TWTD understands Town are hopeful of completing the signing of Burnley winger Michael Kightly before the transfer window closes at 11pm on Wednesday, while talks are ongoing with trialist striker Leon Best regarding a deal.

The Clarets are unwilling to allow Kightly to move on until they have added to their squad, but are expected to make signings before Wednesday’s deadline.

The 30-year-old, who previously played for boss Mick McCarthy at Wolves, was with Tottenham as a youngster and moved on to hometown club Basildon United and then Southend before making his mark in non-league with Grays Athletic, with whom he won the FA Trophy.

In 2006 Town boss McCarthy took him to Molineux, where he was a key player in their 2008/09 Championship title-winning season.

Kightly, who has a year left on his contract at Turf Moor, moved on to Stoke City in August 2012, then joined Burnley on loan in September 2013 and helped them to second spot in the Championship and into the Premier League.

The former England U21 international made the move permanent the following summer and was a member of the squad which, following their relegation in the previous campaign, topped the Championship last season to return to the top flight.

Kightly’s only appearance so far this season was in the 1-0 EFL Cup loss to Accrington Stanley last Wednesday. He was an unused sub as the Clarets lost 3-0 at Chelsea on Saturday.

As previously reported, TWTD understands that Kightly’s Burnley team-mate Lukas Jutkiewicz - also an unused sub at Stamford Bridge - is on Town’s list of potential replacements for striker Daryl Murphy, who joined Newcastle United at the weekend.

Meanwhile, we understand the Blues are in talks with trialist Best regarding a contract, probably to the end of the season, the 29-year-old having impressed boss McCarthy during his week at Playford Road.

It seems likely Town and the former Ireland international, who scored for the U23s in last Monday’s 3-2 home defeat to Birmingham City, will agree terms.

Elsewhere, Crystal Palace winger Sullay Kaikai is reported to be interesting Brentford, who hope to take him on loan.

The 21-year-old, who was watched by Mick McCarthy earlier in the summer, was erroneously claimed to have been spotted at Portman Road on Saturday watching the Blues defeating Preston.

Photo: Action Images

pointofblue added 20:32 - Aug 29 Kightly might be a decent signing though don't we predominantly need a left midfielder rather than right? Not that having back up for Ward is a bad thing. If we replace Murphy with Best... it'd be ruddy hilarious to everyone but us.
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Cloddyseedbed added 20:34 - Aug 29 Kightly is 30 and has played only 25 games in last 2 years somebody said. He may have been good years ago but isn't that the same old story about most of the players MM signs. Kightly and Best are not the players to build a team around, they are past it. Younger hungry players are what we need. What the hell are the scouts doing out there or is it stubborn MM who will only work with old war horses who he knows or has worked with before. Please get the excitement back to Portman Road. All the money we get in transfers is not invested in the squad. Do we have scouts on the continent, if we do are they just sunning themselves. The clubs policy is boring the fans to death!

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ITFCGloryDays added 20:36 - Aug 29 Kightly and Best potentially being signed is a CLEAR sign, in Milne's own words, that the Murphy money's been given to MM. To think how that Cresswell, Mings and Murphy money has been well used or given for transfers.
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brightonitfc added 20:36 - Aug 29 The wringing of hands brigade are out in force tonight, Best was on trial before Newcastle showed any interest in Murphy so why does everyone assume he's his replacement?
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blueherts added 20:40 - Aug 29 i would much rather we looked at a hungry younger player scoring in Div 1 or 2 Matty Taylor at the Gasheads is a good one - Marcus could put a word in !!!
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TimmyH added 20:47 - Aug 29 Have to be honest and would have to see both players in action before I pass full judgement but I'd be fairly underwhelmed with both of these signings if they come to fruition - never know at present regarding the authenticity of such articles (i.e. Kaika story of saturday).
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JoeSadler added 20:48 - Aug 29 I don't think we should all be getting so irate about signing players like Leon Best & Michael Kightly. What do people expect? Under McCarthy we're never going to sign a Giovanni Dos Santos on loan type of player or be thrilled with a £1.5M transfer deadline buy like David Norris. Let's try and be a bit positive. Leon Best USED (hence capitals) be one of the divisions better strikers, like Murph, let's hope Mick and TC can sort him out. As for Kightly, I think any championship club would be happy to have him. Hard working, experienced winger with a good delivery. Let's just hope people like Bishop, Bru, Pitman and McGoldrick (when fit) all have good seasons. I'd love for us to go and splash £3M on a striker but it just isn't going to happen, be realistic and try be positive.

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Lightningboy added 20:54 - Aug 29 Christ we're a long way from the days when we signed David Johnson & Marcus Stewart. If McGoldrick was going to come back into the team around October and actually manage to play 25+ games then I'd say we've got enough with Sears,Pitman & Varney until then BUT we all know what'll happen - come October he'll have yet another set back,then another,then reappear sometime around April just when it's time for contract renewals (yep,bloody cynical,aren't I) Where's the next Rhodes,Wickham,Scowcroft,Kiwomya,Atkinson???...are we incapable of bringing through our own strikers?

3

12th_Man added 20:55 - Aug 29 Moan moan moan let's see what MM dose on next 48 hrs some so called fans on here love a moan. Trust in mick
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tim added 21:00 - Aug 29 Keep the faith. Mick will pull something great out of his hat before Wednesday.
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Europablue added 21:15 - Aug 29 Why is anyone asking for world class players? There are barely any of those at most Premier League teams.
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MarkFish added 21:19 - Aug 29 Ha ha ha wot a joke. 2 wan kers of the highest order.
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Europablue added 21:20 - Aug 29 Lightning Boy I heard Dozzell had a son a few years back. Might be worth a run out at some stage.
2

bedsitfc added 21:20 - Aug 29 Well I am sure MM knows what he is doing but Echo some others I the fact our chairman should be doing more. understand he fills voids in the kitty and he has spent a lot over the time, but getting promotion will make him mega bucks
2

Lightningboy added 21:22 - Aug 29 Yeah but Mick thinks the championship is too tough for Dozzell jr.
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hoppy added 21:25 - Aug 29 I hope the opening paragraph Isn't the total sum of things, and we get a serious replacement for Murphy too.
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Suffolk_n_Good added 21:29 - Aug 29 £3m for Murphy at 33, was a great piece of business for us, but only if the money is invested in quality rather than padding out a thin squad. I am prepared to wait to see if the rumour for the Burnley duo is true, I have my fingers crossed that this is indeed a smoke screen, & Mick has a real bit of quality (EG Ward) up his sleeve, time will tell..... However, if true the only word I could muster up would be abysmal......

3

warktheline added 21:30 - Aug 29 Stand back and weigh up current situation at Portman Rd, the first thing that is glaringly obvious, McCarthy from day one has had to compete in Championship with misfits, journeymen etc. We can argue all day long about on field performances but believe me, if he moved on, well, all I can say is God help us! Secondly, Evans, aka mr. Capitalists, has no interest in being out of pocket....he's not the first, and won't be the last, moneybags with high hopes in football. Ian Holloway said as much over a year ago! There you have it, an owner, only there in name, and his appointed captain, on a lovely contract, plugging holes, trying to keep the ship afloat! Best, if he signs, will score goals initially, then fade away, then McCarthy will once again go looking for another misfit, journeyman etc to plug the hole!

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ChestnutSe added 21:45 - Aug 29 Let's wait and see before we doom and gloom, let MM do his job
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MickMillsTash added 21:46 - Aug 29 The worry that i would have about Kightly is not his quality - I thought he was Ok last year at Turf Moor The worry is that he will be on big wages. We are a club that makes a LOSS. We've just freed up some of the wage bill with the sale of Murphy and to get Kightly will take up a lot of it. Leon Best will cost a lot as well -or he would have found a club by now. Not much left would be left for to pay a New Matt Holland should we have one on the radar.

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blues1 added 21:48 - Aug 29 I'm sure some people on here post before they put their brain in gear. Leon best was on trial before Murphy was going newhere so is hardly his replacement. My guess is he was always meant as cover due mainly to the fact that mcgoldrick is always injured. Plus if ud read on here previously u would have seen it suggested that he would be offered a deal even if we sign another striker, be that Jutcewicz or whoever. So why don't people just wait to see what happens between now and Wednesday before slagging off evans/McCarthy again. Might save u being embarassed when we do sign Murphies replacement. Plus before slagging off best remember people did the same when we were signing Noel Hunt and he turned out to be a good signing

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Ipswich24 added 21:49 - Aug 29 So we have the choice of going for the quick and exciting Kaikai or over the hill Kightly. Oh yes let me think which one Mick will go for! Depressing
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Surco72 added 21:53 - Aug 29 Best is not as good as Murphy and Kightly unfit and yet to be proved , already weak squad has got weaker over weekend and need more signings . Club are saying money is available but MM doesn't want a big signing , does he not want to be judged on signing and happy to sign freebies as he cannot lose then or is his scouting system really poor , or can he not attract players ?

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miltonsnephew added 21:57 - Aug 29 These players are not the answer at all, we and Ipswich deserve better! Totally agree, go for early 20's not 30+ aged players! Money is tight and we need to start planning for the future.
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WorcesterBlue added 22:22 - Aug 29 Don't worry - Kightly maybe but that might mean Ward more central which will help creatively. Plus Mick will have an ace up his sleeve up front. 😗
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