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

nitroblue1970 added 09:31 - Aug 25 Think portman road may be jumping on saturday now!...lets smash dirty leeds and get our reputatiion back!
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portlandblue added 10:17 - Aug 25 hmmmmm. would be great but hey, lets wait till the deal is done. i am very excited but the way things have been for the last couple of years i take nothing for granted.
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thechangingman added 10:25 - Aug 25 On the one hand, an inspirational, midfield maestro who marshalls the younger players and is loved by the fans. He can do the unexpected and get a bunch of goals too. On the other hand, an aging disenfranchised journeyman with a long history of injuries and the ability to cause trouble in a room on his own. A man who has never even vaguely approached the simmering potential he clearly holds and has an unpredictable and chaotic temperament. I just hope that it'll be the first one and not the latter who graces our club.

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arablue added 10:39 - Aug 25 Great news! Bullard the missing creative puzzle in midfiled...
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