Town boss Mick McCarthy wants to bring ex-Blues frontman Connor Wickham back to Portman Road on loan, according to reports in the North-East. Wickham joined Sunderland, the club McCarthy managed for three years until 2006, in the summer of 2011 for an initial fee of £8.1 million but has rarely featured for the Black Cats.
Wearsiders' boss Martin O’Neill is understood to be willing to allow Wickham to move out on loan with McCarthy said to have been interested in the England U21 international during his time at Wolves.
Former Blues manager Paul Jewell all but ruled out a move for Wickham in the summer due to the proportion of his wages Town, who have first refusal on the 21-year-old if he were to be sent out on loan, would be required to pay.
Earlier this week, McCarthy played down the chances of any immediate further loan additions to his squad with eight players already at the club on that basis.
Six of that total — Richie Wellens, Stephen Henderson, Massimo Luongo, Danny Higginbotham, DJ Campbell and Bilel Mohsni — are domestic loans with only five permitted in a matchday squad.
Blackburn Rovers and Wolves are also reported to be interested in Wickham, who has made just six starts and 13 sub appearances, scoring one goal, since moving to Wearside.