Former Wigan right-back Pascal Chimbonda is reportedly set to become the first signing of Paul Jewell’s Town era. The 31-year-old Blackburn defender is understood to have turned down a £500,000 switch to QPR to be reunited with his old Latics boss at Portman Road.

Guadeloupe-born Chimbonda began his career with Le Havre and Bastia in France before making his mark in English football with Jewell’s Wigan in their first season in the Premier League, 2005/06, when he was named in the PFA Team of the Year.

Much to the annoyance of Jewell and Wigan, Chimbonda handed in a transfer request on the final day of the season, a £4.5 million move to Spurs eventually being negotiated the following August.

After two years at Tottenham the occasional left-back or centre-half joined Roy Keane’s Sunderland, only to return to White Hart Lane six months later for the £3 million the Black Cats had originally paid for him.

In August 2009, the 5ft 11½ tall defender moved on to Blackburn for a reported £2.5 million but this season the once-capped French international has made only three Premier League starts and his time at Ewood Park appears to be coming to an end.

Jewell made reference to Chimbonda last week when talking about his transfer strategy: “My philosophy will be to try and bring decent players into the football club [wherever they’re playing].

“When I brought Antonio Valencia to Wigan people were asking ‘Who’s he?’, and they sold him for £16 million two years later. Same with Pascal Chimbonda.

“You can take players from obscure places. Supporters always want sexy signings, there’s no doubt about that, but we have to get our hands dirty and roll our sleeves up and have hungry fighters as well.”

Town are very much in need of a right-back with loanee Gianni Zuiverloon returning to West Brom after his loan was cut short over Christmas.

Photo: Action Images

Paul_Jewell_Manager added 05:35 - Jan 20 Hated by Arsenal fans. Could be an interesting 2nd leg.Hope its not like this one
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Paul_Jewell_Manager added 05:47 - Jan 20 the more i read up about him,the less impressed i am. hasn't done anything in football for 2 years. many think he is passed his sell-by date. he's a right-back, yes, but eastman,peters and brown will be better. i love tommy eastman,literally sweats blood for the cause. this journeyman will bring us no good, his glory days are long over.
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Paul_Jewell_Manager added 05:55 - Jan 20 Next we will be signing up Ali Dia
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Paul_Jewell_Manager added 06:01 - Jan 20 btw, love your posts bobble
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muhrensleftfoot added 06:49 - Jan 20 Would be good, but he's not here yet. Clegg needs to sort out the details, wages etc. Oh dear....never mind. Would have been good but probably won't happen.
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trueblue added 07:23 - Jan 20 om paper sound good, if he is a bit skittish, but Jewell should get the best out of him, good signing if it comes off. as for the wages someone else mentioned we are the highest payers in this league.(supposadly). Now for a striker
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BlueMoolay added 07:26 - Jan 20 He's alright he is.....hope we do get him. Chimbonda ma lord....Chimbonda..!!!
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Plums added 07:46 - Jan 20 I thought we were dedicated to not having a right back; where's the strategy gone?
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bigfish added 07:59 - Jan 20 Watch this space !!!! needed player and PJ trust him
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legoman added 07:59 - Jan 20 Hooray :o)
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gibborocks added 08:05 - Jan 20 Can only give him a chance and see what comes of it. He not the greatest but should fit in nicely bringing plenty of experience to us. Good luck
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bluelady added 08:19 - Jan 20 Paul jewell manager we all love tommy eastman but he never has and never will be a right back. as for jp my favourite player by far stick an experienced right back behind him and he will be fantastic as a right winger!! Phil where did this news come from the title suggests your pretty sure it will happen?
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bluearmy78 added 08:39 - Jan 20 If we can afford his wages, sign him up straight away, please!!!!
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bedsitfc added 08:57 - Jan 20 Nice if it came off, just a shame he would be cup tied. As he has played in it for blackburn this season.
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dirtydingusmagee added 09:02 - Jan 20 good news if it happens,and im with Bluelady it will free up Jamie Peters ,who has been shackled by multi tasking .
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PimsNumber1 added 09:02 - Jan 20 this made me laugh http://www.blackburn.vitalfootball.co.uk/article.asp?a=228897
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imalwayswrong added 09:06 - Jan 20 At last ! A wilnis replacement
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TimmyH added 09:11 - Jan 20 my Tottenham mate never thought that much of him, so a bit undecided on this!
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BaronBaron added 09:15 - Jan 20 The lack of quality full backs was my biggest problem under Keane. Not only does it leave us flat at the back but there was no overlap going forward either. Much as I love Peters for his work-rate - it was laughable the amount of times left wingers got in behind him. So, we are signing up Valencia too?
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petermorris added 09:16 - Jan 20 I don't care what he's got hidden in his sock, this is good news...
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lunatic38 added 09:16 - Jan 20 A good signing for a Championship Club, Already my faith has been restored. Maybe if we never had a change of Manager we would have signed an Irish Sunderland CM to play at right back! This just proves the new management are already showing signs of improvement and if true we even beat QPR to the signing (considering Ipswich meant to be in the middle of no where and unfashionable)then i see some good changes to a poor side! Hope we keep McAuley but Norris see you later son!

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suffolkpoker added 09:24 - Jan 20 I can see a patern here... played for sunderland, played under keane, seen drinking in a irish pub! Will be a great "character" i just hope he knows how to foul :-)
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bobble added 09:29 - Jan 20 foul them in their half that is suffolkpoker got to get your tactics right otherwise we will slide down the league
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Eddiemendez added 09:32 - Jan 20 Do do do, Pascal Chimbonda.....
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AberdeenTractor added 09:32 - Jan 20 He will do for me, now a midfielder who can pick out a pass and we will be there........hopefully!
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