TWTD understands that Town are closing in on the signing of former Wolves striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake. The 27-year-old free agent has been at the club for the last two days and is understood to be undergoing a medical this afternoon.

The Cambridge-born former England U21 international has been sidelined since April with a broken leg and ankle ligament damage and has been back with Wolves during the opening months of the season working on his fitness, despite being released at the end of 2012/13.

If the deal is completed as expected, Ebanks-Blake will be signing for Mick McCarthy for the second time, the Blues boss having taken him to Wolves from Plymouth for £1.5 million in January 2008.

The former Manchester United trainee is understood to have held talks with Burnley and Leicester in recent weeks, while Leeds have also been linked.

Speaking last week, McCarthy confirmed that he would be interested in adding the frontman to his squad once he was fit, but expected strong competition from elsewhere.

“I think he’s progressing OK and is probably getting to the stage where he’s looking for a club,” he said.

“I spoke to him when I was up at Jody Craddock’s testimonial dinner at Molineux about four weeks ago and I think in January he’ll certainly be looking for a club, and there’ll be clubs looking for him, and we’ll be one of them.”

Having played youth football with hometown club Cambridge United, Ebanks-Blake joined Manchester United’s academy at 15.

He made two senior appearances for the Red Devils, one start and one game from the bench, both in the League Cup, and spent time on loan in Belgium with Royal Antwerp while at Old Trafford.

In the summer of 2006 Plymouth paid an initial £200,000 for his services with the deal included clauses which totalled a further £100,000.

After scoring 23 goals in 56 starts and 18 sub appearances in 18 months with the Pilgrims, McCarthy took him to Wolves in January 2008.

In five years at Molineux the 5ft 8in tall striker netted 64 goals in 133 starts and 60 sub appearances, carrying off the Championship’s Golden Boot award in 2007/08 — 23 league goals - and 2008/09 when his 25 league goals helped Wolves win the title and promotion into the Premier League.

Last season, his 15 goals couldn't prevent his side dropping into League One with his injuries ending his season prior to the crucial last month of the campaign.

Photo: Action Images

ArnieMsBigToe added 13:42 - Dec 18 Excellent news. What a choice MM and TC will have for attack!!
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ArnieMsBigToe added 13:42 - Dec 18 Yippee. I was first!!
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cornishnick added 13:48 - Dec 18 Will give us something different and is proven goalscorer, but I guess could mean the end of Paul Taylor?
1

LetthegoodtimesRoll added 13:49 - Dec 18 Gerken Cresswell,smith,Berra,chambers Hyam tunnicliffe Murphy mgoldrick Taylor Seb Maybe a new keeper on jan and bramble on a free and that squad is top6
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TownOnTheUp added 13:58 - Dec 18 Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Ebanks-Blake, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake...
15

KLBlue added 14:00 - Dec 18 Would be a great signing, and i don't think it'll be the end of Taylor, it will take the pressure off of young Marriot who can have a couple of loan spells to develop and then be ready for first team action, rather than be rushed into it. And Letthegoodtimesroll i hope your wrong with Bramble, i really don't think he'd bring anything to the team IMO
11

Karlosfandangal added 14:08 - Dec 18 Ebanks Blake and Taylor have the potental to be top players for Town, however if Ebanks cant get back his form he will be no better than Taylor. Cant see Taylor making it with us for what ever reason he does not seem to fit in with MM plans so it may be time to let him go, However are we going to get a fee for a player who has played about 7 games in 18 months and did not set League one alight whist on loan at Posh

-11

iamipswich added 14:09 - Dec 18 Gerken Chambers Berra Smith Cresswell Skuse Hyam Mcgoldrick Taylor Ebanks Blake Murphy Loach Mings Hunt Tabb Anderson Tunnicliffe Nouble How's this for a team? Have I forgotten anyone? Edwards is the who misses out but I'm sure he could replace on of the subs as we are currently Drowning in midfielders!
1

keanokeano added 14:15 - Dec 18 I personally would welcome someonr with his experience at this level into our squad and with MM & TC He will know whats expected of him. I also think with the squad available at present a 3-5-2 formation would suit us quite well. Gerken Chambers/berra/smith Edwards. Cresswell Hyam Tunnicliffe. Skuse Murphy Mcgoldrick
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smithy91 added 14:27 - Dec 18 Said myself a few months back we needed to get someone like SEB, and commenters said it would not happen for one reason or another! If we tie this one up its on paper a fantastic signing, if his fitness can get back to what it used to be!
5

whosroundisitanyway added 14:37 - Dec 18 TownOnTheUp Can't find a tune for that at the moment? This is great news! If Mick can build a squad like this for next to nothing just imagine what he could do with money to spend!!
4

Popeye added 14:59 - Dec 18 Stearman next?
10

Alwaysablue added 15:02 - Dec 18 Says something about his relationship with McCarthy if he does sign, picking us over burnley, Leicester and Leeds.
9

cooper4england added 15:03 - Dec 18 Nothing announced on his twitter acc. except fried chicken and slapping John Terry. I like him already.
12

thebeat added 15:19 - Dec 18 Will be a great foil for McGoldrick, will make proper strikers runs for Didsy to feed. I think if we play them with Edwards and Hunt on the wings to supply crosses and general wing play we shouldnt be afraid of anybody. The 2nd half of the season could be very exciting. COYB!!
9

hampstead_blue added 15:23 - Dec 18 What a fantastic signing! I'd expect a few weeks of beastings to get his fitness up and then he can be unleashed for a push to the play-offs. Can't see much from him until Feb though.
4

WaffleMan added 15:27 - Dec 18 would be a brilliant signing, his goalscoring record is good, just the man we need up there
8

MitchtheITFCman added 15:37 - Dec 18 Three points from me: 1. At the season didn't mick say he wouldn't be going for any ex or wolves players? 2. Wasn't this said about 2 months ago and then we heard nothing until now? 3. Great singing if we finalise this.
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TownOnTheUp added 15:42 - Dec 18 whosroundisitanyway - tune is Give It Up by KC and the Sunshine Band. It's always been Ebanks-Blake's chant as far as I can recall. I have to say I'd be really pleased if we could get him in, he's got proven pedigree at this level and on a free transfer it's really a no-brainer. The only issue would be his fitness, but you have to assume that if he's not ready or within a month of being ready then Mick wouldn't sign him.

3

Tractamatt added 15:59 - Dec 18 Wonder if it will be double reveal with S.e.b and Hunt
2

deano85 added 16:07 - Dec 18 im still not sure on this... yer, he was great... but will he still be? Also im guessing he'd want a good wage too... for someone recovering from a broken ankle... if this was to happen (and im sure it will now), I think we will have to offload a couple of players as we will be getting quite a large squad?? we will have quite a few strikers and as said above, we're not short of midfielders...

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Lightningboy added 16:15 - Dec 18 Would be a great signing IF he can recapture the form of a couple of years ago..let's hope it works out for both parties.
5

tcannITFC added 16:20 - Dec 18 DENCH!
2

whosroundisitanyway added 16:26 - Dec 18 TownOnTheUp Thanks for that, my era aswell!!
1

DanLyles added 16:27 - Dec 18 4-2-3-1: Gerken Stearman Smith Berra Cresswell Hyam Skuse Taylor McGoldrick Hunt Ebanks-Blake This is my ideal side. I went to Forest on Saturday and thought Chambers was a bit of a weak link at right back so would like MM to sign Stearman again. I know people would like a creative midfielder in the centre in the Drinkwater mould and I agree to a certain extent but I think the three I have selected behind SEB would create enough chances between them and would need two more defensive midfielders to support them. I have put Taylor in because I think his pace and dribbling would give us an extra dimension.

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