Joe Royle today admitted to mixed feelings over Kelvin Davis's possible move to Sunderland.The Ipswich boss does not want to lose a top quality goalkeeper - but he knows the fee would free up money he could use in the transfer market.

Joe Royle today admitted to mixed feelings over Kelvin Davis's possible move to Sunderland.

The Ipswich boss does not want to lose a top quality goalkeeper - but he knows the fee would free up money he could use in the transfer market.

Ipswich will pocket a £2.5million fee from Charlton for the sale of striker Darren Bent - rising to £3m on appearances. That will go to help run the club through the summer months.

It is the price they have to pay for failing to gain promotion.

But if Davis agrees terms with Premiership newcomers Sunderland, the fee of around £1m will be used by Royle to strengthen his squad.

And it seems something would happen pretty quickly.

Ipswich have agreed a figure with Sunderland and Davis spent yesterday talking to the Championship champions.

It is by no means a formality that he will sign for them as it would mean having to uproot his family and move them from Bury St Edmunds to the north. His wife gave birth to their second child only in April and that decision may not be an easy one.

Royle said: “We know how good Kelvin is, but the bottom line is we need the money.

“He has done exceptionally well for us and with one more year to go on his contract we couldn't command a fee in 12 months' time.”

Royle is known to have looked already at a possible replacement - a keeper with more experience than Town reserves Lewis Price and Shane Supple.

And he needs players to come in and boost the goal tally next season with Bent already gone and Tommy Miller likely to follow. The manager is also still waiting to hear from Shefki Kuqi whether the big Finn will be staying.

Town chief executive Derek Bowden confirmed that Ipswich had accepted an offer from Sunderland for Davis.

Bowden said: “If Kelvin can agree personal terms and likes what he sees, I guess he will move on, but it's very much in his court.

“We believe it's a fair offer for the player, particularly as he came in on a free transfer.”

Confirming Royle's position as the manager waits to talk to possible new players, Bowden added: “The fans find it hard to stomach sometimes but, when you're running a business, it has to be out before in.

“Joe knows who he wants to bring in and we know what we can afford if certain transactions are made.

“Fortunately, these things are happening very quickly in the transfer window and that's good for us.

"There were six out-of-contract players. Drissa Diallo and Pablo Counago have not been offered new contracts but we're hopeful the other four - Fabian Wilnis, Jim Magilton, Shefki Kuqi and Tommy Miller - will all sign up again.

"We want them to sign up again. We've offered them what we believe is good and fair money and, hopefully, they'll sign.

“They are free agents and they will look around and we'll see in a few weeks' time.

“If Kelvin agrees personal terms with Sunderland we could move into the transfer market almost immediately, with money made available to Joe."

Part of the Davis fee will be paid to MK Dons from a sell-on agreed when the keeper joined the Blues two years ago from the club then known as Wimbledon.