Ipswich Town have been knocked back in their bid to sign Wolves striker Kevin Doyle on loan until the end of the season.

The 30-year-old Republic of Ireland international has scored just three times in 29 league and cup appearances for the Black Country club this season, but Blues boss Mick McCarthy was keen to bolster his attack by bringing the former Reading man to Portman Road.

McCarthy signed Doyle for Wolves in 2009 for £6.5m – a move which has so far yielded 33 goals in 173 appearances – but the veteran has been out of favour in recent weeks, although he did make a positive impact off the bench in the win at Oldham last night.

However, it seems Wolves are reluctant to let Doyle go, with Leigh Griffiths seemingly set for Celtic and Jake Cassidy having been allowed to return to Tranmere on loan.

The striker’s £40,000 wages would also have proved problematic and he would have had to take a sizeable wage-cut in order for a move to Suffolk to happen, with Wolves having been unlikely to subsidise any portion of his salary.

McCarthy already has former Wolves players Christophe Berra, Frank Nouble, Stephen Hunt, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Carlos Edwards in his ranks.

Doyle’s contract runs out next summer.

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