Town and Richard Wright have begun discussing a new deal which will keep the England keeper at Town for years to come. Wright's current deal is up at the end of next season and Town are anxious to tie him down long-term.
Last summer Wright's agent, Jonathan Barnett, became a hate figure amongst Town fans and it seemed for some while as if the Ipswich born keeper might leave his hometown club. In the end he signed a one-year extension to his existing contract as he wanted to see how Town would fare in the Premiership before committing himself any further. With Town safe and sound in third it seems likely that a deal will go through.
Jonathan Barnett said: "We have opened discussions with an Ipswich club that want to secure Richard's long-term future with them."
Last summer negotiations did not go smoothly and David Sheepshanks became increasingly fed up with the agent. At the time the Town chairman told TWTD: "Some of the things that Jonathan Barnett has had to say have been inflammatory and over the top and I really don’t want to get drawn into them."
However, the agent now believes that the relationship between himself and Sheepshanks has improved: "The arguments we have had in the past have all been to do with business. There is nothing personal in it. Just recently we were together in a social situation and everything was fine. Both David and I understand each other's position."
The Belgian press is claiming that Town are set to go back for Gert Verheyen for what they say is the third time. And it seems the player is still keen to continue his career in England.
Confirming earlier reports Belgian paper Het Laatste Nieuws says that Town were at Club Brugge's game with Harelbeke last week, a game that Verheyen missed through injury. However, the same paper also claims that Town have an interest in Sven Vermant another midfielder from Brugge who has also ben linked with Town in the past. This link occurred just prior to the long-lasting Verheyen non-deal in October and was widely thought to be a case of Town's transfer target being mistakenly identified by a journalist. There is no mention of any Town interest in Ode Thompson from Harelbeke as other sources had claimed.
Could Town finally persuade Brugge to let Verheyen go?
Today's Do You Remember? is former Town midfield dynamo and goal machine Geraint Williams. What do you remember of the Welshman's career with the Blues? Click the link on the Message Board: http://www.twtd.co.uk/messages