Town chief executive Derek Bowden says the Blues are still awaiting a response from Málaga regarding their bid for central defender César Navas. Reports in Spain earlier today claimed the Blues had made an increased offer for the 27-year-old but this appears not to be the case.

Bowden told TWTD: “We've made an offer and we're waiting to hear back from Málaga.”

The chief executive refused to confirm the size of the bid, but Spanish reports last week indicated that the Blues had offered the Segunda División side €150,000 (£100,000), while Málaga wanted €200,000 (£135,000) up front plus another €100,000 (£68,000) after the defender's fifth appearance for the Blues.

Navas impressed the Town management during a trial spell at Portman Road in pre-season but broke the third metatarsal on his right foot during the friendly at Crawley. The injury is expected to keep him out of action until the end of September or beginning of October.

Málaga are eager to offload Navas's La Liga-sized wages — his salary makes up a seventh of their overall wage bill — and achieve a fee in order to strengthen their side for the season ahead.

In January Málaga sent Navas out on loan to Gimnàstic de Tarragona, where the defender recorded an unfortunate double of a second successive relegation from the Spanish top flight, Málaga having been demoted a season earlier.

The 6ft 4in tall former Real Madrid B player is keen to move to England to continue his career alongside his friend Pablo Couñago.

Boss Jim Magilton told the club site that he is keen to add to his squad before the transfer window closes at the end of the month and Navas appears to be the most likely new signing: "The transfer window is open for another week or so and we have one or two irons in the fire that may come to fruition before the window closes.

“I would like to bring in another player before the end of August to strengthen the squad and keep everyone on their toes and we are actively working towards that, but we will see how things develop."

Once the window closes, Magilton will utilise the loan market if required when it opens in the second week of September.

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