Former loanee Jimmy Bullard is set to undergo a medical at Portman Road as he closes in on a return to the Blues. Boss Paul Jewell moved quickly to try to bring the 32-year-old back to the club as soon as news that Hull City were terminating his contract broke last week.

As reported earlier, owner Marcus Evans was at the club today, presumably to hold talks regarding Town's ongoing transfer targets, including Bullard and defender Ibrahima Sonko. The Blues appear to have fought off competition from QPR - whose move for Newcastle's Joey Barton may have seen their interest in Bullard wane - and Portsmouth to land the one-time England call-up.

In a perhaps not unrelated move, manager Paul Jewell's morning pre-match press conference has been moved back an hour with Bullard and his agent Simon Dent understood to be at the club this evening.

Bullard enjoyed a hugely successful loan spell with Town during the final few months of last season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award as he scored five goals in 16 appearances.

Town were keen to sign the midfielder on a permanent basis at the end of the campaign, but with two years remaining on his £45,000-a-week contract at the KC Stadium, manager Paul Jewell admitted that it would be a difficult deal for the club to negotiate with the Tigers.

Bullard, who cost the East Yorkshire club £5 million when he signed from Fulham in 2009, is understood to have held talks with Premier League QPR but with Rangers also unable to agree a deal with Hull.

The former Wigan and Peterborough man rejoined Hull for pre-season training but was suspended for a still undisclosed disciplinary incident on their pre-season training trip to Slovenia. After an internal enquiry, the Tigers terminated his contract last week.

Town desperately need a midfield playmaker and confirmation of the return of one of the club's most successful ever loanees would greatly improve the overall mood amongst supporters.

Photo: Action Images

cooper4england added 20:17 - Aug 24 Love the comment "hope we haven't broken our wage structure"..... of course we bloody have!!!!!!!! Oh jimmy oh jimmy mac can't believe your coming back
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Ebantiass added 20:17 - Aug 24 Very suprised if this comes off, fair play to all those involved in making this work, still an awful long way to go.
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denhamblue added 20:18 - Aug 24 great great and all that,but i get excited when defenders are here who can defend!
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Liverpool_blu added 20:20 - Aug 24 The Best News to come out of PR all Season. BULLARD will be immendse and spur on the club Needs. Sonko and a Lowry on Loan and we still start to push up the League. An Unbeaten Run I feel is near..
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blueherts added 20:21 - Aug 24 If happens Total genius - just need some defenders now
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ameron added 20:23 - Aug 24 Making my first trip to Portman Road this season, on Saturday. Following recent results, I would love to see us beat Leeds and to hear that we have signed Jimmy Bullard. COYB.
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itfcjc added 20:27 - Aug 24 Get in there Jimmy
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Frase1987 added 20:30 - Aug 24 GET THE **** IN A NEW DEFENCE AND WE'RE GOING UP!
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ITFC4daprem added 20:32 - Aug 24 Finally 12 grand a week seems fair
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OrkneyBlue added 20:33 - Aug 24 Superb! Not the answer for everything but along way to achieving it! Great boost!
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Suffolk_n_Good added 20:33 - Aug 24 COME ON!!!, GET IN THERE!!!, "ONE JIMMY BULLARD, THERES ONLY ONE JIMMY BULLARD, ONNNNEEEEEE JIMMMMMMY BULLLLLARD!! THERES ONLY ONE JIMMY BULLARD!!!!
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TimmyH added 20:41 - Aug 24 now we have you on a contract please please please stay fit! but should add some creativity for Mr Chopra and Co. now at least one of the defensive spots!
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malefusion added 20:42 - Aug 24 " ooooo Jimmy Bullard your are the love of my life, ooooo Jimmy Bullard I will let you shag my wife, o Jimmy Bullard I want curly hair tooooooooo"" COYB
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Pip50 added 20:43 - Aug 24 Clearly you don't have to be too smart to become a multi millionaire Bullard 32 Sonko 30 glad it's not my money!!
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Essex_Tractor added 20:43 - Aug 24 Yessssssssssssss finally we might have someone who can pass to Chopra!!!!!!!!
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Jack_hughes2 added 20:48 - Aug 24 OH JIMMY BULLARD U R THE LOVE OF MY LIFFEE, OH JIMMY BULLLARD I'D LET YOU... YOU ALL KNOW THE REST!! HAD A FUNNY FEELING THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. YOU'RE A GOOD MAN JIMBARD!
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corunnaviking1759 added 20:50 - Aug 24 Please, Please let it be TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Awesome move and sign if so, as he gave a significant boost to our performance's !!
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MarkITFC added 20:53 - Aug 24 OHHHH JIMMY BULLARD !!! YES GET IN !
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bubblesblue79 added 21:00 - Aug 24 I will absolutely love it if we sign jimmy Bullard in the morning!!!! COYB. Player of the season!!!
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NastyPasty added 21:01 - Aug 24 I SO hope this is true.... Chops is crying out for those quality passes, and the rest of the team really need someone like Jimmy 2 lift the moral. Just hope we've got money left for a couple of quality CB's... Unlucky Portsmouth, but hey, u can have Leadbitter (should pay for Jimmy's wages) :))) COME ON JIMMY B... Your gonna be a LEGEND ;)
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yocal_lad added 21:01 - Aug 24 literally shell shocked by this!! well done Evans!
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heady added 21:06 - Aug 24 WE LOVE YOU JIMMY!!!!! COME ON YOU BLUES!!!
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ipswichm8 added 21:07 - Aug 24 o jimmy bullard u love of my life o jimmy bullard id let u do my wife o jimmy bullard and i want curly hair to .sign him up
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Mutiny added 21:07 - Aug 24 Great news for the local pubs.
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Mutiny added 21:10 - Aug 24 Get the t...... kits in!
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