Town and Stoke City have agreed a loan deal for striker Ali Al-Hamadi with the player having passed his medical, TWTD understands.
The 22-year-old held talks with the Potters yesterday and we understand a deal has now been agreed with the Potters paying Town a substantial loan fee.
The deal, which includes no provision to become permanent in the summer, has been done in time for the frontman to be in the Stoke squad at home to Oxford tomorrow.
Earlier in the week, Al-Hamadi held talks with West Brom boss Tony Mowbray with a proposed permanent switch falling through regarding the fee, contrary to reports elsewhere claiming it was due to his medical.
Al-Hamadi has been Town’s third-choice frontman this season but his only starts came in the cup ties against his former club AFC Wimbledon and Bristol Rovers and his departure comes as little surprise.
In the summer, the Iraqi international, who had undergone adductor surgery at the end of last season, was close to signing for Derby on loan but the move didn’t happen after Town pulled out of the deal to sign Armando Broja on loan from Chelsea.
A move to a Championship club during January either on loan or permanently has always looked on the cards with the Blues keen to bring in a more senior frontman during this window, although with manager Kieran McKenna having said yesterday that there is no guarantee that will happen before the Monday 3rd February deadline.
Iraq-born, Liverpool raised Al-Hamadi joined Town from AFC Wimbledon in January last year for a fee which, following promotion, rose to around £2 million.
He has made three starts - one in the league - and 24 sub appearances for the Blues, scoring five times. His only goal this season came in the Carabao Cup tie against his old club at Plough Lane in August.
The one-time Wycombe frontman’s departure frees up a space in Town’s 25-man Premier League squad, which has to be resubmitted shortly after the transfer window closes.