TWTD understands that former Coventry, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Hull City midfielder George Boateng is currently training with Town. The 35-year-old is a free agent having been released from his contract with Greek side Skoda Xanthi at the end of the season.

Boateng, who was previously targeted by former Town manager Roy Keane in 2009 when his high wages proved a stumbling block, looks an ideal candidate for the holding midfield role Paul Jewell has been looking to fill this summer.

Born in Nkawkaw, Ghana, Boateng moved to Holland as a child and started his career with Rotterdam club Excelsior before moving across the city to Feyenoord in 1995.

In December 1997 he moved to Coventry City for £250,000, then a £4.5 million move to Aston Villa followed in July 1999, the midfielder playing in the 2000 FA Cup final defeat to Chelsea.

Middlesbrough paid £5 million for Boateng’s services in August 2002 and was in the sides which won the 2004 League Cup and lost the 2006 UEFA Cup final.

Hull City was Boateng’s next port of call in July 2008, the Tigers paying £1 million for a player who was to become a close friend of former Town loanee Jimmy Bullard during his time at the KC Stadium.

Capped four times by Holland earlier in his career, Boateng left Hull for Greek side Skoda Xanthi in July 2010, signing a two-year deal and playing alongside recent Town signing Nathan Ellington during his loan spell with the Greek club last season. It's understood that Boateng and Skoda agreed to go their separate ways at the end of 2010/11.

Yesterday, TWTD reported that Town could sign two players prior to next week’s pre-season tour of Holland with Lee Bowyer and Boateng looking the favourites to be Jewell’s fifth and sixth summer additions to his squad.

Elsewhere, former Blue Tommy Miller has joined Jordan Rhodes, Gary Roberts and Alan Lee at Huddersfield Town having been released by Sheffield Wednesday at the end of the season.

Photo: Action Images

Bobby_Petta added 09:51 - Jul 8 Sorry please no! we don't need him now with have Bowyer, Would rather have Komas, need more Flair. Like a few others on here, I'm worried about the lack of younger players being brought in, ok for a quick fix, but should look to invest in the long term, we some up and coming players. What about Boyd of Peterbrough?
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Bluearmy added 10:03 - Jul 8 Bobby so what if they are old i couldn't give a care if a player is say 16 or coming into there 40s all that matters to me is they play well for us. Makes me really annoyed people would be the shame if the signings was to young you can't really win can you.
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ElephantBlue added 10:21 - Jul 8 People are talking about the lack of youth being brought in but we have a number of players Carson, Whight, Hyam, O'Connor, Murray, and signed Cresswell. There is quite a lot of youth there but little experience. Players like Bowyer and Boateng would be great additions to the squad, adding immediate quality that some of our youth can learn from. You could have a midfield with Carson and O'Connor on the wings there is plenty of pace there and the experienced players can hold/control the middle. Overall we need a squad of options not just a team of 11 players.

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Guthrum added 10:39 - Jul 8 Pass from the middle, run down the flanks. Wingers need speed, midfielders need guile.
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Guthrum added 10:41 - Jul 8 And how speedy was Bullard last season? Not very. But he was effective!
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Vic added 10:45 - Jul 8 Good signing if it happens. May well not be a regular but excellent, experienced cover to call on when needed. But who knows - Mr Wark came back well old and was an absolute rock for us foir a couple of seasons. We've needed this sort of experience for a good few years so well done PJ.
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BlueInBerks added 10:59 - Jul 8 I think this would be an inspired signing, as it gives us great strength and creativity in midfield which some of the younger (existing) players will benefit from - literally and figuratively. We only need the 'old heads' for as long as it takes to get promoted, so it's not as if we should be relying on them in the long term. PS. any Berkshire based supporters out there planning to travel to Bristol who would like to share a lift etc?

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dirtydingusmagee added 11:06 - Jul 8 last couple of seasons people have moaned about too many youngsters having too much on their shoulders, well PJ is obviously going for an experienced team now ,he will live or die by his decisions, im happy to let him do his thing and see what happens.The players he is bringing in know what they have to do, just hope fitness holds up . COYB .
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dirtydingusmagee added 11:08 - Jul 8 last couple of seasons people have moaned about too many youngsters having too much on their shoulders, well PJ is obviously going for an experienced team now ,he will live or die by his decisions, im happy to let him do his thing and see what happens.The players he is bringing in know what they have to do, just hope fitness holds up . COYB .
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cwar_itfc added 11:14 - Jul 8 At the end of the we will not get promoted without the experience! I personally feel that all these ppl who moan about older players need to grow up, do you actually know anything about football!? i'm 34 and still out pace the younger generation and outskill them! trust me we need a bit more experience in the team! Jewell has always been a top manager and this will show this season with the quality he is now bringing in even if they are OLD!

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collis_itfc added 11:25 - Jul 8 You dont win anything with kids. Arsenal have proved that. Look at previous teams. Qpr with derry and helguson, Portsmouth when they had sherwood and merson in midfield. so what if we have bowyer and boeteng. they are 2 experienced premiership players who have been there and done it not just at premier league level but at european level also. The 2 players can sit there and dictate the game for the likes of carson and martin to bomb on and create goals for chops and ellington. Experienced players is what we have lacked in last few years and now they are the type of players we are after, you so called ipswich fans are bemoaning Paul Jewell and what he is doing. George Boeteng might not even sign, plenty of players train with clubs as a way of keeping fitness levels up and from what ive heard our players are loving training for how hard it is so Boeteng will only benefit.

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GTRKing added 11:33 - Jul 8 I for one Think we need experience & old players & They will guide/Help the young players. 1st-4th finish this year I bet. Then nxt year get players that will keep us up. Bullard Dyer Or Bowyer & Boateng. Will be Class players. So What's all the moaning about? Common PJ Sign more players Please??? I have faith u.
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Ipswich24 added 11:41 - Jul 8 Boateng no thanks Hauroun yes please with years ahead of him
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cwar_itfc added 11:51 - Jul 8 sign me!
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jas0999 added 11:56 - Jul 8 This is becoming silly now. Well past his best I'm afraid. Need some flair and youth in the team. We have already signed a number of veterans, with Bowyer still to come (apparently). We could do much better than this guy.
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whoppit added 12:17 - Jul 8 Well done Jewell. Why not pull on the shirt yourself?? Losing faith in this muppet manager !!!
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DanLyles added 12:18 - Jul 8 1) I trust PJ's judgement if he is watching him in training 2) Advancements in sports science have meant that players are probably peaking and lasting another 3 years compared to 5-10 years ago if they look after themselves 3) The holding role in midfield does require an element of speed and alot of strength but I've laways percieved the role to be more about experience and reading the game, which Boateng would be excellent at 4) Him and Bowyer may not be the quickest but Cresswell, Carson, Martin, Chopra, Ellington will provide the pace in the team

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Seasider added 12:22 - Jul 8 Remember Lee Chapman,Mark Fish and Ivan Campo,all top players in their time,not forgetting Ben Thatcher and John Scales.Didnt get a lot out them did we;but like the new intake expect they would be on high wages. As Ivar Ingimarsson said the other day that he cannot perform as he did when 25 and that Ipswich should have a balanced side of youth and experience. I will leave it to the experts and wait and see what happens this season,it could work;but I wont put any money on Town being promoted.

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whoppit added 12:59 - Jul 8 We will be reading the team news before the match and the list of players who are missing the game because of arthritis will be the highest in the league
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whoppit added 13:00 - Jul 8 OR, maybe ME can ditch his name off the shirts in favour of Viagra considering all the old farts we have now. Although, our players would always be offside. Maybe not !!!
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nkotb_sect5 added 13:17 - Jul 8 24 = hours in a day 7 = days in a week 52 = weeks in a year 365 = combined age of our starting 11? Just a thought
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We_hate_Norwich added 13:24 - Jul 8 Might be good for a 1yr contract?
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blueherts added 14:59 - Jul 8 Dean Windass has been spotted in the Buttermarket with Peter Beagrie
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itfcjc added 17:50 - Jul 8 Too old were becoming a dads army
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OrkneyBlue added 18:39 - Jul 8 I agree with those saying that players of a certain age play the game with there head, they can read the game and know where they need to be so the legs aren't so important. I also agree with the theory that, even if not selected the younger players will learn loads off of them, I think it is a case of a bigger picture not just a starting 11 every week and they may not all be selected to play at once anyway. We'll just have to wait and see. Please remember also we don't know who else we is coming in as well, maybe that's where the speed freaks and younger players will come from. If that happens, all good.

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