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Post by NoCanariesAllowed (Ipswich'02) on Jun 18, 2008 12:32:37 GMT -1
Bit slow on the updates again. Never mind. The summer signings are starting to roll in. Ipswich have completed not one but two deals this week; as expected, Heerenveen defender Pim Balkestein has joined on a free transfer following his successful trial, and the widely-anticipated move for Leicester's Gareth McAuley has also been confirmed with the Northern Ireland international defender signing a 3-year-contract for an undisclosed fee thought to be between £1.1m and £1.5m. The signing of McAuley means that it is debatable whether Magilton will continue to pursue his interest in Cardiff's Roger Johnson, with the Town manager denying that he had made a £1m bid for the player last week. Rumours are also spreading that Town have held talks with Sunderland left-back Ian Harte, though this has not yet been confirmed. With the defence boosted, Town must now concentrate on other areas. A new goalkeeper is definitely on the shopping list following Magilton's decision not to offer on-loan Derby keeper Stephen Bywater a permanent deal. Fulham's Kasey Keller is the latest name to be linked, though one target Town have missed out on is Coventry-bound Carlisle keeper Keiren Westwood. Up front, Magilton has confirmed his interest in Newcastle's Shola Ameobi but reports that Town had made a bid appear to be false. There are suggestions that Ameobi is stalling on any potential move in the hope that an offer is made by a Premiiership club. It has emerged however that Town did make a bid for Burnley's Kyle Lafferty, though this is thought to have been significantly less than that offered by Rangers who are believed to be close to completing a deal. Alan Gow, a previous Town target, has been offered by Rangers as part of the deal, but with suggestions that the former Falkirk striker does not wish to join Burnley, a move for either Lafferty or Gow could still be possible. Another forward Magilton has confirmed his interest in is Barcelona B striker José Emilio Guerra, reportedly priced at £1m. Magilton is however said to have dropped his interest in Fulham's David Healy. In midfield, Town have missed out on Nottingham Forest's Sammy Clingan who has joined Norwich, and Hull are thought to be leading the chase for reported Town target Peter Halmosi. However, Ipswich are among a number of clubs rumoured to be interested in signing Liverpool's Paul Anderson on loan.
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Post by NoCanariesAllowed (Ipswich'02) on Jul 3, 2008 20:14:03 GMT -1
Another slow update. Not a lot has happened lately until the last couple of days.
The biggest story at the moment is the possibility that Town are in talks with Greece's Euro 2004 winning goalscorer Angelos Charisteas in negotiating a £2.5m deal. A player of Charisteas' profile would certainly be quite a coup for Town, but until any sort of confirmation of interest is received from the club, one would remain sceptical about the possibility. Another potential deal on the cards is the long-awaited return of Richard Wright which has been in and out of the press for much of the last 3 weeks. It is thought that Wright's move could happen once Town appoint a new goalkeeping coach, expected to be announced fairly soon. There have also been reports in the last 48 hours suggesting that Ipswich are pursuing Crewe striker Nicky Maynard, with rumours of a £1.5m bid being made (though these have apparently been denied).
Town also have a couple of triallists in - former Fulham defender Adam Green spent a week on trial at the end of June, while Ipswich Wanderers left-back Curtis Haynes-Brown is set to have a spell at Portman Road sometime in the near future.
There are numerous players in the Rumour Mill however who are no longer Town targets. Shefki Kuqi and Danny Simpson will not be getting deals at Portman Road after their loan spells at the end of the 2007/08 season (though another loan spell for Simpson has not been ruled out). Ipswich have confirmed that there was a bid made to Burnley for Kyle Lafferty but the striker had already set his heart on joining Rangers, while Alan Gow - the Rangers player expected to join Burnley as part of a swap deal - now looks set for Norwich. Other targets have also been ruled out; Fulham's Carlos Bocanegra has joined Rennes, Scunthorpe striker Martin Paterson has gone to Burnley, Kevin Phillips is set to stay at West Brom, and Ian Harte is thought to be on the verge of joining Watford. The stories about Emile Mpenza and Shola Ameobi also continue to rattle on with no visible progress actually being made.
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Post by NoCanariesAllowed (Ipswich'02) on Jul 8, 2008 19:22:16 GMT -1
Can't really be bothered to update the front page tonight, especially in the knowledge that I might need to update it again in the very near future anyway...
This is because Town are reported to be closing in on a third signing of the summer. The name, the club, even the position, all remain a mystery. However, there are numerous players who it could be. Perhaps the most likely is Richard Wright; the former Town goalkeeper has been widely expected to make his return to Portman Road this summer, and with Ipswich now having appointed a new goalkeeping coach, Wright's signing may simply be a matter of time. If it is another glovesman, word suggests that it could be Wolfsburg's Simon Jentzsch, or even a return for Kelvin Davis (though this seems highly unlikely in this man's honest opinion).
However, in the knowledge that Town are also after a left-sided player and a striker, it could be one of several other recently-mentioned targets; Southampton's Rudi Skacel has emerged as a potential option for Town's left flank, and Dagenham's Scott Griffiths is again being linked with the left-back role. Meanwhile sources continue to mention Angelos Charisteas in connection with a move to Portman Road despite German reports that he would not be interested in a move outside Germany.
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Post by NoCanariesAllowed (Ipswich'02) on Jul 15, 2008 12:17:04 GMT -1
The rumours have been coming in thick and fast in the last week or so. Here's the sum of what has happened.
Town's rumoured interest in Rudi Skacel was confirmed last week with the player appearing in Ipswich to discuss a £1m deal and have a medical. Despite this activity, no signing was completed as the Czech Republic midfielder returned to Prague to consider the move. One of the main problems is thought to be Skacel's chance of playing for the Czech national team which he feels would be damaged by remaining in a second-tier league like the Championship, while other reports suggest that the player would prefer a move to Germany. In either case, Skacel has since returned to Britain and is said by Southampton manager Jan Poortvliet to have no future at St. Marys, so either a deal with Town is just around the corner, or he is probably leaving the country.
Also in the last 7 days, Derek Bowden confirmed that Ipswich had held talks with Greek striker Angelos Charisteas, but though Town had been given permission to talk to the player, no fee had been agreed with his current club Nuremberg. It is reported however that he would probably cost Town anywhere between £1.5m and £2.7m. These negotiations appear to have stuttered too, largely because Charisteas is said to want to remain in Germany and possibly even at Nuremberg despite the club being relegated from the Bundesliga. However, Nuremberg are said to be rather keen for Charisteas to leave in order to reduce their wage bill, so the player may end up moving elsewhere after all. It is still all rather up-in-the-air at the moment though.
Elsewhere up front, Town are also repeatedly being mentioned in connection with Crewe's Nicky Maynard, though there has not been any confirmation of any offer being made despite numerous reports of bids between £1.5m and £2m. Magilton has said however that he has held talks with Maynard's agent. Tabloids today are suggesting that Town are closing in on a £600,000 move for Colchester striker Kevin Lisbie, though again this has not yet been confirmed. Other targets have since been largely ruled out - Kevin Phillips did actually decide to leave West Brom but joined Birmingham instead, while any move for either Emile Mpenza or Shola Ameobi looks dead in the water.
Not much more in the way of good news regarding Town's hunt for a goalkeeper either. Nick Colgan has been released therefore Town are probably in need of two new keepers. The widely anticipated return of Richard Wright has stalled, supposedly due to West Ham being reluctant to let their second-choice keeper go amidst interest from Aston Villa in first-choice keeper Robert Green. Becoming impatient at this lack of activity, Magilton has set a deadline of the end of this week for Wright to make a move. Another widely tipped target, Simon Jentzsch, has been ruled out; Town confirmed that an offer had been made to the Wolfsburg keeper but that the player rejected it, and any further pursuit has been abandoned. Other keepers linked recently include Bolton's Ali Al-Habsi and Preston's Andy Lonergan. Town were reported to have had three bids turned down by Preston, but both clubs denied that any offers had been made.
Finally, there have been numerous left-backs on trial at Town in the last few days. Ipswich decided not to offer former Fulham defender Adam Green a contract after spending a week with the club, but Honduran international Emilio Izaguirre has been brought in for a trial spell from Club Deportivo Motagua. Another left-sided defender, Ben Thatcher, has joined Ipswich on trial from Charlton whilst the Town squad are on their pre-season tour of Ireland.
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Post by NoCanariesAllowed (Ipswich'02) on Jul 16, 2008 17:43:15 GMT -1
Reports in the last 24 hours suggest that Town could make a double swoop by the end of the week. Ipswich's interest in Colchester's Kevin Lisbie has been confirmed, with the striker widely expected to complete a move in the next few days having already taken a medical at Portman Road. It is thought that Lisbie would cost Town in the region of £500,000-£600,000. However, Colchester are attempting to prevent the move by offering an improved contract to their top scorer from last season.
Secondly, it looks as though Town's efforts to sign Rudi Skacel may prove successful after all. Reports yesterday from Southampton stating that the player was in "final discussions" at Portman Road have been followed today by confirmation from Skacel's agent that Town are close to completing a deal. Though there is still no guarantee that Skacel's international commitments will not scupper the move, things look far more promising today than at the start of the week.
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Post by NoCanariesAllowed (Ipswich'02) on Jul 17, 2008 10:55:20 GMT -1
No news so far today on the progress of the Kevin Lisbie and Rudi Skacel moves. However, news has emerged that Town are interested in the possibility of taking former Manchester United midfielder Quinton Fortune on trial. Some reports suggest that Fortune is being seen as a backup option for the left-wing role should the deal for Skacel fall through.
Elsewhere Town continue to make efforts to bring Richard Wright back to Portman Road, although Jim Magilton has confirmed that he may consider a return for Kelvin Davis should the Wright move be delayed much longer.
Ipswich also have a couple of players training with the club in Ireland, though it is uncertain whether there is any interest in offering them contracts; Portadown defender Ross Redman and Newington's Neil Quinn are both said to be impressing the Town manager.
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Post by NoCanariesAllowed (Ipswich'02) on Jul 18, 2008 18:41:29 GMT -1
It has been confirmed on the Town website this evening that Ipswich have completed the signing of Colchester striker Kevin Lisbie on a 3 year deal. The club are thought to have paid a fee of around £600,000 for the Jamaican international.
This appears to have been the only anticipated signing completed today, despite reports late last night that Town could have completed as many as three deals by the end of the week. Rudi Skacel and Richard Wright are the two most likely to have been expected to complete their moves today, though there is talk that Town may be on the verge of offering triallist Ben Thatcher a contract too.
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Post by NoCanariesAllowed (Ipswich'02) on Jul 21, 2008 14:30:26 GMT -1
Ipswich have finally completed the long-awaited signing of Richard Wright from West Ham. The former Town keeper makes his return to Portman Road for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £500,000.
Town's move for Rudi Skacel is also widely expected to be completed this week, as well as a possible contract offer for triallist Ben Thatcher who has impressed on the club's pre-season tour of Ireland since joining from Charlton.
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Post by NoCanariesAllowed (Ipswich'02) on Aug 5, 2008 16:57:29 GMT -1
Various things to mention in this update which haven't been said here up to now.
Firstly, the Rudi Skacel move collapsed. It was recently confirmed that, despite negotations reaching the point of Skacel passing a medical at Portman Road, the Czech international is looking to forward his career with his country by joining a top-flight club elsewhere; most likely Germany, where he has recently been on loan with Hertha Berlin.
It is difficult to know whether Town will sign Ben Thatcher either - the defender has also been on trial at Wolves since his time at Town, and despite Derek Bowden confirming that discussions are continuing this week, Mick McCarthy may be looking to scupper the deal in order to take the player to Molineux after failing to sign Ian Harte. However, news has broken in the last 24 hours that former Real Madrid and Bolton defender Ivan Campo has emerged as a Town target. The Champions League winner was in the director's box at Portman Road to watch Town's 3-5 friendly loss to West Ham on Monday, and Jim Magilton has since confirmed that Campo is currently in early discussions over a possible deal.
Also on the defensive front, Ipswich Wanderers' Curtis Haynes-Brown has finally joined Town for a spell this week as anticipated since early July, and the club is also considering offering Emilio Izaguirre a contract. One defender Town have definitely missed out on however is Manchester United's Danny Simpson - the youngster, who was on loan at Town for the second half of last season, has joined Blackburn for the duration of the upcoming campaign.
With Town missing out on long-term targets Angelos Charisteas and Nicky Maynard (who has since joined Bristol City), a whole host of potential new targets have emerged in the press this week. Magilton has confirmed that he is interested in Celtic's Bobo Balde, though Town are not thought to be favourites for his signature, especially with the defender rumoured to be on £28,000 per week at Celtic. Balde's team-mate Lee Naylor has also been linked. There continues to be much speculation over possible attacking targets too - Chievo's Erjon Bogdani was linked several times last week, although Derek Bowden did not even appear to know who the player was when questioned about him. Jim Magilton confirmed that David Nugent was back in his thoughts after a loan move for him collapsed earlier in the year, but any move looks highly unlikely as the Portsmouth man is again not keen on dropping out of the Premiership. Others linked include Leicester's Steve Howard, Coventry's Kevin Kyle, Nottingham Forest's Nathan Tyson and Egyptian striker Emad Meteb after his move to Bristol City collapsed.
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Post by NoCanariesAllowed (Ipswich'02) on Aug 7, 2008 11:42:00 GMT -1
Posting the big news from my mobile phone(!) so can't update the frontpage yet. However, as I see word is already getting around, there has been confirmation in the Spanish press that Ivan Campo has signed a 2 year deal at Ipswich! There has still been no official word on this, but Campo's comments in the reports suggest it is a done deal.
:-D
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Post by NoCanariesAllowed (Ipswich'02) on Aug 11, 2008 15:49:48 GMT -1
It's official - Ipswich have confirmed that Ivan Campo has completed his move to Town, signing a 2-year-deal on a free transfer. Campo becomes Town's 5th signing of the summer. On a less positive note, rumours persist that Jon Walters could be set to leave the club before the start of the Premiership season next week. Walters, who has regularly been connected with Stoke amid suggestions that he is interested in a return to his native North-West, is reportedly valued at around £3m, meaning that Ipswich could include a player swap in any potential deal. Former Town loanee Ricardo Fuller has been mentioned as a possible makeweight. Elsewhere, tabloid reports continue to suggest that David Nugent may be on his way to Town despite his supposed lack of interest, though this is now somewhat more likely with talk of a possible loan deal which would at least allow Nugent to return to Premiership club Portsmouth eventually. On the defensive front, there is still talk that Ben Thatcher may soon sign a Town contract, and Magilton has also expressed his admiration for triallist Curtis Haynes-Brown.
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Post by NoCanariesAllowed (Ipswich'02) on Aug 11, 2008 15:57:30 GMT -1
And as a pointless side note, the 606 Ipswich Town Rumour Mill celebrated its 2nd Birthday on Saturday. Hurrah!!!
;D
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Post by NoCanariesAllowed (Ipswich'02) on Aug 14, 2008 14:52:28 GMT -1
The long-anticipated signing of ex-Charlton defender Ben Thatcher has finally been completed. 32-year-old Thatcher, who spent time on trial with the Town squad during pre-season, has signed a two-year deal having turned down opportunities to join Wolves and West Ham.
There is also much talk today that Town are back in the hunt for Newcastle's Shola Ameobi. Some reports have gone as far as to suggest that the striker has had a medical at Portman Road, though nothing has yet been confirmed by the club.
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Post by ITFC Dudette6 on Aug 28, 2008 10:34:23 GMT -1
According to TWTD and Derek Bowden, Moritz Volz should be signing today on a season long loan...
Crystal Palace have had a bid for Alan Lee accepted (reported to be about £600,000), and is having a medical today. After his "performance" on Saturday, £600,000 is brilliant!
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Post by ITFC Dudette6 on Aug 30, 2008 10:03:27 GMT -1
*sigh* Just when I hoped the Jon Walters saga was over, it's reported that Stoke have actually made a bid of £3 million. Town are going to think about it over the weekend. Walters, like NCA said, is apparently keen on a move back to the north-west, but since he's not come out and said anything... I hope he doesn't go, but when family's concerned, what can you do?
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Post by ITFC Dudette6 on Sept 1, 2008 22:09:08 GMT -1
As fas as I know, we still have Jon Walters! Yay!
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Post by El Morto La Hoja! on Apr 2, 2009 17:05:55 GMT -1
Billy Clarke is to be released at the end of the season....
... i thought he was the great midget hope of Ipswich Town...?
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Post by ITFC Dudette6 on Apr 2, 2009 17:12:49 GMT -1
It was too much expectation for him to carry on his little midget shoulders...
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Post by El Morto La Hoja! on Apr 2, 2009 17:14:55 GMT -1
will he go back to the shire...?
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gt
Non League Player (someone crap, like Boston)
Posts: 51
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Post by gt on Apr 3, 2009 9:31:00 GMT -1
I heard a rumour that Ipswich is to be fired from it's position as Suffolk county town, to be replaced by Bobby Davro!
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