Rhodes takes diversion back to Town

Derek Davis

WHILE Veliche Shumulikoski looks set to complete his switch to Preston today, Jordan Rhodes is still mulling over a move to Huddersfield.

The vast majority of Ipswich Town fans are aghast at the prospect of losing the 19-year-old who has had a medical at the Galpharm Stadium but will be cheered to know he was back at Portman Road training with the reserves yesterday.

Nothing was finalised last night but the Terriers are hoping the deal will be completed today once personal terms are concluded and all the paperwork is complete. Although the two Towns agreed a fee, believed to be an initial �150,000 and rising to more than double that with add-ons, if Rhodes decides not to make the move to the League One promotion contenders then there is no doubt manager Roy Keane will embrace him back into the fold as he has done with Pablo Counago, who rejected the offer of a move to Swansea.

Keane's approach to transfers appears to be that if the club accepts and offer from another club then the player is free to make the decision about staying - like Counago - or going, as in Danny Haynes's case when he joined Bristol City.

Shumulikoski was in Preston yesterday for talks and a medical and it seems likely that he will sign for the Championship side today.

There was a suggestion that Reading may come in and try to hijack the deal but Preston are so far the only club to have been given permission to speak to the Macedonian international. The Blues will look to recoup much of the �600,000 fee they paid Turkish side Bursaspor when he was signed by Jim Magilton 18 months ago.

Meanwhile it has been reported that Senegalese international Henri Camara has changed his mind about joining Ipswich Town despite agreeing a deal last week.

It has also been reported nationally that Town are among a raft of clubs interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Adam Hamill.

The Blues last night declined to comment on any transfer activity.