On-loan midfielder Keith Andrews’s wage demands could scupper his January move away from Blackburn Rovers, according to one of this morning’s tabloids. The 31-year-old Irishman is said to want £22,000-a-week from the various interested parties.
Aston Villa are believed to be leading the race for Andrews, who is understood to be available on a free transfer with Blackburn keen to rid themselves of the remaining 18 months of his current contract, but are stalling due to his wage demands. Bolton, Swansea and Everton are similarly claimed to be reluctant.
Town boss Paul Jewell is keen to keep the Republic of Ireland international at Portman Road but a salary in that region would put the former MK Dons man amongst the Blues’ very top earners.
In the summer, Rovers produced a sales brochure which they sent to other clubs outlining the current wages of players they were looking to offload.
That document stated that Andrews’s Blackburn contract is worth £21,000-a-week plus a £2,000 payment for every game he plays.
The Dubliner’s wages rise by £5,000 after every five Premier League matches in which he is involved and he is also due an annual additional payment of £26,667.
Andrews's loan is up after Saturday's FA Cup tie at Hull City - with Rovers having given permission for him to play - but Town's nine-goal top scorer is unlikely to be involved at the KC Stadium due to the torn hamstring which is set to keep him out of action for around another month.
Elsewhere, Wolves are claimed to have been eyeing Daryl Murphy, who is on loan with the Blues from Celtic for the season.
Unless there is a specific clause in the loan deal regarding January offers from elsewhere, it would appear the Premier League side would have to wait until the summer before making a move if there is anything in the report.
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