IPSWICH have agreed a fee for Sunderland duo Grant Leadbitter and Carlos Edwards - and fellow Black Cat Daryl Murphy's move to Portman Road could also still be on.

Stuart Watson

IPSWICH have agreed a fee for Sunderland duo Grant Leadbitter and Carlos Edwards - and fellow Black Cat Daryl Murphy's move to Portman Road could also still be on.

Town boss Roy Keane is desperate to strengthen his squad before the transfer window closes at 5pm next Tuesday, while Steve Bruce wants to lighten his squad's wage bill after a summer spending spree at the Stadium of Light.

Bruce - who has signed Darren Bent, Lee Cattermole, Lorik Cana, Fraizer Campbell and Paulo da Silva since taking over at the Stadium of Light - confirmed this morning: “We have given both players (Leadbitter and Edwards) permission to go and speak with Roy. We'll see what develops after that.”

Meanwhile, it is believed that Keane could still look to revive a deal for Daryl Murphy after the Irish winger/striker turned down the chance to join the club last month, but that Bruce will knock back any approaches for defender Nyron Nosworthy.

Leadbitter, Edwards and Murphy all played major roles under Keane during his time as Sunderland manager , helping the club get promoted to the Premier League in 2007.

Midfielder Leadbitter, 23, came through the ranks at Sunderland and made his debut for the Black cats in 2003.

However, it was Keane who really launched him as a key player at the club, Leadbitter playing in 82 of the Irishman's 100 games in charge.

Trinidad & Tobago winger Edwards, 30, was signed for Sunderland by Keane from Luton for �1.4m in January 2007, but has found himself behind Kieran Richardson and Steed Malbranque this season.

Ipswich agreed a fee with Sunderland for versatile Irish winger/striker Murphy last month - a player who had trials at Portman Road under Joe Royle - but the move fell through at the last minute when Hull City showed late interest.

That move never materialised though and Ipswich look set to try and revive the deal.

The potential arrival of three new players at Portman Road would further cast into doubt the future of a number of the current squad with an angry Keane having stated that 'one or two players who will not play for me again' following last Saturday's defeat at West Bromwich Albion.