Town boss Mick McCarthy says he’d take former Blues striker Daryl Murphy back to Sunderland if he were currently the manager of the Black Cats.
The Wearsiders replaced their North-East rivals Newcastle in the Championship this summer, Murphy having helped the Magpies back into the Premier League at the first attempt.
The 34-year-old, who was brought to the Stadium of Light by McCarthy from his hometown club Waterford United in 2005 and spent five years as a Sunderland player, has been made available by Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez.
Asked whether he was still looking for a striker to replace the Irish international, who left Portman Road in a £3 million deal last August, McCarthy said: "We all want a Daryl Murphy replacement of 27 goals. He’s been allowed to go out on loan, of course.”
Quizzed on whether there is a chance of Murphy himself returning to Town, he added: "If they want full recovery of his wages then, no.
"If I was the new Sunderland manager I’d take him there because he’s living in the North-East and I just think he’s a very good Championship player.
"Somebody of that ilk, somebody with that kind of money to be able to pay wages will be able to do it.
"And I think that’s where he’ll end up, at a club that will be able to command that sort of money.”
TWTD understands that Murphy could end up at his third North-East club with Middlesbrough keen to sign him on a season-long loan.