x

Sunderland Chasing Balde - Ipswich Town News

Sunderland are reported to be closing in on Town target Bobo Balde on what's been a busy day involving players linked with the Blues.

Roy Keane is said to see former Celtic team-mate Balde as his new centre-half now that his attempt to sign Younes Kaboul from Spurs appears to have failed.

Talks between the Black Cats and Balde are reported to be have started with Kaboul now expected to join Portsmouth, who have continued to watch Town's Danny Haynes during the Blues' pre-season games.

Jim Magilton confirmed earlier today that he would like to speak to Balde, who is also interesting Birmingham and Wolves. The Guinean international is available on a free transfer despite having a year left on his Celtic deal.

Elsewhere, Crewe are reported to have accepted a £2 million bid for Nicky Maynard from a Championship club believed to be Bristol City. Magilton ruled the Blues out of the running for the 21-year-old last week, saying the Railwaymen had priced him too highly.

Former Aston Villa keeper Thomas Sørensen has signed a three-year deal with Stoke City. Town tried to sign Sørensen on loan in January and the Dane was linked again earlier in the summer, although Richard Wright was always Jim Magilton's number one goalkeeping target.

Hull City are the latest Premier League club to be linked with Nuremberg frontman Angelos Charisteas.

Meanwhile, Town's U17s lost 2-1 to the English Colleges FA in the quarter-final of the BT Northern Ireland Trophy this afternoon. The Northern Ireland Trophy is contested by some of the sides eliminated from the Milk Cup in the group stages.

What to read next:

Ipswich Town 2-0 Huddersfield Town - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Ipswich Town 2-0 Huddersfield Town - Match Report
Ipswich Town are back in the Premier League after a 22-year wait following a 2-0 home victory over Huddersfield Town, a result which sealed remarkable back-to-back promotions. Wes Burns gave the Blues the lead on 27 and Omari Hutchinson settled any nerves three minutes after the break, while Town would have secured promotion even if they’d lost with Leeds, their rivals for the second automatic promotion place, beaten 2-1 at home by Southampton.
Ipswich Town 1-0 Huddersfield Town - Half-Time
Wes Burns’s 27th-minute goal has given Town a 1-0 half-time lead over Huddersfield at Portman Road at half-time, while third-placed Leeds are 2-1 behind to Southampton.
Three Changes For Blues Against Huddersfield
Town boss Kieran McKenna has made three changes for this afternoon’s live-on-Sky game against Huddersfield which could see the Blues confirm promotion to the Premier League.
Ipswich Town v Huddersfield Town - Chatroom Open
Join us in the chatroom to discuss the game as it unfolds with hundreds of other Town fans.
Ipswich Town v Huddersfield Town - Predictions
Have you predicted the Huddersfield score yet? Ninety-two per cent of TWTD members are predicting a Town win this lunchtime, five per cent a draw and three per cent predicting an away win, but what do you think?
Sheeran to Extend Town Sponsorship
Ed Sheeran has revealed he has agreed to extend his sponsorship of the Blues into a fourth season but won’t be at Portman Road tomorrow.
Town Host Huddersfield in Biggest Game For 22 Years
The Blues host Huddersfield Town live on Sky Sports in their biggest match for 22 years on Saturday, knowing a point will take them back to the Premier League (KO 12.30pm).
Morsy: To Get a Club to the Premier League Would Be Amazing
Sam Morsy is no stranger to success as a footballer after winning promotion with Chesterfield, Wigan and Town, plus playing for Egypt in the World Cup, but would taking Ipswich into the Premier League perhaps be his number one achievement in the game?
Morsy: Exeter Experience Will Help Us
Town skipper Sam Morsy knows only too well the prize for avoiding defeat at Portman Road tomorrow and believes he and his teammates will benefit from their experience of the near-identical situation that occurred a year ago.