Loan interest in Crystal Palace winger Sullay Kaikai is understood to have been the reason Blues boss Mick McCarthy took in the Eagles’ 3-2 friendly victory at AFC Wimbledon on Wednesday.

The Blues are keen to bring the 20-year-old to Portman Road with the squad still short of wide players ahead of Saturday’s Championship opener against Barnsley.

Southwark-born Kaikai came through the youth system at Selhurst Park having joined the club as a 14-year-old.

The 5ft 11½ tall winger has so far made two sub appearances for the Eagles, one in the league, scoring a goal in the last minute of his debut, a 3-2 Capital One Cup defeat to Newcastle United.

Kaikai, who plays primarily on the right but can also operate on the left and in a central role, spent the second half of 2013/14 on loan at Crawley, making two starts and three sub appearances for the then-League One side.

The wideman, whose parents hail from Sierra Leone, spent the following season with Cambridge United in League Two and made 14 starts and 16 sub appearances, scoring six goals.

Last season Kaikai had two spells on loan with Shrewsbury in League One and made 25 starts and four appearances from the bench, scoring 12 times.

TWTD understands the Blues currently have ongoing moves for two players with one deal not too far from being done.

Speaking after Saturday’s final friendly against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, manager Mick McCarthy said he was confident of adding to his squad before Barnsley's visit: “I’m hopeful we’ll have somebody in before Saturday.”

Town have been targeting wingers all summer but so far with little success. Former loanee Liam Feeney joined Blackburn after the Lancastrians offered the 29-year-old a significantly better contract, while we understand the Blues were subsequently unable to agree personal terms with Rovers winger Elliott Bennett, despite the clubs having settled on a fee.

Photo: Action Images

Ruddockclyro added 20:28 - Jul 31 Excellent news, sign him and Lamah up too and we should be getting somewhere with the squad.
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Jimmy86 added 20:29 - Jul 31 Kaikai has scores a lot of goals for a winger and clearly knows where the net is. Def would be a good signing if we manage to get him. Still worries me we are still not completing deals because of personal terms. Not mega disappointed to not get Bennett, if we get others in, but the reasoning behind not paying fees is supposedly to pay wages, yet this still proves a sticking point

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GerkensBeard added 20:32 - Jul 31 Would welcome him with open arms!! 12 goals from the right of midfield last year! Seen him play a few times loves to go past people and full of tricks, better than AMN as I always believed Ainsley preferred and was more suited playing in a central attacking role. Get him in Mick!!! We have players such as Stewart and Sears who if needed can play Left mid next week but a right mid is needed urgently as I do not want to see Bish stuck out there!!

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hadleighboyblue added 20:35 - Jul 31 Looks just like the sort of player we need , Goals and speedy ......yes please
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northstand78 added 20:40 - Jul 31 I would really welcome this guy and certainly hope we get him...along the same lines I've read the frustration of fans on many occasions...a lot blaming MM and ME, I know that ME has put a lot of money into the club and we wouldn't be where we are(mid to top half of the table)..but my anger/frustration lies with Milne. He is the mouth piece who says about money being available....but is it really , I'm not so sure.

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strikalite added 20:46 - Jul 31 Now this excites us....
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Mullet added 20:49 - Jul 31 Somewhere a bedsheet is being repainted......
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Pilgrimblue added 20:52 - Jul 31 Brilliant but where does that lease Bishop! MM will have Skuse and Douglas in defensive midfield so new wide men will be relaying on hoofs and mainly chasing lost causes. Unless of course he reverts to 433 which means that's Sears and McG will miss out. MM could have sorted this out weeks ago but has left it to last minute so what chance have we got to getting off to good start.

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jas0999 added 21:04 - Jul 31 Certainly better than what we already have, but hopefully some permanent deals are on the cards, afterall MM said fees were a possibility.
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Michael11 added 21:16 - Jul 31 Sounds promising. 12 goals in 28 games for Shrewsbury last season is a very good return for a winger. Hopefully sign him and another creative attacking player and our squad will look much more promising.
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emergencylime added 21:21 - Jul 31 Put in a good word for us, JW!
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manualthetisfanclub added 21:24 - Jul 31 I hate loans! Why can't we sign anybody permanent? We always take em, give them games, they play well then go back! Can never build anything! To short term! I just wish Evans would spent a bit of cash on permanent signings then waste it on loan signing fees!
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mojo added 21:26 - Jul 31 Jas. Anyone is better than what you have when you dont have any wingers!
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Penguinblue added 21:31 - Jul 31 Let's assume for a moment this is true. What is this obsession with getting a winger? Is this going to stop hoofball from a one dimensional manager? Why not first sort out the defence, especially the full backs, assure us you will play the best goalkeeper, not put 3 defensive/ sideways midfielders in the team and play Sears where he can deliver his potential. Unless these areas are addressed we could have Steve Coppell, Gordon Hill or any other winger in their prime and it would make no difference. Best thing is to change the manager

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12th_Man added 22:10 - Jul 31 Get it done
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unknown100 added 22:14 - Jul 31 I'd love this, also the triaist, thought he looked like he wanted the ball to feet, was unlucky not to get a goal yesterday and his mazey run showed what he could do. Sign them both and smash this league, still think maybe a centre forward, Sears looked good, Murphy looked ok, mcgoldrick came on with 20 minutes and was grimising whilst he was running, just don't think he will ever be fit

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howdonblue added 22:31 - Jul 31 Great sounding player by the sounds of it ! But by sounds of it wont belong to us ! Loans loans loans Agree with manualthetisfanclub we need our own players . Probably would have a recall clause as well . I'm sorry but I can't get excited with loans Just saying
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12th_Man added 22:38 - Jul 31 Hopefully be able to buy him at end of loan howdonblue
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unknown100 added 22:47 - Jul 31 Can't get excited by loans 😂 sorry but... Ryan Frazer? And who could forget our one and only saviour Johnny Williams who everyone still thinks is going to turn up on a golden tractor and get us promoted... Beggars can't be choosers... We have no money (or non willing to be spent) we get loans, sign 2 up with his quality and we will be alright 😊
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Elto added 22:48 - Jul 31 Yes 12th Man, following our promotion.
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lightingblue added 23:16 - Jul 31 Bru and bishop in the middle. Andre and Douglas on beck as cover. The Belgium bloke and palace bloke on wing. Les play 3 the back with sears, mcgoldrick and murp up front. Am I getting carried away
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runaround added 23:16 - Jul 31 Yes please. Really hope this happens
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ArnieM added 23:33 - Jul 31 penguin blue. christ you're so thick THICK you HAVE to be a 6 fingered inbred from up the A140!
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HarryS_H added 23:35 - Jul 31 This kid could be very good for us if we can get him! This would be exciting and with lemah in as well we could be set! Bart Chambers Webster Smith knudsen Bishop skuse/bru Mcglodrick Kaikai Murphy sears... The last time we consistently played a 433 we were top of the league in 2014/15 if we go back to that we could be all set! And those who say loans don't work for us unknown100 listed two prime examples above, we're not talking about whole squad on loan we're talking about 1/2 bits of quality which could make the difference and if they don't work out they can go back, got to be worth a go surely!!

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TimmyH added 23:51 - Jul 31 Hopefully there is talent with this lad OR has the potential - lets not forget he's been playing for Shrewsbury the last couple of seasons, I think a few on here might be getting a little carried away thinking that he will soon turn into another Bolasie or Zaha. As said probably better than what we have here already...maybe a risk worth taking?
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