Blues boss Paul Jewell has revealed that he asked Sunderland boss Steve Bruce whether former Blue Connor Wickham might be available for loan. The 18-year-old joined the Black Cats earlier in the summer for an initial fee of £8.1 million rising to more than £12 million with top-ups.

Jewell said: “I spoke with Steve the other day and we were chatting about various things. I thought he probably needed another year in the Championship and I said to Steve if they wanted to loan him back, we would take him. He, very cleverly, went on to another subject.

“I said to Steve I thought he needed another year in the Championship and then we’ll see if he is ready to make the step up.

“They bought him and he hasn’t played but he might catch fire. He has certainly got the attributes and he is a man in body. But, football-wise, he is a boy.”

Wickham, who is currently away with the England U21s, has so far made only three sub appearances for his new club and his immediate chances may be reduced further if the Black Cats sign another striker.

The Town boss said yesterday that he is looking for three more signings either before the transfer window closes at 11pm today or when clubs are able to take players on loan in a week’s time.

Photo: Action Images

jas0999 added 11:30 - Aug 31 Can't see it happening - perhaps for a month.
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bluelady added 11:38 - Aug 31 why? didnt why loan Daryl murphy to play that left sided/target man role? isnt he keen on a perm move in March? surely its better to ensure he plays as much football as possible and wants to stay (if indeed he does well) developing Wickham for Bruce seems crazy....
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clive_baker added 12:16 - Aug 31 Would be amazing if it happened but as others say Sunderland are short of strikers so I couldn't see Steve Bruce letting him go unless they add 2 today. PJ is right though, another season at this level at Wickham would be so much better for it to push on for the mackams next season. Hopefullt Balotelli to Spurs will free up Crouchy to Sunderland?
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Bluemania added 12:17 - Aug 31 No thank you he wasn't any good before he left so why have him back, PJ should be concentrating on other areas of the pitch, we have enough strikers
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tractor_boy_varnz added 13:01 - Aug 31 you are allowed to be transfered and loaned somewhere in the same window you just arnt allowed to transfer and transfer in the same window
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bobble added 13:05 - Aug 31 not good enough
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simonsays added 13:12 - Aug 31 Loan with view to a permanent move of say between 1-2 milltion. Lol!
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TractorBeezer added 13:21 - Aug 31 Probably a wind-up by PJ with Brucey...who proceeded to ignore him!
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Lightningboy added 13:44 - Aug 31 Think we could've held on to Wickham for at least another year..wouldn't have done his career any harm and he would've probably been worth another £5M if he'd knocked in 15 goals this season. Other than that I think we should have enough in the attack with Chopra,Murphy,JET,Carson,Ellington,Murray & Scotland/Priskin (if they stay).
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BlueVelvet added 14:04 - Aug 31 Unless his sale contract made allowance for it, it makes no sense - if he comes we get to pay, and it jeopardises the likelihood of the trigger appearances etc being acheived with Sunderland and hence the additional fee of another £4m
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ipswich_is_the_best added 14:30 - Aug 31 Maybe asked before we got murphy on loan Probably not wanted now though COYB
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DutchTownFan added 14:32 - Aug 31 Not so sure about this. I think we've got more than enough strikers at the moment and if Connor got us promoted and then left (which he will do as he's never going to sign perm for us) we'd be in the prem without the guy who got us there, which is not a good thing. We would, as others have said, just be training him for Brucey and Sunderland. He would be a great player to get in as an emergency loan if all our strikers get injured, but at the moment, not so sure this would be a good idea.

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alexsmith111 added 15:07 - Aug 31 I agree, great player, but develop our young players not sunderlands
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Warkys_Tash added 19:19 - Aug 31 No point in owning a Ferrari, then having to hand the keys back. This was poor business from Town & I don't believe PJ wanted to sell him.
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Normandyblue added 20:46 - Aug 31 Family Jewels sold by Town previously:- Dalian Atkinson Chris Kiwomya Richard Wright Darren Ambrose Kieron Dyer Which of these except perhaps Dyer actually went on to merit the money paid? Ambrose went cheap, mind. Feel free to add to the above (subjective) list - I hope Connor goes on to greater things, but I am 90% sure this deal was GOOD business by the club.
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