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Town, Reading and Leicester Chasing Mpenza - Ipswich Town News

Town, Reading and Leicester City are all interested in signing released Manchester City striker Emile Mpenza, according to today's Belgian press. TWTD first revealed that the Blues were being tipped to move for the Belgian international back in April.

According to today's reports, Town, Reading, Leicester and Turkish side Trabzonspor are all in talks with the 29-year-old's agent regarding a Bosman move this summer, with Mpenza keen to remain in the UK.

The DR Congo-born frontman, who was first linked with the Blues and Stoke City back in April, has been capped by Belgium 54 times, scoring 17 goals. He played at the 1998 World Cup and in Euro 2000, but missed the World Cup in 2002 due to injury.

Mpenza started his career with youth side Léopold Club Mesvinois in his adopted country, playing his first senior football with KV Kortrijk in 1995/96 before moving to RE Mouscron for a season.

Two years with Standard Liège saw the 5ft 9in tall striker impress and win himself a move to German side Schalke 04 in 2000, but after three years he was back with Standard.

In 2004 Mpenza returned to Germany with Hamburg SV before a surprise switch to Qatari side Al Rayyan in the summer of 2006, which was widely criticised in Belgium, prior to his move into English football in February 2007.

Initially joining on a short-term deal until the end of the 2006/07 season, Mpenza won himself another contract with some impressive displays as a lone front runner.

That deal is up at the end if June, the striker having failed to make sufficient appearances last season â€" 10 starts and eight sub appearances, scoring three goals - to trigger two further years on his deal.

Meanwhile, January Town target Thomas Sørensen says his agent is speaking to a number of sides regarding his future: "We are in talks with several clubs. So that's positive. I am not nervous about finding a suitable club before the next season."

Previously, Danish sources have reported that the former Aston Villa keeper is looking for a move to another Premier League side, but could also be a target for FC Copenhagen in his home country.

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