TWTD understands that veteran Crystal Palace midfielder Shaun Derry is on Town manager Roy Keane’s summer wish-list, while Sheffield Wednesday are showing renewed interest in striker Pablo Couñago. The Blues boss has said on a number of occasions that he wants to add experienced Championship campaigners to his squad and 32-year-old Palace skipper Derry very much fits the bill.

The Nottingham-born defensive midfielder is out of contract at Selhurst Park with the administration-hit Eagles unlikely to be able to match any offer the Blues might have put on the table. Keane has said that “one or two” of his “four or five” summer targets are players available on free transfers.

Derry, 6ft tall, started his career with hometown club Notts County before moving on to Sheffield United for £700,000 in January 1998. Two years later, a £300,000 deal took him to Portsmouth, then in 2002 he joined Palace for a first spell for £400,000.

Having been on loan at Nottingham Forest during the Eagles’ 2004/05 Premier League campaign, Derry eventually signed for Leeds for £250,000 late in that season.

In November 2008, he moved back to Palace on loan, making the switch a permanent one the following January for an undisclosed fee.

Derry came close to joining the Blues on loan in November 2004 during Joe Royle’s time as Town manager, but Palace preferred to do a permanent deal with Leeds.

Meanwhile, striker Pablo Couñago is understood to again be interesting newly-relegated Sheffield Wednesday. The Spanish striker, who has another year left on his Town contract, looks set to leave the Blues over the summer, although whether the Owls would be able to afford his wages or whatever fee Town ask - even if League One football appeals to the 30-year-old - remains to be seen.

Former Blues keeper-coach Andy Rhodes is now at Hillsborough and was spotted at Portman Road towards the end of the season, TWTD having first reported the Owls' interest in the ex-Spain U21 international in January.

Leicester are reported to be considering signing Alex Bruce on a permanent basis after his loan spell. The central defender spent the second half of the season on loan at the Walkers Stadium.

Elsewhere, Tommy Smith currently appears to be in New Zealand coach Ricki Herbert’s first XI for the World Cup, judging by reports of the squad’s last home-based training session. The Town defender was used on the left of a three-man defence with Blackburn’s Ryan Nelsen in the centre and FC Midtjylland's Winston Reid on the right.

The trio are expected to play in Monday’s friendly against Australia at the MCG when Herbert plans to field his strongest side.

Former Blue Matt Bloomfield has signed a new one-year deal at Wycombe Wanderers. Felixstowe-born Bloomfield has been with the Chairboys since leaving Town on a free transfer in the summer of 2003.

Photo: Action Images

comeonthegoodtimes added 12:34 - May 20 Oh dear callmeted and 3wheeltractorboy, Have you not been keeping up with this artical? Have you not read the Previous posts? This is an Adult conversation with Adult points of view. There have been no stupid comments made just real fans putting there opinions forward, I think Bennyblue and the other clowns are still hung up on the Players we let go last year and posting on that site so be good boys and either add something that people want and are actually interested in or go play in your sandpit in the garden and let the grown ups talk. there's good boy's

0

Jarvo3003 added 12:36 - May 20 Whatever combination we get in the centre of midfield Keane must stick with it, i think derry would be good but keane must then decide if he's to partner leadbitter or norris. However, we desperately need (as all have mentioned) a quality striker and a wideman who when he picks up the ball the crowd are instantly lifted, a player we haven't had in years - ala peralta, reuser, even finidi!! IMO.... Murphy ?? Macauley Delaney OConnor Walters Norris Derry ??(Townsend maybe?) Wickham ??

0

comeonthegoodtimes added 12:43 - May 20 Good shout with Paralta Javo3003, really good Player. although why don't you think we could play 3-5-2? I honestly think we would be a force to be reckoned with next year with them three in the middle and Conner and ?? up top. How about getting Derry to have a word with Ambrose? Conner Ambrose combo with supply from Norris,Leadbitter and Derry doing the Donkey work. Sounds good to me.

0

DietmarVanNostrilBoy added 12:47 - May 20 We already have 2 younger Shaun Derry type players, are they worth more if you have a full set! Should make for another bland season. We need pace, skill, width - but I don't think were gonna get it. Even our strikers could score if they had this in the team. With the right service you could get 10 plus goals from Pablo and 15 plus goals from Connor.
0

DietmarVanNostrilBoy added 12:47 - May 20 We already have 2 younger Shaun Derry type players, are they worth more if you have a full set! Should make for another bland season. We need pace, skill, width - but I don't think were gonna get it. Even our strikers could score if they had this in the team. With the right service you could get 10 plus goals from Pablo and 15 plus goals from Connor.
0

DietmarVanNostrilBoy added 12:47 - May 20 We already have 2 younger Shaun Derry type players, are they worth more if you have a full set! Should make for another bland season. We need pace, skill, width - but I don't think were gonna get it. Even our strikers could score if they had this in the team. With the right service you could get 10 plus goals from Pablo and 15 plus goals from Connor.
0

robbo123 added 12:47 - May 20 please do not sign shaun derry
0

comeonthegoodtimes added 12:49 - May 20 Yep we get your point DietmarVanNostriBoy, Posting it three times is a bit OTT.....lol
0

Mark added 12:50 - May 20 The last captain to sign for us was De Vos and he was a great signing! Derry might be worth bringing in on a free. I agree we need someone in the captain's role, but we need to be careful not to overload ourselves with central midfielders. Usually two people play in this role and we already have Leadbitter, Norris, Garvan, Clark, Quinn and Healy, and Trotter has been offered a new contract. As for Leadbitter and Norris, they have both looked snappy defensive midfielders to me. If they were both told to play this way, why is that? Their goalscoring is definitely disappointing: Leadbitter = 3 goals in 38 games (1 in 13); Norris = 5 goals in 70 games for Ipswich (1 in 14). Incidentally, Derry's record at Palace is 3 goals in 186 games (1 in 62).

0

Jarvo3003 added 12:52 - May 20 IMO it just asks too much of the 2 wide players on a regular basis, i would rather see a 4-3-1-2 with maybe walters behind the front two to hold the ball up, win the aerial stuff. As for ambrose I dont think he would be the same player for us now, i think this guy from spurs sounds a good shout, and I'd like to see how kerry baptiste does on trial (rather hav him for last minute desparation than waste money on likes of priskin!) However we can speculate all summer long, just hope Mr Keane gets it right! He barely has until Xmas

0

comeonthegoodtimes added 12:55 - May 20 Yep we get your point DietmarVanNostriBoy, Posting it three times is a bit OTT.....lol
0

Marcus added 12:56 - May 20 I don't know enough about Derry to say much. Nice joke about the Derry name, a bit of relief from the serious conversation without gong off track. I get the impression that Keane is looking for a Roy Keane type player - does that ring true with anyone who's seen Derry play?
0

yorksblue added 13:02 - May 20 Well, Keano's made it to Selhurst Park. Sadly, not for Lee and Ambrose.
0

comeonthegoodtimes added 13:10 - May 20 Yeah, he's tough tackling, a leader and puts his point across. Alot like Kean was, If he's half the player Keano was then i'll SIGN HIM UP NOW! i'd even give Palace money for him. Although free is better obviously,
0

Yallop added 13:15 - May 20 It always makes me laugh when people post their 11 and formation and then say where does a player like Derr fit in. There's 46 league games plus numerous cup. Anyone know how many players Newcastle and West Brom used this season? Was it 11 each?!
0

Lightningboy added 13:28 - May 20 lol.........
0

Help added 13:31 - May 20 This is exactly the sort of Player RK said he was after seasoned campaigner, not afraid to get booked, and he even sounds Irish. So Garvan & Norris to go. Leaving Leadbitter, Walters, Derry & Civelli in midfield
0

Yallop added 13:33 - May 20 Nonsence. As if Norris would go. Our season totally improved when he came back from injury
0

comeonthegoodtimes added 13:37 - May 20 i agree yallop, one of the best players Town have imo there the kind of players to build your team round and Derry could only compliment him not push him out of the team.
0

Help added 13:39 - May 20 So one of Leadbitter and Norris has to go. Neither works on the wide as we know from last season. Width was one of our main problems.
0

bluechick added 13:43 - May 20 Would have been a good signing in 2004 at 26 but not now at 32. Certainly not one for the Premiership in 2011/12 is he.
0

callmeted added 13:47 - May 20 comeonthegoodtimes- who made you the 'adult conversation police? Its called a democratic forum and if you bothered to read earlier I have already made a point that I agree wth Derry being signed. Its called a bit of humour whether you agree with it or not. So there nere nere ne nere nere
0

brendanh added 13:55 - May 20 Derry is probably the dirtiest player in English football and sounds Irish so I can see why Keane likes him. But at 32, he's not the kind of player I'd like to see. No signings should be considered until after we sign a striker. Lack of goals is where our problems lie. Get Rhodes back.
0

ChambersM added 13:56 - May 20 i could have guessed this, a typical roy keane signing = a shi*e clogger....boring defensive player who will just make more rash tackles just like leadbitter (who i like btw) but thats enough in terms of dirty midfielders. Plus he's too old and slow, we need someone with a bit of pace and skill, some proper creativity and when i say this i dont mean a central midfielder because we dont need another one, but a winger.

0

PaulMariner added 13:59 - May 20 Give me strength! Is it April 1st ??
0

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls