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

Surco72 added 16:14 - Aug 3 Exactly the player I thought the team needed an older head to slow down a game with his passing and control and see out games for us when we are in front , and will chip in with goals also . Great signing MM and club lets hope there is a right back in the wings also ?
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spiegal added 16:16 - Aug 3 Yet another 30+ old hack who has been round the clubs. So where did the £8million go ???????...sure enough its another season just enough to keep the faithful happy, promise, promise, better days on the way etc..etc..best squad ever...etc...would teh Budgies take any of that lot ???...Not a chance In my opinion maybe 1 day the fans will realise that they have been taken for a load of mugs....ambition, quality,progressive signings...don't make me laugh...Bishop apart who would want any of this bunch in their Championship starting line up ?? Genuinely feel sorry for MM who seems to be just following the "company line" me..I wouldn't waste 2/6d on watching a load of players nobody else wants

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Surco72 added 16:17 - Aug 3 Also this signing does free up Skuse to play right back
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hoppy added 16:23 - Aug 3 What is it you're looking for SamWhiteUK? Something like a "Ham, Spam - Thank you ma'am" button to hit on to nominate people to be banned?
4

CanadianBlue added 16:24 - Aug 3 Are we going for 3-5-2 this season? Wouldn't mind it...
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paulthebluealien added 16:30 - Aug 3 Spiegal - Don't watch then. As for this signing this is very astute. We need a midfielder who can score (8 is decent), but also cover. Coke is a squad player I feel. Never hurts bringing in a captain of a 5th placed team last year on a free. I'd say.
2

tomitfc added 16:33 - Aug 3 Our transfer dealings have been spot on so far. Perfect blend of youth and experience coming in.
3

Sixto6 added 16:41 - Aug 3 Really happy with this one, yes he's older than we'd like but he will pull us through some games when we really need it. Well done Sir Mick !
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Bluedandy added 16:43 - Aug 3 Hey Spiegal crawl back to scumsville and lock webbed fingers with your budgie brethren because months of painful embarrassment shortly await you all.
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PJH added 16:44 - Aug 3 SamWhiteUK-BlueTich is probably a re-incarnation ofWalberswicks/Wangford/blue_movies. When one disappears we get someone else posting almost identical comments whether relevant to the news or not-and,of course,always negative.
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Bluebongo added 16:44 - Aug 3 I wouldn,t call the captain of a side finishing 5th in last years Championship a has been. Looks like a really good signing ,wellcome aboard Jon.
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bluefeast added 16:45 - Aug 3 These signings allow for different formations , 442 ,433 and very importantly 3 5 2 away from home. Im sure there are a couple more to arrive ,one being an expensive defender and winger.
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Bluebongo added 16:45 - Aug 3 I wouldn,t call the captain of a side finishing 5th in last years Championship a has been. Looks like a really good signing ,wellcome aboard Jon.
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christiand added 16:45 - Aug 3 A great addition. MM is absolute quality in keeping his cards clost to his chest regarding transfers. I really think he going to get us to play more expansively this season, but I'm at a loss at who he is going to start with. Really excited about the new season who is our starting XI going to be?
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Tractorog added 17:00 - Aug 3 A good signing. He is 33 and no spring chicken, but seems to have good speed and a athleticism. A year of watching and competing with this guy would be no bad thing for some of our youngsters.
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BlueTich added 17:01 - Aug 3 TWTD should be for sycophantic fans only. Cut out all critical opinions as some of so called fans can't handle it. That way the big bad world will never enter their small insular minds where they've failed to notice Ipswich Town has been turned into a poor excuse for a 1970's Barnsley. Let
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topguy added 17:03 - Aug 3 exactly last season we moan we are 1 dimension, its hoofball, we only play 442, we bring in wingers we moan, we bring in ball playing midfielders with gls in him we moan, we are able to swtich to 3 or 4 different formations with different styles, I think most fans understand we are moving forward, if we went for van persie would be getting some moaning hes 31 grow up.
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BlueTich added 17:04 - Aug 3 BTW he only scored his goals last season because he was in a team that actually played football on the ground and through mid field. I hope he can adapt to MM's Hoofball.
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happybeingblue added 17:05 - Aug 3 time to lose the beard !! its soo last season :)
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rickw added 17:07 - Aug 3 A short term signing, but could be a vital one!!
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blues1 added 17:11 - Aug 3 no blue tich/. everyone on here is entitled to an opinion. but come on, your posts are not an opinion of the facts, just a tirade of negativity, with no basis whatsoever. 20 odd years ago when players reached 32/33 they were in general over the hill. nowadays players are much fitter than in those days and so play on longer. just as well man utd didn't think that way about gigs, who still played at 40, players such as beckham, gerrard, lampard to name but 3 playing into their late 30s. as for spiegels comment about douglas being a journeyman? hes been at Brentford for some time. been their captain for 4 years .again, a negative post with no basis on facts. that's why ur being downvoted and criticised for your posts. and maybe if u ever put a positive comment on here ur negative ones may be better received. ive never seen you on here before but uve put 2 on here today and both negative drivel.

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AndrewPC added 17:13 - Aug 3 SAmWhiteUk I do not understand your viewpoint. Why you ask for people to be banned from here for expressing what you consider to be negative opinions ? That kind of censorship will be the death of this site. Actually all censorship is the death of freedom of speech. Man up. Face the fact that we all have our own views, which, in the fullness of time are shown to be true or false. I welcome negative views if they have an argument to them. Singing to the same tune all the time is pure propaganda.

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armchaircritic59 added 17:17 - Aug 3 Simple saying. "If you're good enough, you're old enough (or young enough)" !
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JustSpivvyChops added 17:21 - Aug 3 A 33 year old Irish holding midfielder....,,YAWN
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topguy added 17:24 - Aug 3 well saying we are playing hoofball is negative, and wrong if you had seen pre season makes me think that you haven't, bringing fraser, AMN, and dougie in is a statement of playing a more direct ball style, on the floor. so for people to say it negative im sorry your wrong the results haven't been great, but the style is changing and I think it will look much better this season.

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