Ipswich Town are ready to hijack a loan move for Wolves winger Jordan Graham after his switch to Wigan Athletic stalled.
The EADT and Ipswich Star can back-up reports in the Midlands that have surfaced this evening.
Graham was primed to join the Latics, but the newly-promoted Championship side are unable to complete the deal until they move on another player.
The 23-year-old spent a brief loan spell at Town, from Aston Villa, at the back end of 2013. He made just two substitute appearances for Mick McCarthy’s side – against Huddersfield and Doncaster.
MORE: Ipswich targets Nsiala and Nolan banished from Shrewsbury training as Hurst stays tight-lipped
After failing to make the breakthrough at Villa Park, Graham signed permanently for Wolves in January 2015 following a loan spell there. He enjoyed a rich vein of form during the middle part of the 2015/16 campaign, producing a string of assists and man-of-the-match performances, before a cruciate knee ligament injury left him sidelined for a year.
He joined Fulham on loan last summer, but ended up being recalled in January after making just four appearances for the Cottagers. Graham found himself out of the picture upon his return to Molineux as Nuno Espirito Santo’s men claimed the Championship title in style.
MORE: Fulham youngster Edun set to join Town on loan
Town boss Paul Hurst has said that he wants direct and exciting wingers to be a big feature of the team this coming season and Graham certainly ticks that box. His best football has come playing on the left and drifting inside onto his stronger right foot.
Hurst has already signed Gwion Edwards from Peterborough United for £700k this summer. Grant Ward, Freddie Sears and Danny Rowe are his other wide options at present.
MORE: ‘It’s a case of who blinks first’ – Hurst on Waghorn bids and potential domino effect
The Blues are also closing in on the loan addition of versatile Fulham youngster Tayo Edun – a player capable of playing central midfield, left-back or wide left.
Championship clubs are allowed to name a maximum of five loan players in their matchday squads.
If Edun and Graham sign that would take the number of Town loan players to four the additions of Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea) and Janoi Dancien (Accington), although it’s understood there are special measures in place for the latter’s temporary switch to be made permanent (a £750k deal in place) outside the transfer window once his work permit issues are resolved.
Hurst said last week that the club had ‘multiple bids’ in for players and earlier today suggested he could make as many as four signings before Saturday’s Championship opener against Blackburn Rovers at Portman Road.
The Blues are working hard to land defender Toto Nsiala and midfielder Jon Nolan from Hurst’s former club Shrewsbury, as well as defender Curtis Tilt from Blackpool. All three players have handed in transfer requests.
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