Town boss Paul Jewell has revealed that he has spoken to former loanee Jimmy Bullard regarding a possible return to Portman Road. The 32-year-old, whose Hull City contract is in the process of being terminated, is also the subject of interest from Premier League clubs.

Jewell said: “I spoke to Jimmy yesterday. I’ve been speaking to him right through the summer. It was a deal we tried to do but Hull weren’t prepared to let him go out loan on a wage that we could afford. He almost had a deal set up at QPR in the summer.

“I spoke to him yesterday and he didn’t mention any Championship teams [being interested in him, as has been reported], but he said there are a couple of Premier League teams speaking to his representative.

“I told him to keep us informed because we want to be at the head of the queue if at all possible. He’s a player who did really well for us and we’d like him here if we could possibly have him here, if we could do it.

“But there will be a lot of teams after him. However, I spoke to him and asked him to keep us informed and keep us in the loop.”

The Blues boss admits that with Premier League sides chasing Bullard — Wigan, Blackburn, Norwich and Bolton were mentioned in this morning’s press — Town are very much outsiders: “Without being rude to us, I think he’d want to go to a Premier League team, anybody would.

“But he knows what it’s like here, he knows the set-up and he knows how we work. I know he enjoyed himself and all the players liked him and the fans loved him, so if we could do it at all we would.

“But as I said before, I’d liked to have signed Fabregas, but everything has a price, that’s life. If we can afford Jimmy, then we’re very, very interested and we’d like to bring him here.”

Jewell says he made two enquiries regarding Premier League players on Wednesday — one West Brom defender Pablo Ibáñez — but was again told to wait until after the transfer window closes.

Aside from Ívar Ingimarsson, who is out for another two weeks with his thigh strain, the Blues have no injuries ahead of Saturday’s live Sky clash at Peterborough (KO 5.20pm).

Photo: Action Images

NW5Tractor added 14:32 - Aug 19 Yes please, jimmy and cb missing pieces. He gets the best out of players around him and is a voice- what we need.
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Karlosfandangal added 14:32 - Aug 19 Hope to have two players in for Tuesday Hope to have two players in for Saturday Now we are after a player who Jewell think we dont have a chance of signing. Let get the centre backs sorted first rather than go for a player who has 4 prem teams to pick from. That makes us 5th in line and if those 4 cant afford him then we have no chance
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Garv added 14:33 - Aug 19 No brainer! Ainsley and Delaney for tomorrow by the way.
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Ipswich24 added 14:34 - Aug 19 Do we all think PJ is just covering his backside here like he did with Upson and Woodgate its all well and good saying we are interested in a player knowing forwell that we are not going to get them he didnt do that with Jet, Cresswell as he knew they were realistic
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brian_a_mul added 14:36 - Aug 19 C'mon Jimmy back up your comments from last year and prove you are a man of your word (and not your wallet)!
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icetruckiller added 14:42 - Aug 19 It will come down to who offers the most money, so we've got no chance. Surely he'd never go the budgies.
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dirtydingusmagee added 14:47 - Aug 19 well not only are we ''linked'' we are in the ''loop'' now too,come on JB .
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DiamondGezzer added 15:49 - Aug 19 To all those who are saying that Jimmy is just driven by money, if you remember back to the report it stated that his contract had been terminated, meaning that his money had stopped and all that future income wouldn't materialise. So if he does now go for the biggest [ possibly his last ] contract, who would blame him, I'm sure we'd all do the same, wouldn't we ? And before I'm blasted, yes, I would love him to sign !

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HarboroughBlue added 16:05 - Aug 19 Sign him if he wants to play and WIN for Town. If not then won't be bothered. Defence is where we need to invest. Too many come here for an easy ride.
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itfcjc added 16:54 - Aug 19 Come home jimmy
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paulnstar added 17:49 - Aug 19 why would he want to join a team who regularly let 5 in at home and are always going to be in the bottom half . JEWELL OUT
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poggie added 20:27 - Aug 19 Either sign him ... or don't ... but can we please get this resolved one way or the other and move on!!
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churchmans added 20:59 - Aug 19 come on mr marcus evans please sign up mr bullard on a two year contract you have to take a bit of a gamble with the wages side but im sure we could get promoted with him and andrews in midfield. pay him out of the wickham money come on marcus you got plenty of spare cash! make us happy
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Lombokblue added 00:56 - Aug 20 Move on.
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Lombokblue added 01:05 - Aug 20 At the beginning of the season PJ must have had a plan. I think it must have been to build a team. I don't think it was to build a team that revolves around one player.
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bobble added 07:45 - Aug 20 the man with the plan ! yes indeed thats what we need..... we have to many fans with plans
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