Ipswich Town beat the loan deadline day to land Jonny Williams and Zeki Fryers
Jonny Williams, pictured during his loan spell at Ipswich Town earlier this season
Ipswich Town have completed a sensational double swoop moments before the 5pm ‘emergency’ loan deadline – landing Jonny Williams and Zeki Fryers from Crystal Palace.
With Championship rivals Watford, Wolves and Fulham sniffing around Williams, the Blues decided to make one last push to see if they could get around the red-tape which had previously prevented them getting the Welsh midfielder back at Portman Road.
Football League rules state that a club cannot sign the same player on emergency loan twice in a season, but Town have been arguing that they should be able to get Williams back on a continuation of his cut-short-by-injury spell from earlier in the campaign.
A whole host of paperwork was submitted to the authorities, including his medical records, and finally the move was given the green light.
Williams, who has proved a popular figure at Portman Road during two spells, jumped at the chance to return.
The only downside is that, with only 53 days of the initial 93-day deal left to run, this latest switch will expire on May 17.
That means that he would be able to play in any potential Play-Off semi-finals, but not in the May 25 Play-Off Final.
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Discussions with Palace then led to talks about Fryers, the former Manchester United and Tottenham left-back. The 22-year-old will act as cover with Tyrone Mings missing the next two games through suspension.
Both deals are subject to paperwork being approved by the Football League.
Meanwhile, Paul Taylor – who had been told to stay away from the club by manager Mick McCarthy – has joined Blackburn on loan until the end of the season. The striker will not be eligible to face Town on the final day of the season.
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