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Wanderers have lost out to Ipswich Town in a head-to-head battle for the loan signing of young Crystal Palace midfielder Jonny Williams.
The 20-year-old Wales international was on Dougie Freedman’s radar according to sources in south London, but he has opted to return to Portman Road rather than link-up with his former Eagles boss.
Williams was handed his professional debut by Freedman as a 17-year-old and went on to play 18 times in his breakthrough season in 2011-12.
But it is thought the current predicament Wanderers find themselves in at the wrong end of the Championship, coupled with his fruitful spell working with Mick McCarthy last season, made up his mind when he was made available for a loan.
There were a host of clubs linked with Williams last week but The Bolton News understands only the Whites and Ipswich made any firm offer to Palace.
The youngster, who has played four times for the Eagles this season, will stay with Ipswich for three months and McCarthy is delighted to have won the race for his signature as he looks for his side to continue their good run of form against Sheffield Wednesday tonight.
He told the Ipswich Star: “It is great for us to be getting a player of his quality coming in.
“I think one of his concerns when deciding where he was going to go, as he had a number of options, was whether he would play, because we are playing well.
“If you think Jonny Williams, as good as he was the last time, is going to be sat warming the bench during his loan, then that’s not going to happen.
“It will give everyone a lift and boost, on the back of the results, seeing him coming him, knowing the quality he has.
“If we can get out of him what he did the last time, or he can contribute what he did the last time, we will be delighted.”
Source
The 20-year-old Wales international was on Dougie Freedman’s radar according to sources in south London, but he has opted to return to Portman Road rather than link-up with his former Eagles boss.
Williams was handed his professional debut by Freedman as a 17-year-old and went on to play 18 times in his breakthrough season in 2011-12.
But it is thought the current predicament Wanderers find themselves in at the wrong end of the Championship, coupled with his fruitful spell working with Mick McCarthy last season, made up his mind when he was made available for a loan.
There were a host of clubs linked with Williams last week but The Bolton News understands only the Whites and Ipswich made any firm offer to Palace.
The youngster, who has played four times for the Eagles this season, will stay with Ipswich for three months and McCarthy is delighted to have won the race for his signature as he looks for his side to continue their good run of form against Sheffield Wednesday tonight.
He told the Ipswich Star: “It is great for us to be getting a player of his quality coming in.
“I think one of his concerns when deciding where he was going to go, as he had a number of options, was whether he would play, because we are playing well.
“If you think Jonny Williams, as good as he was the last time, is going to be sat warming the bench during his loan, then that’s not going to happen.
“It will give everyone a lift and boost, on the back of the results, seeing him coming him, knowing the quality he has.
“If we can get out of him what he did the last time, or he can contribute what he did the last time, we will be delighted.”
Source
