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

itfc2024 added 17:22 - Sep 1 we aint signing anyone today
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chappers_bluearmy7 added 17:24 - Sep 1 Gutted about this one. Of course the last 3-4 years drive sentiment and affinity to such a brilliant squad who brought back our club from the brink. And yea you have to remove that sentiment in football to some extent. But when the player or players going are still at their peak, and actually better than their ‘replacements’ it’s strange to see. No player has played anywhere near the level Chaplin does when given a run in the team. Even last year he was dropped. Not surprised he wants out now seeing what’s going on but on a purely footballing based decision- this weakens us. None of akpom, Nunez, szmodics, Clarke, Philogene, McAteer do or have done anything close to what Chaplin does- he is a player we need and class for this level. Got to get up before worrying about staying there. Chaplin - legend.

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FransFan added 17:24 - Sep 1 Mr McKenna is a very brave man…….
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ITFC_1994 added 17:27 - Sep 1 I think the number of comments say it all.... don't understand how he can be deemed to be onof our best 11 players on Saturday then shipper out on Monday????? So disappointed by this... I said a few weeks ago I feel we stil had the soul of the double promotion winners whilst chappers, leif and wolfy were still in the squad.... Well that's completely gone now. Our best player over the 1st four games I'd say and a leader of the squad. Absolutely gutted.

7

BornDeleuze added 17:29 - Sep 1 Not a great idea to voluntarily lose one of our most determined players and fan favourite. Is this because McKenna is introducing a new style of play that CC isn’t appropriate for? If so, from what we’ve seen so far, it’s not looking great.
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ITFC_1994 added 17:30 - Sep 1 Absolutely baffles me what game people watch at times.... shamefully he was in our top 3 players in the prem after delap and o'shea....... not lost his spark one bit im9
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OldTractor added 17:38 - Sep 1 I'm with McKenna on this one. We can't live off memories of 2 years ago and all wish we had that same team all over again, expecting that we will score last minute winners every match. Things have moved on. Against Derby there was no actual cutting edge from Connor C playing the number 10 role. Who every does play number 10 should be feeding from Hirst up top. To me there was no clinical move all match. Hirst - who was given a rating of only 2.68 on the BBC - is the one who needs to pull his socks up. Pay less attention to his hair do and get the basics right instead of constantly giving the ball away time after time. Al Hamadi is another example. Lovely bloke but all huff and puff, and the cutting edge of a cucumber. Can't even score a penalty. Don't worry Akpom will come through soon.

1

pablo123 added 17:40 - Sep 1 WHAAAAAT ?? NOOOOOOOO
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bluesince76 added 17:41 - Sep 1 I can see why these players are leaving there not good enough,we are signing better quality players that if we get promoted will have a better chance of staying there Chaplin isn't good enough simple as.
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knitfc78 added 17:43 - Sep 1 in K Mc we trust.
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Stato added 17:45 - Sep 1 I said 2 seasons ago that KM doesn't fancy him and got 75 down arrows. Was on the bench too many times and left tgere for too many minutes each time. McKenna was determined to play Omari as 10 and Chappers was very badly treated. My predicted return to Pompey has happened and in the Champ that is a schocking mistake by McKenna. Where are the happy clappy brigade tonight !

5

HopefulBlue69 added 17:57 - Sep 1 I hope CC knows how much the Ipswich fans think of him... He's only got to look at the comments on here about this move to Pompey to see this.... I do think that has been a bit badly treated, as I'd of liked to see a bit more of him starting. I guess if he's not going to start or be a guaranteed key sub each week, he'd rather go and play at his boyhood club and have a good social like after the games...

3

ldnj added 17:58 - Sep 1 Surprised by this. Still remember the goal vs Coventry with the Wes Burns wonder finish. Ultimately it was a real TEAM goal with Chaplin's first time pass allowing the end result to happen. Still seems to be the one that has that spark and it's hard to see the current team producing that. Hopefully the signings, especially the two latest, will step up and so will Philogene who I still think is yet to justify his fee (and we know he will be played). The other thing, as we saw last year, I'm not sure big staff turnover is a positive especially with the weight of expectation now. Time for all to justify their fees and wages.

3

Blueknight85 added 18:03 - Sep 1 We had super Keiran Mckenna, Now hes smoking Ashtons mouldy weed, Greavsy on his back, Nunez in attack, Canarys back above us in the league
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armchaircritic59 added 18:05 - Sep 1 Seen this all before. I watched the great late 70's early 80's side be broken up. And one or two before that. It happens, it's football, nothing stays the same for ever. Very best of luck for the future Conor, whatever it may hold, that's a hell of a goals to matches ratio, for a player who isn't even an out and out striker. Portsmouth should be delighted.
9

Cadiar added 18:07 - Sep 1 Not at all surprised by this move, in fact I did predict he would eventually return to Pompey but on a free as a reward for the service he's given us. He showed the Prem was a step too far & even in the Championship he struggled. Good luck to him at Portsmouth. He will always give 100%.
5

LWNR1973 added 18:10 - Sep 1 Totally surprised by this. But getting to Prem and staying there is the absolute ‘goal’! Plan A didn’t work so change inevitable and necessary. I’m sure CC will have a great season and I wish him nothing but all the best.
4

itfckenty added 18:14 - Sep 1 Different positions I know. But how are we letting chappers go and keeping Taylor!? If we need to cut the squad numbers, why.... Not a fan of this at all.
2

lewblu added 18:15 - Sep 1 Shocking decision, the lunatics have taken over the asylum.
2

jungleboy added 18:17 - Sep 1 Chappers is a Town legend! We will never forget his many great goals. But he lost his goal scoring form towards the end of the 23-24 Championship season and then only scored one in the Premiership. So you have to respect this decision. Best of luck for the future Chappers!
2

Carberry added 18:17 - Sep 1 This one needs explaining. We need to be told why he's surplus to requirements, why this isn't a sale rather than a loan, what percentage of his wages Pompey are paying? Is this another Morsy, go for free when the contract is run down? There's something odd about both these scenarios, in modern day football clubs don't let players go to the Middle East without financial compensation and Chaplin still had something to offer. Where's the money Mr Ashton?

1

Bert added 18:21 - Sep 1 I would imagine that KMcK had a heart to heart with Chaplin and this resulted in a mutual decision to go out on loan with a call back clause. KMcK has bags loads of integrity and honesty and this loan is probably more in the interests of the player than the club, as it was with Morsy.For the club it is a balancing act of doing what is right against upsetting the fans. Chaplin’s 28 goals in League One will always be fondly remembered but isn’t it better that he gets game time in a club he knows than warming the bench here with only an outside chance of starting. I’m sure we will hear more about this from Chaplin and KMcK and my hunch is that we accommodated Chaplin’s wish as much he has accommodated the club’s.

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WalkRules added 18:27 - Sep 1 No. Just no. Read this MA and realise this is so wrong.
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algarvefan added 18:28 - Sep 1 The decision has obviously been made and like many others I love what Chappers brings to the team. I still think he has a role to play. I would however just like to mention the work he has done for the club/community off the pitch, which has been second to none. He is not just a great loss on the pitch but off it too. I am gutted to see him go and gutted to see multi million pound flops favoured in his place. This has spoilt my season, but Connor me old mate we wish you all the best at Pompey, they are VERY lucky to get you. You have been a true star at Portman Road.

5

bringmeaKuqi added 18:34 - Sep 1 I could seem this becoming one of the most commented on posts ever
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