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Town Closing in On Douglas Signing
Monday, 3rd Aug 2015 14:44

Town are hoping to complete the signing of Brentford midfielder Jonathan Douglas before the weekend. The 33-year-old has another year left on his Bees contract but has been made available and we understand he will join the Blues on a free transfer.

With the clubs believed to have agreed terms on the deal, Douglas is expected at Portman Road today for talks and a medical with the Blues hoping that the move will be finalised prior to Saturday’s opening game of the Championship season, coincidentally against the Bees at Griffin Park.

Monaghan-born Douglas moved to England in 2000 when he joined Blackburn Rovers. While at Ewood Park he spent time on loan at Chesterfield, Blackpool and Gillingham before moving on to Leeds in 2005.

After four years at Elland Road, the 6ft tall holding midfielder moved to Swindon before he joined Brentford in 2011.

Douglas, who has been capped eight times by the Republic of Ireland, signed a new contract with the Bees in February but is not in new manager Marinus Dijkhuizen's plans and last month he was told he could move on.

"He is not part of the squad and is training separately. There is no future for him," Dijkhuizen told BBC London.

"We decided it is better for him to move on - for his future and for the future of Brentford."

Last season Douglas made 46 starts and scored eight goals as the Bees finished fifth in the Championship, one place above Town.

Last week, the Blues missed out on signing another Brentford player, Northern Irish winger Stuart Dallas, who is set to join Leeds United in a £1.25 million deal.

Elsewhere, ex-Blues striker Connor Wickham has completed his £9 million move from Sunderland to Crystal Palace. The fee is reportedly an initial £6 million potentially rising to the higher figure after top-up clauses.

If the fee is as reported Town won't immediately receive anything from the sell-on clause - an undisclosed percentage of any profit - included in the 2011 deal which saw the 22-year-old join the Black Cats.

Wickham moved for an initial £8.1 million with a number of appearance milestones understood to have been triggered during his time on Wearside.


Photo: Action Images



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DiamondGezzer added 14:47 - Aug 3
Now that's the way to keep something quiet !
8

pennblue added 14:48 - Aug 3
Now this would be a major missing piece in our jigsaw.
9

BlueNomad added 14:49 - Aug 3
Boo! He isn't costing millions!
15

Stato added 14:49 - Aug 3
Can't get excited by this. We're playing moneyball and not improving match day starting eleven.
-30

sheepy606 added 14:50 - Aug 3
11

titanicclown added 14:51 - Aug 3
Quality signing if this happens. Douglas is brilliant at arriving late into late into the box and scoring goals from midfield. Not sure he can play rb though!
6

Miles added 14:52 - Aug 3
Pleased with this if it happens. Still waiting for a right back though. The only area I'm really worried about now!
6

blueblood66 added 14:52 - Aug 3
SUPERB!
3

flashblue added 14:53 - Aug 3
He's no looker.
-3

chenners17 added 14:56 - Aug 3
Would score a good number from Knudsens LONG THROWS! good player, late runs into the box, would definitely cause problems in the box...good signing on a free! been Brentford captain for 4 years!
8

tractordownsouth added 14:57 - Aug 3
This is a very good signing, but I think it will be tough for Hyam to get a place in the side. I do worry for Brentford, I originally had them in the top six but letting go of Douglas and Dallas as well as probably losing Odubajo and Gray means there will be little continuity going into the new season. The Moneyball tactic was successful in Denmark but I'm not sure Matthew Benham realises how the championship is a completely different concept altogether, and that implementing too much change too quickly could be very detrimental.
7

trncbluearmy added 15:00 - Aug 3
Cracking signing, the Brentford fans seem really cheesed that he has been pushed out by whoever runs the club by numbers now.

Quality player
7

GoldieBlue added 15:00 - Aug 3
Decent addition, and nailed on the score first game of the season.
4

theipswichman added 15:01 - Aug 3
I knew this woud happen, vey happy about it as well. Looked good at porman road, despite his age, this squad is developing into an excellent squad.
6

LowstBlue added 15:01 - Aug 3
Quite happy with this signing, albeit we have Skuse, Coke, Hyam, Tabb & Bru who are also vying for the same one (or two spaces) in the team. I assume this means no contract for Ambrose.....I would like to see the beard go though as he reminds me of a cross between Moeen Ali and one of the three musketeers with that chin fluff!
3

Guru_of_Ipswich added 15:02 - Aug 3
this would be a very good signing, I know he is 33 but he must have been rated by the previous management down there after a successful season to be kept on.

Plus having Natalie sawyer as a regular down at fortress portman rd is a added bonus!
2

MickMillsTash added 15:03 - Aug 3
Went to Brentford Home and Away last season and was impressed by him.
Good signing - passes, scores goals- I thought he got in the box a lot from midfield.
Get a right back and we look well set

First time I have been excited at the start of a season for some time
4

mojo added 15:03 - Aug 3
Brentford are having a real clear out aren't they!
4

Simonds92 added 15:08 - Aug 3
Not sure on this one really... Has been a good player but is 33 too old? Good luck to him hopefully can atleast do a job for this season!
-2

Devereuxxx added 15:09 - Aug 3
Would be a quality signing. Him and Skuse in the middle is a top quality championship CM partnership, and he would work well in a 3 man midfield with Bishop alongside him also.

If bought in, wondering if MM is considering using Bishop at RM like he did last season? As a midfield of Fraser - Skuse - Douglas - Bishop would definitely be exciting.
2

hoppy added 15:09 - Aug 3
Now, he looks like he could be able to replace Ando's beard. I thought we were missing that kind of replacement when we missed out on Dallas, but this one looks even more impressive, if somewhat unkempt.
4

BlueTich added 15:09 - Aug 3
OMG....... Tabb MK2 only he's uglier and even older.

Someone please make this nightmare stop. MM starting to believe his own hype.
-33

dirtyboy added 15:11 - Aug 3
I really like this. You'll get the usual numpties freaking out that he's 33 (thus over the hill) and because he hasn't cost millions he's therefore useless, but most of the learned people on here will see him as a quality addition to the squad.

Fingers crossed on this one!
8

brazilblue added 15:13 - Aug 3
This is such a good signing. Was very impressed with him last year, always looks forward and plays with his noggin up
3

tractorboybig added 15:17 - Aug 3
another old has been irish man...o dear...
-22


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