Town are remaining tight-lipped regarding last night’s report that a £13 million deal has been agreed with Sunderland for striker Connor Wickham. TWTD understands that an offer of £9 million plus clauses totalling an additional £4 million is indeed on the table but with the clubs still discussing the proposed deal.

Town's general policy is not to comment on transfer speculation, chief executive Simon Clegg outlining this approach at last week's Nathan Ellington press conference: "When we have something to say, we’ll say it but I don’t comment on speculation or whatever is out there on the Internet. It’s foolish to do so and it’s a policy I’ve had since I’ve been at the club."

Yesterday’s tabloid report appears to have jumped the gun slightly in claiming that the offer has been accepted by the Blues, however, we understand that an agreement regarding the terms on which the 18-year-old frontman could join the Black Cats may not be too far away with talks continuing.

Despite previous suggestions from manager Paul Jewell that Wickham might not be interested in signing for one of the Premier League’s lesser lights, if a deal is agreed with the Wearsiders and no other offers are forthcoming, it’s difficult to see the Hereford-born frontman turning the move down.

Sunderland have stolen a march on the likes of Liverpool, Spurs and Arsenal by firming up their interest in the England U21 international, making a bid which would make him the most expensive player to have moved from the Championship to the Premier League without previous experience in the top flight. In 2006 Theo Walcott made the switch from Southampton to Arsenal for a fee which, after a renegotiation in 2008, eventually totalled £9 million, having initially been set at £12 million including clauses.

The deal would also make Wickham Town’s most expensive sale, smashing the £6.5 million Newcastle paid the Blues for Kieron Dyer in the summer of 1999.

Photo: Action Images

Bostonblue added 13:34 - Jun 28 Take the money & if he lives up to his expected potential good for him & us & if he doesn't we still win! Could buy Loach from Watford,St Ledger from Preston,Whittingham from Cardiff & Sharp from Donny for the amount Sunderland are prepared to pay so it seems a good deal to me.
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Tillz9 added 13:44 - Jun 28 A few stories are saying only 5m up front. Would be gutted if this is true. £9m up front and I can see the reasoning as that will buy 3 good quality champ players (presuming the money does not go in ME pocket). Don't know what to make of it all. Suppose we will have to wait for confirmation - although it will no doubt be undisclosed !!!
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Tiggs added 13:46 - Jun 28 Sod Jordan Rhodes. Get Billy Sharp, he is and always has been the man to get. ME has to be bold to revive our flagging club.
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terry_butchers_twin added 13:54 - Jun 28 Its not over till the fat lady sings..............Sunderland website shows they are linked with FORTY TWO new signings coming in of only two that have happened yet. However, of the ten or possible exits from Sunderland two are linked with ITFC. The legacy of Keane lives on...........
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JimmyJazz added 14:04 - Jun 28 But have Sunderland triggered a release clause? If the release figure is 9 million, why include add-ons? If the figure is 13 million surely it has to be cash and not made up of add-ons? I think that Sunderland made an offer, Ipswich considered it and agreed (or enough of an agreement to allow CW to talk to them). Of course we would like to keep CW, but Town would like the money offered more. That's the message being sent out. Either that or Town know that CW wants to make a move as long as the deal is also good for us. Hence not much point denying him his wish.

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MickMillsTash added 14:22 - Jun 28 We sold Dyer for 6 mill and the next year went up having signed McGreal, Wright probably someone else and then Sir Marcus and Reuser (on loan?) The issue I see with this deal is that now everyone knows we will have lots of cash the asking price will go up - shame we could n't have landed a few more players prior to this happening.
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AndyUK61873 added 14:37 - Jun 28 A lot of excellent comments, that for the most part I agree with most of them. Like other fans would not want to see Wickham go, but I am a realist, we are a mid-table struggling Champ team, and ultimately Connor is still just a "potential" and I certainly see the value in getting 9m +incentives for a prospect....that when you look at it..one serious ACL tear and that 9m is 9quid....look at Dyer, we sold him when he had value and he got injury prone and all value was lost... and one last point, Connor is like the rest of us in this world, you have a job, someone comes looking at you and offers you a raise, just about everybody takes that in this current business climate.....good luck mate, sure we will see you on MOTD many times.

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dirtyboy added 14:38 - Jun 28 What on earth makes anyone here think Wickham would stay? Sunderland will offer premiership football and more money, what donkey would possibly turn that down? The only vein hope we have is that another club, maybe Liverpool, say to him, prove yourself for another 6 months, and we'll knock on the door in January, and he takes an option like that. Whilst Sunderland are the only ones in the hunt though, he'll be going there.

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lowtit added 14:56 - Jun 28 sunderland?? boring! at least go somewhere glamourous - or, cant we keep him for a bit? evans is minted after all -
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oddball added 15:01 - Jun 28 This would be a good move for him and excellent business for us, come on 13 million for Connor. They've wanted strikers since bent left and so he has good chance of getting games, good luck to him and well done academy for banging out this extremely valuable asset.
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osborne1nil added 15:23 - Jun 28 Shame if he goes as we have very few players with the potential to excite when they get the ball. Wicked is correct in that if ITFC have been offered sufficient to trigger the clause in his contract then it all comes down to Connor if he wants to move on or not. Those going on about 8 goals in the season need to look a little closer at that season. He was out injured for some of the season with his ankle injury and Jewell played him in midfield rather than striker a lot of the time too. When he moved up in place of the 'experienced' Scotland, Towns performance generally improved. Money talks and obviously if the Club/Jewell (whom have far more experience and knowledge in deals than some of the cr*p spoken on here) feel it represents an opportunity for them to get nearer to promotion than keeping hold, then so be it.

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nearly50yearsblue added 15:45 - Jun 28 Paul Jewell has £3 million to spend in total, £1.5 million gone already. This includes whether Wickham is sold,Evans will then review to situation in January and decide if he will spend more.
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Premiertown added 16:25 - Jun 28 Sell big then you buy big as everyone knmows you have the cash. If CW so good why did Pearce not risk him for ten minutes when England needed something to happen?
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Lightningboy added 16:29 - Jun 28 Why in God's name would one of the most promising young strikers in english football with the world at his feet want to go and play for Sunderland?! It's like all those Brazilians that went to play for Middlesbrough in the 90's..just baffles me. If I were Connor i'd sit tight until a big club come calling...at worst Connor, you're going to spend at least one more (hopefully succesful) season with us,so don't rush into the first thing that comes along (i.e. a probable relegation battle with a bit of a nothing team from up north). Don't listen to your agent.

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alfromcol added 16:39 - Jun 28 Lightningboy My sentiments entirely, a season in the NE fighting relegation, won't do anything to further CW's career
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jas0999 added 17:44 - Jun 28 I am afraid the likelihood is that CW will be leaving ITFC. We are a Championship club and if the price is right - he will be sold. CW would be mad not to join a PL club. At Sunderland he will get a game against top teams week in week out. At Liverpool, he'll be on the bench and for us he will play against Peterboro, Brighton and Doncaster. The important thing is we MUST replace him.

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StochesStotasBlewe added 19:58 - Jun 28 Get it done ASAP. Take the dosh, reinvest it wisely, no brainer.
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jollyroger added 20:18 - Jun 28 sky sports reporting conner having medical tomorrow morning
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runaround added 20:21 - Jun 28 Will be disappointed to see him move now as would have liked him to have 1 more season here. Of course he might be loaned back to us but I feel thats unlikely if he joins Sunderland. However the cash we will get should he leave must be reinvested in new players and £9m could by us about 4 quality players at this level, although I'm sure prices will go up when we bid! The only way ME will get a return on his outlay is promotion and without that £9m being spent on players there is no hope of that. Assuming Connor goes I will be interested to see who PJ goes for

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