Town are close to completing the signing of Málaga defender César Navas, according to reports in Spain. Navas will be out of action for around two months after breaking a metatarsal during his Portman Road trial, but the Blues have continued their attempts to add the 27-year-old to their squad.

Navas underwent a further X-ray in Spain yesterday to determine whether his injury will require surgery, while the clubs continued to negotiate a fee.

The central defender impressed the Town management during his time at Portman Road and talks over a permanent move began even before Navas played for the Blues at Crawley, the game in which he sustained the injury to his right foot.

Reports last week indicated that Málaga wanted €1 million (£670,000) for the 6ft 4in tall Madrid-born defender, while Town had offered €600,000 (£400,000). It is likely that the eventual fee will be somewhere around the £500,000 mark.

Navas is understood to have wanted to move to England for some while and is a close friend of former Málaga team-mate Pablo Couñago, with whom he shares an agent.

The imposing centre-half spent the second half of last season on loan with Gimnàstic de Tarragona, who were eventually relegated from La Liga. In January he was linked with Reading and Sunderland.

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