x

Lambert Targeting Ex-Canary Pilkington - Ipswich Town News

Town boss Paul Lambert is eyeing a move for his former Norwich City winger Anthony Pilkington, who is currently out of favour at Cardiff City.

According to the Daily Mirror, Lambert wants the 30-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, on loan.

TWTD understands that Pilkington is very much on Lambert's radar and is likely to be one of the targets the Blues manager was referring to yesterday when he said he hoped to bring "a few" players in next week.

Wales Online is reporting that Pilkington is set to leave Cardiff to join a Championship club on a permanent basis within the next fortnight, however, any move to Town would be a loan.

Having been a youth player with Preston, Manchester United and hometown club Blackburn, Pilkington dropped into non-league with Atherton Collieries before breaking back into the Football League with Stockport County.

After three years at Edgeley Park, the nine-times-capped Republic of Ireland international joined Huddersfield in 2009 before Lambert made him his sixth Norwich City signing in July 2011 when he paid a fee of £2 million rising to £3 million.

Pilkington moved on to Cardiff in the summer of 2014 for £1 million but has been out of favour for the last two seasons.

In 2017/18 he made only one Championship start, in addition to seven appearances from the bench and games in the cup competitions, scoring a total of five goals, while this season he is yet to feature at all.

Town are expected to complete the loan signing of Hull City striker Will Keane today with the Tigers lining up Middlesbrough’s Ashley Fletcher as his replacement.

Although out of contract in the summer, Keane’s Tigers deal includes an option for a further year which is why the move is a loan rather than a permanent switch.

Hull are happy for Keane to move on, however, if he is a great success during his spell with the Blues there could be the potential to secure a fee for the 25-year-old ex-Manchester United trainee in the summer.

Keane was at Portman Road yesterday to undergo his medical and tie-up the other formalities relating to his switch.

What to read next:

Humphreys: I'm Gutted Now, But It's Been a Really Good Season
Blues midfielder Cameron Humphreys is gutted that his loan side Wycombe Wanderers were beaten 1-0 by Charlton Athletic in the League One play-off semi-final last night but says he will look back on the spell positively once the dust settled.
McKenna: Delap Young Player Nomination Well Deserved
Town manager Kieran McKenna says Liam Delap fully deserves his nomination for the Premier League Young Player of the Year award and was pleased to that the Blues striker isn’t the only one he has coached on the shortlist.
McKenna: Brentford Game Another in Which We Were Competitive
Blues manager Kieran McKenna felt last week’s 1-0 defeat at home to Brentford was typical of many of Town’s matches this season.
McKenna: Burley All-Clear Fantastic News
Town boss Kieran McKenna is delighted to learn that George Burley, the previous Blues manager to take charge of the club in the Premier League, has been given the all-clear following his cancer treatment.
McKenna: Phillips Unlikely to Return Before End of Season
Town boss Kieran McKenna says it’s unlikely Kalvin Phillips will play for the Blues again this season with the on-loan Manchester City man still struggling with an achilles issue.
McKenna: Broadhead Back Training, Cajuste Has Had a Good Week, But Trio Remain Out
Nathan Broadhead is back in training, Jens Cajuste has had a better week and Leif Davis is back from suspension but Kalvin Phillips, Sammie Szmodics and Conor Townsend remain unavailable for Sunday’s penultimate game of the season at Leicester on Sunday.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Burgess in Australia Squad For Training Camp
Blues central defender Cameron Burgess has been named in a 23-man Australia squad for a training camp in Abu Dhabi ahead of their June fixtures.
[Podcast] Blue Monday - New Podcast Now Online
A new podcast from the Blue Monday team is now available.
Sheeran Revealed as Final Call Me Ted Artist
Town sponsor and minority shareholder Ed Sheeran has been revealed as the artist for the 19th and final Call Me Ted poster of the season.