looking to move the former MK Dons midfielder on when the transfer window opens with the player also keen to sever his ties with Ewood Park.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

itfc1981 added 09:13 - Dec 9 Very difficult as he no longer wants to come here.
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Knightsy added 09:26 - Dec 9 I thought a fee was agreed before he signed for us on Loan?
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hodgie1989 added 09:29 - Dec 9 yeah for £2million I believe but to be honest I reckon other clubs will be interested in him.
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itfc1981 added 09:34 - Dec 9 2 million must a joke, he's good but not worth that.
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Wallingford_Boy added 09:40 - Dec 9 I wouldn't imagine THAT many other clubs would come in for him, take his goals away and he doesn't really bring that much to the team.
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DoobDude added 09:42 - Dec 9 Nah don't bother
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h32 added 09:52 - Dec 9 Be realistic - he'll have better options than staying here. Just about 'every deal' that's mentioned is a difficult one for Jewell & Clegg anyway.
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h32 added 10:03 - Dec 9 .......... unless of course it's a 33+ year old who falls over himself four times coming thro' the gate.
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cornishnick added 10:05 - Dec 9 Would have had a better chance had we been higher up the table. A premier league relegation battle is probably slightly more tempting than a championship relegation battle
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TractorBoyOlly added 10:26 - Dec 9 Wallingford that is ridiculous, our joint top goalscorer. 6 goals for a CM if very good at this stage in the season. One of Jewell's best signings. SIGN HIM UP!
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braveblue added 10:49 - Dec 9 He is gone. when Jewell/clegg say difficult they mean they can't do it. That is why we don't have walters, McAuley and Norris in our squad. Plus, why would he want to stay?
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irishtim added 11:21 - Dec 9 Sign him up has been one of the better players
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jas0999 added 11:44 - Dec 9 1. Andrews won't want to stay 2. Do we want him on big money? Surely looking for pacy players who play wide would be a better option - players hungry, who want to play for the club in future years?
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bobble added 11:45 - Dec 9 swap him for leadbelly ,7 cows,19ducks and a new mitsubishi people mover
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bedsitfc added 12:10 - Dec 9 the fee wont be a problem it will be wages.
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bluebare added 12:22 - Dec 9 just not worth it rather have murphy and thats saying something. but did think he made a better captain than leadbitter but again thats not hard. we have too many players that can do his job.
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Daleyitfc added 12:36 - Dec 9 Not worth paying money for. I would take him till end of season on a free, or not at all. Like all the rest of the squad bar about 2, not good enough to get us any higher than where we are.
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EdJK added 12:37 - Dec 9 He's 31 years old and he will have very high wage demands considering the contract he is currently on, he is not worth it. We have old heads on big contracts already in the same position. Lets use the money to inject some youth and pace into the team.
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neillrumsey added 12:40 - Dec 9 Get rid. Not good enough to play at this level, too slow and not comitted to the task. Goals contribution was excellent so thanks for that. Another greedy jouneyman packs his bags
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footyblue added 12:51 - Dec 9 the excuses have started already
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SitfcB added 13:14 - Dec 9 Been in talks with Naarwich apparently.
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Keaneish added 13:14 - Dec 9 Promised a lot but has taken is eye off the ball. Not the all round combative midfielder i'd hoped for and that we desperately need. Great to finally have a goal scoring midfielder in our ranks but agree with most, other than that, i'm not too impressed.
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alfromcol added 13:36 - Dec 9 Another load of positive posts!! What keeps you guys going??
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hogster1970 added 13:56 - Dec 9 well i would be concentrating on collins not andrews, yes bagged quiet few goals, but getting old and not realy much different then with have allready but defo better than leadboots,
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ernie added 14:06 - Dec 9 bit of a tommy miller...scores a lot of goals but goes missing too often
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