West Bromwich Albion have emerged as the Premier League side departing Town defender Gareth McAuley is set to join. Earlier today, Blues boss Paul Jewell revealed that McAuley and skipper David Norris had decided to leave the club having failed to agree new terms at Portman Road.

McAuley had previously been linked with SPL giants Rangers but Baggies boss Roy Hodgson was spotted at the recent East Anglian derby with the Northern Ireland international evidently the reason for his visit to Suffolk.

Despite links with Crystal Palace in recent days, Norris now looks to be on his way to Portsmouth, the side who made their targeting of the Town captain little secret in January. Leeds, Wigan and Nottingham Forest are also believed to be interested.

Elsewhere, the Blues face stiff competition from Premier League Everton and weekend opponents Leicester for the signature of Coventry keeper Keiren Westwood, whose contract is up at the end of the season.

Photo: Action Images

Lightningboy added 22:55 - May 9 Hodgson watched McAuley in the recent east anglian derby?...and he still wants to sign him!? We're not a sinking ship but at least we're discovering the rats. The sooner some of this under-achieving lot are out of here the sooner Jewell can start bringing in far better replacements.
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WadzillaBhoy added 22:57 - May 9 I doubt Hodgson would've bought Big Mac but as his contract was running out he put an offer in
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Premiertown added 23:04 - May 9 Just a word of caution to those wanting all change to the squad, - Middlesborough. New team of fresh faces and down they went, gradual change and improvement is needed. We are going backwards still, and have been since Burley left. I was at Grimsby that night 0-3 and never dreamed of the decline to follow.
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Tractastic added 23:06 - May 9 Jewell is not a fool.This is for the best in the long run.'Out with the old in with the new' marshalled by Jimmy Bullard.Come on.!!
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Keaneish added 23:09 - May 9 Have to agree with a few on here. Good move for Mac financially but he'll be done time and time again against pace in the prem. As for Norris. What a weird one. The sort of player Pompey need but what's he thinking moving there - everyone knows they've go no cash and it's a hole. His family are from there aren't they? Either way, new agent for you mate!
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thorpeblue added 23:35 - May 9 McAulelt did seem to try but was always vulnerable to pace. Frankly with the ball on the floor I would fancy my chances! As for Norris; never saw what we paid for him, rather leaden and ineffective- yes I know he scored- never really had the brain or the legs to boss a midfield. Won't miss him on the pitch but bad business.
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Marshalls_Mullet added 23:35 - May 9 Premiertown - I was at Grimsby that night too..... strange to see the lack of progress since then. Fair play to BFJ though, he did a good job given limted funds. Although was fortunate enough to have the two Darrens in his side.
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truckertractorboy added 00:38 - May 10 It just shows how much mac cared about our club he even couldnt b bothered to come out and clap the crowd last home game,he was there watched him leave so Im glad his gone
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TractorRoyNo1 added 00:40 - May 10 what? they have let £3-5m worth of talent walk away for nowt! marhsallsmullet added 22:26 - May 9 Cant really blame the club for being led a merry dance;
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DiamondGezzer added 06:58 - May 10 Wish both of them well. Now, will it be as easy as people think to replace these two without spending a lot of the cash needed for strikers, I hope so !
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bobble added 07:45 - May 10 neither of them were good enough to take us up if they were we would be higher than we are the more see players go the happier i am' i would be really delighted if i didn't know a single player in squad next year and there were a couple of woman in the squad and we scored more goals than we conceded every game and the ticket prices were halfed and they gave out free beer every time we lost at home

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tractorboybig added 08:05 - May 10 Why is chuck a mercenary. He will go to a club that is ambitious professional and bigger than a small time east of england club that are a poor championship side for yearts to come.
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andygizmo added 08:33 - May 10 Ok down to the bookies for a bet on WBA relegated next year..... imagine McCauley against Hernandez, Suarez, Rooney, well preactically any premiership attack!! Norris 3 years of getting not paid is surely not the same of getting 2 years of getting paid! I see some Russian is out to buy Portsmouth .... another one with no money but a big dream. Neither have done us any harm but truthfully I don't believe that either will be truthfully missed. As for Murphy to QPR, they must be missing a 4th place keeper to warm up the other 3!

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Millsey added 10:53 - May 10 For those on here who says he'll get found out in the prem league, don't forget he plays international football and has'nt been found wanting there???
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WeWereZombies added 10:55 - May 10 If WBA do sign McAuley it will be as back up, not as a first team regular - he can expect to play against Sunderland and Fulham, in the cups but not against top six sides. It is a shame e could not have let Norris beggar off to Portsmouth earlier and maybe have arranged to bring Hermann back as part of the deal, I know he is getting on but he has more commitment to the cause than the rest of a club put together - he would not have understood than you do not let the budgies score nine over two matches in one season.

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broomfield123 added 11:18 - May 10 Good radiance. Weren't never that good a player way over rated
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GeorgiDoundarov added 13:55 - May 10 Good luck to both of them! I would have chosen that they stay but if they have better offers - of cource! This is their carreer. They should do whatever is best for them. I only hope we can find decent replacements on top of the other 4-5 we need to get during this summer. It is getting like a completely new team again for the next season, something that bothers me a bit. Again these new players will need time to jel and etc. Hopefully this time around they will be the right ones so we don't need to do this exercise every summer until ME is fed up giving away his money for nothing....

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oldtimer3 added 16:50 - May 10 we need a quicker defender to play along side delaney so he has to go. Also Norris is a very ordinary midfield player does a simalar job to a much classier Leadbitter got to get a midfield player who can feed the forwards with telling balls Captain Norris was hopeless against Norwich. Which ever team he plays for in the future will not be anywhere near to the playoffs next season

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ITFC4daprem added 19:37 - May 10 Shame we cant swap 4 coxs
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chepstowblue added 21:15 - May 10 Really will miss G Mac,has often done the work of 2 and made Delaney and Smith look far better than they actually are and god help us if were planning on them being the central defensive pairing nxt season,both decent but needing an authoritive leader alongside them.As for Norris,always a trier but very very limited as a footballer,i wont lose any sleep over his departure but wish them both good luck.

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h32 added 21:23 - May 10 GeorgiDoundarov - you post some good, balanced stuff.
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