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Needham Confirm Fab Link - Ipswich Town News

Needham Market chairman David Bugg has confirmed that former Town star Fabian Wilnis is training with the Ridgeons League club, as reported by TWTD on Friday. Wilnis left the Blues after nine years at the end of the season.

Despite the Dutchman taking training on Thursday and being set to run another session on Tuesday, Bugg says he isn't expecting the former De Graafschap man to sign for his club: "Realistically it must be pretty slim that Fabian will sign for us.

"I understand he has turned down offers of jobs with professional clubs because he wants to stay in this part of the world. He has a testimonial at Portman Road in July or August next year.

"We would love Fabian to be with us and he is a marvellous chap who gets on well with our manager Danny Laws. It would give us a tremendous boost.

"We know he wants to coach and he may see us as his stepping stone. But to be honest we are looking on it as a long shot.”

Elsewhere, German sources are linking the Blues with Wolfsburg keeper Simon Jentzsch. The 32-year-old had previously been linked with Trabzonspor, Antalyaspor and Rapid Vienna.

Jentzsch, who won U20 and U21 caps as a youngster, started his career with KFC Uerdingen in the mid-nineties, moving on to Karlsruher and then 1860 München before signing with Wolfsburg in 2004. Since then the Düsseldorf-born stopper has made 142 league appearances for the side which finished fifth in the Bundesliga last season.

Town are in the market for a keeper this summer with former Blue Richard Wright thought likely to return. However, last week Jim Magilton said he had made other enquiries in case the Wright move falls through.

Meanwhile, the German media is remaining surprisingly silent on Town's approach to Nuremberg for striker Angelos Charisteas. Over the weekend reports in Greece claimed that the German side had said no to Town's attempts to sign the Euro 2004 star.

The Blues are believed to willing to pay a fee of €3.5 million (£2.7 million) for the 28-year-old with a three-year deal worth €1.6 million per season on offer to the player.

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