Reports this morning say Town have agreed a fee of £2 million for Sunderland's Chris Makin and that he could be in the side which plays Aston Villa on Saturday. It is thought Town and the player will talk personal terms today.

The stories say that the Sunderland board reluctantly agreed to sell Makin at a meeting after Sunderland's game with Villa last night. Peter Reid is in the process of signing two Argentinian players, Benjamin Ibarra and Nicolas Medina, and the former looks like being Makin's replacement at the Stadium of Light.

Makin, 27, has made 137 (7 sub) appearances for Sunderland scoring two goals. He has previously played with Oldham (112 (2 sub) app, 4 goals), Wigan (14 (1), 2) and had a spell in France with Marseille. He was part of Sunderland's Division One winning side in 1999 and also won England honours at youth and schoolboy level. He is 5'11" and and weighs 11st.

This apparently brings George Burley's spending for the season to an end with no new midfielder yet brought to the club. Town have tried in vain to bring in Claus Jensen, Hassan Kachloul, Gert Veryehen and at least one other since last summer, but have had little success and George Burley now seems content to wait 'til the summer.

Makin is likely to be papraded at George Burley's regular Thursday press conference.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls