Former Blues loanee Luke Garbutt appears unlikely to join Sunderland with manager Phil Parkinson having revealed he has had to reassess his targets following the introduction of the League One salary cap.

As reported at the weekend, the Blues have little scope to add further signings - including Garbutt who enjoyed an impressive loan spell at Portman Road during 2019/20 - while staying within the £2.5 million salary cap and the same looks to be the case for the Black Cats.

Parkinson says he attempted to make additions last week prior to the salary cap being ratified by clubs, one of whom is understood to be Garbutt, a free agent following his release by Everton.

“We tried to get a couple of players in before Friday, but those deals didn’t go over the line,” Parkinson told the Northern Echo. “It was really the agents and the players’ decision on those ones.

“When you’re going for players that maybe have Championship interest as well, it can be difficult because you’re competing for those players.

“We’ve had to change tack a little bit over the last couple of days, and reassess what we’re going to do. I’m still confident we’ll have a strong squad, but one or two players who maybe we thought we could have got last week are not in the market place for us now.”

For the same reasons, the Blues appear to have moved on from their interest in bringing Garbutt back to Suffolk with former Republic of Ireland international Stephen Ward, 34, training at Playford Road.

TWTD reported earlier in the year that Championship clubs had kept tabs on Garbutt during his time at Town and it would appear the former England U21 international has one or more options at that level.

The Wearsiders were also believed to be talking to striker Danny Graham, 35 today, another free agent having left Blackburn at the end of the season.

Town are also understood to have shown interest in the veteran frontman, however, it’s thought the Gateshead-born player is keen to stay in the north.

Sunderland were also reported to have offered terms to former Burton midfielder Scott Fraser prior to the salary cap’s introduction.

Meanwhile, ex-Blues winger Darren Currie has left his role as manager of Barnet after almost 20 months in charge of the Bees.

Former Town keeper Shane Supple has been appointed head of goalkeeping at the Bohemians-St Kevin’s Boys academy in his native Dublin.

The 33-year-old resumed his playing career with the League of Ireland side in 2016 before being forced into retirement due to injury two years later.

Elsewhere, one-time Blues striker Luke Varney, 37, has rejoined Burton Albion as a player-coach having spent the last two seasons at Cheltenham.

Photo: TWTD

BlueandTruesince82 added 19:37 - Aug 12 Surely Oxford are in for him? Would give him a season at Champ level.
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Trac70 added 19:43 - Aug 12 So are we. Move on.
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JackSted added 19:44 - Aug 12 Ah yes BlueandTruesince82 I forgot Oxford got promoted
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PhilTWTD added 19:49 - Aug 12 Oxford didn't get promoted!
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ChrisFelix added 19:51 - Aug 12 Coventry, Rotherham & Wycombe were the promoted teams !
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fredbarber added 20:04 - Aug 12 Got say not too fussed about this. Yes would have been a good signing due to versatility to play left back and left wing back, however I thought he went off the boil during the last few months of the season. He reminded me of Lawrence towards the end of his loan spell with us where he looked and knew he would be playing elsewhere. Move on
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martin587 added 20:05 - Aug 12 It's a level playing field this season so let's just be patient and see what happens.
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ArnieM added 20:08 - Aug 12 Garbutt is undoubtably touting himself about as you would expect. He'll go where the money offered is the most. He'll probably end up at a championship club. I doubt very much he'll come here.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 20:15 - Aug 12 Shows how much attention I paid to the end of the season..... can't imagine why
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Pencilpete added 20:34 - Aug 12 Even the players weren't paying attention to the end of the season
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ntoms97 added 21:09 - Aug 12 Sounds like our transfer policy is copy Sunderland, or buy a past it and get outgunned by MK Dons. Sad sad state this club is in now
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HalesworthBlue7 added 21:19 - Aug 12 Just heard a rumour we are showing an interest in Tyler Walker ( Notts Forest ) anyone know if any truth in this , I hope so good player
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Essexipswichboy added 21:37 - Aug 12 Salary cap saves Evans We would never have got Garbutt TBH I don't think we will get anyone It's pathetic
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Town4me added 23:23 - Aug 12 I predict league one signings will go crazy right at the end of the window. All the players holding off in the hope a championship club will sign them. Then when they realise they'll have to settle for L1, there'll be movement
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unknown100 added 23:28 - Aug 12 We are in for 2 35 years olds... unless our “young players” step up we in trouble! I say young because Downes 21 Dozzell 21 Bishop 24 Woolfenden 21 If they aren't ready for league one now then they never ever ever will be, I'd rather have a go with them
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Bert added 23:29 - Aug 12 We are all in the same boat with the same restrictions but smaller clubs with lower expectations will now believe they can turn us over. Players and fans have to change their mindsets and get real. This is the new normal so forgot how great we once were and deal with what's in front of us. We have a squad with far more potential than most but they and management have to get their act together and so do we as fans.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 05:30 - Aug 13 Garbutt is obviously looking for Championship wages. Maybe looking at Ward will turn out to be a sensible proactive move after all.
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Cakeman added 07:48 - Aug 13 It's becoming clear that league one and two for that matter are not attractive options for players in the position of Garbutt. There is now a definite first and second class between with the Premier league and Championship distancing themselves from the rest. I agree with Bert that we must now work with the new normal. It's going to take a mammoth effort with good fortune for us to get out of league one. We have no advantage now the salary cap is in place. The so called smaller clubs will still want our scalp and will raise their game. Tough times but we really must give the younger players a go. Not just a few games here and there but good runs in the team. I would like to see Ward or similar come in along with a proven goal scorer. These new ones could be older players. Don't want to see any more loan players. People like Garbutt being a good example. Did well for us but then became unachievable for us to buy him. False hope.

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62WasBest added 08:10 - Aug 13 Bert - I think you will find smaller clubs thought that last season anyway. As soon as Lambert tried to dampen supporters expectations with the frequent "We've got a target on our backs" references before a ball was kicked, it backfired and became an albatross around our necks and created a climate of apprehension instead of one of self-belief.
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tractorboybig added 08:33 - Aug 13 if sunderland cannot afford him ? WE can?
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Bert added 09:24 - Aug 13 62Was Best - I concur. But this this season it will be even worse which is why we and the players have to confront it.
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blues1 added 10:18 - Aug 13 nToms97. We werent outgunned for keogh at all. Mks manager stated, that other clubs offered more than they could. It wasnt about money. He had other reasons for going there. And Essexipswichboy. Weve made garbutt an offer so why say wed never have got him? We may not if theres championship clubs in for him. But hes not made a decision yet. So why state something like that? Bit premature.

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robmonkey007 added 11:26 - Aug 13 Blues1.....opinions are like arseholes, everyone's got one but its going to be rare you like anyone else's. Its just sad how attacking you are should someone have a different view point to you. We all love ITFC despite the hole we're in.....let's be more accommodating please
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blues1 added 12:57 - Aug 13 Robmonkey007. What are you on about? I wasnt attacking anyone. Just making a point. Think you've somehow read something into my post that simply isnt there.
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Essexipswichboy added 13:47 - Aug 13 Blues 1 So we made him an offer So he been on record saying how much he enjoyed last season So now as I stated the salary cap will be to blame as to the poor offer we made him... Thus why I say we would ne er get him Otherwise just maybe... He would be here
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