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

exeterblu added 13:53 - Jan 20 lol - good point Arnie!! Very pleased with this signing, shows Jewell has come in and realised our deficiencies immediatly and is seeking to imporve them. All town fans have been aware for the last 6 mths that we have needed a right back ! Great to bring in a player with good experience as well. COYB!!!
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ipswichtillidie added 14:18 - Jan 20 Wallis... JASON Roberts would be an awesome signing yes,,,, Would he drop a division and play for us i'm not so sure but must be on PJ's radar u would hope.... Been thinking about Roberts myself for the last few weeks in the non homo sense of course....
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Back_The_Boss added 14:21 - Jan 20 Excellent, should have a few more years left in his locker! COYB!
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whymarksmyhero added 14:54 - Jan 20 Jason Roberts has just been offered a contract extension at blackburn so don't get your hopes up !!! Not sure about chimponahonda, but he's a right back so it's a start !!!
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chripswich added 16:47 - Jan 20 Alan brazil said it all on Talk Sport.. OOOOOoooooooH Nooooooooo! average...
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Fatcatevans added 19:46 - Jan 20 Very average and an egotist to boot. Its defensive play as a right back we need not someone like Chimbonda.
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