Town boss Paul Jewell has confirmed that former Middlesbrough, Hull, Coventry and Aston Villa midfielder George Boateng was training with the Blues last week, as first revealed by TWTD. He says he has spoken to the 35-year-old’s agent about a possible deal but has another defensive midfield target with whom he has also held talks.

Jewell, who is keen to add a holding midfielder to his squad, said: “George wasn’t on trial with us, he was just training with us for a couple of days. I think he’s going to speak to Notts Forest, which just shows that we’re all looking at the same type of players.

“I don’t know [whether anything will happen with him]. I spoke to his agent on Monday and we are speaking to another midfield player as well. We want to have as many options as possible.”

One of this morning’s tabloids claims Town, Burnley and Derby have all targeted Nottingham Forest’s defensive midfielder Guy Moussi but that the Frenchman has decided to sign a new three-year deal at the City Ground.

Moussi, 26, could well have been the other player that Jewell was referring to, while Forest’s interest in Boateng could cool if Moussi has indeed committed his future to the club.

The Blues boss says there is nothing new on the Jason Scotland situation with Swansea manager Brendan Rodgers ruling out a move for the Trinidadian yesterday.

Jewell in any case confirmed reports yesterday indicating that Scotland had impressed him in recent weeks: “Jason Scotland has been working exceptionally hard in pre-season and has done well, both in training and in the games. We’re not looking to sell, we’re looking to bring in.”

Overall, the Town boss, who met with owner and chairman Marcus Evans at yesterday’s match, was happy with the week’s training camp in Mierlo around eight miles outside Eindhoven: “It’s a terrific place, I’ve been here four times now. The facilities are good, it’s in the middle of nowhere and the training facilities are part of the hotel.

“We’ve won two games and we’ve got a lot of fitness out of it, and that’s what pre-season basically is. The first game of the season will tell you how your pre-season has gone.”

Photo: Action Images

Dissboyitfc added 07:50 - Jul 15 Prefer the other one,...COYB
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Dissboyitfc added 07:52 - Jul 15 Someone in there prime please... COYB
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Eggroy added 08:06 - Jul 15 Can't we find someone a bit older - boateng would bring the average age down!
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TractorMan added 08:07 - Jul 15 At least that puts pay to all those who kept saying Bowyer was this DM person. I really do hope we have a younger DM in mind with Bowyer also in the side, but this is looking more and more like a team to get us up this season, not a long term solution.
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blueoff added 08:11 - Jul 15 Be quick: New in at the club shop, blue & White zimmer frames, strictly one per person
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itfc1981 added 08:17 - Jul 15 other than us Moussi did a lot to get Norwich promoted
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Karlosfandangal added 08:19 - Jul 15 Is Coppinger a DM ? Can see Coppinger bid going in again and a possible Bullard deal being done the closer to the transfer window it gets. Treacy seems to be the winger, not sure who the striker could be dont think it will be Sharp possible Maynard as he is still to sign his new contract or there may be legs in the Sorrell story. Need a good CB still
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ryan added 08:29 - Jul 15 Adam pearson clearly stated on hulls talk sport that jimmy bullard will not leave on loan unless a team pays 35k of his wages. Hull new owners refuse to pay players to play for other clubs. Adam pearson also commented that bullard will not be loaned to ipswich or any other championship club. Jimmy bullard is staying with hull, remember they turned down qprs 25k loan deal.

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renard added 08:36 - Jul 15 If jewell wants to sign boateng, then fine by me. I trust his judgement. And yes, boateng may be "old", but he looked in great shape in the prem just over a year ago, so i wouldn't mind him at all.
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sonian_blue added 08:36 - Jul 15 This is silly when we have Hyam who did a great job for the first couple of months last season. What is PJ's problem with putting the youngsters in and building for the future? We wont get promoted this season and next season half our squad will be pensioned off. Much better to build a 3 year plan to get promoted and then have a better chance of staying there. The quick fix is a recipe for financial disaster. We end up with mass in and outs each season of the usual suspects who are only in it for the money and dont give a toss.

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n0229620 added 08:47 - Jul 15 sonian_blue... i agree in essence. hyam's a good player, but for a 19 yr old to play that role for a full season would be asking too much. we need somebody experienced in that role, even if its to play some games and tutor hyam to become a better player
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fourth added 08:48 - Jul 15 Yes, it does look like a one year plan to bring on the Hyams and Smiths. We seem to be building an exciting team, but does it have a defence?
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jas0999 added 08:55 - Jul 15 PJ said the other day he has experience and now wants pace - with Bowyer signing I see no point whatsoever in signing George Boateng. Agree with fourth - questions must surely be raised about the defence, particularly considering the injury-prone Ingarmarson is already injured and missed our first two pre-season games. I hope we bid again for the winger, because if you admit publicly that you expect the first bid to be rejected, what's the point of bidding if you don't then follow it up?!!

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sussexbluenthru added 09:08 - Jul 15 Surely PJ is building a team to give us the best possible start, granted, the team is not a young one, but you cannot say it lacks experience, this will breed confidence, this coupled with our younger talent filtered through throughout the season will surely be a team to watch out for, and dont forget he still has a couple of signings up his sleeve !!! Get behind them boys, and girls.....COYB...

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johnhazelbum added 09:20 - Jul 15 All these has beens were once good footballers. But can any of them actually be bothered beyond picking up their large paypackets?
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SouperJim added 09:32 - Jul 15 We want a legwinski, not a campo please paul!
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B1TFC added 09:34 - Jul 15 Blueoff - I tried getting one of those zimmer frames, but they've already sold out, it appears the first team took all the allocation! Don't really want Boateng if I'm honest, but agree with previous post about going back in for the winger otherwise why would you say 'we expect the first bid to be turned down' ??? Bit like a car I guess, no one ever bids the price asked so they!! And I guess depending on the mileage the player has done depends on how high you're willing to pay!

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robdaful added 09:40 - Jul 15 Boateng could be alright for a year or two. But if we are looking for long term we need someome else.
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loobz66 added 09:45 - Jul 15 Wouldnt mind seeing Boateng at Portman Road. Would be a good addition to the team. And Paul has defently got it right, we need another midfeilder but also are in need of another centre back. COYB!!
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osborne1nil added 09:50 - Jul 15 Another option that seems to be being glossed over is Jamie Peters who I feel could do a good job as an attacking or defensive midefielder being a good utility player who never seems to let Town down when he plays. I do hope PJ gives him a real chance this year rather than a season of bench warming duties.
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robboo92 added 10:24 - Jul 15 i dont know why people are moaning about the age of boateng, if you are a dm then there is no need to be the quickest if you have pace installed around you. and pace is what pj is looking to bring in. with experience you can save your legs as you read the game better, i know hyam looks like a good player in the making but it is one of those positions that needs an experienced head

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johnhazelbum added 10:54 - Jul 15 They could make a film out of this. Disgraced manager given last chance, hires dad's armry of old mates. Last chance at proving themselves. Get into the play-offs, then winning at Wembley with goal in the 90th minute. Everyone is vindicated, Town celebrate and Premiership awaits. Only that's a film starring Alexis Sayle as PJ.
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tractorboy2434 added 11:30 - Jul 15 There is nothing eciting about a 35 year old midfielder like Boateng whom no club with any serious ambition wants, I did not see Leicester in the bidding for him, is this really the best we can do, be warned, signing players like this who just want another season's money without busting a gut will get us nowhere, which at this moment is where we are headed, we have no creativity and no pace, we will be found out once the serious stuff starts.

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sonian_blue added 12:51 - Jul 15 Spot on tractor2434. Smacks of short sighted desperation.
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alfromcol added 13:50 - Jul 15 Experienced players don't need to run about the pitch like headless chickens, they anticipate the movement of the ball and players aker Jimmy Bullard. I wish lots of posters on this site would shut up about the age of players.
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