TWTD understands that Town are closing in on the signing of former Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. The 27-year-old free agent has been at the club for the last two days and is understood to be undergoing a medical this afternoon.
The Cambridge-born former England U21 international has been sidelined since April with a broken leg and ankle ligament damage and has been back with Wolves during the opening months of the season working on his fitness, despite being released at the end of 2012/13.
If the deal is completed as expected, Ebanks-Blake will be signing for Mick McCarthy for the second time, the Blues boss having taken him to Wolves from Plymouth for £1.5 million in January 2008.
The former Manchester United trainee is understood to have held talks with Burnley and Leicester in recent weeks, while Leeds have also been linked.
Speaking last week, McCarthy confirmed that he would be interested in adding the frontman to his squad once he was fit, but expected strong competition from elsewhere.
"I think he’s progressing OK and is probably getting to the stage where he’s looking for a club,” he said.
"I spoke to him when I was up at Jody Craddock’s testimonial dinner at Molineux about four weeks ago and I think in January he’ll certainly be looking for a club, and there’ll be clubs looking for him, and we’ll be one of them.”
Having played youth football with hometown club Cambridge United, Ebanks-Blake joined Manchester United’s academy at 15.
He made two senior appearances for the Red Devils, one start and one game from the bench, both in the League Cup, and spent time on loan in Belgium with Royal Antwerp while at Old Trafford.
In the summer of 2006 Plymouth paid an initial £200,000 for his services with the deal included clauses which totalled a further £100,000.
After scoring 23 goals in 56 starts and 18 sub appearances in 18 months with the Pilgrims, McCarthy took him to Wolves in January 2008.
In five years at Molineux the 5ft 8in tall striker netted 64 goals in 133 starts and 60 sub appearances, carrying off the Championship’s Golden Boot award in 2007/08 — 23 league goals - and 2008/09 when his 25 league goals helped Wolves win the title and promotion into the Premier League.
Last season, his 15 goals couldn't prevent his side dropping into League One with his injuries ending his season prior to the crucial last month of the campaign.