Cork City may have to part with close on €50,000 before the end of the month if they want George O’Callaghan back in the club colours.
O’Callaghan has told some City players via text messages over the weekend that he is on his way home and Ipswich Town boss Jim Magilton has advised the former Leeside and Port Vale midfielder that he can go in the January transfer window.
Cork have already spoken to Eamon Collins, O’Callaghan’s agent in Ireland and City boss Alan Mathews expects to get permission from Ipswich to talk to O’Callaghan later this week.
Mathews is in Dublin all week on the final phase of his FIFA pro licence.
O’Callaghan, 27, ended a loan spell at Brighton in controversy after he championed the players’ unrest there over contracts, but his criticism of the chairman, Dick Knight, brought a swift return to Portman Road.