TWTD understands Town have blocked Derby County’s attempt to sign Blues loanee Matthew Pennington on loan for the second half of the season.

The Rams were keen for Pennington’s season-long loan at Town from Everton to be ended prematurely to allow him to move to Pride Park with a view to signing the centre-half or right-back on a permanent basis in the summer.

However, as is common with loans, all three parties, the two clubs and the player, have to agree to the loan being curtailed and the Blues were unwilling to cut short the 24-year-old’s spell, despite the recruitment of right-back James Bree from Aston Villa earlier this evening.

As things stand, barring a late and currently unexpected move prior to the 11pm deadline, the deal to sign Bree concludes the transfer window business at Portman Road, both incoming and outgoing, the full-back having become Paul Lambert’s seventh January addition.

Bree's recruitment and Pennington staying at Town means the Blues have six loanees with only five permitted in a matchday squad, a situation which Lambert doesn't see as ideal.

Speaking at his press conference this afternoon, he said: “To me it shows up the loan system for what it is. It’s incredible, you have maybe six loans or seven loans but you can only have five in a matchday squad.

“That’s why I said before that the loan system isn’t healthy. Maybe one or two is totally fine, but not this because you’re always having to manage that scenario.

“For a manager it’s not a great scenario to be in. But by the same token you have to get guys that you think can try and help as well but you’ve also got the disappointment of leaving one or two out and then clubs can ask why they’re not playing.

“It creates something that you could do without and that’s why I’ve said the club’s got to get back to getting its own players, whether it’s young players coming through, great, even better if that happens. Or we have to go and try and buy. One or two loans is fine but this scenario is no good.”

He added: “Six players, seven players, in a matchday squad you can only pick five. The clubs get involved saying, ‘Why’s he not playing, why’s this one not playing?’.

"You’ve got all those sort of things, that’s why the loan system for me [doesn’t work]. One or two maximum, not more. But that’s the way the club is at the minute, but we’ll hopefully rectify that.

“The minuses outweigh the pluses when you have too many loans, I think that’s the way to view it."

Aside from Bree's signing, the only deal involving Town on deadline day was Shane McLoughlin's departure for AFC Wimbledon.

Elsewhere, reports linking Ellis Harrison with Portsmouth came to nothing, Pompey signed James Vaughan on loan from Wigan, while Barry Cotter was reported to have turned down a move to League Two Swindon and the Blues are believed to have rebuffed a Dundee United loan move for young defender Corrie Ndaba.

Photo: TWTD

Pilgrimblue added 21:48 - Jan 31 With Town in such precarious position PL wouldn't be able to buy the players he wanted so his only option is to rely on loans. When we go down they will all go back and PL will start with clean sheet and I doubt he'l be loaning many. IF by some miracle we stay up then it worked so win/win and we start next season again with players he wants plus new signings. As for the 5 loans rule, I guess he'll pick the 5 that suit his game plan and hope it works.

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blues1 added 21:58 - Jan 31 Ccv was recalled by spurs as he wasnt playing, due to the fact he couldnt play in a back four, only as part of a 3 man defence. As sheff utd always pkay a flat back foyr he wasnt getting games. Pkus, clearly, spurs had a xall back clause in the january, as we did withva few of our players. So no back handers necessary
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algarvefan added 22:42 - Jan 31 Like it. He has been a top player this season.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:16 - Feb 1 Doubt Pennington is very happy about this, but I hope he has the right character to accept the decision. He may well still have a chance, or a similar one, to get his wish in the summer, so it's not long to wait. You sign on the dotted line and you have a certain responsibility to fulfil your commitment, even if you are a footballer! Now Pennington may be a very decent bloke, so this is not a personal attack on him - more a general comment on the attitude of some of the overpaid "stars" who think they can ditch a contract as soon as a better one comes along. I'm glad we stood up for this and kept Pennington because he's been a very good player for us in the short time he's been here.

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wayway added 09:23 - Feb 1 Apart from paying wages I see our 'committed' owner has not spent very much in the window. All loans and nothing permanent EVANS OUT
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BaddowBlue1 added 09:54 - Feb 1 Perhaps PL has decided that he wants to sign Pennington for us during the summer. Lets face it lots of stuff was going on yesterday and we only know what actually surfaced in the press.
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Linkboy13 added 08:24 - Feb 2 Penningtons not deserting the titanic which is good news as he's been our most consistent player great attitude by the bloke he's up for the fight.
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