Brighton and Hove Albion have been linked with a summer move for Blues midfielder Grant Leadbitter. The 26-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season with Middlesbrough understood to be strong favourites for his signature.

Blues boss Paul Jewell said last week that he is keen to keep the former Sunderland man at Portman Road: “I spoke to Grant on Thursday. It was a football conversation really. Obviously we want to keep him and I just wanted to see what he was thinking.

“We had a long conversation and he told me that he’s keen to stay. So, we’ve just got to try and sort out the financial side of it, which is up to Marcus and Grant’s agent.”

A return to his native North-East is believed to appeal to the former England U21 international, who joined the Blues for £2.65 million from Sunderland in the summer of 2009.

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich24 added 16:01 - Apr 5 Brighton i'm afraid are ahead of us at the moment. People say little Brighton but they have some fantastic young players, a good young manager and assistant, a new stadium and play the game the right way.
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RetroBlue added 17:31 - Apr 5 ...and Town dont?
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RetroBlue added 17:32 - Apr 5 eg Cresswell Hyam JET Lawrence to name but 4
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Keaneish added 18:51 - Apr 5 Completely agree Surco72. Poor return on investment. Keane threw big money at players ala his Sunderland days and it backfired. Now Jewell is paying the price, well, Evans too!!
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WarkyWonderLand added 20:56 - Apr 5 Going to boro to replace Barry Robson who is off to states. Let's see hyam PJ for rest of season as we won't see leadboots next season.
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arc added 21:17 - Apr 5 Remember the key phrase here: Sunk Cost.
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Taricco_Fan added 22:48 - Apr 5 A player that has failed to live up to his price tag, is inconsistent and more often than not below par, a staid and passionless character - not captain material, and easily replaceable. I wouldn't be going out of my way to keep Leadboots at the club if I was Jewell/Clegg. A few good games are not enough to make up for what's gone before. Let him go and free up the wages for a hungry player from the lower leagues and let's nurture the Hyam and Drury partnership.

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Marcus added 04:20 - Apr 6 A little birdie suggested to me Leadbitter was very homesick when he first signed after the initial buzz. After that he felt overly pressured. A time out of the team and easing off responsibilities has helped him settle and he's now more comfortable with East Anglian life. A move back north would be very attractive. Brighton is London's main resort city so it has an attraction however I feel it's unlikely he'll move south although travel time to the north is about equal with Ipswich. Remember it's not just him. It's his family, partner, agent... At the moment it's mostly media speculation. Some say there's no smoke without fire. In that case Portman Rd is permanently ablaze.

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airliner added 04:30 - Apr 6 Important decision for him and his family ; not PJs fault but keanes for paying so much and paying stupidly high wages. Will not be missed.
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