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

Surco72 added 09:35 - Jan 20 If Warnock was after him aswell it will be a very good championship signing and any recogonised right back with experience is a step forward from a winger or central defender playing there who may give their all but have been caught out of position a horrible number of times this season.And as others have added allows Jamie to push further on so we have some pace going forward .

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Vic added 09:38 - Jan 20 Should stay with us long enough to help us avoid relegation. Wouldn't expect him to want to hang around here for very long.
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bluelady added 09:44 - Jan 20 One may assume if he dod turn down qpr must have offer on table from us?
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BwoodBlue added 10:03 - Jan 20 Deal isn't done yet!
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cornishnick added 10:09 - Jan 20 bit of a prima donna. And yes, what about wages? Hope they don't break the wage structure for him. Keeping Norris and McAuley far more important
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alex12345 added 10:32 - Jan 20 Little song for him could be, instead of that old chestnut kum by are my lord, we could sing chimbonda my lord, chimbonda... Etc you get the picture COYB
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ipswichtillidie added 10:48 - Jan 20 Like this "potential" signing,,, Providing PJ can handle Bonda's temperament then a good footballer who just so happens to play at RIGHT BACK! thank you and good night
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Suffolk_n_Good added 10:49 - Jan 20 "We interupt this programme to bring you some breaking news....." A full back with experience!!!! joining ITFC!!!! Whatever next?...... a new tea lady that can ACTUALLY make tea!!!, or a new Football Club Chief Executive that can ACTUALLY run a football Club!!! Come on PJ, the reveloution starts here!.......
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bluelady added 11:02 - Jan 20 Suffolkngood understand jewell recalling lisbie evidently he makes an amazing cuppa!!
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8ashblue added 11:12 - Jan 20 His press hasnt been good so hope we're not signing trouble! But if he's as good as PJ thinks then could be first of some good additions that PJ has worked with. Also releasing Jamie up field will be perfect.
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jas0999 added 11:16 - Jan 20 hang on! After all the grief Roy received for buying players he had signed before - it's now okay for Jewell ... pot, kettle springs to mind! However, I personally never had a problem with a manager buying players he once worked with. Most do it. Not convinced about this signing though. Mainly because he must be on over 25K a week - can we justify that?
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poggie added 11:25 - Jan 20 Hope it's true. Had him in my fantasy team last season, and he scored me loads of points. Know he's not been so good this season, but still a good player! Nice to be linked with these sorts of people too.
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blue_em_away added 12:06 - Jan 20 Excellent...... About f**king time too! Square pegs in SQUARE HOLES!!
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Youth added 12:20 - Jan 20 exactly who we need, now for roberts and maybe strong powerful midfielder
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whoppit added 12:20 - Jan 20 Absolute nutter and a distrusptive influence in the dressing room. Sounds like Keane doesn't it?
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Garv added 12:22 - Jan 20 Thing is I don't know much about this guy, and as people say reports about him aren't good. BUT I actually trust Jewell when it comes to signing a player, I trust his judgement especially with examples of valencia! What signings did keane ever make that everyone was genuinely impressed with? As in a big signing and an impressive signing...a Gio signing if you will.
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BerlinBlue added 12:45 - Jan 20 a premiership-quality player, very experienced and worked with PJ before... sounds all good...
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urbanblue added 12:49 - Jan 20 Don't know much about him but PJ must know what he is dealing with. How good that now we are favoured over another club. Don't think that happened once under Keane ! Have loved all that our new manager has done so far. Sent Fallon back, recalled Martin and now this. Seems he is getting right down to the job in hand.
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Mark added 12:58 - Jan 20 It sounds an excellent signing in a position that we have been neglecting all season: right-back! Jewell knows him well and I think that is an advantage. There is nothing wrong in a manager buying players he has managed before, but the critisism of Keane was that he nearly always bought players he knew and "trusted". This meant that while our rivals were shopping around and picking up bargains, Roy was limiting us to a small pool of players (usually with Premier League fees and wages). I think Jewell by contrast may buy two or three players he knows, but he won't be adverse to watching League One matches and making some signings from there either.

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Mungo added 13:07 - Jan 20 Who predicted this the other day? Could be a great signing. Reminds me a lot of Fabian Wilnis. Oh how we've missed him!
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stinkiusminkius added 13:10 - Jan 20 Jas0999 - of course all managers buy players that they have worked with before. But let's get this right - this is potentially Mr Jewells first signing, and it's for a position we desperately need to fill, and with a quality player. Plus it seems clear that he is looking at many other avenues too. Keane, on the other hand, seemed almost solely linked to ex players throughout his 18 months, and it didn't matter if they were for positions we needed, plus they seemed to be of decreasing quality. He didn't have many other avenues. And the proof was in the pudding - he was proved to be a rubbish manager with a rubbish scouting network. PLEASE stop trying to still stick up for Keane - you must now realise how bad he was for our club.

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Cattee11 added 13:12 - Jan 20 Would be a great signing. Expirence in defence
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BlueMoolay added 13:21 - Jan 20 Do some work Hank. I totally agree with ya 100 o/o.
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ArnieM added 13:40 - Jan 20 has ITFC been moved from Ipswich and Suffolk now then? As it was our location that previously prevented us signing any players I understand !!
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Wallis added 13:52 - Jan 20 What about getting Jason Roberts, he is one of Jewells old Wigan strikers and is not in favour at Blackburn, he could do well for us.
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