Former Blues loanee Jimmy Bullard says he would be a “very happy man” if a deal could be done to facilitate his return to Portman Road. The one-time England man began pre-season training with Hull City this week but with a move away from the KC Stadium looking all but certain this summer.

Hull are desperate to offload the 32-year-old, who has two years remaining on his £45,000-a-week contract, which makes up 21% of their wage bill.

The midfielder, who was named the Blues’ Player of the Year after a hugely successful loan spell in the second half of last season, was recently reported to be in talks with Hull regarding a settlement of his contract. The Tigers are as yet unwilling to talk about a further loan, preferring to get the £5 million signing from Fulham's future sorted once and for all.

Town boss Paul Jewell had ruled the Blues out of the running for his former Wigan player’s signature but, as TWTD reported last week, the large fee received from Sunderland for Connor Wickham will have made a potential deal more achievable.

Bullard, who is understood to have held talks with QPR earlier in the summer, says his future is still very much up in the air: “I’ve not really thought about things too much yet. I’ve been away for six or seven weeks and now I’m back in training with Hull.

“At the end of the day I’m still contracted to them and I’d be more than happy to play for them next season.

“If they turn around and say they don’t want me to play for money reasons then we’ll have to see what happens.

“I loved every single minute of my time at Ipswich last season and made some wicked friends. If there was some way I could sort out a move there I would be a very happy man.”

Meanwhile, the Town squad continue to report that pre-season training is hard work, young keeper Cody Cropper tweeting this morning: "Absolutely wrecked! But can't wait for day six of pre-season, as long as it’s not the same thing as we did on Monday!”

Photo: Action Images

whoppit added 12:15 - Jul 7 Somewhat pleased on this one but no escaping the fact that this bloke doesn't care who he plays for as long as he gets his cash.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 12:17 - Jul 7 money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money, money - unless he earns as much /nearly as much from pay-off / new-contract hull-ipswich, hull-qpr or whatever he will stick to his £4,590,000.00 which is guaranteed over the next two seasons

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SamWhiteUK added 12:18 - Jul 7 GTRKing, I'm no accountant, but I'm sure £25/w will not cover the money issue.
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Doctor_Albran added 12:27 - Jul 7 People need to take a reality check, footballers are employees, playing football is a job - they are lucky to do it, it pays (some) very, very well, but none the less it is there job. If I thought 3 companies were after my services then if asked questions about those companies publically and I knew those companies would see my responses then I would be polite about all 3 - so get off your high horses. He is not a Town fan, he doesn't need to be a town fan, he just needs to turn up for his employer and do a job to the best of his ability. Regarding the money side of things - JB contract is worth alot of money, if he can come to a settlement arrangement with Hull, then we'll look to sign him on realistic terms, if he can't then we leave well alone. People are talking about parting with 1 - 4 million pounds for him - he's 32 and has spent the best part of 4 years injured - despite his excellent performances for us. If we can get him for a minimal fee and pay him within the clubs wage structure go for it, if we can't, good luck wherever you end up Jimmy, thanks for the good times and don't bother to shut the door on your way out as I'm expecting the next big thing to turn up any minute.

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StowTractorBoy added 12:29 - Jul 7 Hull City have really got themselves in a hole over Mr. Bullard. Who in their right minds would pay £45K a week for a player so injury prone. Something will undoubtedly happen if not Hull will just watch £4.6M go down the drain over the next two years with no return. In my opinion Bullard will definitely go somewhere even if it is to cut Hull Citys losses so why not us. I would not however break the bank for him but am sure a deal to suit both parties could be done. If it is not done here it will be done somewhere else.

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tractorboy2434 added 12:29 - Jul 7 If we are going to get Bowyer I would imagine that blows any Bullard deal out of the water, we are trying to balance the books so I would think that if Bowyer signs that will be it.
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Mark added 12:42 - Jul 7 I have lost all enthusiasm for signing Bullard due to this ongoing saga where we seem to be the fall-back position if another club such as QPR or Norwich don't want him. Jimmy is a good player, but I do not want us throwing the sums mentioned (£1M golden hello + £20K a week!!) at a player who will be 33 in October: it is dead money that we would never get back. INVEST in younger players and pick up older players on free transfers as we have been doing, that's the best policy.

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saffronblue added 13:00 - Jul 7 Lets face it there are very few players who don't move around as there are very few employees that have never moved around. If I had a contract that was worth £4m+ I would certainly want to be paid it, if someone came in with a better offer i would certainly look at it. Jimmy, as are most of us is a mercenary who will look out for himself. If PJ feels that JB will add something to our club and if a deal can be done then I certainly will applaud him whilst he wears the shirt.

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BlueVelvet added 13:10 - Jul 7 2 Years at £45k a week is £4.68m, less 2 years wages at ITFC of £10k a week is £3.64m : so bottom line fig. is £3.2 to £3.8m offer to JB and Hull save themselves £4.68m.
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robdaful added 13:15 - Jul 7 He wants to play for anyone. I'd still bring him in but on our terms and not breaking the bank either.
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WickedBlue added 13:21 - Jul 7 Al those going on about with Jimmy it's money...it is with everyone, at the end of the day you got to make sure you and your family are well cared for...Would any of you be willing to give up a £2 - 3m lottery win? No you wouldn't but let's look at it for moment....from what has been reported is Bullard has agreed to cut the money owed to him by Hull....Hull have made a substantial investment in Jimmy and have probably told him, we want £5m for you and will pay you out of that money we will not accept less...they are never going to get that amount for him not at his age or the chance of further injury....but Hull want to claw back some of it's money so they will hold on to him...they might let him go out on a loan deal once the transfer window is closed but not before...we can't count on that nor that they would re-loan him to us....looking at it that way it is Hull who are all about money not Jimmy......they are asking for an amount they are never going to get...they have to understand that they will have to bite the bullet save what they can without trying to claw some of the money back......the ball as they say is firmly in their court....

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Premiertown added 13:23 - Jul 7 nobody wants bullards wage costs, end of
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Garv added 13:24 - Jul 7 Bowyer joining I think could encourage Jimmy, last year the ball was always going to him and no one else had any balls to call for it or do anything. A quality player like Bowyer in there might take some pressure off him.
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blue_em_away added 13:28 - Jul 7 NO THANK YOU. If JB really wanted to play for us or anyone else then he would put in a transfer request. He hasn't and will not. No doubt he is a good player but, probably would only play a max of 20 games per season and would upset the dressing room being the highest paid player and not playing, I would rather have Bowyer.
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Lightningboy added 13:30 - Jul 7 Would be brilliant to get Jimmy back BUT let's not break the bank on his wages..we do need some common sense at the club.
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Billy_Britain_HCAFC added 13:56 - Jul 7 The bloke is an effin whore.. Like a dirt-Bird he says he's more than happy to stick around and take it up the @rse for cash.. then he flashes his knickers at Ipswich cos they gotta decent wedge of new beer tokens.. the tart still got fading love bites from his sordid affair with Neil Warnock..
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RetroBlue added 14:07 - Jul 7 The ball is firmely in Bullards court. All he has to do is agree to take a pay cut , then many clubs will come out of the wood work to sign him up !
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ITFC1812 added 14:08 - Jul 7 Hull want to bring in 7 new players over pre-season, Jimmy's ludicrous contract is their problem, they must be desperate to off load. Nobody in their right mind will take it on. Interesting to see how this one ends, watch and wait I'm thinking.
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TractorBeezer added 15:08 - Jul 7 blue_em_away If JB really wanted to play for us or anyone else then he would put in a transfer request. He hasn't and will not. Financially, Jimmy is is a no lose situation here and strategically it is in his best interests to let his present employer make the first move.
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Sindre94 added 16:11 - Jul 7 Yes please, but I've stopped believed in this deal, it just wont happen...
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Blackbirdblue added 18:54 - Jul 7 Sorry but any thought of Bullard returning to our club is completely is out of the question !!! ------ the money risk is far far far too great----- his contract virtually brought Hull to their knees, his time out for injury and so on, PJ's acquisitions so far look pretty good!!----- we don't need and can ill afford to be bringing Bullard back to the club. Let's pursue the remaining players that PJ has on his wish list,hopefully one or two younger, fit, raring to go types!! COYB!!!!

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Talbs77 added 19:53 - Jul 7 I think Jimmy would be good signing however, as I said in peice about bowyer, I am worried we dont sign too many players well over 30 as think some of them (not Jimmy beofre people have a go) see it as 1 last pay packet before packing it in.
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ericgates added 20:36 - Jul 7 Plenty of mathmeticians and accountants in the house tonight! Lets just wait and see. All I know is at the end of the season, most were desperate for him to sign. Now, with PJ proving he knows what he is doing in the transfer market and the signings he has made so far, it doesn't matter so much if he comes to us or not. I think signing Lee Bowyer could be a masterstroke.

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bigfatjoe added 21:02 - Jul 7 All you have to do is take a little pay cut, simples..bullard and bowyer sounds better than healy and leadbitter..
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distractored added 21:35 - Jul 7 Much as we all love Town there's not a man amongst us who'd do anything different to Bullard when it comes to the contract Hull were daft enough to offer him. I wonder what my missus would say if I told her I was gonna chuck away a couple of million quid on a move just because it takes my fancy?
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