Town are reported to be watching West Brom centre-half Pablo Ibáñez with a view to taking him on loan. The 30-year-old Spanish international is currently out of favour at the Hawthorns having signed on a Bosman from Atlético Madrid a year ago.

The Blues are said to have been at the Baggies’ reserve game against Everton on Tuesday to catch Ibáñez in action.

The Madrigueras-born player has made only 12 starts and two sub appearances for West Brom, scoring one goal, and was not in the squad for last week’s season opener with Manchester United.

Ibáñez, who is 6ft 3½ tall, played the full 90 minutes as the Blues beat the Baggies 1-0 in the Carling Cup at Portman Road last season. He has two years remaining on his contract.

Capped 23 times by Spain, including a regular place in the team at the 2006 World Cup, and 10 times at U21 level, Ibáñez came through the ranks at Albacete, progressing to their B team then senior side before moving on to Atlético Madrid, with whom he has played Champions League football, in 2004.

Town boss Paul Jewell is desperate to bring in another centre-half with Damien Delaney and Tommy Smith currently his only options while Ívar Ingimarsson is out with a thigh strain.

Elsewhere, former Blues defender Pim Balkestein has joined Rochdale on loan from Brentford.

Photo: Action Images

blueherts added 11:16 - Aug 19 Interesting view from a Baggie - Thanks !!! - Makes you wonder as well that when Macca went to WBA somebody may have looked at WBA Defenders ? He may be one of the prem players that PJ has been talking about that clubs are not willing to let go till end of August - Anyway if it comes off I would be happy Kennedy and Ainsley tommos at the back - gotta be
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big_gaz67 added 11:16 - Aug 19 Gmac and Fulop sell him the club? Yes it's that good we've moved here......
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Tractorog added 11:24 - Aug 19 I notice the WBA fan mentions language problems... I think thats quite likely to be the issue - Hodgson's English does need some work. Seriously, if we got this guy by the sounds of him we would be very lucky indeed. Obviously to love town is to be in love with hope and optimism over the lessons of experience - but surely this signing would be a miracle?
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meekreech added 11:27 - Aug 19 As PJ said " supporters getting fed up with talk of transfers ! "
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itfc1981 added 11:33 - Aug 19 Lets get him and sonko in now!
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Leoipswich added 11:43 - Aug 19 So many moaners. Jewell will get a cb in but it's not easy to find very good cb it takes time but I think he will have one maybe 2 b4 the end of the transfer window and I heard jewell wants 4 more signings
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blueherts added 12:35 - Aug 19 Think we need GK , 2XCB , RB , Creative Mid and Striker - job done Prem here we come
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Mark added 12:40 - Aug 19 Ibanez sounds just what we need: a tall centre back with some quality. A loan with a view to a permanent move would seem a good idea, but it's a pity players we borrow always seem to have two+ years left on their contracts meaning we'd have to pay a fee to sign them! It is very disappointing having another Smith and Delaney show tomorrow, especially with the Sky viewers watching. I understand that we cannot panic and need to bring in a couple of decent centre backs, but I think the defence could cost us another three points tomorrow potentially. Let's hope we can score a few and win 3-2!

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Back_The_Boss added 12:54 - Aug 19 Well its no good watching him, get him to sign!!
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ipswich_is_the_best added 12:58 - Aug 19 Agree ITFC81. Get them in and a left sided def (smith ain't good enough) creative mid(Bullard anyone). And a winger(Any suggestions) Stockdale Edwards Pablo ? Cresswell Martin ?Bullard? Andrews ? JET Chopra and prem here we come
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Pessimistic added 13:05 - Aug 19 We give Gareth McCauley away to WBA on a free and then consider replacing him with the guy who lost his place because of his arrival! It does not sound very encouraging to me - especially as this bloke was struggling to pin down a place in the team - even before McCauley came on the scene.
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blueherts added 13:10 - Aug 19 Carson on the wing - talented boy - give him a run Andrews should be Captain Priskin looks like Jack in On The Buses ( Bobble)
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Premiertown added 13:12 - Aug 19 If he is a former international then he will be on good money. We are broke! Got to go down the leagues to buy and sell lead footen to pay for it
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RetroBlue added 13:18 - Aug 19 My 84 yr old Mother would put up a better defensive rearguard than the likes of Delaney and Smith!
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BrettenhamBlue added 13:51 - Aug 19 RetroBlue- Delaney and Smith seem to (if possible) try TOO hard. They often run really hard for the ball and then when they are turned they can't stop (Smith in particular reminds me of Boris Johnsen when he played a Celebrity 11 a few years back against Germany). They simply can't stop (like a Juggernaut). It makes them look much worse than they actually are because by the time they have managed to change direction the ball is usually in the back of the net. They need to calm down, stop ball watching and stay focussed.

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MickMillsTash added 13:55 - Aug 19 My 84 year old mothers mother and her grandmother would form a better centre back partnership than Delaney and Smith.
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WickedBlue added 14:19 - Aug 19 @ipswich_is_the_best :13 players on the field (I take it the ? meant an unknown player) yes I would say we were premiership bound...but I think the other teams in the championship might complain......
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DiamondGezzer added 16:19 - Aug 19 Jas0999 :- I wonder if we were looking at a loan to buy ? That at least might change the stigma some people have about loans.
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