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Blues Close to Berra Deal
Monday, 8th Jul 2013 10:32

Town are reported to be close to signing ex-Wolves central defender Christophe Berra. The 28-year-old is out of contract having been released at the end of the season and has previously been linked with Rangers and Championship clubs including Blackpool.

Edinburgh-born Berra came through the youth system at Hearts and broke into the senior side in the 2003/04 season.

Capped 27 times by Scotland, scoring twice, Berra joined Mick McCarthy’s Wolves for £2.5 million in January 2009. The 6ft 3in tall defender went on to make 149 starts and five sub appearances while at Molineux without scoring.

Berra, whose father is French, had been linked with a move back to Scotland and Rangers but speaking over the weekend Gers’ boss Ally McCoist said he expected him to go elsewhere: “The deal for Berra is off. I think he is going to go to a Championship club.”

Meanwhile, Blackburn have confirmed the signing of Matt Kilgallon, another Blues defensive target, on a two-year deal.

Ex-Blue Matt Richards has joined Cheltenham on a two-year contract having left Shrewsbury at the end of last season.


Photo: Action Images



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LankHenners added 10:35 - Jul 8
Looks like a decent back-up.
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SouperJim added 10:41 - Jul 8
A good pedigree and Mick knows all about him, sounds like perfect cover at center half.
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werderbremenblue added 10:42 - Jul 8
no doubt he wont agree terms like everyone else
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Nazemariner added 10:44 - Jul 8
Backup??? An established international defender???....He's going straight into the side if he signs, with Chambers moving over to right back.
1

Special_A added 10:45 - Jul 8
Would be happy with this.

Sun is out and a few signings would make for a great week

COYB
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Liastro added 10:46 - Jul 8
What a stupid comment Henners. I'd much rather have Sonko back than Berra.
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Mark added 10:50 - Jul 8
After so often paying big transfer fees for players who then leave ITFC for free, how lovely to get a player for nothing who another club bought for £2.5M! Seems an excellent deal.

I presume Berra will be first choice, and my only slight reservations are breaking up with successful Smith-Chambers partnership and the fact Berra didn't score at Wolves (whereas Smith and Chambers chip in with a few). Chambers moving over to right-back could be an option I suppose.
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hampstead_blue added 10:56 - Jul 8
Good news

I'm not sold on Chambers, I think he's decent but not great (tin hat on!)

Hopefully this could spur the back four onto greater things.

Also, we've been the ones giving away players of late, and currently too, so it makes a change to get a bargain from someone else's misfortune.
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shefkuqi32 added 10:57 - Jul 8
The rise and fall of Matt Richards & Ian Westlake...seriously what happened to these players? Linked with big moves to prem clubs still on their 20's where did it go wrong.
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emergencylime added 10:58 - Jul 8
Seemed as though Rangers had this deal all but sewn up, so would be a good swipe! Not sure whether he'd get many starts though?
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jas0999 added 11:04 - Jul 8
Who has marked all of the above posts down?!

This seems like a good piece of business to me. Decent player and on a free. Agree with Marks comments above.
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emergencylime added 11:05 - Jul 8
Unless it's with plans for a 3 at the back formation?
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suffolkpunchdrunk added 11:05 - Jul 8
Perhaps this gives us an extra option of playing three centre backs with wing backs in Cresswell & Hewitt?
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dirtyboy added 11:09 - Jul 8
Would be very surprised to see him come in simply as cover for Smith and Chambers, he'll be there and competing for a place i'd have thought.

Who knows what Mick has planned.
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cromwellblue added 11:12 - Jul 8
Am I the only one a bit concerned we are recruiting for the Championship sides that got relegated?
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Wickets added 11:13 - Jul 8
Must be a great signing for us if it happens,cant help but be pleased how Mick goes about his job,with little or no fuss he is putting together a side that is well known to him and Terry. Most of these players hopefully coming in have Midlands connections so Mick will know just what he is getting. Cant be a bad thing.
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suffolkpunchdrunk added 11:16 - Jul 8
intercept12 - Great minds...!
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Tractorog added 11:22 - Jul 8
"OK Berra, Berra, what ever will be, will be!"
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bluearmy78 added 11:29 - Jul 8
I can see the logic in getting Berra, as Mick has brought him before & this time it will be on a free. I don't know if the Chambers/Smith combo will be changed but we need a bit of strength & depth in the squad. Would still like to see Stearman back, but on the bright side the team seems to be developing & I can see good times ahead this season at Portman Rd, COYB!!
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TractorBoy666 added 11:35 - Jul 8
I don't know a lot about him, but as soon as I saw positive comments being voted down I got very confused!! However saying that, I haven't seen many negative comments. Sounds promising from what I'm hearing on here.
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essextractorboy93 added 11:40 - Jul 8
Some idiot giving negative votes. No doubt the usual suspects. Berra is a decent centre back, certainly a good signing on a free. Yes he probably had a bad season with Wolves but so did their whole squad. Also I don't think you can judge it on the fact Wolves went down because we signed Gareth McAuley from Leicester when they were relegated and he turned out to be a quality signing for us.
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Britton1996 added 11:40 - Jul 8
going to be on too high wages for a back-up player. Mediocre to say the least
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ian_marshall added 11:59 - Jul 8
Watp
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ydnihr added 12:00 - Jul 8
I think for the people going on about the chambers-smith partnership, its quite simple. Berra will be brought in as competition. Yes he will expect to play, but he will know he wont walk into the team as chambers and smith have been doing so well. So this keeps chambers and smith on their toes to perform. This is obviously if we get a more experience right back in, as I don't think Hewitt is ready to play 46 games a season.
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mickswich added 12:11 - Jul 8
we don't need him. He is rubbish
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