Town close in on two more signings (From Gazette)

Town close in on two more signings

10:09am Thursday 9th July 2009 in

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Ipswich Town are on the verge of signing two more players after their pre-season action began with an abject display in Ireland.

Town were beaten 2-1 by Finn Harps, with young striker and Phillip Morant School pupil Connor Wickham scoring the Town goal.

Boss Roy Keane hinted he was none too impressed with the Town players on show and is hoping to add to his squad immediately.

He said: “I have always enjoyed coming to Ireland. Finn Harps did well, they did exactly what I expected them to do, and they showed very good fitness levels.

“I learned a lot about one or two of my players. I am taking stock very quickly of what we have and what we don’t have.

“We have agreed a price with two players from a club I hope to meet in the next 48 hours, one of them is Irish.”

The identity of the players remains a mystery, with Town having been linked with so many transfer deals in the media this summer.

Keane was expected to raid former club Sunderland, but is yet to do so, having signed Damien Delaney from QPR, Lee Martin from Manchester United and Troy Brown, who was released by Fulham.

“I’ve been linked with about 70 players since I took the job, they are two players that did very well for me a Sunderland, but it is difficult for us to get players out of the Premiership for lots of reasons and I can’t keep coming back to the same players I had at Sunderland either,” said Keane.

“At Sunderland I spent about £6 million when I first arrived. If I can spend about £6 million here and get this team promoted I’ll be very pleased. There is also the option of one or two loan players.”

With Pablo Counago and Kevin Lisbie absent from the Ireland trip because of injury, Town’s lack of firepower was evident.

Jon Stead was utilised as a lone striker, supported by Jon Walters and Danny Haynes.

Keane is yet to confirm whether he intends to sign a high-profile striker, capable of scoring a glut of goals.

The Irishmen linked with Town so far include Sunderland players Paul McShane and Daryl Murphy.

Town fans will be hoping a big name player is added before the season begins.

They were treated to the delights of loanee Giovani Dos Santos at the back end of the last campaign, and it is fair to say the same impact cannot be expected of the current summer signings.

Jaime Peters is on international duty with Canada, who are taking part in the Gold Cup.

Peters has been restricted to an unused substitute role in their two matches so far this week.

Meanwhile, former Blue Dan Harding is having a trial with Yeovil Town.

Harding’s contract expired this summer so he is now a free agent, as are Dean Bowditch and Matt Richards, who are reportedly set to trial at Notts County and Leyton Orient respectively.