Peterborough United director of football Barry Fry says Posh would be willing to let Blues target George Boyd move to Town on loan with a view to a permanent deal in January. The clubs agreed a fee for the midfielder earlier in the week but the 26-year-old was unable to agree personal terms at Portman Road before the transfer window closed.
Fry, who was speaking on Radio Suffolk’s Life’s a Pitch with Mark Murphy, Blues legend Kevin Beattie and TWTD’s Phil Ham earlier today (listen to the interview here, 0:38:40 into the show), says the deal is currently dead but could be revived on that basis: "We would definitely loan him with a view to a permanent deal being done in January. We would definitely do that.
"But it’s up to Ipswich to convince George. I agreed something with Marcus Evans and it’s personal terms [that are the sticking point] on that.
"My chairman really, really pushed the boat out to get George [to sign his current contract, which is up next summer], he’s the 'White Pelé', to be honest, he’s been magnificent for us.”
The 67-year-old says Boyd was put on very lucrative terms after interest from Middlesbrough two years ago: "The problem with George was when Gordon Strachan at Middlesbrough bid us £2.5 million we wanted to keep him, so we had to make him an unbelievable offer and we made him the highest-paid player Peterborough has ever had.
"Like Paul Taylor, we sat down with George in the summer and offered him another lucrative contract, a testimonial at the end of it, and George said, ‘No disrespect to Peterborough, I want to join a bigger club’.
"He’s been absolutely magnificent for us,” he added. "But the wages he’s on, I don’t think Ipswich can quite get there, so that was the stumbling block with that.
"He is an unbelievable player and if Ipswich did get him, he would be sensational because I know Ipswich fans are brought up on footballers and George Boyd, who covers every blade of grass on the pitch, is a true footballer and the Ipswich fans would love him.”
Regarding reports that further talks took place between Boyd and the Blues on Friday, Fry confirmed that his agent spoke to the club, although primarily at least regarding another matter: "George trained with us, his agent was in Ipswich because he’s got the same agent as Paul Taylor and I think there were some documents which had to be re-signed regarding the Taylor deal, which was why he was there.
"Obviously, Ipswich would be fools not to discuss it further because it could have happened, but it hasn’t happened. Whether that’s the end of it, you’ll have to ask Paul Jewell and Marcus Evans.”
Chatham-born Boyd joined Posh from Stevenage in January 2007 for a then-record Conference transfer fee of £260,000. Boro included a 40%-of-profit sell-on clause in that deal, however, we understand the fee agreed between the Blues and Posh was £250,000 so that wouldn’t be triggered.
Speaking earlier this evening, Paul Jewell dismissed claims that a loan deal was already done but admitted that the move might still happen.
Regarding Taylor, who made his Town debut in today’s 2-2 home draw with Huddersfield, Fry was gushing in his praise: "Bobby Robson always used to tell me that The Beat was the best player that he ever had and I’m telling you that Paul Taylor will be the best player Paul Jewell’s ever had, that’s for sure.
"Potentially he’s that good. He reminds me of Stan Collymore, not in stature or anything, but in terms that when he gets the ball, I get on the edge of my seat because I anticipate something happening.
"If he plays like he did against Reading on Tuesday night, he won’t be with Ipswich very long, he’ll use you as a stepping stone and go in the Premiership.
"He’s a tough little individual with incredible skill and strength and he runs with the ball, beats people and I think he was our leading goalscorer last year with 13 Championship goals in about 35 games.
"He’s not the finished article by a long chalk, but he’s willing to listen, learn and improve beyond recognition and I think Ipswich have really, really made an unbelievable signing.
"I told that to Marcus Evans, he didn’t quite believe me, but believe you me, you’ve got the best deal out of this one, and I’m not very happy!”
Fry says he had lots of interest regarding Taylor during the summer and would have joined a Premier League club had a manager not moved on, although he suspects some clubs were put off by the 24-year-old’s lack of experience: "I think the only thing that stopped clubs coming in and paying £3-4 million for him was that he’s only had that one season last year.
"If he repeats that with Ipswich this year, which I’m sure he will, then there will be bigger clubs wanting him.
"Whether they do is not my business, although I hope they do because I’ve got a good sell-on!
"We’ve got £1.5 million guaranteed and if things happen and Ipswich are successful in the future, which I’m sure they will be, then it could rise to £2 million or £2.5 million.”