Former Reading and Stoke central defender Ibrahima Sonko says Town have told him they intend to make him a contract offer. The free agent Senegalese international revealed that he could be on the way to the Blues via Twitter last week.

Updating the situation in a tweet , the 30-year-old says no deal is yet on the table but says the club have said one will be forthcoming: “Not yet. They said they’ll make an offer though, but we’ll just have to wait and see. Two games in three days, [it’s] hard to have time for talk.”

Born in Bignona, Senegal but having moved to France as a baby, Sonko began his career with Town’s old UEFA Cup foes St Etienne, moving on to Grenoble, where he made his first senior appearances, in 1999.

Three years later, he joined Brentford, the 6ft 3in tall defender spending two seasons at Griffin Park before joining Reading on a Bosman in 2004.

Capped four times by Senegal, scoring one goal, Sonko became a cult hero at the Madejski Stadium and acquired the nickname ‘Superman’ for his exceptional leaping ability as he helped Steve Coppell’s side into the Premier League.

Stoke paid an initial £2 million for his services in August 2008 but his time at the Britannia Stadium was less successful. Loans at Hull City and Portsmouth followed, before he was released at the end of last season.

Sonko rejoined Reading on trial this summer and played in a number of pre-season games but talks broke down, with his old club only willing to offer a deal which equated to a 90% pay cut with the player only willing to take a drop of 75%.

Asked about Sonko’s first Twitter comment that he “could meet with my friend Ívar [Ingimarsson] again soon” after Saturday’s defeat to Hull, Blues boss Paul Jewell played Town’s interest down: “He might be going to dinner with him!”

Photo: Action Images

Calmingwind added 08:26 - Aug 18 I think it shows a lack of proffesionalisam to tweet any details, no matter how minor. I know twitter is used alot by some footballers, especially the youngsters but at 30 he should know better IMO. Still I think he could do a job for us, and could only add to a depleted back four.
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Vic added 08:43 - Aug 18 Lammy - he is unfortutely. If we sign him he'll be like Ingi (fit for one game then out for three). Maybe if we sign him he and ingi can play alternate games! Like a 1 for the price of 2 deal.
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HolbrookBlue added 08:49 - Aug 18 The club has suffered the lack of a solid defence for a number of seasons. Letting McAuley, Brown and Eastman go and signing Cresswell (good to date but still a lot to learn) and Ingimarsson (injured) has not improved the situation. The current defence is poor, both in individual and collective terms, and it must raise questions as to who is the defence coach and what are they doing on a daily basis. As far as I can see none of the current senior management team played as a defender. Similarly the lack of a fitness coach has not helped. If new players are recruited now it will take some time for them to settle into the club and form a cohesive unit. Some, possibly like Sonko, may not currently be match fit. This is all the fault of the managment and will be remembered when "the push for Premier League " is outlined in the season tiket renewal letter.

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yorkshireblue added 08:51 - Aug 18 Anyone who says they would Dialla over Delaney and Smith clearly wasn't up Upton Park for the play-offs.
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BwoodBlue added 08:55 - Aug 18 Poor man's Georges Santos
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bobble added 08:57 - Aug 18 if we had a brilliant strike force we wouldn't need a good defence
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itfcboi added 09:08 - Aug 18 Why are so many people concerned about another 30 year old? Experience is key when playing in the heart of defence and if he stays fit this will be a good addition. I can't remember too many people complaining back in the day when McGreal & Veno were playing! PJ knows what he is doing. Is it a case that too many fans are cautious after the signings made by Keane??
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bluepeter added 09:19 - Aug 18 Marketboy, at six feet three he might of meant ; "I am going to HAVE Ingimarrson FOR dinner".
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Matteo_Sereni added 09:19 - Aug 18 Get him in!
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brian_a_mul added 09:29 - Aug 18 tbh I would pay money on any decent experienced CB from League 1. Chris Morgan would be great from Sheff Utd but they probably would'nt sell him. Also Mat Lowton would be a great addition. I would even go a far as getting Pim back in the team over Smith. Tommy will be a decent defender but I think he is just not ready yet. Some of the errors he made while on loan last season were horrorendous. Is it lack of awarness, poor decision making, poor communication?? He needs to learn to put the boot through the ball. Anyway Sonko would be a great signing and would hepefully gel nicely with Delaney.

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Jesney_Havoc added 09:30 - Aug 18 Well I'm waiting for a town contract too, but I doubt I'll get one. That's because I'm no good ! Is he any good ? The arrodance of these people.
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corshamblue added 09:36 - Aug 18 Pay per Play. Nothing less.
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Lightningboy added 09:49 - Aug 18 Can't believe that our "scouting system" can't go out and find a tough as old boots centre-back from league 1/2 etc...we're not asking for someone who can dribble the ball out of defence,just a defender who can organise and knows when to kick the bloody ball into row Z when it matters. What we've got at the moment is becoming a joke.
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tractorboybig added 10:21 - Aug 18 yes we need a central defender not a has been journeyman. No one else wants him, so is he that good. plus, it could be his agents ploy to drum up intrest.
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tractorboy2434 added 10:33 - Aug 18 The strange thing is that other clubs manage to get them, Posh got a good young CB from Grimsby whereas we have to get some over the hill, has been just becuase he is on a free, don't let anyone tell me that money is'nt a problem, of course it is, there is no spare cash otherwise we would have bought someone, wasted money on contracts for Bowyer and Ellington, poor business Mr Jewell and people will soon realise it, get some younger players in, you keep saying we are short of pace, is it any wonder if you keep looking at has beens, if he was younger and had any pace he would have been picked up, guess what we have to have him because he is on a free, just where are your contacts and scouting system.

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rogie_dog added 10:41 - Aug 18 A bloke I work with is a Pompy season ticket holder. He says Sonko has the attributes to be a great defender but has the tendency to make mistakes. He scored 4 own goals in his last season there. He did say however that he was capable of having a good game. Sounds a bit like Titus Bramble to me.
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planetblue_2011 added 10:48 - Aug 18 Not a bad player, another freebee. He's got to be better than the other 2 at the back. I still think we need some youth at the back, maybe ainsley?? Someone who's hungry for it like cresswell
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Hanno13579 added 10:58 - Aug 18 Arent we quite desperate for a CB why do we have a player who is seemingly keen to come, is pretty good and yet we arent driving him up here at 100mph to sign maybe Sonko is playing games to get a better deal out of us/other teams or maybe we dont really want him as much as other targets but he is our fall back plan. All I know is that we NEED to sign 2 CD's and a RB ASAP because our defence as all our fans seem to see is just horrible!

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ncharles added 11:05 - Aug 18 RB Just seen Aljaz Struna YouTube 'promotional' video. I know these things are the best bits but he does look the part - send him his airline ticket now! CD Go to MK Dons or similar and spend some Wickham money. We can then relax a bit and watch the Premier loan market for someone if we still need them without a panic buy.
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WickedBlue added 11:34 - Aug 18 @marcus139 30 is past it and old?...you cretin..............
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jas0999 added 11:39 - Aug 18 Not a good player, but better than Smith. Would be another poor addition IMO.
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blueherts added 11:48 - Aug 18 Where is Clarke Carlisle ??
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blueherts added 11:52 - Aug 18 MK Dons good shout - Got the French guy who was at Plymouth Duomb?
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marcus139 added 12:19 - Aug 18 Sticks and stones wickedblue........ Maybe I generalised slightly, however being over 30 myself I know my knees and legs are not what they were! I want some vitality and pace in the team please.
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StowTractorBoy added 12:21 - Aug 18 Sonko is a big presence and is very strong but he needs to be organised and cajoled by his centre back partner in other words by the brains of the central defensive pairing. Well sadly we have not got that - only in Ingimarsson. Think we may have to leave this one for the time being.
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