BLUES boss Joe Royle could benefit from a double cash windfall in the new-year to bolster his fighting fund.Sell on clauses in the contracts of Matteo Sereni and Marcus Bent will trigger payment to Ipswich Town if the pair's proposed moves in January go ahead.

By Derek Davis

BLUES boss Joe Royle could benefit from a double cash windfall in the new-year to bolster his fighting fund.

Sell on clauses in the contracts of Matteo Sereni and Marcus Bent will trigger payment to Ipswich Town if the pair's proposed moves in January go ahead.

Charlton are reportedly ready to pay Everton £2m for the much-travelled former Blues striker who moved to Goodison Park in a £300,000 deal.

Town will get ten per cent of anything over that amount, meaning they could dip in by around £170,000.Struggling Seri A side Cagliari are keen on signing keeper Sereni from Lazio and the Blues will cash in on 50 per cent of that deal.

The amount Town will get from the Sereni moves depends on how much Lazio get paid in cash as any player swaps or other clauses will not be included in the deal that helps Town.

Ipswich paid a record- equalling £4.5m for Sereni from Sampdoria but struggled to carry on paying the Italian his £30,000 a week wages when they were relegated and after a season long loan at Brescia he signed for Lazio. As part of the deal the Serie A side Lazio will travel to Portman Road to play in a friendly in July.

Any extra cash will be a bonus to Royle's budget for a loan player, or to make Gavin Williams' move from West Ham permanent.

The club is in advanced talks with its major creditors to restructure the existing debt and funds raised from that could also go into Royle's coffers.

Meanwhile, Royle is hoping a flotilla of trialists can sail to the rescue in the new-year and push the Blues further up the table.

The Blues have already started on their January recruiting campaign by casting their eye over players this week.

Two of the three hopefuls looking to impress, Iwan Redan and Delis Ahou, will return home to Holland and France today without securing anything more than a 'don't call us we will call you' send off.

Former Burnley and QPR defender Arthur Gnohere remains at Portman Road but is still some way off being match fit.

Royle said: “Arthur is without a club and so can stay for an indefinite period. He has not had much football at all but he his trying his heart out to make an impression.

“We have looked at some players and will have a flotilla of trialists coming over in the first week of January for us to look at.

“We are still waiting for someone to say 'take me' but no one has not done that as yet.”

Royle will also have been alerted by experienced striker Deon Burton slapping in a transfer request at Rotherham. With 13 goals under his belt this season the former member of the Jamaica's World Cup Reggae Boyz is a proven striker at premiership and Championship level after stints with Portsmouth and Derby County.

While young strikers have caught his eye Royle, has targeted goal-getters like Jonatan Johanson at Charlton.

He said: “We have young and promising among our own players, what we need is a hard-bitten experienced pro who can stick the ball in the net.”

His team for Monday's home game with Crystal Palace will not look too different from the one that finished at Sheffield Wednesday as the Blues look for maximum pints over the festive period.

Kevin Horlock trained yesterday but is unlikely to be included in the final 16 for Monday's game. Dean McDonald, fresh from a successful loan spell at Hartlepool is very much in consideration, along with Dean Bowditch and Danny Haynes as a partner to Nicky Forster.

Ian Westlake and Owen Garvan are also pushing hard for a starting Palace, although midfield is a strong area for Town.

Royle said: “They are both back and fully fit and even though they are a little short of match fitness, they were involved at Sheffield and have another week's training under their belts.”

The Blues FA Youth Cup fourth round tie will be played on Thursday, January 19 at Anfield with a 7pm kick off.

The Town reserve game against Arsenal at Barnet's Underhill Stadium, scheduled for January 9 has been postponed. The next reserves game will be against Fulham on January 16, which will be played at Needham Market. Town season ticket holders will still watch the match for free otherwise admittance is £5 for adults with concessions also available.