TWTD understands Town are hoping to complete the loan signing of summer target George Hirst, who has spent the first half of the season on loan at Blackburn Rovers from Leicester City.

TWTD revealed in May last year that striker Hirst was being targeted by the Blues with discussions regarding a permanent switch continuing for much of the summer.

However, the 23-year-old ultimately signed a new three-year contract with the Foxes and was sent out on loan to Championship Rovers in a season-long loan deal which included an option to buy.

But Hirst has had a frustrating time at Ewood Park, making only three starts and eight sub appearances without scoring.

We understand that that spell is set to be cut short with Hirst then expected to finally complete a move to the Blues until the end of the season.

Town have been aiming to add to their striking ranks early in the window and we understand will remain interested in Everton frontman Nathan Broadhead, for whom they’ve lodged a £1 million bid, even once the Hirst move is concluded.

Former England U17s, U18s and U19s international Hirst spent 2021/22 on loan at Portsmouth, scoring 15 goals in 32 starts and 14 sub appearances, all from November onwards.

Hirst, the son of former Sheffield Wednesday and England frontman David, started his career with the Owls before joining Belgian second division side OH Leuven in June 2018, then a year later moved on to Leicester.

Since signing for the Foxes the 6ft 3in tall frontman, who played alongside Andre Dozzell, Flynn Downes, Tristan Nydam and Nick Hayes with the Young Lions, has made only two sub appearances, spending time on loan at Saturday’s opponents Rotherham in 2020/21, failing to score in four starts and 28 appearances from the bench, before last season’s spell at Pompey.

Photo: Reuters

Saxonblue74 added 20:51 - Jan 5 Fair enough Kiwi but that's a very small sample on which to judge. If a potential suitor had watched Wes Burns in his last 3 starts they'd probably have walked away!
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billlm added 20:59 - Jan 5 Also maybe he never wanted to go to Blackburn after he had re signed for Leicester, Just maybe he thought he was coming here, No secret McKenna wanted him, Maybe a reason for not giving Blackburn his all,
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BeattiesBackPocket added 22:13 - Jan 5 Some people on here one minute we need a plan b someone taller we can hit next minute that option in hurst isn't what they want? Another comment of he hasn't scored any goals this season well he's hardly played any games in a Blackburn side that is top 3 in the championship which at the moment is a million miles from where we are. As if Blackburn are going to break up their attack that's working? course he's only going to be a bit part player but clearly enough potential and talent for them to get in in the first place. Come on guys we need a plan b and another goal scorer which he can be. I'll trust McKenna and Ashton more than the wannabe laptop ‘championship managers' minority on here. Let's trust people in the know.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 22:16 - Jan 5 Nomore4 I get what you're trying to say but who?? tell us who we'll get in the January transfer window the strikers you want who are scoring goals will not be let go in January if teams are challenging for promotion out of league or possible relegation from leagues. January is the WORST time to get exactly what you want in every manager and ceo and pundit says that. So come on who? All we can do is get someone with potential or out of a side like Hirst at Blackburn because they're doing so well

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Saxonblue74 added 06:29 - Jan 6 A big fish in a small pond we may be, but we are still a league 1 club at present! We need to be realistic as to the calibre of player we can attract.
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Nomore4 added 06:58 - Jan 6 BBP and Saxon. We can only go by what's been said by owners and Mark Ashton over past 18 months. Premier league is wanted sooner rather than later. Every window is vital, every window we will be active. We may be still L1. But have more pulling power outside the Premier league. We have to make big signings if the owners wishes are to be realised.
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MickMillsTash added 08:54 - Jan 6 I know nothing About Hurst Toney scored a lot at this level - so did Pigott. We need a new striker- I don't think we will make the top 2 without a new one. What does the new striker need to be ? good with his back to goal, Patient, Lucky, able to get on the end of Burns crosses, able to make a chance on his own? If I was the Plymouth/ Swansea guy I'd be thinking I would score more at Plymouth than Ipswich due to the way Plymouth play. Look at the goals Sheff Wed scored on Monday - long balls making the Cambridge defenders turn- we do not go back to front like that enough. Whilst I enjoy watching Ipswich this season I think we need to realise that Div 3 defences are not as good when they have 4 or 5 at the back as opposed to the 10 that our slower build up play allows. We need a new striker but maybe we also need a tweak of tactics just as much

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Linkboy13 added 10:10 - Jan 6 Good player at this level and good in the air so gives us an extra opinion that we have been lacking this season. Obviously if we gain promotion we will need to be more ambitious in the transfer market but we need to get there first.
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Razor added 10:50 - Jan 6 Sorry neither Broadhead or Hirst what we need and I so disappointed if this is the limit of our ambitions-----we need guys who have been scoring regularly and will continue to do so-we must have some cash available now with the gates we have been getting-----COLLINS and HOSKINS please, and throw in WHITTAKER as well, that would really show intent and ambition.
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littlestoneblue added 10:55 - Jan 6 The one player we desperately need is a quality CB to seal our leaky defence, and that player has just come available after 8 years Sean Morrison from Cardiff he's been there and worn the T-shirt as captain In the premiership and Championship and scored 33goals from a defensive position, he's only 32 so has bags of talent we've sorely lacked attacking potential from corners and free kicks so if Kieran has been searching for a quality defender he should snap up Morrison quickly

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Alphacentauri76 added 20:47 - Jan 8 Ipswich using the loan market? I thought Ipswich had oodles of spare cash? Why cant you buy him lol
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