Fulham are reported to have given midfielder Ryan Tunnicliffe the go-ahead to hold talks with Wigan Athletic regarding a loan deal as well as Town. TWTD revealed that that the Blues were looking to re-sign the 21-year-old on Friday.
According to Sky Sports News, the Latics are also interested, viewing Tunnicliffe, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Portman Road, as a replacement for Ben Watson, who recently suffered a broken leg.
We understand Tunnicliffe has already spoken to Town about returning to the Blues less than a month after his previous loan spell was cut short to allow Manchester United to sell him to Fulham.
Since then, the former England U16 and U17 international has started two Cottagers games but the manager who signed him, his former Old Trafford mentor René Meulensteen, has been sacked.
New boss Felix Magath left him out of the 18 which drew 1-1 with West Brom on Saturday and is expected to look to more experienced players as he tries to keep Fulham in the Premier League.
The German has said that his squad is currently too large and needs trimming: "If we have too many players, then we have too many influences.”
Town look in need of central midfield cover in the short-term with Luke Hyam currently out with the hamstring injury he suffered in the game against Blackpool, while manager Mick McCarthy may also want to increase the competition in his midfield in the final months of the campaign.
Questioned about his interest in bringing Tunnicliffe back to Town on Saturday, McCarthy was keeping his cards close to his chest: "We’ll see. We’ve just lost to Leicester, it’s not the end of the world, they’ll p--- [this division], they’re streets in front of the rest of us. We’ll regroup on Monday and see and get ready for Birmingham.”
During his spell at Portman Road earlier in the season Tunnicliffe made 24 starts and five sub appearances without scoring.