Town’s attempt to sign former loanee Jimmy Bullard on a permanent basis could be back on, according to a tabloid report this morning. Manager Paul Jewell previously said that a deal to bring last season’s Player of the Year back from Hull was beyond the Blues but, as predicted by TWTD on Thursday, the large fee received for Connor Wickham may have changed that situation.
Bullard’s future is still understood to be up in the air with the 32-year-old having held talks with QPR earlier this summer but with no deal yet done.
The former Wigan, Peterborough and Fulham man was recently reported to be in talks with Hull regarding a settlement of the remaining two years of his £45,000-a-week contract which makes up 21% of the Tigers’ wage bill.
Hull are desperate to see the one-time England call-up leave on a permanent basis and so far have been unwilling to sanction another loan.
Speaking in mid-June, prior to agreeing the £8.1 million rising to £12 million fee for Connor Wickham with Sunderland, Blues boss Jewell said: "We just can’t afford to pay what Hull want and what Jimmy wants. He’s not just on a Premier League contract, he’s on a top Premier League contract.”
Bullard made 16 appearances for Town, scoring five goals, during a hugely successful loan spell between January and May.