Blues forward Conor Chaplin is set to return to his local club Portsmouth on loan for the rest of the season, TWTD understands.

Chaplin, 28, has been a key player in Kieran McKenna’s back-to-back promotion-winning side having signed for his old Pompey boss Paul Cook from Barnsley in the summer of 2021.

We understand there is a recall clause in the deal which could see the attacker come back to Portman Road in January.

Chaplin’s contract is up next summer but with the club having an option for a further season.

In total, Chaplin, who started Saturday’s game against Derby, has made 127 starts and 47 sub appearances, scoring 55 times.

Worthing-born Chaplin, who came through the ranks at Pompey before moving on to Coventry in January 2019, was joint-top scorer in League One in the 2022/23 campaign, netting 23 times, plus three more in cup competitions.

Chaplin will become the fourth senior departure of the day, along with Chieo Ogbene, who is set to join Sheffield United on loan, Luke Woolfenden, who is moving to Coventry, and Ali Al-Hamadi, who exits for Luton, initially on loan.

With Conor Townsend not being registered due to his ACL injury, the Blues are now down to the required 25 players aged above 21 for their Championship squad.

It’s understood there is nothing in reports linking Elkan Baggott with Peterborough or the Blues with former loanee Mark McGuinness.

Photo: Matchday Images

Tedray added 16:50 - Sep 1 Sadly we have to move on and look to the future which with respect is not now Chaplin. We need stronger players of greater stature and power. Have to think of the PL league still as our aim and therefore do not think that Connor fits with that any more.However we need to turn the corner sooner than later otherwise you never know folk might consider that the manager is not doing a good job.

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Linkboy13 added 16:51 - Sep 1 As usual over sentimental reaction on here when an old favourite departs and patronising comments. Conner Chaplin has been a great player for the club but i feel some of the spark is missing from his game and he requires a new challenge. A lot of new players have come through the door and the same fans who were giving accolades to Ashdon are criticising this decision and saying the team is not performing any better when they have only been here five minutes. Fans get very attached to players and don't like seeing them move to pastures new but that's what happens in football im afraid. I expect i would have hurt the feelings of some on here and will get marked down but that doesn't worry me because i will always support the Town like i have done for 60 years not 5 minutes like some on here.

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BlueRuin69 added 16:55 - Sep 1 Tedray …..stronger players like Philogene and Clarke. Chaplin sad to see you go, sad times
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Dissboyitfc added 16:55 - Sep 1 Yes it’s sad to see and I doubt he will be seen in an Ipswich shirt again, but life goes on nothing remains the same, fact of life. I will wait until mid October to see before I have an opinion on all the changes. Can’t believe the rubbish that has Been put on here, Floridaboy, Nunez is not a 10! Then you have dark horse saying there’s 10 players for the 3 positions behind the striker. That statement explains why he is going out on loan!!! None of us know the conversations going on behind closed doors, Chaplin might have realised his game time was going to be limited and asked for a move, what’s KM going to say? “ we have an abundance in your position but you can’t go “ Take a chill pill and let’s see where we are in a few weeks!

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TimmyH added 16:57 - Sep 1 blues1 - seriously? did you watch the game on Saturday? 1st half he had more endeavour and energy about him and got some tidy ink up play going quicker than anybody else! the odd wild shot but if he didn't do anything then what did Philogene, McAteer and co. do? 2nd half quieter but that half was so poor and stop start nobody looked good...
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runningout added 16:57 - Sep 1 no time for sentimentality. If you’ve been watching CC first hand he hasn’t been at the races
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Steelmonkey added 16:58 - Sep 1 Was talking to my son in law before the Southampton game saying that I thought perhaps this would be Conor’s last season with us. I think his confidence has been shattered by our season in the premiership and after his injury. Disappointing to see him go as he has contributed much to our success but with the players we’ve brought in they are going to be our future. It will be interesting to see if McKenna departs from our present style of play as I feel we’ve been sussed out somewhat by the opposition. We were out muscled last season and our build up play this season is still far to slow and predictable. Let’s hope the international break gives McKenna time to get them use to each other and form those vital partnerships.

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Sefton_Blue added 16:59 - Sep 1 No in favour of this at all. One of our most creative players, always works hard, I'm not happy with this one bit. Got to trust the manager I suppose, but I'm really not sure about this
2

cartman1972 added 17:00 - Sep 1 I'm literally disgusted at this decision , a fcuking debacle .....poor management decision.
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Broadbent23 added 17:00 - Sep 1 Shocked. But on recall so be it. A spy is a spy
1

HALLSJ added 17:00 - Sep 1 Hackney pls
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TimmyH added 17:01 - Sep 1 People saying he's not he player he was or spirit has gone or not at the races...but who has? our play looks so disjointed and even worse in the final third.
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:03 - Sep 1 Bloody hell didnt think that was on radar not happy
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Lukeybluey added 17:06 - Sep 1 I don't like this at all... but its a part of our evolution I suppose..?
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Bluewhiteboy added 17:07 - Sep 1 Terrible idea. Worst business this window. A guy that was brilliant for us just one year ago who's goals got us up
2

itfchorry added 17:08 - Sep 1 This one hurts
2

Essexnblue added 17:10 - Sep 1 If its wrong to let the favourites go as we have today, then why is it teams lower than us on paper that are taking our players? McK and Ashton are building for a better 2026/27 in the Premier League, these players will be older and didn't impress last season, so the broom is sweeping. Pleased that the club have potentially given Chappers a free transfer for his efforts over the past 4 seasons.

2

Dissboyitfc added 17:10 - Sep 1 Why all the moaning ? What did we expect? People mosning we hadn’t signed anyone saying a poor window, now we’ve signed people others have to make room!
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Sir_Monte_Carlo added 17:11 - Sep 1 The club are increasingly showing they wish to follow the Chelsea type business model. Stats and a analysis will rule completely over any emotion and sentiment. Everyone is replaceable. Good luck to Conor who was fantastic during our climb to the prem but he's being replaced by £15m players as the club attempt to build for another promotion and staying this time.

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Maccaisgod added 17:11 - Sep 1 Are they on drugs? Smodicz stays and he goes???
1

tetchris added 17:13 - Sep 1 We know from KM that Wolfie asked to leave, how do we know Chappers hasn’t done the same? His contract is up, maybe he was offered another deal but rejected it? I don’t know if he is married etc, but maybe his family are unhappy and want to move back down south? Hopefully KM will address this in his next presser. But don’t always assume it’s the club pushing the player out, sometimes players want to move for personal reasons not footballing ones.

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braveblue added 17:15 - Sep 1 Moan, moan, moan. Outcry for more signings last week. It happened. Need to trim the squad. With the arrival of the four last week and Akpom, Chappers wasn’t needed. Shame but if we are going to upgrade on the squad from last year we can’t keep the same players!!!
2

poet added 17:18 - Sep 1 As much as I’ve enjoyed watching Chaplin perform for us over his tenure at Portman Road, I think this is a good move for him, and a good move for the club. I think he’s still a good player, but for whatever reason, I believe he’s not quite the player he once was. I disagree with some on here saying we are not as strong as we were. Once the new arrivals gel, I’m convinced there will be much more quality in this squad than there was last time we were in the Championship. McKenna has 10 new players to build into the squad, when that happens, watch us climb the league.

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Lightningboy added 17:19 - Sep 1 Said the other day,if you lose the dressing room,looks like you go out and buy another dressing room. Something definitely not right behind the scenes...I'm one of those who doesn't get impressed by the amount of players brought in or by how many millions are being chucked around,just want to see a settled "team" playing good football (like 2 years ago)...we now look like a mish-mash of strangers & that's down to 40+ ins & outs in 16 months..McKenna's looking like he's totally lost the plot. When you start getting shot of local lads & fan favourites you're setting yourself up to fail pretty quickly...one win all year for a coach is quite frankly awful...think things may start turning a bit ugly unless performances & results pick up very quickly. Just a really,really sad day.

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Rimsy added 17:22 - Sep 1 Shame to see Chaplin go, but we can't make all these signings and keep all of the old guard. I'm sure he was keen to go home and start regularly. We are well stocked in all front positions now. Good luck Chappers.
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