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Jim Still Wants Norris - Ipswich Town News

Boss Jim Magilton has confirmed that he has not given up on signing Plymouth midfielder David Norris, despite having his second bid rebuffed earlier in the week. Argyle have turned down the 26-year-old's written transfer request.

Magilton said: "David is someone we still want at this football club, so it could happen for us. We will still try to get him in this window.

"At the end of the day he will make us better and we have put in very good offers but they are still holding out, so we will have to tempt them again.”

Plymouth are understood to want a £2 million initial fee for Norris with 50% of that going to former club Bolton as part of the deal agreed when he moved to Home Park in 2002 for £25,000.

Chairman David Sheepshanks says discussions will continue but says he will not be increasing Town's most recent bid, believed to be £1.75 million rising to £2 million: "We have made a huge offer for Norris and we will not be upping that.”

Leicester manager Ian Holloway has continued to mention his interest in the player in the media, but the Foxes are yet to make a bid for the player he worked with during his time with the Pilgrims.

Town have received no offer from Burnley for Alan Lee, while Magilton says he intends to make Leicester a new offer for Gareth McAuley: "I'm still interested and will go in for him again. We have not yet, but we are thinking about another bid.”

Magilton has also confirmed that, as expected, Jaime Peters is not interested in a loan move to Steaua Bucharest on loan. The Town manager says conversations are continuing regarding a number of fringe players going out on loan.

George O'Callaghan is reported to have been offered a three-year deal by Cork City. TWTD first reported that O'Callaghan would be on his way back to his former club in early December.

Elsewhere, Macedonian international Artim Sakiri has revealed that he almost joined the Blues in 1999 after he impressed George Burley, set to be officially named Scotland boss today, in a trial: "George gave me a trial at Ipswich in 1999 and wanted to sign me but I didn't get a work permit."

Sakiri, who in 2002 scored against England from a corner, eventually made the move into English football with West Brom in 2003.

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